PHILELEFTHEROS: “Turkey rejects financial aid to north” In its lead story, the paper said that Turkey and the northern breakaway regime have told the EU they will reject the 259-million euro aid package if this is not accompanied by a provision on direct trade with the occupied territories. According to sources, Turkish Cypriot ‘Prime Minister’ Mehmet Ali Talat contacted the Dutch presidency to say he would agree only to the two measures being passed simultaneously.
SIMERINI: “Stock exchange probe findings shocking” According to the paper, the findings of a probe into the stock exchange bubble burst of 1999-2000 names a number of prominent persons, including a former government minister, in suspect transactions. The paper claimed that those fingered in the report have been trying behind the scenes to clear their names and disassociate themselves from the investigation. The probe’s findings are to be submitted to the Finance Minister on October 8.
ALITHIA: “President Papadopoulos should get serious” Paraphrasing the DISY leader’s advice to the President, the paper focused on the escalating spat between Papadopoulos and Anastassiades. The two politicians exchanged accusations over the weekend, disagreeing on almost the entire gamut of issues regarding the Cyprus problem.
HARAVGHI: “Yes, but…” The European Commission’s upcoming progress report on Turkey will most likely recommend the country acquire candidate status, however even the most conservative estimates say Turkey will become an EU member in no less than 15 years. The commission’s report, out this Wednesday, will point out both positive and negative aspects regarding Turkey’s harmonisation with EU regulations.
THARROS: “Psy-warfare operations” The paper discovered a number of Turkish-run websites on the Internet promoting propaganda that Cyprus is a safe haven for terrorists and mobsters. Among other allegations, the sites suggested that President Papadopoulos had ties to Milosevic’s right-hand man and the Serbian mafia. According to the paper, these ‘psychological operations’ were conducted by Turkish circles as payback for Justice Minister Theodorou’s recent claims that Chechen militants were active in the north.
POLITIS: “Yes to Turkey, however…” Another take on the European Commission’s upcoming evaluation of Ankara, with the daily saying the EU body will state Turkey is not yet ready to be a member-state despite signs of progress in recent years. This appraisal is reportedly acknowledged by Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan, who said this weekend that Turkey should not expect to join the bloc anytime before 2019.
