Front Page Headlines
Construction to the death
29-year-old Beyazit Temiz who had arrived in Cyprus as a construction worker 33 days ago worked on Sundays as well. He fell to his death from a height of 11 meters.
- The door to Turkey must be opened – President of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry Candan Avunduk gave an important statement on exporting dairy products.
“We will decide when the day comes,” said Sibel Siber
Interview by the paper, Dr Sibel Siber gave messages that she might run as a candidate again for the presidency.
- Eroglu: “Government shaking and in disharmony” – Kibris Postasi spoke to leading UBP members during the workshop held over the weekend.
- Turkey to start importing Hellim (Halloumi) from March onwards – Turkish Agriculture Cooperative signed Hellim (Halloumi) import agreement with KOOP-SUT.
- 29-year-old worker fell to his death – Construction permits suspended as a result of the fatal accident at a hotel construction site in Nicosia.
Ministries should also face trial
Road safety organizations emphasize that the majority of accidents occur due to state negligence, therefore responsible ministries should also face the courts.
- Yet another fatal construction accident – On his 29th day on the island, a 29-year-old worker fell to his death at a construction site in Nicosia.
- Banks achieved a 35.3% increase in revenues – It amounts to 567.1m TL in profits, excluding trading in currencies and before taxation.
“We will not allow the public reform bill,” said KTAMS
TC Public Servants’ Trade Union (KTAMS) President Guven Bengihan spoke about the “public reform bill” and emphasized that the new system contains too many anomalies for civil servants.
- Died while earning his bread – 29-year-old worker fell to his death at a hotel construction site near Gonyeli roundabout in Nicosia.
No election atmosphere from partners
CTP, HP, DP and TDP react to statements from UBP leader Ersin Tatar who said that his party would come to power with 42 per cent if elections were to be held.
Sunday murder
29-year-old worker Beyazit Temiz who fell from 11 meters at a construction site lost his life.
Main News
Ozersay says sides perceive main parameters of a solution differently
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Kudret Ozersay, in an interview with Kathimerini, emphasized that the sides perceive the main parameters of a solution differently and proposed an evolutionary model of collaboration.
Ozersay expressed the view that Anastasiades’ decentralization proposal will not yield a successful outcome. The Turkish Cypriot community, regardless of Anastasiades’ intentions on his proposals, discusses what the framework should be rather than core issues such as political equality, effective participation or guarantees. The UN is also referring to framework discussions with its call for a ‘reflection period’.
A federal solution in Cyprus has proven to be unattainable due to the lack of: a readiness to share; awareness of the other’s needs; mutual trust between the two sides; and a federal culture.
Ozersay added Anastasiades openly spoke about political equality with examples and his statement made the Turkish Cypriot community realize that the two sides perceive political equality, bizonality and guarantees differently. This is actually the first time that the sides know what is not possible, therefore it is a window of opportunity to discuss what the sides can do next.
Asked about his proposals on collaboration, Ozersay gave the example of the European Union and underlined that the sides can focus on an evolutionary model of collaboration. Regardless of focusing on the final goal, the two sides can easily agree on ways of collaborating to reinstate confidence between the two communities.
KEY ACTORS
Ozersay
>> Federation unattainable due to lack of: desire to share power, mutual awareness of other’s needs, mutual trust & federal culture.
>> Two sides perceive basic parameters of solution (political equality, bizonality, guarantees) differently.
>> By knowing what’s not possible, can focus on what is possible.
>> E.g. an evolutionary model of collaboration, where sides choose specific issues to collaborate on, regardless of final goal, thereby reinstating confidence between the two communities.
Siber says federal solution cannot be imposed by force
Kıbrıs Postası
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
In an interview with Kibris Postasi¸Dr. Sibel Siber highlighted that rather than discussing whether a federal solution is good or not, the issue is whether it is possible at this time or not.
Siber added, if in time the communities develop trust for each other, see each other as equals and understand the fact that they will benefit greatly from a federal solution, there will not be anyone opposing it.
She, however, pointed out that a federal solution cannot be imposed by force.
Asked about the possibility of running as a presidential candidate in 2020, Siber stated that she will evaluate her candidacy and decide when the day comes.
KEY ACTORS
Siber
>> Whether a federal solution is possible or not must be debated.
>> Need mutual trust, equality & mutual benefit for a federal solution.
>> Federal settlement cannot be imposed by force.
Coalition partners in no mood for an election
Diyalog
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Main opposition National Unity Party (UBP) leader Ersin Tatar’s claim that his party would come to power on its own with 42 per cent of the votes if early elections were held drew a reaction from the four parties of the coalition government.
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Secretary General Erdogan Sorakin said that the country was not ready for early elections. The public has still not forgotten the actions of the previous UBP government which is why the people do not want UBP in power, he said.
Sorakin added that polls conducted in 2018 showed that CTP’s popularity was on the rise. He also said his party was always ready for elections and was not scared.
Social Democratic Party (TDP) Secretary General Halil Hızal said that the country had more important priorities than holding early elections. He called on the UBP leader to focus his attention on more important issues such as regional tensions and its impact on the TRNC.
Peoples’ Party (HP) Secretary General Yenal Senin said that he respected Tatar’s views but did not believe the public desired a UBP government. He said their recent visits to rural areas showed that the public, despite the economic problems they were facing, still carried hope that the HP will change things in the country.
Senin said they did not receive any criticisms apart from issues related to the economy. He too said his party was ready for elections but expressed the view that early elections will not help solve the current problems facing the country.
The HP Secretary General also said his party will continue to work towards passing crucial and significant laws currently pending in parliament.
Democratic Party (DP) Secretary General Afet Ozcafer said that many of the current problems faced, particularly the economic problems, were the result of UBP’s insistence to hold elections without passing the annual budget. Ozcafer said UBP’s current attempts to create an atmosphere for early elections were not right. She said a whole year after the elections was wasted on putting the economy back on track due to UBP’s insistence on not passing the budget before the last general elections.
“To start a debate on early elections just as things are getting back on track is the worst thing that can be done to the country at this time,” she said.
The DP Secretary General said that her party’s priority was to solve the country’s problems and that nothing else was important.
Also commenting on the issue, opposition Rebirth Party (YDP) leader Erhan Arıklı said that it was out of the question for UBP to come to power on its own following the establishment of his party. He said that all polls showed UBP to have 30 to 35 per cent of the votes at most while his own party had somewhere between 16 to 20 per cent of the votes. Arıklı also claimed that the Rebirth Party was competing with CTP for the second spot.
KEY ACTORS
Sorakin (CTP)
>> Not the time for early elections now.
>> Polls conducted in 2018 show CTP on the rise.
Hızal (TDP)
>> Need to focus attention on more important issues than elections, such as impact of regional tensions.
Senin (HP)
>> Only criticism party receives is on economy-related matters.
>> Early elections will not solve country’s problems.
Ozcafer (DP)
>> Current problems faced as a result of UBP’s insistence not to pass the budget before last general elections.
>> Not the time for elections now.
Arıklı (YDP)
>> UBP doesn’t have enough votes to form government on its own.
>> Polls show YDP competing with CTP for second spot.
AK Party says it will continue to protect Turkish Cypriots’ rights
Yeniduzen, Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey’s ruling AK Party spokesman Omer Celik said Ankara will protect the rights of Turkey and the TRNC in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He said Turkey will not allow Greece or the Greek Cypriot side to usurp these rights. Celik also criticised MPs from the opposition Republican People’s Party who questioned Turkey’s presence and activities in the region.
KEY ACTORS
Celik (AKP)
>> Ankara will continue to protect the rights of Turkey and the TRNC in East Med.
>> Ankara will not allow Greece or the Greek Cypriot side to usurp rights of Turkey and the TRNC.
Agreement signed to export Hellim (Halloumi) to Turkey
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Economy
OVERVIEW
An agreement has been signed between Turkish Cypriot dairy producer KOOP-SUT and the Agricultural Credits Cooperatives of Turkey (TK Birlik) to export Hellim (Halloumi) cheese to Turkey. The cheese will take its place on the shelves of supermarkets that work together with the Agricultural Credits Cooperatives of Turkey.
TK Birlik General Director Fahrettin Poyraz expressed his organisation’s desire to develop agricultural cooperation and trade with similar organisations in the TRNC.
The first shipment of 23 tons of Hellim will arrive in Turkey in early March. Poyraz said that the TRNC should be the first preference in goods imported into the country, particularly when it comes to Hellim.
He said that in addition to Hellim, importing citrus fruits from the TRNC could also be an option, particularly at certain times of the year when shortages are experienced.
The President of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce Candan Avunduk argued that imports of dairy products to Turkey have almost come to a standstill mainly due to what he claimed are wrong policies and measures.
Despite the fact sales of Hellim to Middle East countries remain profitable as they sell the cheese in foreign currency, the fall in the value of the Turkish Lira has hit sales to the Turkish market due to rising costs, he said.
He added that rising production costs in North Cyprus has affected prices which in turn makes it no longer favourable for Turkey to import dairy products.
Also commenting on dropping figures in Green Line trade, Avunduk said that trade has dropped over the years due to political pressures from the Greek Cypriot church and leadership. He said that most goods purchased from the North are goods which do not have brands or labels on them.
Banks’ gross profit: 567.1 million Turkish Lira
Kıbrıs
Economy
OVERVIEW
According to the Central Bank, the banks in the north achieved a 35.3% increase in revenues excluding revenues from currency trading which amounts to 567.1m TL (before taxation).
When revenues from currency trading are included, the banks’ revenues show a 69.29% increase compared to the previous year, which in monetary terms reaches 689.8m TL.
The data shows that 72.89% of the revenues originate from foreign currencies and 27.11% from Turkish Lira. In terms of revenues from interests, the banks with a 58.54% increase compared to the previous year, succeeded in making 3m TL in profit.