Front Page Headlines
“There should have been a barrier”
29-year old Şahin Sevimli, who was injured in the traffic accident which claimed the life of one person and the serious injury of three, spoke to Yenidüzen about the horrific accident.
- “Serial killer” shocks South – The seven murders (5 women and 2 children) committed by officer Nicos Metaxas has caused political waves. The resignation of the justice minister and dismissal of the police chief has not lowered tensions. A second demonstration was held in front of the Presidency.
Not enough green areas: We litter the ones that exist!
While plans to create a city park in Metehan (near Ayios Dhometios crossing) has led to a war of words between the country’s leading institutions, the issue has once again raised the debate as to whether or not there are enough green areas in the country. Citizens who spoke to Kıbrıs Postası TV argued that there aren’t enough green areas in the country and that everyone needed to do more on this issue.
- Çavuşoğlu: “We shall not accept a solution which ignores political equality” – Turkish FM Çavuşoğlu spoke at a media conference in Kyrenia.
- Akıncı: “We shall continue on our way” – President Akıncı spoke at the opening ceremony of the media conference held in Kyrenia.
Are we going to run out of water?
The noticeable drop in water levels at the Geçitköy (Panagra) Dam where water pumped from Turkey is collected, along with claims that there are problems pumping the water, has raised concerns and questions as to what is going on.
The nightmare is back
The weather has warmed up and the mosquito nightmare has started once again for the residents of Nicosia. Ortaköy (Ortakeuy), Marmara and Taşkınköy quarters of Nicosia, where most ponds and rivers are found, are facing a mosquito infestation.
- A solution ignoring Turkish Cypriots is not possible – President Mustafa Akıncı and Turkish FM Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu evaluated the latest stage reached in the search for a solution at a media conference organised by the Global Journalists’ Council.
- Independent inquiry into negligence on the agenda – The political storm regarding the serial murders in the South which led to the resignation of the Justice Minister and dismissal of the police chief is continuing.
Things not going so well
Tourism operators, the business community, retired freedom fighters and mukhtars claim that the TRNC is not run properly and warn that things are not going so well.
- He gave an open message – Turkish FM Çavuşoğlu held contacts in Cyprus, saying: “It’s not possible for us to accept a solution which ignores political equality.”
72 candidates… Nine of them Turkish Cypriots
13 parties and 3 independent candidates are running for the six seats in (European) Parliament. Following the official applications made on Friday, two objections were filed regarding the candidacy of Turkish Cypriots. One of the objections was filed by independent candidate Charis Aristidou, the other by Nationalist Liberation Movement candidate Panayotis Cleovoulou.
- Jasmines meet at “Melandra House” in Famagusta – Candidates of the Jasmine Movement, taking part in the European Parliament elections with a list of six candidates, met with supporters in Famagusta.
Main News
Akıncı and Çavuşoğlu stress importance of political equality for TCs
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing, Energy
OVERVIEW
President Akıncı emphasized the importance of political equality in any future solution to be found to the Cyprus Problem, in his address at the opening of a media conference organized by the Global Journalists’ Council in Kyrenia on Saturday.
Also addressing the conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu adopted a similar line.
Çavuşoğlu, who arrived in the North on Friday, met separately with Akıncı, Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay.
Addressing the conference in Kyrenia, Akıncı said that the quest for a solution will continue as long as the Cyprus Problem continues. However, he said that Turkish Cypriots would not be waiting idly until a settlement was reached, adding that efforts to develop the TRNC should continue.
“The more the TRNC advances in democracy, economy, education sector and others, the closer a solution will be. While we work for a settlement, we will not neglect the development of the TRNC,” he said.
Regarding efforts to reach a settlement, Akıncı pointed out that the Greek Cypriot leadership was creating confusion by raising different concepts in different circles, peddling back and forth between a two-state solution or confederation and a ‘loose’ or decentralised federation.
He underlined that Turkish Cypriots have been advocating for a federation with strong constituent states since Denktas’ term in office.
Akıncı recalled that there was a previous understanding reached on a rotational presidency but that the Greek Cypriot side had recently suggested an alternative model based on a rotating Prime Ministry where the president would always be a Greek Cypriot. He explained that this was one of many proposals which had been discussed and exhausted in the past.
On the issue of political equality, Akıncı said that the Greek Cypriot side continued to oppose the political equality of Turkish Cypriots and their effective participation in decision making regardless of the solution model.
“The Greek Cypriots even backtracked from those issues agreed previously,” Akıncı said.
Regarding hydrocarbons, Akıncı said: “The mistakes and wrongdoings of 2002-2004 which resulted in the Greek Cypriots’ unilateral EU membership is now being repeated on the issue of natural gas. Patting Greek Cypriots on the back and telling them that they have the right to explore and drill is wrong and does not help stability and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
This is an issue which requires cooperation right from the beginning all the way until the end. It is a big mistake to say that “TCs would be able to exercise their rights after a settlement” as this creates a lot of uncertainty about the future, Akıncı added.
Underling the importance of cooperation on hydrocarbons, Akıncı said that cooperating on natural gas and transporting the gas through Turkey to European markets was the most rational option.
He added that pushing Turkish Cypriots and Turkey out of the picture will not help stability and peace in the region.
Akıncı warned that Turkish Cypriots will find ways to protect their own rights and interests in the region.
He said that the action taken by the Turkish Cypriot side was only in response to the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral actions.
“We shall continue to be strong in the field and at the (negotiating) table,” Akıncı said.
For his part, Çavuşoğlu said that strenuous efforts were currently being made to increase the visibility of Turkish Cypriots in the international arena.
He reminded that the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey had done their part towards achieving a solution and that the current non-solution was the result of the Greek Cypriot side’s reluctance to share anything with Turkish Cypriots.
Çavuşoğlu also said that a common ground did not exist for the restart of talks and that the Turkish Cypriot side no longer had any time to lose.
The Turkish FM said that Turkey was open to the idea of discussing all options but was against the idea of having any model imposed on them.
Çavuşoğlu also said that the Turkish side was opposed to the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral hydrocarbon exploration activities.
Turkey is currently conducting its own activities in areas licenced by the TRNC, said Çavuşoğlu, pointing out that the South had already started backing out on several confidence-building measures agreed by the two sides.
He said that it was out of the question for Turkey to accept a solution which ignored the political equality of the Turkish Cypriot side.
Çavuşoğlu concluded by stating that Turkey will continue to adopt a constructive stance in the period ahead but will not refrain from any action aimed at protecting the interests of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot people.
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> TC side will continue the quest for a solution as long as the Cyprob continues but TCs will not wait idly until a settlement is reached.
>> Efforts to develop & advance the north will bring a solution closer.
>> GC side creating confusion by proposing different concepts, pedalling back and forth between a two-state solution, confederation & decentralised/loose federation.
>> GC backtracked from understanding on rotational presidency, resurfaced old & exhausted proposal for rotating prime ministry with permament GC president.
>> Regardless of solution model, GC side continues to oppose TC political equality & effective participation.
>> Regardless of solution model, GC side continues to oppose TC political equality & effective participation.
>> Mistakes of allowing unilateral GC membership of EU now being repeated on hydrocarbons. International community should not encourage GCs to pursue issue unilaterally but to cooperate.
>> Hydrocarbons requires cooperation from start. Argument that TCs will exercise rights post-settlement is a big mistake. Creates uncertainty for future.
>> Encouraging GCs to continue alone & pushing TCs & Turkey out the picture, will threaten peace and stability in the region.
>> Cooperating and transporting natural gas to Europe via Turkey most rational option.
>> TC side’s own hydrocarbon actions in response to GC side’s actions.
Çavuşoğlu
>> Strenuous effort underway to increase TC visibility in international arena.
>> Turkey & TC side did everything for a solution. GCs don’t want to share anything with TCs.
>> No common ground exists for restart of talks. TCs got no time to lose.
>> Turkey open to discussing all options but against having any model imposed.
>> Turkey will not accept solution which ignored TCs’ political equality.
>> Turkish side opposed to GCs’ unilateral hydrocarbon activities.Currently carrying out activities of its own.
>> GCs already backing out of already agreed CBMs.
>> Turkey will continue to adopt constructive stance in period ahead but will not refrain from any action aimed at protecting interests of Turkey & TCs.
‘Turkish Cypriot rights around the island will be protected’
Kıbrıs
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has said that it will continue to do everything to protect the TRNC’s and Turkish Cypriots’ legitimate rights regarding hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Foreign Ministry issued a written response on Saturday following a statement by the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini on the same day, calling on Turkey to refrain from what she described as illegal actions in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC).
She called on Turkey to show restraint and respect the sovereign rights of the RoC, warning that the EU stood in “in full solidarity with Cyprus” and would take necessary action.
In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Turkey’s hydrocarbon-related activities in the Eastern Mediterranean region were based on its legitimate rights stemming from international law.
‘As we previously stressed on many occasions, having the longest coastal line in the region, we will protect our own rights and interests within our continental shelf, as well as those of the Turkish Cypriots around the Cyprus Island. To date Turkey has not refrained from taking the necessary steps in this context, and will not do so in the future,’ the statement read.
It said that it was, in fact, the Greek Cypriot side which had not abstained from irresponsibly jeopardizing the security and stability of the region, by disregarding the inalienable rights of the Turkish Cypriots, rejecting every proposal of cooperation and insisting on its unilateral activities in the region despite Turkey warnings.
The ministry said that the international community must acknowledge the fact that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side could not be excluded from the energy equation in the Eastern Mediterranean, and they should stop providing unconditional support to the Greek Cypriot Administration.
KEY ACTORS
Mogherini (EU)
>> Turkey must refrain from illegal actions in the EEZ of RoC & respect sovereign rights of RoC.
>> EU stands in full solidarity with RoC and will take necessary action.
Turkish MFA
>> Turkey’s hydrocarbon activities based on legitimate rights stemming from international law.
>> Turkey will continue to protect its own rights and interests within its continental shelf. Turkey will not refrain from taking the necessary steps.
>> GC side jeopardising regional stability by disregarding rights of TCs, rejecting cooperation proposals and insisting on unilateral activities despite warnings.
>> International community must accept that TCs and Turkey cannot be excluded from energy equation in East Med. The international community should stop unconditional support to GC side.