Front Page Headlines
‘Elections’ in the occupied areas a bulwark for Cyprus problem
The collapse of the ‘government’ provides the perfects alibi for the delay of developments.
- Prices of goods: We haven’t seen anything yet…
- The English School: The legislative framework on the table
- Until Finland!: A ‘Cypriot’ oligarch bought an island
- Climate change: Prolonged heatwaves and dust storms in Cyprus
The Turkish crutches fells
The complete control of the occupied areas by Ankara did not support the pseudo-government. The Saner ‘government’ quit after 10 months.
- New faits accomplis on ‘Anexartisias’
- Signatures are dropping for the electricity connection with Egypt
- Strategic grain reserves after the the chaos: Consumers prey to the tsunami of increases
- Authorities examining a terrorism scenario now: Indications that the 38-year-old Azeri would have ‘hit’ on a specific day, not randomly
Coverup in Parliament for the Pandora Papers and new international embarassments
DISY, Themistokleous and DIPA blocked the registration of the issue and a discussion of the Pandora Papers.
- ‘Demilitarisation’ and new faits accomplis in Varosha
- Skyrocketing prices… They running after the fact to patch things up
Prepare for steep food price hikes
Government promises farmers aid as spike in animal feed costs impact food prices
- Cyprus to get first new copper mine in decades
Bulldozers in Famagusta again
Alarm for new provocations. The occupation forces are opening a new point of passage in the fenced-off town.
- Crisis in the occupied areas: The pseudo-government quit. They’re setting up ballot boxes before Christmas
- Uproar in Finland: Island purchased by a Russian who secured a Cypriot passport from the Christofia government
- Parliament: Block on AKEL for the discussion of the Pandora Papers
- Climate change: The biggest challenge
- Government intervention for grains sufficiency
Main News
North begins new phase in Varosha reopening
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Territory
OVERVIEW
The TC side on Wednesday began a new phase in the opening up of the fenced-off town of Varosha, with the government announcing that it will be taking all necessary steps and exhausting all available means to put an end to the illegal actions of the Turkish side.
The dailies report that one of the main roads within the zone, Anexartisias Avenue, was being cleared and barrels were being removed so that the street could be fully opened. Most dailies refer to this move as creating new faits accomplis. Haravgi reports that the government is once again trying to catch up with developments.
The zone being cleared, ‘phase two’ of TC leader Ersin Tatar’s plan for the reopening of Varosha, also hosts the former town hall of Famagusta. The dailies report that videos and pictures emerged depicting crews carrying out clearing works in that area. They report that barbed wire has been removed and bulldozers and trucks were carrying out road repairs along the Avenue that once showcased well-known GC shops and businesses.
Government Spokesman Marios Pelekanos said Wednesday that the Turkish side’s illegal actions both at sea and in Varosha “confirm the revisionist and neo-Ottoman stance of Turkey, which is trying to impose its own law.” Pelekanos said Nicosia is taking all necessary steps and exhausting all available means to put an end to the illegal actions carried out by Turkish side. These steps also serve to push for a resumption of negotiations, he said.
By creating faits accomplis, Pelekanos said, the Turkish side is trying to promote a different solution of the Cyprus problem, one that has been condemned by the international community, in complete disregard of international law, UNSC resolutions, the EU, leaders and state officials, who are all calling for a reversal of these illegal actions.
Regarding the pending issue of the appointment of a UN Special Envoy, Pelekanos said that consultations are underway, reiterating that the GC side is expecting that the agreement reached in New York will be followed through.
Phileleftheros reports that for the government, the move was seen as one of increasing provocation in Famagusta. Citing government sources, the paper reports that the government will be reaching out to the UN and the UN Security Council (UNSC), as well as to the EU and USA to report the act.
Phileleftheros reports that next week, Turkey’s new faits accomplis will be tabled before the EU’s relevant bodies, since Monday will see a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), with Famagusta already on the meeting’s agenda. There, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides will brief his EU counterparts on all developments.
The paper reports that President Nicos Anastasiades will also be raising the matter with EU leaders during the European Council set to take place next week. Moreover, Turkey’s new provocations will also be discussed during the trilateral meeting between Cyprus, Greece and Egypt set to take place in Athens on Monday.
KEY ACTORS
Pelekanos
>> The Turkish side’s illegal actions both at sea and in Varosha confirm the revisionist and neo-Ottoman stance of Turkey, which is trying to impose its own law
>> Nicosia is taking all necessary steps and exhausting all available means to put an end to the illegal actions carried out by Turkish side & to resume negotiations
>> By creating faits accomplis, the Turkish side wants to promote a different Cyprob solution, one that has been condemned by the international community & is in complete disregard of international law, UNSC resolutions, the EU, leaders and state officials, who are all calling for a reversal of these illegal actions
Anastasiades asks for Merkel’s help in Cyprob
Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades has asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel to pressure Turkey to help resume Cyprus talks and terminate Ankara’s illegal activities against Nicosia, Phileleftheros reports.
According to a press release issued by the Presidency, Anastasiades had a telephone conversation with Merkel on Wednesday. The announcement said that “their close, cordial and long-standing friendship, both at the political and personal level, was underlined.”
The Presidency said Anastasiades had the opportunity to extensively discuss the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, including the delay in the appointment of a UN Special Envoy, and the ongoing Turkish provocations, both in the Cypriot maritime zones and in Varosha.
The announcement said according to Phileleftheros that Anastasiades asked Merkel to apply pressure to restart negotiations and to persuade Turkey against its illegal actions.
Neophytou: We will find ways of breaking the impasse
Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
DISY leadere Averof Neophytou said the GC side will never divert from its goal until the struggle of Cypriot Hellenism for a solution succeeds, adding that the goal shared by DISY and President Nicos Anastasiades is to find ways of breaking the impasse despite Turkey’s intransigence.
According to Phileleftheros, Neophytou, in statements on Wednesday after visiting a middle school in Paralimni, said he cannot speak on behalf of the government, but he does know the determination and willingness of Anastasiades to resolve the Cyprus problem.
KEY ACTORS
Neophytou (DISY)
>> GC side will never divert from its goal until the struggle of Cypriot Hellenism for a solution succeeds
>> The goal shared by DISY and Anastasiades is to find ways of breaking the impasse despite Turkey’s intransigence
>> He cannot speak on behalf of the government, but he does know the determination and willingness of Anastasiades to resolve the Cyprus problem
Early elections in north to affect Cyprob prospects
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Politis reports that with the resignation of the administration in the north on Wednesday after it lost its majority, any hopes of seeing Cyprus problem negotiations before 2023 have now diminished.
The paper reports that given that the north will not be plunged into early ‘parliamentary’ elections, after which parliamentary elections are set to take place in Turkey, followed by presidential elections in Cyprus, Cyprob negotiations are unlikely to resume before 2023. Citing diplomatic sources, Politis reports that the political instability in the north provides TC leader Ersin Tatar with another reason to avoid Cyprob dialogue.
According to the dailies, prime minister’ Ersan Saner said on Wednesday that the three-party coalition ‘government’ in the north offered its resignation to Tatar after it lost its majority in ‘parliament’, adding that he called for an early election. He said Tatar was assessing the decision.