Konstantinos Koutras, spokesman for the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

Greek Cypriot Leader Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras have discussed the coordination of actions as a reaction to the Turkish provocations in Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

According to a written statement by Greek Cypriot Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides, in the light of the developments in the region and the announcements of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs with regard to the activities taking place within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the “Republic of Cyprus”, Anastasiadis had on Monday morning a telephone conversation with the Greek Prime Minister.
Anastasiades and Samaras discussed further steps and measures, in coordination between the two governments, Christodoulides said, (CNA)

Earlier reports said Athens had issued a strict warning to Ankara, saying: “Either respect International Law concerning Cyprus’s rights over gas and petroleum exploration within its territorial waters and continental shelf, or take the consequences for your EU membership”.

Konstantinos Koutras, spokesman for the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Turkey ought to respect the sovereign rights that the “Republic of Cyprus” has on its own continental shelf, as a country-member of the UN and the European Union.

“Cyprus cannot tolerate any further violations of International Law”, Mr. Koutras warned, adding that “Turkey’s behavior will decide it’s European future and also the negotiation process on the Cyprus matter.”

Yesterday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry called upon the international community “to take action to prevent the provocative and one-sided steps taken by the Greek Cypriot side”.

Nikos Christodoulides, the Greek Cypriot  spokesman, said that impending the work of the company which is conducting exploration drills within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the “Republic”, does in no way help the normal continuation of the ongoing negotiations for a peaceful solution to the 50 year old division of the island.

CNA

  Küfi Seydali

 

 

The UN Secretary-General’s new Special Advisor to

Cyprus Espen is in favour of a solution!

I AM for a settlement,” the UN Secretary-General’s new Special Advisor to Cyprus Espen Barth Eide said in a recent interview. By way of explanation, he said: “I am not impartial to a settlement or non-settlement, I am for a settlement.”

One columnist, impressed with Eide’s statement of the obvious, asked the obvious question. “Was it ever possible for the special advisor of the Secretary-General of the UN for the Cyprus problem not to have been in favour of a settlement?” asked Alecos Constantinides in last Monday’s Alithia and added, “all 24 envoys and special advisors of the UN SG, all Eide’s predecessors were in favour of a settlement.”

Eide’s statement of the obvious may have been necessary given that our politicians view the peace talks as a never-ending process. He may have heard some of the statements being made about the need for a deal “as soon as possible, but without suffocating timeframes and arbitration,” which give a good illustration of the prevailing approach to the talks. We want a solution the soonest, but are opposed to any arrangements that would help achieve this.

Opposition parties were not happy to read Eide’s weekend comments about his plan to come to the island with “some bridging proposals” and his intention to “go into the essence of the disagreements” and “go into that fast.” The parties immediately sought explanations demanding to know what Eide meant, as they felt the differences could not be bridged, given Turkey’s stance.

In other words, they do not want Eide to make bridging proposals because this might threaten the never-ending nature of the talks; they would have been more comfortable if Eide was not in favour of a settlement. The Anastasiades government also appears to share this view, its spokesman pointing out that UN bridging proposals could be made orally “without these views being binding or having any official standing”.

The government’s message to the concerned opposition parties was very clear – Eide would make his proposals just for fun, to keep the two sides entertained, as neither is obliged to accept them. There was no danger of differences being bridged even though we would all be less worried if Eide was not so openly in favour of a settlement. We would prefer a Special Advisor who would be as happy with a non-settlement as he would be with a settlement and does not try to remove us from our comfort zone with bridging proposals, even if they are not binding.

  Küfi Seydali

 

The defence ministers of  South Cyprus and Greece, Christoforos Fokaides and Demetris Avramopoulos respectively signing the Memorandum

 

Cyprus and Greece signed Wednesday a joint Memorandum of Crisis Management which provides for the strengthening of the cooperation between the two states in the field of defence.

The Memorandum was signed by the Minister of Defence Christoforos Fokaides and the Minister of National Defence of Greece Demetris Avramopoulos, who paid Cyprus a visit on the occasion of the Republic`s Independence Day.

In statements after the meeting, Fokaides said that the Memorandum was signed with the aim to strengthen the two countries’ defence cooperation for the safeguarding of their territorial integrity and the protection of their sovereignty.

The Memorandum, he went on to say, provides for the exchange of information, the coordination of the actions of the crisis management services and measures for joint actions.

Fokaides said that the Memorandum is an additional tool for the deepening of the close cooperation which exists between the two countries in the areas of defence and security.

Cyprus and Greece, the Cypriot Minister stressed, are countries of stability, security and democracy in the wider region and have an extremely important and upgraded role to play for regional security.

In his statements, the Greek Minister of National Defense said that the agreement signed today does not have any aggressive purposes.

“On the contrary, it contributes to the creation of a safety environment”, he said, noting that the defence systems of Greece and Cyprus, apart from the purpose of protecting and ensuring the integrity and independence of Greece and Cyprus, respectively, can serve other common European purposes.

Referring to the meeting he had earlier with President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, Avramopoulos said that they spoke about the Cyprus problem and the developments in the region “which strengthens the geostrategic and geopolitical role of Cyprus”.

He also said that Cyprus` defence system is modern and efficient and is ready to respond to any challenge.

 

  Küfi Seydali

Comment by Soothsayer

This is another nail in the coffin for reuniting Cyprus. Under the 1960 constution, ratified on the 16th August, neither party (Greek nor Turk) can enter into a treaty with any third party without the agreement of the other. This is clearly an acknowledgement by the Greek Republic of Cyprus that the Turks are a seperate entity. It’s about time that they realised this.
Despite his nationalistic rhetoric, Anastisiades is getting the Greek Cypriots (GC) ready for the inevitable. Not before time.
What is really strange though is that GC’s choose to hang onto the coat tails of a country (Greece) which has brought them death, destruction and bankruptcy. A very curious, masochistic and very peculiar GC psyche.

Greek Cypriot Leader Anastasiades, speaking at the 54th year (!) celebrations got carried away and thanked the EOKA terrorists who fought against the British and Turkish Cypriots for ENOSIS (Union with Greece, 1955-1959).

He provoked sharp reactions from both Turkish and Greek Cypriots as well as from the TRNC Leadersip.

 

Nicos Anastasiades hopes that the current international interest in the Cyprus issue would help create prospects for a solution, he said in his address to the nation to mark the island’s 54^th anniversary of independence.

In his speech on Tuesday evening, Anastasiades paid tribute to the EOKA fighters who made independence possible in 1960, and those who later defended the Republic in the wake of the Turkish invasion in 1974.

He said he hoped that the current international interest in the Cyprus issue would help create prospects for a solution.

“Addressing our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, I would like to send the message that, while they should consider our sincere wish and determination for finding a solution, they should not expect that it would ever be possible for us to accept a solution that will not meet the expectations of the Greek Cypriots, or that will make the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots second-class citizens of the EU,” he said.

“At the same time, I call on the Turkish government to respond and contribute substantially, through specific actions, to the effort made for the solution of the Cyprus problem.”

Anastasiades called for the 54^th anniversary to be “the beginning of a new era.

He also referred to the harsh economic conditions the island was undergoing

“We now bear the cost of longstanding problems, the system’s problems, the indecisiveness and fear to take responsibility in the past, as well as political weaknesses, wrong strategic choices and prejudices that led our country on the verge of destruction,” he said.

“It is time to acknowledge our mistakes, before the people, through self-awareness, self-criticism and courage… to acknowledge the reasons why our country went from a place of prosperity, stability, security and safety to being on the brink of economic but also national bankruptcy.”

Anastasiades said he was certain that the island could overcome the obstacles and return to conditions of growth and progress, free from the ills of the past.

“We are working towards transforming Cyprus into a modern, reliable and European country, country that will be playing a key role in the very important and sensitive area of the East Mediterranean, a country that will lead the effort for cooperation, peace and stability,” he said.

Comment by a Greek Cypriot (Veritas):

“In his speech on Tuesday evening, Anastasiades paid tribute to the EOKA fighters who made independence possible in 1960”.

Quite an appalling statement by the President on the eve of our National Day. Doesn’t he know that the aim of the EOKA campaign was union with Greece or ENOSIS and not independence? Further, the founder of EOKA, Gen. Grivas, was never pleased with the 1960 independence and formed EOKA B in1971, which turned out to be the final nail in the coffin 1974.
Above, together with the use of the Greek flag alongside the Cypriot flag on our National Day, doesn’t move things any closer to a solution. A very poor mind of judgement.

Comment by a Turkish Cypriot (Özay Mehmet):

I must admit I was one of those who welcomed Mr. A when he was elected leader of GCs…I thought his Yes in 2004 was the result of intelligence….He has been a great disappointment since day 1…his last performance fits only that of a failed politician. The man is a joke…which world does he live in?

 

  Küf Seydali

 

Which Independence? “Cyprus” died 3 years old in 1963…!!!

Greek soldiers with “Cyprus” Flags

Cyprus will mark the 54th anniversary of its independence from British colonial rule with a military parade on Wednesday

The defence ministry said on Monday that infantry and mechanised units of the National Guard, the Greek Forces in Cyprus (ELDYK), the police and the fire service will take part in the parade on Iosif Hadjiosif Avenue, Strovolos in Nicosia.

President Nicos Anastasiades will take the salute at the parade, which will begin at 11am.

Greek Minister of National Defence Demetris  Avramopoulos will attend.
There will also be a 21-gun salute.

Cyprus gained its independence in 1960, after a four-year struggle against British colonial rule. (CNA)

  Küfi Seydali

Comment by John Mavro

What exactly are we ”celebrating”? And is there any reason to believe that this ”independence” has been nothing else than an unmitigated disaster?

The very fact that the banana republic celebrates this day on 1 October when, assuming anyone believes this myth, in reality the Zurich accord was signed on 16 August 1960 and a serious country would thus adopt that date as its independence date, already tells us about everything that is wrong.

That the idiots making up the ”ruling elite” did not want to interrupt their summer vacations in mid-August and instead pushed it out to October. Presumably also to please the public parasites.

If anything, this date should be a day of solemn national mourning and remembrance.

Of our lack of vision, immaturity and failings in handing over this beautiful island to corruption riddled thieves and embezzlers who have ”governed” us since then.

And in the process lost 40% of the island and then bankrupting the rest. To the extent we are now a failing, bankrupt banana republic.

Some advice to the idiots making up ”government”:

Accept the reality that we are not independent since we are now a colony of the Troika and our creditors.

Cancel these irrelevant and useless military parades which achieve NOTHING.

And in the process save hundreds of thousands of EURO in fuel and overtime pay for these parasites (yes, they get paid overtime since it is a public holiday) which we cannot afford.

In addition to using this time on reflecting about their abysmal failures as ”government”, ”political parties” and ”ruling elite”. And try learn from their catastrophic mistakes.

It would be far more useful than disrupting the Nicosia traffic with this quixotic exercise in total futility

Greek Cypriot Leader N. Anastasiades with J. Kerry in New York

IF THERE was one conclusion to be drawn from Nicos Anastasiades’ visit to New York for the UN General Assembly meeting, it was that he would soon be called to make very difficult decisions. The type of decisions that no Cypriot politician has dared to make in the past, because these require going against the tide, battling long-held political beliefs and prejudices and taking on powerful interest groups. All opt for the least painful option of avoiding making a choice at all costs.

But this will not be an option in the coming months. The government will be forced to decide whether to accept the US invitation for Cyprus to become the superpower’s strategic partner and, more importantly, whether to agree to the peace deal that would allow this to happen. As we have written in the past, the US sees the island as an integral part of its strategic planning for the region but wants the Cyprus problem settled before it pursues its other plans.

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, who was also in New York and met State Department officials, was very clear about Washington’s intentions. “For the United States, the settlement of the Cyprus problem constitutes an issue of priority, in combination with all other developments in our region, in which Cyprus has proved it can be an island of stability that they (US) need geo-strategically to bring peace to the wider region,” he said.

An indication of how much of a priority a settlement was for the US was that Secretary of State John Kerry made time to meet Anastasiades, on his arrival to New York last Sunday, to discuss the peace talks which are set to resume next month. Kerry, according to a State Department official, told Anastasiades that he intended “to become personally involved in the procedure and help as much as he could for progress to be achieved.” He was even prepared to visit the island if this would be considered helpful.

On Friday Anastasiades also met Vice President Joe Biden, who underlined the importance the US administration attached to Cyprus by visiting the island earlier in the year. Never before has such an interest been shown in Cyprus at the highest level of the US administration, which has also been in consultation with Ankara. The Cyprus government spokesman said, after the Biden-Anastasiades meeting, the Americans recognised that actions were needed to change the intransigent Turkish stance, even though the US ambassador in Nicosia said earlier in the week that a solution was down to the two sides.

One thing is clear. Anastasiades will be under tremendous pressure in the coming few months to take the big steps demanded by our strategic partner, while facing strong opposition on the home front. The tough choices will not be confined to the Cyprus problem. At some point he will also have to choose between the forging of strategic partnership with the US or maintaining the strong ties Cyprus has traditionally enjoyed with Russia, because it will be a case of one or the other. The world is splitting into two spheres of influence again and we doubt Cyprus will have option of having a foot in each one. This is a big dilemma, given the economy’s dependence on Russia but a choice will have to be made.

The government’s unprecedented step of consenting to the use of Akrotiri air-base as a launching pad for British air strikes against Islamic State positions is an indication that it is gradually aligning the island with the West. But this is just a step and many more will need to follow that will inevitably alienate Moscow, if it is too realise its declared objective of joining NATO.

Anastasiades will also have to persuade a stridently anti-West, anti-settlement political establishment – not to mention a financial sector dependent on Russian business – that the long term benefits of a strategic partnership with the US would far outweigh the short term problems that would inevitably be created. We are already seeing some of the benefits – the ENI-KOGAS drillship arrived at Block 9 and begun operations last week without any interference from Turkish ships.

This is the bigger picture that our conservative politicians and other opinion formers obstinately refuse to see, as they feel safe focusing exclusively on their small, inward-looking, never-changing world. It is up to Anastasiades to help us all see the bigger picture and move the country westward, but first he has to find the courage, which he has not displayed much in his presidency, to take these tough and difficult decisions himself.

  Küfi Seydali

Comment (KS):

Greek Cypriots to decide; America or Russia?
Ini-Mini-Meini-Mo: Who is friend and who is foe?
Considering that Greeks accused and held America responsible for their 1974 adventure ( in fact they killed the US Embassador in Nicosia and the CIA-Chief in Athens), they are now considering a strategic partneship with America! What about Russia and the Greek Cypriot Communist Party? The Russians have been screwed and would not give any more money!! However, the game Anastasiades is playing is similar to that he is playing with Israel (also strategic partner!!), just because Turkey’s relations to both countries is rather strained. What Anastasiades seem to have forgotten is that he is a member of the EU, and needs the Troika and more money! What exactly makes South Cyprus suitable for a strategic partnership with America and/or Israel? Her economic standing (buncrupt) or her military might?