Front Page Headlines
The tragedy behind the flames
A real family tragedy revealed after fire burns down home near Nicosia Bus Terminal. It emerged that the family living in the home was in need of social assistance. The fire just made things harder for the family.
- Erhürman: We shall erase the image that Turkish Cypriots cannot do anything – Prime Minister Erhürman came together with the public in Lefke (Lefka), vowing to solve the country’s problems.
Instead of applauding, they denigrate
Dr. Hasan Birtan, who took part in the first heart transplantation operation in the North, refuted the allegations made on transplanting the heart to a preferred patient rather than the one in line.
- Proposal to collaborate with the Greek Cypriots on hydrocarbons is still valid – FM Kudret Özersay met with Turkish FM Çavuşoğlu and with Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) officials.
We have become a very angry community
Despite increase in individual happiness levels, the Centre for Migration, Identity and Rights Studies (CMIRS) March 2019 poll reveals the percentages of people feeling depressed and the increase in anger.
- 3,127 students to be taught Turkish – Education Ministry launches project to teach Turkish to 3,127 students from 33 different countries in primary and secondary schools whose mother tongue is not Turkish.
Pity these children
Three children were rescued from a home in flames near Nicosia Bus Terminal. There is a real family tragedy behind the fire.
- Failed in freedom of press – According to the annual ranking of Reporters without Borders (RSF), the North is ranked at 74th place while there is growing pressure from Turkey on Turkish Cypriot journalists.
- FETÖ evidence from Turkey requested – Police services commission, tasked to investigate Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) links in the North, asked for evidence to be sent from Turkey regarding three police officers under investigation.
Costs too high
Head of KITOB (North Cyprus Hoteliers Association) Dimağ Çağıner warns that some hotels have come to the brink of shutting down as things aren’t going too well in the tourism sector. He called for more aggressive promotion and advertising.
- 11 per cent drop: Demand for investments to be opened to foreigners –Businessmen in TRNC offer foreigners who want to invest in open air shooting ranges to come to the North.
Human chain against nuclear (plant)
Organisations, parties and trade unions of two communities on the move against power plant to be constructed in the south of Turkey which poses a danger to all of us.
- Call from TRNC to the South – Demand for investments to be opened to foreigners. Businessmen in TRNC offer foreigners who want to invest in open air shooting ranges to come to the North.
Main News
Proposal to collaborate with Greek Cypriots on hydrocarbons still valid
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Afrika, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu said that he will continue to work with the Turkish Cypriot side on solution models that will address the security concerns of Turkish Cypriots.
In a tweet following his meeting with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Kudret Özersay, Çavuşoğlu said that they had the opportunity to evaluate the latest developments on the Cyprus Issue.
“Our joint efforts to reach a solution model that safeguards the political equality of Turkish Cypriots and addresses their security concerns will continue,” Çavuşoğlu said.
Özersay on Thursday said that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue its efforts to exercise its indisputable rights in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
The TC minister met with officials from the Turkish Petroleum Consortium (TPAO) in the Turkish capital Ankara.
Discussions focused on ongoing natural gas exploration activities carried out by TPAO on behalf of the TRNC in areas licensed by TC authorities.
He said, however, that these activities on natural gas reserves did not exclude the Turkish Cypriot side’s desire to cooperate with Greek Cypriots on the issue of hydrocarbons.
“Obviously our preference is that we utilize possible reserves in the area together with Greek Cypriots even in the absence of a settlement,” Özersay said.
Özersay said that the Turkish Cypriot side’s offer for cooperation still stood but that no one should expect Turkish Cypriots to stand idle as long as this offer is rejected. The Turkish Cypriot people, without any hesitation, will continue to take steps towards protecting their rights and interests on this issue, he said.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu
>> Joint efforts for solution model that safeguards political equality of TCs and addresses their security concerns to continue.
Özersay (HP)
>> TC side’s ongoing hydrocarbon activities do not exclude desire to cooperate with GCs on issue.
>> TC’s preference to utilize hydrocarbons jointly. Offer to cooperate still stands but TC side will not stand idly by if offer is turned down.
>> TC side will protect rights and interests in region without hesitation.
UBP says UNSG report fails to contribute to solution efforts
Kıbrıs Postası, Diyalog, Havadis, Kıbrıs
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Leader of the main opposition National Unity Party Ersin Tatar said on Thursday that the UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) latest report on his Good Offices Mission will not make the smallest contribution to a solution in Cyprus.
In a written statement, the UBP leader said that the report did not reflect the realities, claiming it was aimed more at appeasing the Greek Cypriot side.
Tatar pointed out that efforts by the UNSG’s special envoy Jane Holl Lute to develop the Terms of Reference aimed at reviving talks had failed.
He added that the Greek Cypriot side, more importantly, toughened its position and backtracked from previous convergences during this period.
Tatar said what the UN needed to do was to determine the divergences that existed between the two sides and seek alternative solutions on those problems.
The UBP leader concluded by saying that if no positive outcome is to be reached from such efforts, the two sides should be allowed to go their own way.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>> UNSG report will not make smallest contribution to solution.
>> Report does not reflect realities. Only aims to appease GC side.
>> GC toughed its stance and backtracked from past convergences during UN efforts to revive talks.
>> UN must determine divergences and seek alternative solutions.
>> Sides must be allowed to go their own way if efforts fail.
GC & TC environmentalists to protest Akkuyu nuclear power plant
Yenidüzen, Afrika
Human Rights, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Environmental groups, political parties and trade unions from both sides of the divide will be forming a human chain on Monday to protest the construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power plant in Mersin, Turkey.
The protest organized by the ‘No to Nuclear’ platform and which coincides with the 33rd anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster will take place in front of Ledra Palace hotel on Monday evening.
Among the groups or parties that will take part is the New Cyprus Party (YKP), the United Cyprus Party (BKP), the Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL), the Ecologists’ Movement, the Citizens’ Association, the Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP), the Cyprus Turkish Public Sector Workers’ Union (KTAMS), the Doctors’ Association, Dev-İş, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Environmental Engineers, the Cyprus Turkish Teachers Union (KTÖS), and the Cyprus Turkish Secondary School Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS) who organized a press conference at the Home for Cooperation.
The dangers and risks of building a nuclear power plant on the southern coast of Turkey to the region was highlighted during the press conference.
A joint statement prepared by the platform was read out in Turkish and Greek by Feriha Tel and Kyriacos Tsimillis.
The joint statement said that a nuclear accident in the area could have irreversible consequences for the region.
In response to a question, platform representatives said that they will be launching new and effective initiatives on the matter in collaboration with anti-nuclear civil society organisations in Turkey following the European Parliamentary elections.
3,127 students to be taught Turkish
Kıbrıs
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Education Ministry launches project to teach Turkish to 3,127 students whose mother tongue is not Turkish, from 33 different countries in primary and secondary schools. Education Ministry Undersecretary Mehmet Burhan noted that the number of students for whom Turkish is not their mother tongue amounts to six percent of total students. He added that 1,268 of these students reside in the Kyrenia area.
The project will commence in September and is aimed at overcoming learning difficulties due to language problems. The students will be grouped into two; students aged six to 13 and students aged 13 to 17. The project will also have additional modules on cultural adaptation.
Failed in freedom of press
Havadis
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
According to the 2019 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters without Borders (RSF), the North is ranked at 74th place. RSF states there is growing pressure from Turkey on Turkish Cypriot journalists. In the report titled, “Under Turkey’s shadow”, RSF highlights that pressure on Turkish Cypriot journalists for their news coverage of developments in Turkey and Turkey’s policies on the north is increasing even though the journalists continue to enjoy freedom to criticise Turkish Cypriot authorities.
The Index refers to the protests against Afrika in early 2018 and the lawsuit brought against Afrika’s editor-in-chief Şener Levent for publishing a photo-collage to illustrate the mounting pressure on Turkish Cypriot journalists. Nonetheless, the RSF index shows the north has gone up three places in 2019 compared to the previous year and ranked 74th despite the developments. Turkey remained at its 157th place while the Republic of Cyprus went down by three places to be ranked 28th in the World Press Freedom Index.