GCC Press Review 31 Oct 2021

Front Page Headlines

Sunday Mail

Prices: Worst is yet to come

From coffee to plastic, companies left waiting months for orders, then hit by massive price rises

  • Authorities exhume remains of boy, 7, killed during 1956 Eoka protest
  • Akel protest calls on ‘corrupt’ president to resign
  • ‘Dark tourism’ site in a peaceful Paphos village
  • Opinion: The disgrace over the children denied citizenship

Simerini

The EU is looking towards sanctions and Nicosia is waiting…

Turkey via Cyprus is a threat to regional peace.

  • Historical documentation: Neutralisation of 44 years of harmful misleadings
  • Nikos Katsourides (opinion): Turkey: A Grey Wolf through and through
  • Savvas Iacovides (opinion): Turkey is threatening Greece and Cyprus with war
  • Petros Th. Pantelides (opinion): Our unbeatable weapons on the front lines of resistance
  • Andreas S. Angelides (opinion): Erdogan’s arrogance and megalomania
  • Yiannakis L. Omyrou (opinion): Defensive power
  • Christodoulos K. Yiallourides (opinion): The flag as an imprint of history

Politis

Interior Minister Nikos Nouris and the boats of shame

Study: How are refugees treated in our territorial waters?

  • Cyprus problem: The wishful thinking of Nicosia
  • Sfairika: Should we perhaps see TCs differently?
  • Presidential elections ’23: DISY’s second candidate
  • Defence: Money only for salaries and benefits
  • Takis Hadjidemetriou (interview): The youth are the hope for the Cyprus problem

Phileleftheros

Tayyip setting up minefileds

The Turkish President is choosing to attack head-on, at sea and on land. Against the backdrop of developments in 2023, ‘milestone-year’ for Ankara.

  • Headache for envoy: The mandate will determine developments
  • The USA’s dilemma regarding Turkey
  • The post-Erdogan period without surprises
  • They sent a message to Anastasiades: First a resignation and then presidential elections…
  • Loukas Fourlas: Turkey-Europe relations on a new base
  • Nikos Moudouros: Relations between Turkish Cypriots-Turkey being sought

Kathimerini

The shadows in Anastasiades’ legacy

His lack of credibility is growing, while is role is being sought in the choosing of a candidate for ’23.

  • Cyprus problem: Developments on three fronts
  • Brussels: European shield for Ankara
  • Weapons systems beyond the Alliance: Turkey’s contradictory game

Haravgi

For a Cyprus that is not governed by those trading off their homeland

Yesterday’s big gathering sent stern messages to those in government.

  • Quo vadis Turkey?: The response to the question of whether Erdogan’s Turkey is collapsing is very complex

Alithia

Hand-in-hand with Odysseas and… papers!

Presidential elections. The tactic that AKEL will follow. The Republic’s auditor general has begun helping the opposition, as he did during the parliamentary elections, but unsuccessfully.

  • AKEL the party of institutional and long-term corruption
  • Political analysis: The pursuits of the Turkish Cypriot leader, he says, stem from the rejection of the Annan Plan
  • Turkey: Explosive cocktail threatening its economy
  • Christos Panayiotides: Cypriot hydrocarbons: What is the reason for the hatred and mutual destruction?

Main News

Appointment of envoy still up in the air


Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

All papers report that though Nicosia has consented to a neutral title for the UN envoy that is expected to be appointed in Cyprus, the issue of the envoy’s mandate remains a source of concern.

Phileleftheros reports that since the summer of 2017 Turkey has been controlling whether any developments arise in the Cyprus problem, with Nicosia left with no other choice but to compromise with Turkey’s plans and moves and to try to bring about the best possible result. The paper writes that the latest example of this is the failed New York trilateral, which was meant to drive the process forwards via the appointment of a special envoy, the issue is still up in the air.

Phileleftheros writes that President Nicos Anastasiades has every reason to feel annoyed with the UN Secretary General (UNSG) on the matter of the appointment of a special envoy, but notes that the failure to do so yet is part of Turkey’s plan which is succeeding. Even so the paper adds that all information is pointing to that the UNSG will be appointing an envoy in the coming period, with the compromise solution being a title that will be neither ‘personal envoy’ nor ‘special envoy’.

While Phileleftheros reports that Anastasiades is annoyed with the UNSG, Politis reports that it is the other way round, with the UNSG annoyed with Anastasiades’ stance on the matter, and particularly his accusation that the UNSG is maintaining a deliberate neutrality in the Cyprus problem.

But Phileleftheros argues, in line with the GC side’s position, that a neutral title will in itself not be enough to drive the process forwards, since any progress will depend on the envoy’s mandate and goals. The key is in the UNSG’s hands, the paper writes, since it is he who will decide whether the envoy will be tasked with briefing the UN Security Council (UNSC) or just the UNSG himself, as well as the envoy’s mandate.

Phileleftheros also writes that beyond the issue of the envoy, the Cyprus problem is facing a difficult path ahead due to a series of election processes that will definitely not allow for any positive developments. The north is heading towards new ‘parliamentary elections’, while the Republic seems to already be in a pre-election period despite the presential elections being 15 months away. Turkey is also entering election rhythms.

Politis also reports that Nicosia appears willing to compromise on the envoy’s title, given that the envoy will have the appropriate mandate. The paper writes that there appear to have been some pressures from Britain so that a compromise can be found, but nothing is sure for the time being, and Nicosia’s optimistic announcements may just be wishful thinking.

The paper adds that Nicosia may just be counting on a hunch that the UNSG needs an important Cyprob development so that he had something to say in his upcoming report to the UNSC. But Politis also writes that Nicosia’s international credibility is at a low point, with a prevailing opinion being that Anastasiades is seeking the appointment of an envoy so that there is some sort of Cyprob mobility, preventing a further deterioration before his term is up.

Politis also reports that what may have contributed to Nicosia’s optimism is the recent visit paid by British Foreign Office senior official Ajay Sharma. The paper writes that though it was said that the issue of the envoy was not on Sharma’s agenda during his contacts in Nicosia, it appears that there were deliberations on the matter with both sides. Citing Presidential sources, Politis reports that agreement was reached on the need for the appointment of an envoy.

Politis also reports that Sharma also gave further explanations and details regarding Britain’s ideas for the resumption of the negotiations process, with the main point inciting Nicosia’s reaction being Britain’s proposal to reconcile the ideas of a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF) with the TC leader Ersin Tatar’s pursuit for a recognition of sovereign equality before talks can resume.

In response, the paper writes that Britain is telling Nicosia that it’s not a bad idea to comprise at first in order to break the impasse, while also telling the TC side that they will be co-founders and co-owners of the federal state that will be created after an agreement, and will have inherent rights. This would see TCs have equal status. But the GC side appears unwilling to make any concessions before negotiations resume, preferring instead to do so in a give-and-take process on the negotiating table, Politis reports.

Kathimerini reports that currently, developments are being seen on three fronts: on the issue of the envoy, in the Cyprus EEZ, and on the issue of sanctions against Turkey. Regarding the envoy, the paper reports that though Anastasiades has clarified that his emphasis is placed on the mandate and not the title, the title is important, since it affects whether the envoy will respond to the UNSC and will be bound by UN resolutions.

Citing diplomatic sources, Kathimerini reports that there were difficulties with Jane Holl Lute, who was a personal envoy, since she would call for flexibility and stressed that UN resolutions shouldn’t be limiting. This is why the TC side is insisting on a personal envoy who will not insist on a BBF.

Beyond this matter, Kathimerini reports that Nicosia’s central concern at the moment involves its energy programme and potential new provocations in the Cyprus EEZ, as well as the issue of the imposition of sanctions against Turkey by the EU. Regarding the latter, the paper cites informed sources in reporting that Nicosia will attempt to include legal entities in the list of potential targets.


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