Front Page Headlines
Diplomatic scandal
Yenidüzen determined the political agenda with its report on Saturday regarding the diplomatic crisis between Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay and the Russian ambassador to Cyprus Stanislav Viliorovich Osadchiy. The social media post which caused the crisis was removed.
- ‘Had the four-party coalition continued, politics would have experienced a serious cleansing’ – Democratic Party leader Serdar Denktaş spoke to Yenidüzen about the four-party coalition which collapsed earlier this month.
- Election day for European Parliament – Cypriots on both sides of the divide vote for European Parliament today.
First clear “Hello” at the end of June
General Coordinator for Technical Committees Meltem Onurkan Samani announced that the legal obstacles ahead of the implementation of telephone interoperability have been lifted, adding that the four-year-old CBM will be implemented by the end of June.
- EP elections being held today – 72 candidates competing for six seats. Many Turkish Cypriots are expected to vote.
- Second leg of the (secondary school) TMK exam held – More than two thousand students took part in the second leg of the entry exam.
Economic crisis hits holiday (plans) abroad:
While there is expectation that Bayram (Eid) will be extended to nine days, the devaluation of the Turkish Lira against foreign currencies results in a lack of sales for holidays abroad. KITSAB (TC Travel Agencies Association) highlights the cancellation of tours abroad due to lack of sales.
- Second leg of the “College” entry exam held – More than two thousand students took part in the “Turkish Cypriot Education College (TMK)” entry exam.
- 27 year-old inmate died – Cause of death believed to be cardiac arrest. Autopsy to be performed today.
First trial
Turkish Cypriots are expected to vote for candidates in the European Elections, with 72 candidates competing for six seats. There are nine Turkish Cypriots (running) and 549,011 registered voters.
- Aiming for religious propaganda – Baraka Cultural Centre harshly criticized the “Hala Sultan Book Days”, which will start today under the organisation of the Evkaf Administration.
- Beaches polluted – Ahead of the start of the summer season, beaches in the north are very dirty.
System must change
Students and their families sweat it out as the second phase of the entrance examination for English language colleges took place.
- Three billion Euros in 15 years – Money rained on Greek Cypriots who voted against reunification.
- Warning to the parties – (Turkish) Defence Minister said that projects that will violate Turkey and the TRNC’s rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean cannot come to life.
Come on!
Vote for Jasmines to fight against racism, division and invasion.
Main News
Mobile phone interoperability to be finalized by June’s end
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
CBMs
OVERVIEW
General Coordinator for Technical Committees Meltem Samani said that the issue of mobile phone interoperability will be taken up at a meeting at the President’s Office on Monday following news that all legal obstacles have been overcome.
Samani told BRTon Saturday that it was pleasing to see that work for the implementation of the confidence-building measures was nearing completion despite the unfortunate delays.
“We have been the side doing all that is necessary from day one for the implementation of the confidence-building measures. The political decision regarding mobile phones was a correct decision, one that will have a positive impact on everyone’s life on the island. It will not only contribute to easing daily life but will also serve to help the two communities communicate,” she said.
She added that both political and legal hurdles have been overcome.
Samani said implementation of the measure, first agreed upon in 2015, had been delayed due to the Greek Cypriot side’s legal and political concerns. Greek Cypriots were looking into ways to avert anything which could imply or lead to political recognition.
Samani said both President Mustafa Akıncı and the Turkish Cypriot side maintained a positive and constructive stance on the issue of CBMs.
Responding to questions, Samani said that progress was being achieved on other agreed CBMs such as demining and education.
Additionally, former president of the TC Chamber of Commerce Fikri Toros told Kıbrısthat mobile interoperability is a collaboration project that is in line with the comprehensive settlement goal. Projects of a similar nature will be increased, he added.
Toros noted that the project, which was prepared by the two Chambers on both sides of the island and was presented to the two leaders simultaneously as a high-impact CBM, was accepted by Akinci in 2015.
However, the Greek Cypriot leader decided to put interoperability on hold, claiming there were some legal obstructions ahead of the implementation of the said CBM, he said.
Following approval by Anastasiades four years later on 26 February, 2019, Toros said he is pleased to hear preparations have been concluded and legal obstructions removed.
KEY ACTOR
Samani
>> Interoperability will have a positive impact on everyone’s life on the island.
>> Implementation delayed due to GCs’ legal & political concerns.
>>Progress achieved on other agreed CBMs such as demining and education.
Akar: Barbaros and Fatih will continue work off Cyprus coast
Kıbrıs Postası, Diyalog, Kıbrıs
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey expects not to face provocative acts and irresponsible statements on Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, the country’s defence minister said on Saturday.
“It is our sincere expectation that provocative acts and irresponsible statements, which do not help resolve problems in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, are not allowed,” Hulusi Akar said during an event as part of Turkey’s largest military exercise Sea Wolf 2019.
“Our desire and expectation are that the rights and interests of Turkey, which has the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will be respected. We expect from all sides to respect these subjects. This is our most natural right,” Akar said.
“Turkey, on every occasion, voices that it sides with the resolution of problems in the Aegean, Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus within the framework of good neighbourly relations and international law and it exerts efforts in this direction,” Akar added.
Turkey has consistently contested the Greek Cypriot administration’s unilateral drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, saying Turkish Cypriots also have rights to the resources in the area.
Akar also said that Turkey did not pose a threat to any country in the world.
He said that Turkey’s exploration vessel Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa and its drilling vessel Fatih will continue to carry out exploration and drilling activities off the western coast of Cyprus within the area that belongs to Turkey’s continental shelf.
The Turkish defence minister pointed out that Turkish naval ships were accompanying the two vessels.
“Any project which excludes Turkey or the TRNC, which ignores their legitimate rights and interests and which does respect their rights stemming from international law has no chance of being successful,” Akar added.
With regards to the recent talks with Greece, he said: “Inter-delegation talks have been completed in Athens in the direction of the agreement we made with Greek Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis.”
“I believe these talks will continue in the future period and I think that they will be to the benefit of both countries,” Akar said.
KEY ACTOR
Akar
>> Turkey does not want provocative acts & irresponsible statements on Aegean & Eastern Mediterranean.
>> Turkey & TC rights and interests must be respected.
>> Turkey wants problems in Aegean, Eastern Mediterranean & Cyprus to be resolved within framework of good neighbourly relations & international law.
>> Turkey objects to GC side’s unilateral drilling in Eastern Mediterranean because TCs also have rights to resources in the area.
>>Turkey does not pose a threat to any country in the world.
>> Barbaros & Fatih activities will continue west of Cyprus coastline in area that belongs to Turkey’s continental shelf.
>> Inter-delegation talks with Athens heading towards agreement.
Özersay:policy on hydrocarbons in harmony with Turkey
Kıbrıs Postası
Energy, Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
North Cyprus’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay, in an interview with Russian News Agency Sputnik,said that the previous government was in full harmony with Turkey regarding the Cyprus Issue with the exception of one issue.
Özersay said that they were in close consultation with Ankara over the future mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Apart from this issue, TC foreign policy was in full harmony with Ankara, he said, referring in particular to the issue of Turkish Cypriot rights over hydrocarbons .
‘We have also been in full harmony with Turkey regarding the participation of Turkish Cypriots in international organisations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Economic Cooperation Organisation. Turkey and the TRNC are on the same page when it comes to the international isolation of Turkish Cypriots,’ he said.
Özersay added that the major difference between the current government and the previous government is its views and positions regarding a solution in Cyprus.
The Republic of Turkey for some time now has been voicing the view that a federal settlement is no longer a realistic option in Cyprus and that to resume talks on this basis is not useful because of the lack of will on the Greek Cypriots’ part, he said. The previous government, the four-party coalition had no joint position on the matter. The coalition protocol of the new government openly and clearly shares the position of Turkey. In other words we are arguing that alternative solution models need to be brought to the table, said Özersay.
Asked about which alternative models could be discussed at the table, Özersay told Sputnikthat a cooperation model without the two states officially recognizing each other could be an option.
“Whenever we try to discuss alternative models in Cyprus we are chastised. That is why I prefer not to stick to rigid terminology,” said Özersay, adding that the time had come to accept the fact that a federal settlement with Greek Cypriots who were reluctant to share power and wealth with Turkish Cypriots was not possible.
Özersay said that any new model should accept the reality that there are two states and should focus on cooperation and solving problems experienced on a daily basis. These areas of cooperation could be natural gas, the environment, health issues, cultural heritage, missing persons, problems in the buffer zone, tourism and other issues, he said.
Özersay added the two sides should be able to cooperate on the basis of the reality that there are two independent structures, one in the North and the other one in the South. “As the Peoples’ Party (HP) we find a solution model based on cooperation more realistic. We as the two parties of the coalition government are in agreement and consensus on not finding federal solution proposals realistic,” he said.
Özersay argued that in international relations, parties to an ethnic-based conflict have both to be unhappy with the status quo in order for a solution to take place. “However the status quo today is only worrying the Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots want the status quo to change because they are subjected to economic, cultural and political isolations. On the other hand, we have the Greek Cypriots who enjoy international recognition, EU membership and the right to unilaterally drill the island’s natural resources. Why should Greek Cypriots think they need to share the island’s wealth with Turkish Cypriots? The status quo is in favour of the Greek Cypriots,” Özersay added.
He continued: “There is a lot of activity and movement in the region that could threaten stability. This activity has to do mainly with Syria. We have US and Russian interests in Syria. On top of everything else we have soured relations between Turkey and Israel. What I want to say is that there are a lot of military movements in the area which could threaten the security of the Eastern Mediterranean and its stability. The US attempts to lift the arms embargo on South Cyprus and France’s attempts to expand its presence in the region should all be assessed carefully. It must however not be forgotten that both Turkey and the TRNC are following these developments closely and would never allow a fait accompli.”
Özersay said that necessary steps were being taken but should the Greek Cypriot side make the mistake of ignoring Turkey’s and the TRNC’s rights over the island’s natural resources, then it will pay a heavy price.
He pointed out that the Greek Cypriots heightened tensions in the region by signing an Exclusive Economic Zone agreement and launching unilateral exploration activities since 2011.
Özersay added: “The Greek Cypriot side first signed maritime delineation agreements, then announced the drilling blocks, licensed them to international firms and finally carried out exploration and drilling. In other words the Greek Cypriot side did everything we warned them not to do. In response we took the necessary steps. Well then where is the process going? Different companies can carry out drilling on behalf of the Greek Cypriot side and the Turkish Cypriot side and perhaps even exploit the resources found. If this is realised then we will not have conflict. However we will eventually need to sit down and discuss how we are going to share revenues from this wealth. “Another possibility is that the Greek Cypriots will attempt to prevent Turkish Petroleum from drilling in areas licensed by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We will not allow this to happen. Or if the Greek Cypriot side attempts to carry out drilling in areas that fall within Turkey’s maritime borders, then Ankara will not allow this. Such a move carried out by the Italian firm ENI in the East of the island was prevented by Turkey. All three scenarios could destabilize the region. However it must not be forgotten that this also harbours an opportunity. As a result large energy companies which are currently active in this volatile region could ask their countries to back them up if things start getting out of control. This could lead to international actors persuading the two sides to come to the negotiating table to discuss the issue of hydrocarbons.”
KEY ACTOR
Özersay (HP)
>> Current government in full harmony with Ankara on Cyprus Problem. UBP-HP government shares Ankara’s view that federal settlement is not an option & supports discussion of alternative solution models at table.
>> Cooperation model without recognition could be an option, in areas such as natural gas, environment, health, cultural heritage, missing persons, tourism and other issues.
>> TCs worried about status quo because of economic, social and political isolation. Status quo in favour of GCs who enjoy international recognition & EU membership as well as drilling unilaterally for hydrocarbons.
>> Intense military movements in the area could destabilize region.
>> Turkey & TRNC following developments closely and will never allow a fait accompli.
>> GC side will pay a heavy price if it ignores Turkey’s & TRNC’s rights over the island’s resources.
>> GCs did everything TC side warned it not to do regarding hydrocarbons.
>> International companies can conduct hydrocarbon drilling on behalf of two sides. But eventually the two sides will need to sit down and discuss the issue.
>> Turkey will not allow GC side to drill inside its maritime borders or efforts to prevent Turkish Petroleum from carrying out its own drilling.
>>Rising tensions could also be opportunity. Drilling companies asking for their country’s backing could persuade two sides to discuss hydrocarbons issue.