GCC Press Review 8 Dec 2021

Front Page Headlines

Politis

50 chains in schools

Unvaccinated teacher died from Covid while refusing hospitalisation.

  • Colin Stewart: He’s seeing the two leaders
  • Cyprus-Greece-Isreal: Common vision and confirmation of cooperation
  • Central Prisons: Netflix’s cameras were installed

Phileleftheros

Europe lowering VAT

Important development by Ecofin for lower coefficients in more goods and services. Europe took the decision yesterday after years of discussions.

  • They agreed to meet Stewart for a cocktail
  • Hopes from Greek Cypriot clients in the north
  • ‘You’re not just allies but true friends’: Bennett continues the policy of trilateral cooperation

Haravgi

Other things were ‘pledged’ in the pre-election period and other things are being done after the elections for the 350 fee

Pressure from Parliament for the abolition of the annual grant to small businesses.

  • Politics: AKEL GS: Those who wanted and want partition should not be justified
  • Joint declaration: The Cyprus solution will contribute to peripheral stability

Cyprus Mail

More protests but few miss school

Less than 2% are skipping lessons after mandates as primary vandalised

  • (photo caption) President Nicos Anastasiades, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at a trilateral meeting in Jerusalem on Tuesday

Alithia

‘Yes’ to five municipalities too

Nikos Nouris: There is a government study and it will not be erased.

  • ‘Together we are stronger’: Trilateral summit Cyprus, Greece, Israel
  • 15 billion agreements with the emir: Erdogan running to Qatar for petrodollars

Main News

Both leaders agree to introductory meeting with Stewart

Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The two leaders have agreed to attend separate introductory meetings with the new UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) special representative, Colin Stewart, later this week, Politis and Phileleftheros report.

Politis reports that Stewart, who is also the new head of UNFICYP, will be holding his first meeting with the two leaders on Friday December 10. Citing information from the UN, Politis reports that that Stewart’s first meeting with President Nicos Anastasiades will take place on Friday at 9am at the Presidential Palace. Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides and chief negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis will also be present at the meeting.

Stewart will then meet with TC leader Ersin Tatar in the north at 1pm. Members of the TC negotiating team will also sit in on the meeting.

Phileleftheros reports that the aim of these preliminary meetings is so that Stewart can listen to the positions of the two sides regarding the current situation on the island. The paper writes citing information that Stewart will not be going to be meetings with any specific ideas but will be only be seeking to listed to the positions of the two leaders.

After these initial meetings, the dailies report that efforts are being exerted to host a joint meeting of the two leaders with Stewart next Tuesday, December 14. Politis reports that a response to this is still pending from the TC side, and cites information which point to Tatar issuing his response during his first meeting with Stewart on Friday. Phileleftheros however reports that both sides have already agreed to attend.

The joint meeting on December 14 will take the form of an event to be hosted by the UN with a guest list of around 30-40 people due to the pandemic. The guest list, in addition to the two leaders and the members of the two sides’ negotiating teams, will also include ambassadors of permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

Phileleftheros reports that the event will be the first sign of mobility since September, when the two leaders participated in an informal meeting with the UNSG during which the appointment of a UN envoy was expected, a development which has yet to take place. The paper reports that given the current climate, the UN is searching for other ways to bring the two leaders together, with the event or cocktail party being one such attempt.

Phileleftheros also reports that after the cocktail event, Stewart will be hosting a series of meetings with all involved persons on both sides. The paper reports that next week, Stewart is expected to meet with Christodoulides, the negotiators and their teams, with stakeholders and organisations, and will parties on both sides. These meetings will allow Stewart to draw a comprehensive picture of the current situation, allowing him to determine his next moves.

Phileleftheros reports that on Tuesday, the second day since his arrival in Cyprus, Stewart held meetings with the political personnel of UNFICYP, and held his first meeting with the staff of the UN Good Offices mission in Cyprus.


Cyprus, Greece, Israel call for UNSC-based solution

Alithia, Haravgi, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

A Cyprus settlement in line with international law and UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions would significantly contribute to the peace and stability of the region, the leaders of Israel, Cyprus and Greece said on Tuesday following a trilateral summit held in Jerusalem, the dailies report.

In a joint statement after the summit, President Nicos Anastasiades along with the Prime Ministers of Israel Naftali Bennett and Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said they express their full and unwavering support to the ongoing negotiation process, under the UN Good Offices Mission, for a just, comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, based on international law and the relevant UNSC resolutions.

They said such a solution, which will reunify the island, based on the respect of democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, would not only benefit the people of Cyprus in its entirety, but also significantly contribute to the peace and stability of the region, through Cyprus’ independent foreign policy.

The joint statement also said that the three leaders will continue working closely to realise the trilateral’s full potential, to the benefit of their countries and people, and the wider region. They also stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty and sovereign rights in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea to preserve the stability.

Trilateral cooperation between Israel, Greece and Cyprus represents a centre of joint interests connecting Europe, Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, the joint declaration read, adding that the three leaders agreed to hold the next summit in Cyprus in the second half of 2022.

They also noted that the 3+1 cooperation framework with the US indicates the importance attached to the US role in the Eastern Mediterranean and that they look forward to intensifying their cooperation with the US. This includes planning the participation of the US, at the appropriate political level, at one of their next meetings in line with the letter and spirit of the strong support that the country displays to this partnership.

The declaration also referred to strengthening trilateral defence coordination, which they say includes strategic dialogue, military and defence-industrial cooperation.

On energy, and in particular, natural gas and renewable energy, the three countries said this sector could be a solid foundation for cooperation in the region, based on international law, including the law of the sea and the respect of all states to exercise their sovereign rights in their respective EEZ/Continental Shelf.

They noted that EastMed Gas Forum, of which Cyprus will assume presidency on January 1 2022, constitutes a “major opportunity for cooperation and dialogue, for the stakeholders of the region.”

They also acknowledged the importance of regional cooperation in the fields of environmental protection and climate change and expressed willingness to cooperate in the framework of relevant regional initiatives.

In relation to Covid-19, the three countries said they stand committed to offer mutual assistance to overcome the consequences of the pandemic and strengthen their cooperation in this field.

Politis reports that in his address during the joint press conference held among the three leaders, Anastasiades referred to Turkey’s regional behaviour, its illegal plans and tactics, which he said violate the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus in its EEZ and on land, as seen through developments in Varosha.

The paper reports that Anastasiades also referred to the multiple efforts made to resume Cyprus problem negotiations, and pointed to Turkey’s and the TC side’s demands for a two-state solution, in violation of the agreed-upon solution basis and UNSC resolutions.


Translate »