Front Page Headlines
High-caliber athletes… avoiding the army
Proposal before the Council of Ministers from the Defence Ministry in order to close windows.
- Parliament: ‘Studying’ Turkey’s foreign policy
- Christakis Giovani properties: Criminal investigation ordered
- Supreme Court: Warrants for Giovani and Antoniou cancelled
Presidential pass to Averof
Invocation of provisions in the charter that Anastasiades must follow for the DISY candidate in 2023. The proposal on the 60s has substance, the President states.
- Harmonisation with the Schengen information system
- The Supreme Court cancelled the decree against Giovani and Antoniou
AKEL’s proposal for a reduction in electricity prices gaining ground
The Energy Ministry states that it is open for dialogue with parties and organised groups.
- Cyprus problem: President Anastasiades remains on the same erratic course
- Ursula von der Leyen: Concern over the unilateral decision on Varosha. EU insists on a BBF solution
Ten days to solve problems in A&E
Departments in public hospitals overwhelmed at weekends as nowhere else to go
- Von der Leyen calls for reversal of Varosha moves
- Truth Commission: Do Greek-Cypriots have the courage?
- MPs mull how to reduce power bills
Pan-European shock over the price of electricity
Experts predict a difficult winter. The issue of blown-up bills is not just a Cypriot problem. Electricity also burns Europe and everyone’s running to find a solution.
- While we’re hoping for negotiations, Turkey is launching threats
- Anastasiades on 2023: I will not be a candidate, the decision with the President of DISY
- Due to ELAM: The Committee on demographics without AKEL and EDEK
Main News
Govt hopes for UNSG’s input to set up joint meeting with TC side
Alithia, Haravgi, Cyprus Mail
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The government on Tuesday expressed hope that UN Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres will exert pressure on the TC side for a joint meeting with President Nicos Anastasiades in New York, the dailies report.
Government spokesman Marios Pelekanos told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that after the letter Anastasiades sent Guterres on August 30, pressure would be exerted on the TC side to agree to a joint meeting of the two leaders with the UNSG. What is certain, Pelekanos said, is that Anastasiades will be meeting with Guterres.
Alithia reports that while the GC side hopes that pressure will succeed in getting the Turkish side through the door for a joint meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu reiterated what the paper views as threats on Tuesday, noting that Turkey will take action if its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean are violated. The paper writes that Cavusoglu, in statements that Alithia reports showed his distress in view of the results of the successful intergovernmental meeting between Cyprus and Egypt, also said that any agreement that excludes Turkey is not valid.
Alithia reports that Turkey and the north are on a daily basis blowing any bridges that may remain between the two sides. Alithia writes that while the GC side is at every opportunity seeking the resumption of talks in view of securing a solution on the agreed-upon basis, the Turkish side continues to launch threats of military action and to stress the need for the north to become even closer to Turkey.
Cyprus Mail reports that another expected development is the announcement possibly later this month of who will succeed the UNSG’s Special Representative in Cyprus and head of UNFICYP Elizabeth Spehar, adding that reports said Australian national Melissa Parke would be her successor.
KEY ACTORS
Cavusoglu (Turkey)
>> Turkey will take action if its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean are violated
>> Any agreement that excludes Turkey is not valid.
Von der Leyen calls on Turkey to reverse Varosha actions
Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
EU Matters, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday called on Turkey to “reverse the actions undertaken in Varosha” and reiterated the EU’s commitment to a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF).
Von der Leyen’s statements came in response to Cypriot MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek’s letter on the involvement of the Turkish government in the affairs of the TC community.
Haravgi and Phileleftheros report that Von der Leyen said that it is with deep concern that she heard the announcements issued by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding Varosha, describing the announcements as unacceptable unilateral decisions, which the EU condemns. She added that no action should move forward if it is not in line with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and called on Turkey to reverse any actions taken so far. She added that she will continue conveying this crucial message to her Turkish interlocutors.
“The EU’s position on the Cyprus issue is unchanged,” her letter – which was published by Kizilyurek’s office – reads, adding that “the EU remains fully committed to the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality.” Von der Leyen further stated that it is crucial for Turkey to commit to the same goal.
Von der Leyen also said that EU Foreign Ministers will consider actions at their next meeting should Turkey not reverse its actions.
KEY ACTORS
Von der Leyen (EU)
>> Heard announcements issued by Erdogan regarding Varosha with deep concern
>> Announcements were unacceptable unilateral decisions, which the EU condemns
>> No action should move forward if it is not in line with UNSC resolutions
>> Calls on Turkey to reverse any actions taken in Varosha so far; Will continue conveying this message to her Turkish interlocutors
>> EU’s position on the Cyprus issue is unchanged: EU remains fully committed to the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality
>> It is crucial for Turkey to commit to the same goal
>> EU Foreign Ministers will consider actions at their next meeting should Turkey not reverse its actions
Parties concerned over GC side’s Cyprob course
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
With the exception of the support expressed for President Nicos Anastasiades by DISY leader Averof Neophytou, a number of opposition parties and particularly AKEL on Tuesday directed criticism against the President’s manoeuvres as regards the Cyprus problem.
The dailies report that Neophytou said that Anastasiades’ proposal to return to the 1960 regime is an attempt to break the Cyprob impasse and not to change its solution basis. Asked about proposals tabled by Britain, Neophytou said he has not been informed of a comprehensive proposal by any third party and so cannot comment specifically, but did say that Cyprus needs the support of the international community if the impasse will be broken. He added that any initiative that falls within the bounds of UN resolutions is welcome.
AKEL, via its spokesman Giorgos Koukoumas, continued slamming Anastasiades for his recent proposal to the TC side, with Koukoumas stating that it is a definite way to ensure that negotiations never resume, something that Anastasiades is well aware of. Koukoumas said Cyprus has two roads in front of it: the road leading to definitive partition and the road towards a solution, liberation and reunification, adding that Anastasiades must clarify which road he chooses.
EDEK on Tuesday also stressed the need to deter Turkey from achieving another political advantage in the form of sovereign equality and the establishment of a separate state.
The dailies also report that DIPA said that the issue is not whether we will return to 1960 or not, but whether we will manage to carve a safe course to the future, which requires a Cyprob solution on the basis of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the EU acquis. The party also said that the current way in which Cyprob is being negotiated at a distance is counter-productive and only serves Ankara and the north.
KEY ACTORS
Neophytou (DISY)
>> Anastasiades’ proposal to return to the 1960 regime is an attempt to break the Cyprob impasse and not to change its solution basis
>> Cyprus needs the support of the international community if the impasse will be broken
>> Any initiative that falls within the bounds of UN resolutions is welcome
Koukoumas (AKEL)
>> Anastasiades’ proposal is a definite way to ensure that negotiations never resume, something that Anastasiades is well aware of
>> Cyprus has two roads in front of it: the road leading to definitive partition and the road towards a solution, liberation and reunification, and Anastasiades must clarify which road he chooses
EDEK
>> GC side must Turkey from achieving another political advantage in the form of sovereign equality and the establishment of a separate state
DIPA
>> The issue is not whether we will return to 1960 or not, but whether we will manage to carve a safe course to the future, which requires a Cyprob solution on the basis of UNSC resolutions and the EU acquis
>> The current way in which Cyprob is being negotiated at a distance is counter-productive and only serves Ankara and the north