Front Page Headlines
They messed up ‘Limnes’ and changed plans due to the EU
They’re preparing a modern and with EU-specifications temporary reception centre for asylum seekers.
- Parliament: Speeches by leaders with a presidential elections perfume
They’re differentiating their position
The Council of Ministers is doing whatever it wants and is not asking the scientists. The measures target the unvaccinated and not in curbing the spread, members of the scientific committee say.
- The UN wants to continue the effort: They saw momentum at the reception
- Legal bomb by lawyers for the exclusion of the unvaccinated: They’re referring to EU regulations and decisions
- Frontal attack by Averof to AKEL: Budgets a battle ground
- 61% of lawyers is doubting the objectivity of judges
Anastasiades-DISY took Cyprus many years back
Optimistic message from the AKEL GS for progressive change and development with a social streak.
- Cyprus problem: Break through the harmful impasse in the Cyprus problem with the taking of initiatives
- Six in 10 lawyers don’t think judges are impartial
Ministry defends migrant policies
Lashes out at critics – ‘we never hid the problem under the rug’
- Christmas tree for the missing (photo caption): A woman hangs a photograph of a man still missing from the Turkish invasion on a Christmas tree erected every year in memory of the missing near Eleftheria square in Nicosia
8,000 Turkish Cypriot slaps to Tatar’s partitionist policy!
For the first time. Turk Sen, after an agreement with SEK, is accepting applications from Turkish Cypriot for work in the free areas.
- Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Ankara will have to understand that Greece and Cyprus cannot be blackmailed
- Budget is being approved: With the votes of DISY, DIKO, DIPA
- To be approved soon: Minimum wage at 924 euros after six months
- Justice: Six to 10 lawyers don’t think judges are impartial!
Main News
Stewart to meet with Christodoulides
Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The UNSG’s new Special Representative in Cyprus Colin Stewart will be meeting with Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday, Phileleftheros reports.
The paper reports that the two will be discussion the way forward for the Cyprus problem.
Commenting on the reception hosted by the UN on Tuesday and which saw the attendance of both leaders, Phileleftheros said that even though it might have only resulted in certain photographs with both leaders having a friendly chat, the important thing the reception took place, with the UN considering ways of building on the momentum.
Meanwhile, Phileleftheros reports that the head of the President’s press office Andreas Iosif said that what became evident through the informal reception was the UN’s willingness to see negotiations resume. Iosif said that the next step in the Cyprus problem is expected to be taken by the UN, given that the GC side is ready for a resumption of talks at any moment.
Party leaders address Parliament with Cyprob positions
Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
In their address before the plenum during the first day of discussions on the 2022 state budget, party leaders stuck to their well-known positions on the Cyprus problem, Phileleftheros reports.
DISY leader Averof Neophytou said we know that Turkey’s illegalities and provocations will not stop without the resumption of dialogue. As such, he said, DISY supports the efforts being exerted by President Nicos Anastasiades.
Neophytou added that all must be sending the message in their contacts abroad that the GC side is ready to resume negotiations whenever the UN Secretary General (UNSG) choses. He added that as long as Cyprus remains divided, the visions of Cypriot Hellenism remain unfulfilled. Neophytou also said that Turkey is trapped in the role of the troublemaker, and is invading the Cypriot EEZ and creating new faits accomplis in Famagusta.
In his address, AKEL leader Stefanos Stefanou said that we must understand that if we don’t make a move then others will make the move for us. Addressing the government, Stefanou said that if the necessary weight is given to AKEL’s proposal, which takes into account the UNSG’s insistent but constructive suggestions, then we can at least hope that there are prospects for the breaking of today’s impasse. Stefanou said that this is the safest and most effective way of tackling Turkey’s delirious intransigence.
DIKO leader Nicholas Papadopoulos said Turkey is now openly proposing a two-state solution, and instead of dealing with the consequences of clearly violating UN resolutions, it is continuing unobstructed and is at times even being congratulated.
Papadopoulos said that Cyprus is at the worst and most dangerous point it has ever been in as regards Cyprob, stressing that partition is knocking at our door.
ELAM leader Christos Christou said that it is clear that Turkey is driving us to new concessions and is, along with the TC side, imposing new unacceptable claims. Christou reiterated his position in favour of closing crossing points and unilaterally abolishing the Green Line regulation.
EDEK leader Marinos Sizopoulos called on all who rejected the Annan Plan in 2004 and have today changed position to justify it, and to justify why they insist on the same failing process, which he said only serves to prolong the status quo and make partition permanent. He called on his colleagues to honestly say whether they are seeking a democratic, functional and viable solution or one that is a covered-up confederation, which is and has always been, Turkey’s goal, he said. He said that since the people rejected a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF) solution in 2004, why is it still being pursued, against the people’s wishes?
DIPA leader Marios Garoyian pointed to Turkey’s gradual solidification of its occupation and partition of Cyprus, which he said, along with developments in Famagusta, are diminishing all prospects of seeing talks resume and the chances of reaching an acceptable, viable and functional solution.
Haravgi reports that Garoyian also said that confidence-building measures (CBMs) should not be pushed forward in a way that burdens efforts to actually substantially discuss Cyprob. The paper writes that Garoyian also clarified that his party seeks a BBF, and to see talks resume from where they left off in Crans-Montana.
KEY ACTORS
Neophytou (DISY)
>> Turkey’s illegalities and provocations will not stop without the resumption of dialogue
>> DISY supports the efforts being exerted by President Nicos Anastasiades
>> All must be sending the message in their contacts abroad that the GC side is ready to resume negotiations whenever the UNSG choses
>> As long as Cyprus remains divided, the visions of Cypriot Hellenism remain unfulfilled
Stefanou (AKEL)
>> We must understand that if we don’t make a move then others will make the move for us
>> AKEL’s proposal is the safest and most effective way of tackling Turkey’s delirious intransigence
Papadopoulos (DIKO)
>> Turkey is now openly proposing a two-state solution, and instead of dealing with the consequences of clearly violating UN resolutions, it is continuing unobstructed and is at times even being congratulated
>> Cyprus is at the worst and most dangerous point it has ever been in as regards Cyprob, stressing that partition is knocking at our door
Christou (ELAM)
>> Turkey is driving us to new concessions and is, along with the TC side, imposing new unacceptable claims
>> Reiterated position in favour of closing crossing points and unilaterally abolishing the Green Line regulation
Sizopoulos (EDEK)
>> Current process only serves to prolong the status quo and make partition permanent
>> Since the people rejected a BBF solution in 2004, why is it still being pursued, against the people’s wishes?
Garoyian (DIPA)
>> Turkey’s gradual solidification of its occupation and partition of Cyprus & developments in Famagusta are diminishing all prospects of seeing talks resume and the chances of reaching an acceptable, viable and functional solution
>> CBMs should not be pushed forward in a way that burdens efforts to actually substantially discuss Cyprob
>> Seeks a BBF, and to see talks resume from where they left off in Crans-Montana
FM meets Spanish counterpart
Alithia, Cyprus Mail
Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides had a meeting with his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares Bueno in Nicosia on Wednesday saying they both stood to gain from increased cooperation.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry also said that Albares would visit UNFICYP accompanied by new chief Colin Stewart.
Citing the Cyprus News Agency, the dailies report that diplomatic sources said that Albares’ presence in Cyprus was extremely important as it follows the meeting the Ministers had last week in Madrid in the framework of President Nicos Anastasiades’ visit there, and a few days after the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.
The dailies add that the message from the meeting is clear: that both countries strongly believe that enhancing the bilateral cooperation and coordination is to the benefit of Cyprus and Spain especially in issues of mutual interest on EU agenda such as EU`s relations with third countries including Turkey, migration crisis, Med-9 and cooperation with the UK in the post Brexit era.
TC, GC unions reach agreement for employment of 8,000 TCs
Alithia, Politis
Economy
OVERVIEW
The TC labour union Turk Sen announced that it has agreed with GC union SEK that it will be accepting applications from unemployed TCs who wish to find employment in the government-controlled areas, the papers report.
The dailies write that jobs are mainly in tourism, construction, and service, among other areas and sectors. The papers write that Turk Sen said that the agreement foresees the employment of around 8,000 TCs, with the only condition being that applicants must be holders of a Republic of Cyprus ID or passport.
Haravgi reports that Turk Sen has created a team of some 40 people who will examine applications before they are sent to SEK, with President of Turk Sen noting that this is the first time something like this has happened.