Front Page Headlines
18 returned in nine years. 76 persons are still wanted
There is a need for more cooperation on crime and criminals in Cyprus. In the past nine years, eleven suspects from the North to the South and seven suspects from the South to the North have been exchanged at the buffer zone through the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Crime and Criminal Matters. The co-chair of the committee Hakkı Önen said that the exchange which took place on June 13 was not the first time.
- İmamoğlu wins a landslide victory in Istanbul elections. Erdoğan’s rule is being questioned.
Turkey must establish air and naval bases in the North without delay
Retired Brigadier General Dr Naim Babüroğlu who lectures at Istanbul’s Aydın University claims that threats have emerged in the Eastern Mediterranean for Turkey due to newly forming alliances in the region led by the United States. He added the military bases could be the only deterrent against the anti-Turkey front in the region.
- Our project is to open Maraş (Varosha) under Turkish Cypriot administration – PM Ersin Tatar talked about the government’s initiative and said the project will progress according to a timeline. The first step is to conduct the inventory.
- Ekrem İmamoğlu wins the re-run – Ekrem İmamoğlu wins the second time in the mayoral elections.
21 thousand people banned from using cheques in seven years
According to TRNC Central Bank reports, hundreds of people are being banned from using cheques every month. The dud cheques circulating in the market is an increasing reason for concern.
- Ekrem İmamoğlu wins with a decisive vote – The results in the re-run of the mayoral elections in Istanbul did not change but the winner increased his votes.
- “I did not say Las Vegas” – PM Ersin Tatar denies he vowed to transform Maraş (Varosha) into “Las Vegas” and added “My head is not in the clouds. The first phase will be the inventory study.”
Prime Minister insists on Maraş
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar spoke clearly and said Maraş (Varosha) will be opened under Turkish Cypriot administration. He added the Maraş (Varosha) project will start with the inventory study.
- A new era in Istanbul – Ekrem İmamoğlu is the winner of the re-election in Istanbul with a decisive vote.
Critical day
It’s been stated that failure to establish a seven-person committee to investigate corruption claims against National Unity Party (UBP) MP Hüseyin Özgürgün at today’s session of parliament could trigger a crisis within the UBP. The crisis could spell the end of the newly formed coalition government.
- Democracy won – İmamoğlu was elected as mayor of Istanbul in a re-run of elections after winning with a increased margin of 777,000 votes.
- Kyprianou to deliver the eulogy – Public offices will be closed tomorrow due to (Demetris) Christofias’s funeral.
- “It can’t be permitted” –Former Greek Cypriot foreign ministers proposed taking the issue to the UN Security Council if Maraş (Varosha) is reopened to settlement.
The dictator is being toppled…It’s collapsing
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who had the elections repeated receives a second slap in the face from Istanbul. For the first time in years, Turkey is smiling. The end of the road can be seen for Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who pillaged Turkey and turned the lives of everyone into a living hell. Ekrem İmamoğlu received around 800,000 more votes than his rival Binali Yıldırım. For the first time in 17 years, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan avoided the cameras. He just congratulated İmamoğlu with a tweet.
Main News
More cooperation needed between two sides on criminal matters
Yenidüzen
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Yenidüzen reported on Monday that a total of 18 suspects have been exchanged between the two sides in the past nine years.
In an exclusive story, the paper reports that the North has handed over 11 suspects to authorities in the South and have received a total of seven suspects from the South in the past nine years. The exchanges which took place in the UN-controlled buffer zone were facilitated by the Bicommunal Technical Committee for Crime and Criminal Matters.
The paper reports that are still a total of 76 suspects being wanted by both sides. Greek Cypriot authorities are still waiting for 39 suspects wanted for committing arson, theft and other crimes in the South to be handed over by Turkish Cypriot officials. Turkish Cypriot police in return are still waiting for 37 suspects who fled to the South after committing crimes in the North.
Co-chair of the Bicommunal Technical Committee for Crime and Criminal Matters Hakkı Önen told Yenidüzen that the failure to hand over Sali Ahmet and Mehmet Akpınar wanted by Greek Cypriot officials in connection with the murder of 22-year-old George Law in Ayia Napa in 2006 had dealt a serious blow to efforts aimed at establishing cooperation between the two sides on criminal matters.
“The two should have been handed over. That incident had really caused me distress. I had met with Law’s family through the British High Commission but the suspects had been deported to their countries after serving their terms in the TRNC for other crimes they had committed. What was worse was that these two were later arrested after returning to the country with fake passports,” he added.
Önen said that the first exchange of suspects had taken place in 2010 when a Greek Cypriot fugitive who had escaped from police detention in the south was caught by Turkish Cypriot police in the north and handed back.
He said that Greek Cypriot authorities had handed over the first suspects to the north in 2013 and that so far seven suspects had been handed over in total.
Önen also said that Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay’s statements following the exchange of suspects on June 13 did not reflect the truth.
“The bicommunal technical committee does not conduct exchanges on paper. The meetings held to negotiate exchanges are not put down on paper. We were able to get the murder suspect (Muhammed) Salman after working meticulously for nine months,” he said.
Önen pointed out that their hopes were raised regarding the exchange following the Greek Cypriot authorities decision not to deport the suspect.
“The process was launched after the Greek Cypriot police director received our request positively and took up the matter with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades. To prevent crimes and to deter criminals from using each side as a refuge after committing crimes is among the duties of the technical committee, Önen added.
KEY ACTORS
Önen
>> Total of 18 suspects exchanged over the past nine years. Both sides still waiting for 76 suspects to be exchanged.
>> Refusal to hand over suspects wanted for the murder of George Law in 2006 dealt a serious blow to efforts to establish cooperation.
>> First exchange took place in 2010. TC police handed over a fugitive to GC side.
>> First suspected handed over to TC police in 2013. Since then seven suspects handed over to TC police.
>> Özersay’s statements on June 13 did not reflect the truth. Exchanges not carried out on paper.
>> Goal of the technical committee to prevent crimes and deter criminals from using the other side to escape justice.
PM Tatar insists on Maraş (Varosha)
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Property, Negotiations Process, Governance & Power sharing, Energy
OVERVIEW
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar on Monday said that plans to reopen Maraş (Varosha) to settlement under the Turkish Cypriot administration will go ahead as announced despite an earlier statement by Foreign Minister Özersay that there was no government decision to open the fenced-off city. Tatar said investments will be made and that the first phase of the project was the inventory study.
In an interview to the TAK news agency published by all six dailies, Tatar said that Maraş (Varosha) was located within the TRNC’s territory and that details of the project had been discussed with Turkey. Maraş (Varosha) had been kept as a possible bargaining chip in the 50-year-long Cyprus talks processes. More importantly there is no possibility of an agreement in the horizon now,” Tatar said.
He underlined that the Greek Cypriot side was also continuing with its unilateral hydrocarbon activities.
“There are thousands of dunams of land owned by the Evkaf Administration; that is Turkish land dating back to the Ottoman times. These were stolen from us. There are property dispute cases before European courts now,” he added.
Tatar said that Greek Cypriots who own property in Maraş (Varosha) will be asked to apply to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) once the inventory is completed.
“They will be either be compensated or asked to return to Maraş (Varosha) to invest. In either case, Maraş (Varosha) needs to be and will be under the Turkish Cypriot administration,” Tatar added.
Tatar reminded that the government programme states the federation solution model has been exhausted and highlighted the need to table a two-state solution model. He added the Turkish Cypriot community had supported the Annan Plan and the Crans Montana process but the Greek Cypriot side had failed to act positively towards a solution.
“President Akıncı acknowledges this as well. He did not even receive a positive response on his proposal for a rotating presidency,” Tatar added. He stressed the Turkish Cypriot community must stand up in solidarity to defend its rights. Tatar said the Greek Cypriots continue to enjoy the benefits of the European Union and international recognition while Turkish Cypriots are still subjected to isolation.
“There are no direct flights, there are even embargoes on sports! The world has started to see the Greek Cypriot side’s attitude, therefore, the Turkish Cypriots must raise their voice for their rights,” Tatar said.
On the issue of hydrocarbons, Tatar said that Turkey has rights in the Eastern Mediterranean as the country with the longest coastline. “Turkish Cypriots do have equal rights with the Greek Cypriots on the natural resources but it is not something the Turkish Cypriot side can manage on its own,” Tatar underlined. He said as a result of the agreements signed with Turkey, the Fatih and Yavuz drilling vessels were deployed. Tatar expressed his hope that a resolution will be reached with the Greek Cypriot side on the issue of hydrocarbons.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Plans to reopenMaraş (Varosha) under the Turkish Cypriot administration will go ahead as planned. Inventory the first phase of the project.
>> Maraş (Varosha) is a project within TRNC’s territory and has been discussed with Turkey.
>> Maraş (Varosha) has been kept as a bargaining chip in the 50-year-long Cyprus negotiation processes.
>> There is no possibility of an agreement in the horizon now.
>> Thousands of dunams of land owned by the Evkaf Administration and Turkish land from the Ottoman times have been unlawfully acquired by GCs.
>> Following the inventory study, GC property owners will be asked to apply to IPC for their properties.
>> GC side failed to act positively towards a solution despite TC side supporting both the Annan Plan and the Crans Montana process.
>> Turkey has rights in the Eastern Mediterranean as the country with the longest coastline.
>> Turkish nation together with TRNC is protecting its rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey must establish air and naval bases in the North without delay
Kıbrıs Postası
External Security, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Retired Brigadier General Dr Naim Babüroğlu said the newly formed alliances in the Eastern Mediterranean led by the United States has become a threat to Turkey.
A strategist and lecturer at the Istanbul Aydın University, Babüroğlu argued that military bases could be the only deterrent against the anti-Turkey front in the region. He said that Turkey is now faced with another Sevres (Treaty of Sevres) in the Eastern Mediterranean. “Therefore, Turkey must start drilling in the blocks disputed with the Greek Cypriot side to show the world which areas fall with its sovereignty,” said Babüroğlu.
Touching on the Cyprus negotiations process, Babüroğlu said a federal solution in Cyprus no longer seems possible and that the Turkish Cypriot side must declare itself as the “Turkish Cypriot state” to put an end to Greek Cypriot side’s delaying tactics.