TCC Press Review 10 May 2019

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

‘Pour the coffee I’m on my way’

All eyes turned on UBP (National Unity Party) and HP (Peoples’ Party) for a new government.

  • Stability in the TRNC: 27 governments and 40 Council of Ministers in 44 years – National Unity Party holds the record of being the longest ruling party with a total of 22 years in office (coalitions excluded). Seven coalition governments have been tried in a period of 17 years.
  • PM Erhürman: “The task of forming a government should be given to Ersin Tatar without further delay”
  • From Denktaş to Özersay: “He chose to run rather than to pursue justice”
  • UBP leader Tatar: “I shall meet with all parties. We’ve not met with anyone officially”
  • Özgürgün: “A UBP-HP coalition would not do the public any good”

Kıbrıs Postası

Plenty of scenarios

There are many possible coalitions – UBP-HP coalition with 30 MPs is the most likely one but has problems. UBP-CTP coalition with 33 MPs but CTP members do not like the idea – UBP-DP-YDP coalition achieves the critical 26 MPs threshold making it a difficult option but could last until the presidential elections. The final option is an early parliamentary election.

  • Greek Cypriots take courage from international actors – Mustafa Akıncı stressed that the promises made by international actors completely close the possibility of sharing [hydrocarbons] in an interview with TRT.

Kıbrıs

Our conscience is clear

People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay said, “We have reached a point of not being able to prevent the wrongdoings, and not being able to govern” in his statement to Kıbrıs. Özersay defended his party’s decision to withdraw from the government.

  • A 14-year-old child is pregnant – A 14-year-old girl felt sick and went to a hospital in Kyrenia only to find out she was eight weeks pregnant. A 23-year-old man has been arrested. Social Services Department called in to investigate.

Havadis

UBP-HP coalition – Agreed on a seven-to-three (distribution of ministerial seats)

According to information provided by sources close to the National Unity Party (UBP), the two political parties have already agreed on a seven-to-three ratio of distribution of ministerial seats for the next coalition government. The Prime Minister will be from UBP. The People’s Party (HP) will keep its current three ministries.

  • “I resigned to clear my name” – Serdar Denktaş said he resigned to clear his name against organized attacks but ‘our friend’ who claimed to be fighting against corruption, decided to run away.
  • An early election is the only way out – UBP MP Hüseyin Özgürgün stated the people are upset with Kudret Özersay, therefore, a UBP-HP coalition will not work.

Diyalog

What’s happening in the country

Orhan Cökü and two others accused of setting up an explosive device to kill Ercan Zengin were arrested in ‘Operation Bat’. 

Afrika

UBP-HP coalition

Tufan Erhürman who handed in his resignation to Mustafa Akıncı said that the task of forming a new government should be given to Ersin Tatar without further delay. Erhürman: A coalition between UBP (National Unity Party) and HP (People’s Party) is on the agenda. CTP will not turn down any party’s request to meet. We are always ready to meet. We have no problems with UBP or HP. But the current government formula discussed is not a formula for us.

  • Serdar Denktaş: “I wanted to be cleared” – Denktaş said he resigned as a result of organised attacks against him and wanted to be cleared of these accusations.
  • YDP’s view is task should be given to Tatar – YDP to meet on Sunday to evaluate the situation.

Main News

Process to form a new government in North underway

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Governance & Powersharing

OVERVIEW

The process of forming a new government in the North got underway after Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader and Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman submitted his government’s resignation to President Mustafa Akıncı on Thursday.

The fragile four-party coalition collapsed late Wednesday first with the resignation of Democratic Party leader (DP) Serdar Denktaş from his post as finance minister over claims he had abused his position to lease state-owned land to his son.

The Peoples’ Party (HP), citing ethical reasons, announced its withdrawal from the coalition the same day bringing the 15-month-old four-party coalition to an end.

Akıncı accepted Erhürman’s resignation, saying that he had been in good dialogue with the four-party government.

He pointed out that it was the first time a four-party coalition had been tried in the north.

“Coalitions are always difficult but all experiences are lessons for the future. This coalition will set an example for better work in the future,” he said.

Akıncı also asked Erhürman to remain in office until a new government is formed.

He said he would meet with the party leaders starting next week and would be assigning an MP to form the new government before the end of the week.

Erhürman told reporters after meeting with Akıncı that the task of forming a new government should be given to National Unity Party (UBP) leader Ersin Tatar without further delay.

UBP currently holds the largest number of seats in the Turkish Cypriot parliament.

Erhürman also underlined the urgency of forming a new government as the country was experiencing a serious economic crisis and needed stability.

The CTP leader admitted that his government had not been successful in creating that stability.

Later on Thursday night, Erhürman convened CTP’s party assembly to discuss the situation.

Erhürman repeated his views expressed earlier in the day, adding that a coalition government between UBP and HP seemed the most likely possibility at the moment.

He said that his party would not turn down requests of other parties to meet but added that they were not part of government formulas currently being discussed.

Tatar told TAK news agency on Thursday that he was ready to form a new government as soon as Akıncı assigned him the task.

He said that he would be meeting with all parliamentary parties whether or not the chances of entering a coalition with them was high or low.

Tatar also said that his party had not held any official meetings with any of the parties yet.

“It is time to serve the people. The country is waiting for this. The economic crisis has hit the business sector hard. Our priority will be to solve these problems,” he said.

UBP’s General Secretary Hasan Taçoy on Thursday said that the people wanted to see a UBP-HP coalition.

Taçoy said that this was the message that had emerged from the 9 January 2018 general elections.

Former UBP leader Hüseyin Özgürgün expressed opposition to a possible UBP-HP coalition arguing that such a model would not do the people any good.
He said that the UBP base was angry with HP.

Stating HP leader Kudret Özersay could not be trusted, Özgürgün said HP would most likely trick UBP just as it did the other parties it entered into a coalition with.

DP leader Denktaş told reporters following a meeting of the party’s central executive committee that he held Özersay accountable for the collapse of the coalition.

He accused Özersay of running away rather than taking judicial action against him.

“I had expected Özersay, a staunch advocate of fighting corruption and illegal practices, to use this opportunity to investigate me and to take legal action if necessary. Instead, he chose to run away,” Denktaş said.

The DP leader said he had resigned because of a barrage of organised attacks against him and his family which they did not deserve.

Denktaş also said that the Council of Ministers of the four-party coalition had a good and harmonious working relationship.

Özersay told Kıbrıs that his party had a clear conscience regarding the decision to withdraw from the coalition government.

He said that HP had decided to leave the coalition not only because it was unable to do the things it wanted to do but because it was unable to prevent mistakes.

Özersay said that they had tried very hard to make the coalition government work despite facing challenges such as the economic crisis, natural disasters and other problems.

“In fact, Mr Denktaş’ resignation from his post was proof that the coalition government had come to its end,” he said.

HP’s motto has always been clean politics, transparency and accountability, said the HP leader.

“What the people expect of us is to uphold these values and principles. We stood behind our word. Our conscience is clear,” he added.

The Social Democratic Party (TDP) chose to evaluate the situation in a written statement.

TDP said that it would continue its struggle on the basis of its principles.

To seek other government alternatives while the current problems could be solved through the coalition was a serious act of irresponsibility, said the party.

TDP described the land lease incident as unacceptable, noting that it had only come to their knowledge a week ago.

The junior coalition partner, however, criticised HP for withdrawing from the government instead of investigating and correcting unlawful and irregular practices as it had vowed to do in its government programme.

Yenidüzen also provided a feature on the history of the government in the North.

Providing statistical data, the paper reports that UBP holds the record for being in office the longest period of time, reaching 34 years (coalitions included).

The daily states that UBP was followed by DP with 12 years and nine months in power, while CTP had 12 years. UBP remained in power uninterrupted from 1975 to 1994.

Yenidüzen also pointed out that there have been seven coalition governments in the past 14 years.

The daily, which carried out a small vox pop on the street, arrived at the conclusion that the public did not have high expectations from a new government.

Havadis, citing sources close to UBP, claimed that the UBP-HP coalition government was a done deal and that the two parties have already agreed on the distribution of ministerial seats with a seven-to-three ratio. While HP will maintain its current ministries (Foreign, Transportation and Public Works, Interior), UBP will take the remaining seven ministerial seats plus the post of prime minister.


Greek Cypriot unilateral moves encouraged by international actors

Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

President Mustafa Akıncı said the Greek Cypriot side is absolutely opposed to the idea of sharing [natural resources] and that tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean are escalating day-by-day.

In an interview with TRT, Akıncı said that he did not have the power to change the island’s geography. The assurances given to Turkish Cypriots over the island’s natural resources were being disregarded, he argued, adding that Turkey also has rights within its continental shelf hence its investments in the area. In this respect, by using Turkey’s capabilities, the Turkish Cypriot side is continuing its efforts in line with its rights, Akıncı said.

Akıncı also said that what happened in 2004 was happening again today with promises made to the Turkish Cypriots side being forgotten. He said the promises or encouragement given by the international actors [to the GC side] completely prevented the possibility of sharing [hydrocarbons].

Akıncı said the international community encouraged the Greek Cypriot side to continue with its hydrocarbon activities unilaterally, therefore, distancing the Greek Cypriot side from a solution.

He also underlined the importance of the hydrocarbon issue because it is a matter that concerns the two communities. The two sides will either act together on the issue or the Greek Cypriot side will postpone its unilateral activities, he said.

Akıncı underlined it is not possible to exclude Turkish Cypriots or Turkey from the energy equation in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The Greek Cypriot side, on the one hand, accepts Turkish Cypriots’ rights over the island’s natural resources but continues with its unilateral activities on the other. Therefore, the Turkish Cypriot side will also continue with its efforts by using Turkey’s capabilities, Akıncı said.

He emphasized that Turkey is the most logical route for the EastMed project. The Greek Cypriot side will not be able to achieve anything by punishing the Turkish Cypriots, he said. The Greek Cypriot side refrains from sharing the natural resources with Turkish Cypriots just as they claim to be the sole owners of the Republic of Cyprus, he added.

The negotiations process has reached a very sad point because the Greek Cypriot side rejects Turkish Cypriots’ political equality and effective participation. They reject the Turkish Cypriots’ right of say before and after a solution. They do not accept partnership even at a federal level, Akıncı concluded.

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said Turkey will continue to take the necessary steps to protect the Turkish Cypriot side’s rights and interests in line with international law.

He added that those who believe they can harm Turkey’s hydrocarbon activities with a fait accompliin the Eastern Mediterranean are mistaken. The foreign media distort Turkey’s righteous position on hydrocarbons, he said. The seismic research and drilling activities carried out by ‘Fatih’ and ‘Barbaros’ are in line with international law and in line with Turkey’s legitimate rights, Dönmez said.

He reminded that the UN Secretary-General had made it clear the natural resources in Cyprus belonged to both sides. The minister underlined that Turkey expects regional and international actors to respect Turkey’s hydrocarbon drillings carried out in its continental shelf.

Dönmez said natural resources could play an important role to bring peace, adding that Turkey is carrying out its policies in this regard while protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. Turkey will continue to be the assurance of peace in the region, Dönmez concluded.

Jeremy Hunt, British Foreign Secretary, expressed his concerns regarding Turkey’s hydrocarbon drillings with a post on Twitter. Hunt wrote: “Concerned by Turkey’s announcement to begin drilling in Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone. This situation MUST be deescalated and all parties show restraint. Hydrocarbons development should benefit all Cypriots and support a settlement.”

KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>>
GCs reject sharing hydrocarbons with TCs.
>> International community encourages GCs to continue with their hydrocarbon activities, distancing them from a solution.
>> Hydrocarbons a matter for both communities. Two sides will either act together on issue or GCs will postpone unilateral activities.
>> Not possible to leave TCs or Turkey out of the energy equation in the region.
>> GCs accept TC rights on natural resources but continue to go it alone. Therefore, TCs will also proceed with hydrocarbons, utilising Turkey’s capabilities.
>> Turkey is the most logical route for EastMed project.
>> Promises made to the TCs are being forgotten like in 2004.
>> GCs reject political equality & effective participation. They reject TCs right of say before and after a solution.

Dönmez (Turkey)
>> Turkey’s drilling in accordance with international law & a result of its legitimate rights.
>> Turkey to take necessary steps to protect the rights and interests of the TCs.
>> Turkey expects international actors to respect its right to drill in its continental shelf.

Hunt (UK)
>>
Britain is concerned about Turkey’s intentions in Cyprus EEZ.
>> Situation must be deescalated and all parties show restraint.
>> Hydrocarbons should benefit all Cypriots and support a settlement.


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