Front Page Headlines
Intervention by UNSC members for a special representative
Meetings are expected at a technocratic level over the coming days for on-site deliberations.
- Cyprus Olympic Committee: Gold medal in… mismanagement
- Azeri’s brother to ‘P’: “In the middle of a political game”
- EDEK: Candidacies in the midst of fire and tension
A tsunami of increases is coming
Up to 20% for bread, 10% for liquid gas, 7% for coffee, and the whole household basket is set on fire. Chain reactions from the unprecedented rise in the price of grain. They left Cyprus without strategic reserves of animal feed for human use.
- Prohibition of entry in Turkey for journalist: Tatar is once again justifying Ankara for Ali Kishmir
- Candidacies in the shadow of civil war in EDEK
- They caught the arsonist from high up
The safety of newborns in danger
Meeting at the Presidential Palace with OKYPY without solutions being given to the problems of hospitals.
- EU-Turkey relations: Turkey under constant evaluation… Johansson in Turkey
- Politics: Solidarity and support to TC journalist Ali Kishmir
- Ali Kilic: “I see Cyprus as one”
Booster decision ‘in a few weeks’
Experts to discuss whether to push for booster shots for younger groups.
- Play in Greek, Turkish Cypriot dialect wins theatre award
We will succeed in autonomising hospitals in 2023
Health Minister and OKYPY respond to the hot question of ‘Alitheia’: Yes, state hospitals will be ready. Hadjipantelas: The autonomisation plan is moving forward as normal based on the timelines and it is expected that public hospitals can work competitively, without state support.
- ‘Citizenships’ like ritual food…: Moves by Tatar so he can boost his position ahead of ‘elections’
- Election thriller: EDEK: Civil war even at the ballot box
- ELAM-Themistokleous: They had decided to kick him out from September 30
- Court: The remand of the Azeri for the case with the death contracts was renewed
- In Orounta: The drone prevented a malicious arson attempt
Main News
Nicosia expects developments regarding UN special representative
Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Over the coming days, Nicosia is expecting developments on the issue of the appointment of a UN special representative for the Cyprus problem, Politis reports.
Speaking to a television news programme on Monday, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said efforts are ongoing in hopes of securing a positive result through the appointment of a UN special representative, Politis reports.
Christodoulides added that over the coming days Cyprus is expecting visits from permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on a technocratic level. The goal of these visits, he said, is to assess how what was agreed during the New York trilateral can be verbalised publicly and how negotiations can resume. At the same time, he said, the UN are making their own efforts in New York.
Politis reports that Christodoulides accepted that the appointment of a UN special representative would not in itself solve any substantial problem, but he said it will mark the initiation of an effort, through contacts with involved parties. He said that if a special representative is appointed, the person will come to Cyprus and stay for 10 days or a month if need be, in order to assess how to create prospects for the resumption of negotiations.
Christodoulides added that the lack of negotiations is understood by all as negative, since the status quo is not static. He said that day by day, the situation grows even more difficult.
Politis reports that Christodoulides also referred to the issue of Varosha, noting that developments there will likely affect the entirety of the Cyprus problem and any attempts to secure a solution. He said that if faits accomplis continue in Varosha, the entire chapter involving territory is scrapped. “So, what will we discuss on the negotiating table,” he said, adding that the GC side’s only means of reacting is, beyond diplomatic mobilisation, the resolution of the Cyprus problem.
Christodoulides also said that a bi-zonal, bicommunal federal (BBF) solution is supported by the UN and the international community. He said we must utilise the existing body of work and continue from where we left off.
Regarding EU measures against Turkey, Christodoulides said the main factor that has deterred the taking of strict measures is Germany, but said he is not critical of this since he understands that Germany would take a blow if Turkey’s economy was affected. He also said that while sanctions would not work to deter Turkey, they would send a message.
Meanwhile, Politis also reports that deliberations between Nicosia and Washington are at an advanced stage in order to set up a meeting between President Nicos Anastasiades and US President Joe Biden, as well as between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries. The paper reports that it contacted Christodoulides to discuss the matter, with Christodoulides noting that deliberations are underway, but more will be said when something is confirmed.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> Appointment of UN special representative will not in itself solve any substantial problem, but it will mark the initiation of an effort through contacts with involved parties
>> The lack of negotiations is understood by all as negative, since the status quo is not static but rather grows even more difficult by the day
>> Developments in Varosha will likely affect the entirety of the Cyprus problem and any attempts to secure a solution
>> If faits accomplis continue in Varosha, the entire chapter involving territory is scrapped
>> The GC side’s only means of reacting is, beyond diplomatic mobilisation, the resolution of the Cyprus problem
>> BBF solution is supported by the UN and the international community
>> We must utilise the existing body of work and continue from where we left off
>> Main factor deterring the EU from taking of strict measures against Turkey is Germany
>> While sanctions would not work to deter Turkey, they would send a message
EU observing Turkey’s actions in Eastern Mediterranean
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
European Commission spokesperson Peter Stano said Monday that the EU is closely monitoring Turkey’s actions in the Eastern Mediterranean, the dailies report.
Stano was asked to comment on Turkey’s actions and particularly its announcement of new surveying missions by the Oruc Reis in the Eastern Mediterranean. He said it is up to the EU leaders and the leaders of member states to make a definitive assessment on the basis of the relevant conclusions of last June’s European Council.
He said all developments are feeding into the ongoing assessment, which member states discuss regularly at different levels be they the working groups of the Council or the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and then at the highest level among themselves as the leaders of the EU. Stano added that a clearer picture of the agenda of the FAC set to take place on Monday, October 18, in Luxembourg, is expected by the end of the week.
Stano reiterated that during the June European Council, the leaders “said very clearly what the expectations of the EU are when it comes to Turkey’s actions and they stressed that we are interested in constructive engagement with Turkey”. He said that in June, the leaders had “welcomed the de-escalation which was happening at the time and they said that it is very important to maintain this de-escalation and to make it sustainable,” and added that the EU expects that “Turkey’s behaviour and actions towards the EU and its member states will remain constructive, not unilateral and based on good neighbourly relations and based on the respect for international law.”
Stano said the EU and its member states are watching this issue very closely and are making their assessment, and if needed they will discuss again the issue of the overall state of relations between the EU and Turkey.
Meanwhile, Haravgi reports that the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson is paying an official visit to Turkey where high level discussions will take place mainly on the issue of migration.
House President meets with Mitsotakis in Athens
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relation
OVERVIEW
House President Annita Demetriou said after meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens on Monday that Greece and Cyprus address all current challenges with a respect for international law and EU values, the dailies report.
Demetriou said she shared a substantive discussion with Mitsotakis, who she thanked for his warm welcome. She said the discussion focused on the Cyprus problem.
Demetrious said emphasis was put on the excellent cooperation between Greece and Cyprus, adding that this relationship will certainly continue. She added that she also discussed the strengthening of cooperation on an inter-parliamentary level with the President of the Hellenic Parliament Konstantinos Tasoulas.
On his part, Mitsotakis said that the election of the first woman President of the House of Representatives is a particularly important step.
“We have recently taken an important step too by electing the first woman President of the Republic,” Mitsotakis said, underlining the importance of seeing the political personnel renewed in the two countries.
Mitsotakis also said that Greece and Cyprus share excellent cooperation, always respecting the principles of international law and the European acquis.
Cyprus renews CMP funding
Cyprus Mail
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Cyprus confirmed renewed funding of €175,000 for the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) for the year 2021 during a meeting with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Presidential Commissioner Fotis Fotiou met with Jakhongir Khaydarov, the head of UNDP in Cyprus, on Monday where the funding was announced, raising the Republic’s total contributions since the programme began to €3.3 million.
Journalists Union express solidarity with TC journalist
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The Journalists Union on Monday said it stands by the leader of TC NGO Basin-Sen, Ali Kishmir, who was prevented from entering Turkey, the dailies report.
The Union said it will take joint action with Basin-Sen to make the condemnation of Turkey as widespread as possible.
Kishmir was prevented from entering Turkey on Sunday on his return to the north after a meeting of the European Federation of Journalists in Croatia. Despite support from journalists, the dailies report TC leader Ersin Tatar said that “every country has the right to not allow entry to foreign nationals due to safety reasons, due to threats and insults.”
The European Federation of Journalists has already been informed, while the International Federation of Journalists and the OSCE office of freedom of the press will also be updated about the incident, the Union’s announcement added.
In their own post to social media, Basin-Sen said they will start the necessary legal procedures. “We also want to emphasise that what happened is extremely unfortunate and unacceptable for democracy and freedom of expression in Turkey,” Basin-Sen said. Besin-Sen also referred to “fascism” rising day by day in Turkey, and which is also affecting TCs in Cyprus.
Bicommunal play wins awards in Turkish festival
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
CBMs
OVERVIEW
A version of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, translated and adapted into both the GC and TC dialects, won two major awards over the weekend at the 3rd International Maltepe Theatre Festival in Istanbul, the papers report.
GC director Kostas Silvestros won the best director award, while actors Yiorgos Kyriakou and Izel Seylani shared the best actor in a leading role award. The play was produced by bicommunal theatre company AntiLogos.
“Let’s make theatre, not war,” Silvestros said as he took to the stage to receive the award. “We are all incredibly happy for this award because we are a team, we are all working together for peace and love on our small island.”
The mayor of Maltepe Ali Kilic, praised the play. “I see Cyprus as one, I believe that it should be united, I believe that all Cypriots can live together, that borders can be scrapped, as long as we get rid of the prejudices that we have in our heads,” he told the Cyprus News Agency.
“Politicians may now and then confront each other, but I firmly believe the brotherhood of peoples can overcome all disagreements. That is why I can picture the island united once again one day,” he concluded.
The adapted performance still features the play’s main two characters Vladimir (Didi) and Estragon (Gogo), who engage in a variety of discussions and encounters while awaiting the titular Godot, but instead of France it places them in Nicosia’s Buffer Zone, with one character acting in the GC dialect and the other in the TC one. Like in the original play, they both wait for Godot, who never arrives, symbolising the coveted reunification of the island.