GCC Press Review 7 Sept 2021

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Vaccinations keep schools open

Third school year with the pandemic. Fears of an outbreak.

  • Theocharis Lalakos: There is no place for ‘dogmatism’ in the Greece-Cyprus relations
  • Christos Stylianides: Greece’s civil protection minister
  • All hunting gun licences are annulled for those who do not serve in the National Guard

Phileleftheros

Nightmare at the accident and emergency departments (A&Es)

(Health minister Michalis) Hadjipantelas walked undercover into an A&E and learned from patients about the hardship they experience. Suggestions and a 10-day deadline to Okypy (state health services organisation) to solve the problems. Okypy points the finger at HIO (Health Insurance Organisation) for non-promotion of procedures. OSAK (federation of patients’ associations) is calling for the urgent operation of stand-by health centres.

  • The Ankara-Cairo dialogue is with Cypriot preconditions
  • Stylianides’ appointment has lit fires in Greece and Cyprus with scenarios going as far as the 2023 presidential elections

Haravgi

Targeted absorption of the cost of the electricity price from the EAC

Letter by (AKEL leader) Stephanos Stepahnou to the president. Meetings with the competent ministers and tabling of proposals.

  • Commissioner Varhelyi is in Turkey for the Euro-Turkish relations
  • China-Cyprus: They carry on for a joint green, healthy and digital silk road

Cyprus Mail

Recovery scheme can add 7% to GDP

First tranche expected in a few days.

  • Stylianides appointed minister in Greece

Alithia

The ministers are being pushed by the president for promotion of reforms

In today’s cabinet meeting. Nicos Anastasiades will give instructions to his ministers for the implementation of the reforms within timeframes so that there is no risk of losing the funds of the recovery scheme.

  • Praises from Greek media for Christos Stylianides

Main News

Anastasiades to explain to Guterres his proposal on return to 1960 Constitution

Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

Politis reports that President Nicos Anastasiades said he plans on elaborating on his proposal/response to the TC leader for a return to the 1960 Constitution to UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres in their meeting later this month.

In an interview with OMEGA TV aired yesterday, Anastasiades explained the rationale for his response to Ersin Tatar, clarifying that it was not a proposal for a return to the unitary state but a call to the TC side to take the positions it is entitled to under the 1960 Constitution to start a dialogue on territorial adjustments and other issues, aiming at the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus. He also explained that the proposal is part of the call by Guterres for new ideas for overcoming the impasse and that it responds to the “refusal of Mr. Tatar and Turkey to resume the dialogue, unless we recognise in advance the sovereign equality.”

Following the decision of Jane Holl Lute not to visit Cyprus, the president stated that the new mission of the special envoy of the Secretary-General clashed with the refusal of TC negotiator Ergun Olgun to consult with Andreas Mavroyiannis, insisting that there is no ground for dialogue.

Regarding the EU sanctions against Turkey, Anastasiades said it is not as easy as one might thing, arguing that states’ policies are based on their own interests. “Conditions are constantly changing,” he said, adding that Afghanistan, for example, is upgrading Turkey’s geopolitical role.

Phileleftheros reports that Anastasiades has asked for a meeting with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York later this month. Citing sources, the daily reported the message has already been sent to Washington with Nicosia waiting for the response and whether such a meeting would be possible.

Haravgi, citing statements by government spokesman Marios Pelekanos, reports that the government continues to believe that a joint meeting between Anastasiades, Tatar and the UNSG is still possible. The daily reports that Pelekanos said the TC side has yet to respond to the possibility of such a meeting. The two leaders will have separate meetings with Antonio Guterres, the daily reports.

Pelekanos said Anastasiades will refer to his proposal for return to the 1960 structures which has been rejected by the TC side. Pelekanos also said Anastasiades would also brief Guterres of Turkey’s threats for illegal drilling in the Cypriot EEZ in case Nicosia starts drilling in its licensed offshore blocks.

The daily also reports that DIKO accused yesterday the president of pursuing an erratic policy on the Cyprus issue with dangerous back and forths while initiatives are being developed by third parties to change the basis of the solution. The party called on him to focus on the essence of the Cyprus issue in order to want to avert Turkey’s plans and of those who want to help her promote a two-state confederation solution.

Alithia reports that TC leader Ersin Tatar voiced his opposition again to a federal solution just before his meeting with the UNSG in New York. Both Alithia and Haravgi report Tatar said during an event that they would not enter the federation game aimed at severing TCs’ ties with Turkey, reiterating that an agreement could only be reached with the cooperation of two states living side by side.

KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>>
Proposal on return to 1960 Constitution, which is in response to call by UNSG for new ideas overcome impasse created by Turkish side’s refusal resume dialogue unless TCs’ sovereign equality is recognised, aims at helping start a dialogue on the evolution of the RoC & not return to unitary state.
>> Elgun’s refusal to consult with Mavroyiannis citing lack of common ground for dialogue led Lute call off her visit.
>> A harsher EU stand on Ankara is not that easy given that member states act on own interests especially now that Turkey’s role has been upgraded due to Afghanistan crisis.

DIKO
>>
 Accuses Anastasiades of erratic policy on Cyprob at a time when initiatives are being developed by third parties to change the basis of the solution.
>> Calls on Anastasiades focus on Cyprob essence to avert Turkey’s plans & of those who want to help her promote a two-state confederation solution.

Tatar
>>
Refuses to enter the federal solution game which aims at severing TCs’ ties with Turkey.
>> Agreement on Cyprob will only be possible with the cooperation of two states on the island.


Egypt puts forth Cyprus-related terms in dialogue with Turkey

Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

The daily, citing well-informed sources, reports that during their meeting last Saturday in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told President Nicos Anastasiades that Cairo has been putting forth ‘Cypriot preconditions’ to the dialogue Egypt started with Turkey.

The Egyptian president also gave reassurances to Anastasiades that the Cairo-Ankara dialogue does not affect the strategic relations between Cyprus and Egypt.

According to the daily, citing information, Cairo has set specific preconditions to Ankara for the dialogue that resumed on their relations, to succeed.

The conditions of Cypriot interest set by the Egyptian to the Turkish side are: respect for international law, respect for sovereign rights and existing agreements in the region, settlement of the Cyprus problem under international law and non-interference in the internal affairs of third countries, the daily reported. It recalls that the relations between Egypt and Turkey came to a halt in 2013 and now Ankara took the first step for improving the climate. A meeting took place last May while the second round of exploratory contacts between the two states at diplomatic level will take place in Ankara today and tomorrow.


Lalakos: Turkish side’s attempts to change Cyprob basis sole reason for stagnation

Politis
Negotiations Process, EU Matters

OVERVIEW

Stagnation in the Cyprus problem is exclusively due to the Turkish side’s attempt to alter the solution basis, outgoing Greek ambassador to Nicosia, Theocharis Lalakos said in an interview with Politis.

Lalakos, who will be taking on new duties in Athens as the Greek foreign ministry’s political director, said Greece’s stance on the Cyprus issue and its role, has been that it is a matter of invasion and occupation, and that its resolution can only come through adherence to the agreed and binding for all framework of the United Nations. He said the stagnation in the Cyprus issue is exclusively due to the fact Turkey and the TC side are trying to change or rather alter the basis of a solution, ostensibly proposing ‘alternative ideas’ of sovereign equality and two states.

He also said what Ankara primarily seeks is the creation of a loose confederation between two equal entities, which will result from the degradation of the international personality of the Republic of Cyprus with a parallel upgrade of the pseudo-state, something that completely goes beyond the parameters agreed within the UN. The recent moves by Ankara and Tatar in Varosha, he said, are mainly aimed at demonstrating in clear terms that they are not bound by the existing negotiating acquis. In other words, their aim is to create conditions that will not allow the resumption of substantive negotiations within the agreed framework.

On the issue of security and guarantees, he said Greece believes that the abolition of an outdated system would allow for political space so that the two communities can peacefully resolve their differences through a just, viable, Cypriot-owned agreement without third-party interventions. The status of the reunited Republic of Cyprus as an EU Member State provides all those guarantees and safeguards to both communities so that their human rights and security are not threatened, he added.

Lalakos also dismissed ‘dogmas’ that over time are being heard about Cyprus-Greece relations. He said Greece and Cyprus are “two countries with fraternal, unbreakable and timeless catalytic ties that are destined by history and geography to continue to coexist.” He added that close coordination and cooperation will continue with the common goal being the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus to a reunified Cyprus.

On the EU’s involvement in the Cyprus problem, Lalakos said one must not downgrade the political importance of the sanctions, albeit limited, the bloc imposed on Turkey since this was the first time the EU has imposed sanctions on a candidate country for membership. Turkey, he said, has certainly not underestimated and expresses its reaction on every occasion. He also said this was a diplomatic success for both Cyprus and Greece.

On the impact of the Cyprus problem on the Greek-Turkish relations, the ambassador said though it is not a bilateral Greek-Turkish issue it greatly affects relations between the two countries. Lalakos said that the Cyprus issue is an international problem but it is also the top priority of the Greek foreign policy and Athens strongly supports the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus for a just, balanced and sustainable solution, based on international law, the UN decisions and EU law.

“We hope, therefore, that both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community will soon realise that it is in their interest, that they will reap significant benefits in their relationship with both Greece and the EU, if they contribute constructively to reunification of Cyprus,” he said. Greece, he added, does not want or seek a confrontation with Turkey but good neighbourly relations and the resolution of any outstanding disputes under international law. At the same time, he said, Greece, because it is faced with a reality experience every day from Evros to Cyprus, it is ready to defend its interests when and where required.

KEY ACTORS
Lalakos (Greek ambassador)
>>
Sole responsibility for Cyprob talks stagnation is Turkish side & its attempts to alter solution basis.
>> Cyprob is an issue of invasion and occupation which can only be resolved through adherence to the agreed and binding for all UN framework.
>> The alternative ideas put forth are Ankara’s goal of creating a loose confederation between two equal entities, meaning the degradation of the international personality of the RoC &  upgrade of the pseudo-state.
>> Moves in Varosha are aimed at demonstrating that Turkish side is not bound by the existing negotiating acquis & the creation of conditions to avert resumption of substantive talks within agreed framework.
>> Greece is in favour of abolition of outdated system of guarantees to allow two communities peacefully resolve their differences without third-party interventions.  The status of the reunited RoC as an EU Member State provides all guarantees and safeguards both communities’ human rights and security.
>> EU sanctions on Turkey are an important diplomatic success for Cyprus & Greece since this was the first time the EU has imposed sanctions on a candidate country for membership.
>> Cyprob does affect Greek-Turkish relations as it is top priority of the Greek foreign policy while  Athens strongly supports the efforts of the RoC for a solution, based on international law, UN decisions & EU law.
>> Greece hopes Turkey & TCs will soon realise that it is in their interest, that they will reap significant benefits in their relationship with both Greece and the EU, if they contribute constructively to reunification of Cyprus.


Yantao: China willing continue playing a constructive role in Cyprob

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
Regional/International Relations, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The dailies report on an interview of China’s ambassador to Cyprus, Liu Yantao with the Cyprus News Agency on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations.

Yantao met last Thursday President Nicos Anastasiades to discuss the upcoming anniversary and informed the president that Chinese companies and communities in Cyprus have been donating and organising events to help rebuild the fire-stricken areas in Cyprus.

Alithia reports, that on the Cyprus problem, the ambassador conveyed Beijing’s willingness to continue playing a constructive role in facilitating a comprehensive and lasting settlement in accordance with UN resolutions.

China, he said, has been closely following the developments in Varosha, and maintains that the announcement of further opening of Varosha made by the Turkish and the TC leaders violates Security Council resolutions and increases tensions, which is completely inappropriate and non-constructive. He said that both the Security Council Presidential Statement on Varosha and the resolution for UNFICYP mandate renewal explicitly call on the Turkish and TC leaders to immediately revoke all unilateral acts taken on Varosha since October 2020. This is China’s consistent position as well as the aspiration of the broader international community, he added.

On China’s efforts for international legitimacy, the ambassador notes that as a Permanent Member of the Security Council, China firmly upholds the authority of the UN and maintains that UN resolutions on the Cyprus problem should be fully respected and implemented.
 the ambassador also said China has all along upheld an objective and fair position on the Cyprus problem and supported all efforts made by Cyprus to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He added that China maintains that the international community should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus, try to encourage relevant parties to narrow differences through dialogue and consultation under the framework of Security Council resolutions for a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation, and continue to create conditions and build momentum for the resumption of negotiations.  He also said any unilateral acts that may increase tension and confrontation, and undermine efforts towards resumption of the talks on the Cyprus problem.


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