Front Page Headlines
Innocent beyond any reasonable doubt over the ‘kidnapping’
Revelations in a Norwegian court leave shadows on Cypriot authorities.
- The case of the Russian and the Sri Lankan: When the CIP met the Pandora Papers
The afternoon pays well
We reveal the plan and the compensation at hospitals so that they do not only treat us in the morning. All who are working will share 20% of earnings. Doctors don’t seem to be satisfied.
- He wants drillings in the fridge until a solution: Threats on two fronts by Ersin Tatar
- Explosive climate at the English School, with strikes and layoffs
Anastasiades burying his head in the sand internally and externally over the Pandora Papers
President: “The law firm just carries my name…”
- Stéphane Dujarric: The UN continues to work with the two leaders…
- Eastern Mediterranean: Tension between Greece, Cyprus and Turkey returning and intensifying
- Indefinite strike (at the English School)… Hit to union action
Cambodia denies PM passport claim
Cambodian PM denounces dual citizenship but is accused of having Cypriot passport
- Parents of little Asya eagerly await treatment
- English School staff call indefinite strike after colleague’s dismissal
We are developing, TCs are getting poorer
Opposite lives in the economy. The Cypriot economy, after the adventure with coronavirus in 2020 is moving with development rhythms in 2021 and is seeing a sharp decline of unemployment. Contrastingly, an increase in unemployment, a decrease in income per capita, pessimism about the future, make up the situation in the occupied areas.
- Yes, Guterres backed out: The government is insisting and is responding to the UNSG’s spokesperson
- After it was told to leave the Cypriot EEZ by Turkey: The ‘Nautical Geo’ vessel anchored in Larnaca
- European Parliament: They discussed the Pandora Papers. Towards a law proposal against shell companies
- The clash getting deeper: Indefinite strike at the English School Nicosia
Main News
Nicosia insists that the two sides agreed on special envoy
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Government spokesman Marios Pelekanos said Wednesday that Nicosia insists that during the informal trilateral meeting with UN Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres both leaders agreed on the appointment of a special envoy, Alithia reports.
Pelekanos’ statement was in response to comments made by the UNSG’s spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, who said that he is unaware of developments regarding the appointment of a special envoy since an announcement was not issued towards this end. Pelekanos said that not only was there agreement, but this also came at the suggestion of Guterres himself, who outlined the reasons why he will be moving forward with the appointment in question.
Pelekanos reiterated that it is clear which side backed out of the initial agreement, since President Nicos Anastasiades referred to the appointment of a special envoy in statements immediately after the meeting, while TC leader Ersin Tatar changed his stance.
Pelekanos stressed that Nicosia expects that the UNSG will implement what was agreed during the informal meeting and will move forward with the appointment of a special envoy.
Meanwhile, Haravgi and Phileleftheros report that Tatar’s spokesperson Ergun Olgun said that since the UNSG’s special envoy Jane Holl Lute, who was tasked with determining whether common ground exists for the resolution of the Cyprus problem, has now moved on to another role, the UNSG must make a new, temporally limited, appointment so that her task can be continued. Olgun said the TC side accepted the appointment of Colin Stewart to the position of head of UNFICYP.
Olgun also said according to the papers that comprehensive negotiations cannot resume without common ground since this would only secure the continuation of the status quo which serves the impasse. He also said that currently, there is no common ground, but the GC side insists on the appointment of a special envoy in order to resume negotiations from where they left off in Crans-Montana as if common ground already exists.
Phileleftheros reports that Olgun clarified that what the TC side has made clear to the GC side is that it does not accept the appointment of a special representative for the resumption of formal negotiations without common ground first being found. Olgun said the TC side believes common ground can be found through recognition of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the TC side. He said this can also be achieved through the confirmation that none of the sides are superior to the other regarding sovereignty and status.
KEY ACTORS
Pelekanos
>> Government insists two leaders agreed on appointment of special envoy after the UNSG suggested it
>> Nicosia expects that the UNSG will implement what was agreed during the informal meeting and will move forward with the appointment of a special envoy
Olgun
>> UNSG must make a new, temporally limited, appointment to replace Lute so that her task of assessing whether common ground exists can be continued
>> TC side accepted the appointment of Colin Stewart to the position of head of UNFICYP
>> Comprehensive negotiations cannot resume without common ground since this would only secure the continuation of the status quo which serves the impasse
>> Currently, there is no common ground, but the GC side insists on the appointment of a special envoy in order to resume negotiations from where they left off in Crans-Montana as if common ground already exists
>> TC side has made clear to the GC side is that it does not accept the appointment of a special representative for the resumption of formal negotiations without common ground first being found
>> Common ground can be found through recognition of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the TC side or through the confirmation that none of the sides are superior to the other regarding sovereignty and status
Anastasiades warns EU of Turkey’s migration ‘Trojan Horse’
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades warned his EU counterparts that Turkey may channel refugees from Afghanistan to the bloc’s member states, arguing that this new migration issue should not be left to become “a Trojan Horse” for Europe by letting Ankara handle it, the papers report.
Speaking on Tuesday evening at the informal European Council in Kranj, Slovenia that currently chairs the Council of the European Union, Anastasiades warned that the EU needs to be proactive on tackling the migration flow from Afghanistan.
Anastasiades said after the meeting that he shared the EU partners’ concerns of a new migratory crisis should the situation further deteriorate in Afghanistan. In a tweet, Anastasiades said “Turkey has never hesitated to use migrants as a tool to pressurize the EU, we should now take all necessary measures to prevent this (from) happening again.”
According to a statement by his office, Anastasiades, referring to the concerns about a new migration crisis affecting the EU, in the event the situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, said he was in favour of EU assistance to the countries adjacent to Afghanistan, which are called upon to host Afghan refugees. At the same time, he warned that reliance on countries such as Turkey should be avoided, which he said are instrumentalising immigrants in order to reap other benefits.
Anastasiades recalled that Cyprus, among other countries, was facing the serious consequences of the instrumentalisation of the immigration issue by Turkey and, consequently, he added, the role that Turkey is projecting, as a supposed barrier to new migration flows to the EU, clearly should not deceive anyone.
“Because of its actions in the recent past, we are well aware that Turkey will not hesitate to channel migrants, this time from Afghanistan, in order to reap benefits despite its clear obligation under the 2016 Declaration to stop the flow of migrants,” he added.
The EU, Anastasiades said, should be very careful, as the management of the Afghanistan issue cannot and should not be allowed to develop into a “Trojan horse” to atone for the role of geopolitical troublemaker sought by Turkey.
Anastasiades, agreeing with French President Emmanuel Macron’s position, also argued in favour of strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy in the field of security and defence, which, he said, would help it become much more effective in crisis management on the international stage.
Meanwhile, Phileleftheros reports that government spokesman Marios Pelekanos said in the margins of the informal session, Anastasiades also briefed EU leaders on Cyprus problem developments and the illegal activities by Turkey and the TC side on land and at sea.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> EU must be wary of Turkey’s role in the management of migration flows from Afghanistan, since Turkey may instrumentalise a potential crisis to reap other benefits
>> EU’s strategic autonomy in the field of security and defence must be strengthened to become much more effective in crisis management on the international stage
Stano says sustained de-escalation crucial for EU-Turkey relations
Alithia, Haravgi
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Commission spokesperson for foreign relations Peter Stano reiterated the European Council’s June call to Turkey to abstain from unilateral actions and contribute to sustained de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean, as these are crucial criteria for future EU – Turkey relations.
Responding to a question by the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, namely the prevention by Turkey of a Cypriot research vessel (under a Maltese flag) from conducting surveys connected to plans for the construction of the EastMed gas pipeline, Stano recalled the European Council’s June conclusions, in which the leaders “welcomed the then de-escalation, but stressed the need for the de-escalation to remain sustainable”.
Stano added that the EU leaders also said that they are ready to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner based on certain conditions. Stano explained that those conditions include “sustained de-escalation”, “constructive engagement” and “abstention from unilateral actions or provocations against the EU or its member states in breach of international law”.
So, Stano said, these are the crucial conditions which still remain in place, and are taken into account by the EU member states and their leaders in assessing the situation. Stano reiterated that this not a one-off process but an ongoing process. He said the leaders are watching the situation, and eventual decisions on the way forward and on possible next steps in this context are in the hands of the leaders.