Former President of the Republic, George Vassiliou, was admitted to Nicosia General Hospital due to health concerns. He sought medical attention on Thursday night and will undergo treatment and observation in a medical ward. Vassiliou, who is 92 years old, served as President of the Republic of Cyprus from 1988 to 1993.
Maria Angela Holguín Cuéllar, the personal envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General, is in Cyprus to gather assessments on the failure of the talks in Crans Montana and to understand the positions of various political forces regarding the future of negotiations in Cyprus. During her meetings with leaders from both sides of the divide and party leaders, Holguín has emphasized not rushing into negotiations without sufficient momentum and has sought to understand each side’s desires and perceived responsibilities of the other side. She has indicated a preference for focusing on the present rather than past failures. Various political leaders have expressed their views to Holguín, ranging from skepticism about the potential for confidence-building measures to contribute positively, to differing perspectives on the future of negotiations and the possibility of a federation. The National Unity Party in the occupied territories has stated that the chapter of federation is closed, while the Republican Turkish Party supports efforts to create common ground for resuming official negotiations and seeks a comprehensive solution based on political equality.
Financial crime prosecutors are investigating Saint Habakkuk, examining documents and reports from the bishop’s deposition and summoning individuals for testimony. They are investigating property acquisitions by monks in Cyprus and Greece, bank account disclosures, and the origin of €807,000 in cash found at the monastery. The Tax Department is investigating the monastery’s financial obligations to the state. The Economic Crime Unit has received 15 testimonies and continues to evaluate evidence. Police Internal Affairs is investigating complaints against bishop Isaiah and others for alleged abduction and assault. Two policemen admitted to transporting valuable items from the monastery at bishop Tamasou’s request. Lawyers for two archimandrites claimed a videotape concerning myrrh found in the monastery was forged and illegally processed.
– The hermitage of Saint Habakkuk was illegally erected and converted into the Holy Monastery of Saint Habakkuk by the Holy Synod on March 21, 2022.
– Efforts have been made for two years to legalize the monastery’s facilities through registration and road construction.
– Government departments have refused the retroactive legalization due to the monastery being built in a Natura 2000 Network area without environmental studies.
– Legal actions were initiated against the Monastery, the church committee, and Archimandrite Nektarios Georgiou for unauthorized constructions.
– The first inspection occurred in September 2022, and by March 2023, illegal buildings and lack of final approvals for various constructions were identified.
– On March 17, 2023, the Monastery was notified of the decision to take legal action, leading to a court case with 18 charges filed in July 2023, with a trial scheduled for March 26, 2024.
– Pressure was exerted to register a road leading to the monastery to grant legal access and obtain a license.
– The road falls within agricultural zone G3, protection zone Z1, the Special Protection Zone of the Natura 2000 Network named Madari – Papoutsa, and the Community Importance Area named Fountoukodasi Pitsilias, and is a known migratory bird corridor.
– The Department of Environment emphasized the negative impacts of road widening on the Natura 2000 Network areas.
– A meeting on March 21, 2023, discussed the road’s registration and construction, requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment study for approval.
– The Game and Fauna Service opposed the registration of roads through Nature Protection areas to prevent encouraging residential development in these areas.
– The Department of Environment had no objection to issuing a license for the legalization of the illegally erected cells and auxiliary spaces at the hermitage as of a month after the March 21, 2023 request for opinions.
A poll by Phileleftheros, conducted by Pulse Market Research, found that the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General do not satisfy citizens with their work, with only 29% of citizens responding positively about the Attorney General and 24% about the Deputy Attorney General. In contrast, 71% of citizens are satisfied with the work of the Auditor General. The poll also indicated that the negative stance towards the Attorney General is consistent across all party lines, with 51% of DISY voters, 66% of AKEL voters, and 61% of DIKO voters expressing a negative opinion. The President of the Republic has expressed intentions for institutional changes in the Audit Office, which has been met with immediate reaction from Odysseas Michaelides, the Auditor General. Additionally, the European Social Survey conducted by the University of Cyprus showed that the levels of trust in Justice are low, with an average of 4.39 out of 10.
This week is crucial for the development of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project at Vasiliko, with Energy Minister George Papanastasiou meeting officials from CPP-Metron Consortium Ltd (CMC). The government may exit the deal due to disputes, as the consortium halted work and sought €200 million in arbitration. A top executive from the consortium is set to discuss project resumption in Cyprus. The government insists on not paying additional claims outside the Arbitral Tribunal in London and demands a project resumption date. The project, including an FSRU, jetty, mooring facilities, a pipeline, and a PV storage system, has received a €101 million EU grant and additional financing from the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Democratic Rally President Annita Demetriou is the most popular politician in Cyprus, with 66% of respondents having a positive opinion of her, according to a Pulse Market Research poll for Phileleftheros. AKEL General Secretary Stephanos Stephanou and Greens President Yiorgos Perdikis are the only other leaders with a positive opinion. Perdikis has a 47% acceptance level and Stephanou has a 45% borderline positive opinion. Government coalition Democratic Party President Nicholas Papadopoulos has 42% positive opinions, ELAM President Christos Christou has 36% positive opinions with a 10 percent rise over the past five years, and Socialist EDEK leader Marinos Sizopoulos has 21% positive opinions. DIPA President Marios Karoyian has 26% positive opinions.
President Christodoulides’ cabinet reshuffle on January 8 received mixed reactions, with a public opinion survey indicating majority support for five out of six changes. The survey, conducted by Pulse Market Research for Phileleftheros, found that 26% of respondents thought the changes were needed, 48% saw them as necessary, 10% disagreed, and 16% did not respond. DISY supporters mostly favored the reshuffle, with DIKO and AKEL supporters also showing significant support for some changes. The replacement of Michalis Hatzigiannis, Anna Koukides-Procopiou, Popi Kanari, Petros Xenophontos, and Philippos Chatzizacharias was generally supported, except for the removal of Defence Minister Michalis Georgallas, which faced opposition from 44% of respondents. The survey had a sample size of 600, covered nationwide urban and rural areas, used random-stratified multistage sampling, and was conducted via telephone interviews from February 20 to 26, 2024.
Less than three months before the European Parliament elections, a poll conducted by Pulse Market Research for Phileleftheros shows that 50% of voters are still undecided about their choice for the June 9th election. The poll results indicate a decline in voter interest for major parties, with the Democratic Rally (DISY) and AKEL both falling below 20% in voter preference, and all other parties in single digits. ELAM has risen to third place, while the Democratic Party (DIKO) has dropped to fourth. According to the poll, DISY is at 17%, AKEL at 14%, ELAM at 8%, DIKO at 7%, Socialist EDEK at 3%, the Greens at 2%, and the government alliance DIPA at 0.3%. More than a third of respondents are undecided, and 9% intend to abstain. Compared to the 2021 results, DISY has seen a 10% drop from almost 28%, and AKEL’s drop is attributed to the undecided vote, falling from 22.3% in the previous election. ELAM is the only party showing an increase, from 6.78% to 8%.