Front Page Headlines
Confrontation between Parliament and the University for Niyazi
MPs are threatening that they will freeze UCY budgets if it doesn’t immediate move forward with the retirement of the EU MP.
- Green Line: Bi-communal trade on low flights
- Plan for the murder of D. Ellinas: He was going to be killed by… Santa Clauses
- Coronavirus: They’re running for Christmas
Inflation galloping
Prices getting higher every month – Corroding purchasing power of households. Inflation is ‘eating’ €4.4 in every €100. Frankfurt is now admitting that the smoothening of prices will take time.
- He was seeing an ‘open door’, he recognised the problem of troops: Top-secret documents: Guterres to Kotzias
- Halloumi PDO got flesh and bones
- The Authority against Corruption will have the authority of an investigator
- Nicholas playing right, playing left, playing centre
- Nine speeches by the Pope in Cyprus and Greece
- They lectured the Rector for Kizilyurek’s position
- The Santa Clauses that were looking for guns to kill Dinos Ellinas and were spreading the word: Two arrests for the plan that seems strange
Sexual abuse of a child every 27 hours in Cyprus!
Commissioner for Children’s Rights: The pandemic limited children’s safety net…
- Brussels: St. Stefanou and M. Schinas discussed the Cyprus problem and Migration
- One and a half months later… a cheese manufacturer produced the first PDO halloumi
- COVID: 346 new cases (positivity rate: 0.64%). New meeting on Monday
Self-testing among possible measures
Experts divided over whether new rules are necessary as virus cases rise.
The occupied areas are lighting 80% of our hookahs!
Smuggling going rampant. Beyond the scourge with fuel, the illegal trade of alcohol and tobacco products has taken massive dimensions, with the state losing many millions in income. Thoughts for the reduction of tax on hookah tobacco – The conducting of checks necessary.
- Exxon Mobil is preparing a drill ship in the Cyprus EEZ and Erdogan is threatening…
- Mustafa Naimogullari: Two positive developments in the occupied areas for establishing halloumi (as PDO)
- Two arrests: They were going to carry out the plan to murder Dinos Ellinas
- High tones in Parliament: Parliamentary fire towards the rector due to Niyazi
- Coronavirus without end: Cases are increasing. Thoughts for new measures…
Main News
UN minutes on Crans-Montana meeting between UNSG, Kotzias leaked
Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
In a new article revealing top-secret UN minutes from the Crans-Montana negotiations, Phileleftheros reveals the contents of a discussion between UN Secretary General (UNSG) and Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias that had taken place on July 6, 2017.
The discussion, the paper writes, took place at 5pm, before the dinner which saw the collapse of the process, which Phileleftheros writes occurred because Turkey did not mean what they were supposedly telling Guterres. The meeting also came after Guterres’ meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu, who had told the UNSG that Turkey was not willing to see a withdrawal of troops.
In the leaked document, Phileleftheros reveals that Guterres told Kotzias that Turkey isn’t ready to accept the immediate withdrawal of all troops, but said that the door has not been closed to this possibility.
Phileleftheros reports that Guterres was more honest about the issue of troops with Kotzias than he was with President Nicos Anastasiades, to whom he said that Turkey was ready to accept the abolition of guarantees and intervention rights. The paper writes that the document revealing the details of the meeting between Guterres and Anastasiades is in the paper’s possession and will be published over the coming days.
To Kotzias, however, according to the paper, Guterres said that it would be best if an agreement packet was achieved with one or two issues remaining open. Kotzias made clear that Greece’s position was in favour of the abolition of guarantees. Kotzias also said that it was necessary for Turkey to clearly state that it will withdraw many of its troops, and said that the number that will remain cannot be more than what is provided for in the Treaty of Alliance.
Guterres told Kotzias that any quid pro quo would depend on Anastasiades, adding that for Turkey to abandon guarantees would be a big step. Kotzias responded that providing equal treatment to 20% of the Cypriot population was already a big step from the GC side.
The document also shows that Kotzias told Guterres that he thought that the GC side had consented to all matters apart from issues relating to equal treatment, with Guterres responding that there are big differences in positions on most other issues, including territory, the rotating presidency, and property. The paper, citing Anastasiades “unacceptable” concessions to the four issues included in table 2, argues that Guterres was hoping for even more concessions from the GC side.
The document also reveals that Guterres also told Kotzias that he would try and get Anastasiades to be more open on the matter of permanent settlers, since improvement was needed on the matters included in table 2 so that progress could be achieved in table 1.
AKEL SG discusses Cyprob with EU’s Schinas
Haravgi
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
AKEL leader Stefanos Stefanou discussed the Cyprus problem and migration with EU Commissioner for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, in Brussels, Haravgi reports.
In statements after the meeting, Stefanou said the discussion was very positive and constructive. He said the two discussed the situation Cyprus currently finds itself and the need to break the current impasse so that negotiations can resume from where they left off in Crans-Montana.
Stefanou said a solution is necessary, one that will reunite the land and its people, and which will resolve a very important problem for Cyprus, the region, and the EU itself.
Regarding migration, Stefanou said that Cyprus is an external EU border and is facing many problems that mainly have to do with the occupation, the Buffer Zone, and other issues that require management. Stefanou said the two agreed to continue the dialogue.
Haravgi reports that Stefanou also met with Pedro Serrano, the head of the office of the EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell. The paper writes that they discussed the Cyprus problem as well as AKEL’s proposal for how negotiations can resume. Stefanou said the proposal was discussed and opinions were exchanged, which he said was useful and constructive.
The paper reports that Stefanou also met with European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, who briefed Stefanou on developments relating to the pandemic.
KEY ACTORS
Stefanou (AKEL)
>> A solution is necessary, one that will reunite the land and its people, and which will resolve a very important problem for Cyprus, the region, and the EU itself
>> Regarding migration, Cyprus is an external EU border and is facing many problems that mainly have to do with the occupation & the Buffer Zone
Erdogan announces new 7th-generation drillship
Alithia, Phileleftheros
Energy
OVERVIEW
Turkey has added its fourth drillship to its inventory for hydrocarbon exploration, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday.
Addressing ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies in Ankara for the parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan said that unlike other ships, the new vessel is a seventh generation ship equipped with the latest technology, adding that there are only five of these ships in the world.
Erdogan said Turkey has now reached the capacity to operate beyond its borders. He added that Turkey is currently operating in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea with three drillships and two seismic vessels.
Alithia reports that the news show that Turkey’s relations with Greece and Cyprus are entering a new tense phase.
The paper also reports that in a meeting on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides and a high-level member of Exxon Mobil-Qatar Petroleum confirmed that the confirmation drill in plot 10 of the Cyprus EEZ will take place in a few weeks. Alithia adds that more such drills are expected to take place in the Cyprus EEZ over the coming months, with this annoying Turkey.
First PDO-sanction halloumi produced
Alithia, Cyprus Mail
Economy
OVERVIEW
The first batch of halloumi produced according to protected designation of origin (PDO) specifications was produced at a factory in Frenaros on Wednesday, Alithia reports.
The process was observed by Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis, who toured the Somis Dairy Industry factory premises and was briefed on each stage of halloumi production.
“This is a day of great satisfaction, as we are seeing the efforts we made to establish that our national product is produced in Cyprus, take form,” Kadis said.
“We have formed a very important synergy with one of the most historic dairies in the country,” which is the primary supplier of halloumi to Scandinavia, he added. Kadis said this collaboration is important as after Cyprus, Sweden consumes the second largest amount of halloumi per capita, adding that arrangements like this one “will highlight our product worldwide, will give it the added value we all seek and will also highlight the quality of the product “.
He added that designated control body Bureau Veritas will be at the Somis factory in the following days to verify that the cheese is made according to the specifications.
MPs clash over MEP still holding University post
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
AKEL MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek’s unpaid position at a public university while simultaneously serving public office is a violation of the constitution, according to arguments heard at Wednesday’s House Ethics Committee meeting, the dailies report.
The rector of the University of Cyprus, the institution in question, was also present as was a representative from the Auditor General’s office, who appeared to clash and disagree as to whether Kizilyurek’s appointment is legal. Kizilyurek has been lecturing at the university since 1995 but is not being paid during his term as MEP.
Tassos Christofides, rector of the university, insisted that the appointment was not illegal, but MPs hit back – saying that the rector had disrespected the laws and the constitution. For his part, Christofides cited the law which states that: “a member of a public institution cannot be elected to parliament or as minister as from this position they could favour the institution in which they serve,” arguing that this is not the case with Kizilyurek.
He referenced previous cases whereby academics were appointed as Cypriot ambassadors to Greece, and no objections were raised as to their incompatibility. Christofides said in the case of Kizilyurek, there is no difference, but said some anachronistic provisions must change.
Committee chairman DISY MP Demetris Demetriou who said that there can be no exceptions as to who respects the constitution.
AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtides instead claimed that Kizilyurek was being targeted because he is Turkish Cypriot.
Marios Petrides, a representative of the Audit Office, said that the university is consciously violating the law and is continuing to do so.
Demetriou said that the committee will reconvene in two weeks’ time and will revisit the issue, assessing to what extent the university will take on board the opinions heard.
Smuggling of products from north causes concern
Alithia, Politis
Economy
OVERVIEW
Alithia reports that the state is losing out on million of euros in income due to the smuggling of products from the north, with issue areas mainly being fuel, alcohol and tobacco products.
The paper reports that the government has information suggesting that around 80% of the hookah tobacco circulating in government-controlled areas comes from the north, with the product being in high-demand.
Citing information, the paper reports that the Finance Ministry is mulling over ways of dealing with this big problem, with one suggestion being the reduction of tax on hookah tobacco. The paper writes that any measure will need to be accompanied with more effective checks at crossings.
Fuel also constitutes a big problem, the paper writes, with Parliament already aware of companies with six to eight tankers which pass into the north and transfer 3,000 litres per day.
Alithia and Politis also report that concern is also high for materials used in the construction industry. A central issue is the inability to know whether the products being purchased in the north and transferred to the south were made by TCs, as required by the Green Line Regulation, and it is also difficult to know whether these products comply with EU safety regulations.