Turkish Cypriot Dervis Eroglu Derides Varosha / Famagusta Proposal as Diversion from Cyprus' IMF Bail-In, Won't Grade Downer

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 -- After meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday afternoon, Dervis Eroglu spoke at the UN stakeout, then across the street at the Turkish Center.

In the UN, he was referred to as "Turkish Cypriot leader." Across the street, he was "President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus."

Inner City Press asked Eroglu about the proposal by Cyprus president Nicos Anastasiades for what he called the "ghost city of Famagusta."

Eroglu's response, calling it Varosha, was that Anastasiades had jumped the gun.

Inner City Press asked Eroglu what impact he thought Cyprus' financial crisis and bail-in had on the dispute under negotiation now for 45 years. Eroglu said that Anastasiades' Varosha proposal was meat to divert the Greek Cypriots from the real problems. He confirmed that his side played no role in talks with the IMF.

As in previous years, Inner City Press asked Eroglu to review and grade the performance of UN "good offices" envoy Alexander Downer, who in this year made moves to head a political party in Australia. Eroglu offered no grade. And that may say it all. Watch this site.

   

At UN, Cyprus Anastasiades Floats Famagusta Plan, ICP Asks on Central Bank & IMF, Thanks for Journos, But...

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 26 -- When Cyprus president Nicos Anastasiades took questions at the UN on Thursday, Inner City Press asked him about his dispute with country's Central Bank chief, and if his speech had been coordinated in any way with Turkey, since it was so upbeat. Video here, from Minute 6:13.

Anastasiades said while he tries not to speak about things in Cyprus when he is out of the country, he respects its constitution and the rules and regulations of the Euro system and of the ECB.

On Cyprus we try to open new avenues, he said, "I have a vision to see that my country is going to be reunited... we are not ignoring the rights of Turkish Cypriots.

On Famagusta, he said we are in the process of negotiating: for the port to be open, under EU, Turkey to open airports and ports to ships and planes with Cyprus [flags], then Cyprus would raise veto [threat] on accession process of Turkey.

It was an interesting press conference. Inner City Press got the first question, but instead of thanking Anastasiades on behalf of the new Free UN Coalition for Access (which it does when the old UN Correspondents Association insists on pretending it represents all journalists at the UN), thanks was given for "the journalists here."

That's how it should and could be done. But later on Thursday, not only did UNCA's 2013 president Pamela Falk of CBS re-appear for the UNFCCC -- a person who lost election for the UNCA board again insisted on getting the first question at an ICC press conference. This means: first questions for sale. UNreal. Watch this site.