Front Page Headlines
A family tragedy
15-year-old Hasan Küsetoğlları killed in a traffic accident was laid to rest in his home village of Nergisli (Genagra) by his grief-stricken parents. His 17-year-old cousin responsible for the accident appeared before the Famagusta court. He wept throughout the hearing.
- Delegation arriving from Turkey – PM Ersin Tatar announced that a delegation will be arriving from Turkey on the weekend to discuss economic issues.
Milk and meat prices soar
According to the State Planning Organization (SPO), basic consumables such as meat and milk have seen record price increases between June 2018 and June 2019. The retail price of Hellim (Halloumi) increased by 42 per cent and the price of milk, important for children, increased by 23.21 per cent. Yoghurt prices increased by 46.73 per cent; lamb chops by 28.22 per cent and poultry by 24.52 per cent.
- Greek Cypriot foreign ministry is trying to obstruct our meetings in Geneva – Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay complains Greek Cypriot side was trying to prevent his contacts in Geneva.
- Turkish delegation to arrive on the island to discuss economic protocol – PM Ersin Tatar says important work will be carried out with the Turkish delegation.
No more floods at Ciklos (Kyklos)
Repairs at the Ciklos (Kylos) bend on the Nicosia-Kyrenia road which had been damaged as a result of flash floods and claimed the lives of four young people, is almost complete. Hüseyin Tüfekçi, director of Tüfekçi Ltd, the firm responsible for the repairs, expressed confidence that safety standards will be at the highest level.
- The Greek Cypriot side’s threats mean nothing – Turkish FM Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu touched upon the Greek Cypriot side’s legal action against firms working with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Turkey launched legal action against the Greek Cypriot side – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issues threats against GC side.
We’ll bring the roof down on top of their heads
Speaking to Havadis, EL-SEN (KIBTEK – TC Electricity Authority Workers’ Trade Union) President Kubilay Özkıraç warned the government of harsh action against any attempt to privatize KIBTEK.
- Turkey donated one million Euros to CMP in 12 years– Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus thanks Turkey for its donation of $100,000.
Our prayers are with Levent
A 24-year-old man who put his motorcycle up for sale two days ago was seriously injured in a traffic accident in which he had no fault in. Levent Bertaş is in intensive care at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital.
- The whole country wept – Friends and family of 15-year-old Hasan Küsetoğlulları who was killed in a traffic accident caused by 17-year-old H.S bid him farewell.
Greek press claims 42 more tanks sent to Değirmenlik (Kythrea)
What’s happening? Are we preparing for peace or war? It has been claimed that Turkey has secretly sent 42 more tanks to Cyprus. According to the claims, the tanks were transported from the Turkish city of Edirne by cargo ships and stationed in Değirmenlik (Kythrea).
- We know how to speak the language they understand –Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said: “In terms of the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey takes, and will take, legitimate steps within the boundaries of the law. But should some quarters, who do not recognize [international] law, stand in our way, then we too can speak the language they understand.”
Main News
Özersay says GCs reluctance to share power & wealth biggest obstacle to a solution
Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations process
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay on Thursday accused the Greek Cypriot side of trying to block his contacts in Geneva by sending letters to all UN institutions. Speaking to BRT (Bayrak TV), Özersay said that he and his team were trying to be discrete when scheduling their contacts in a bid to prevent the Greek Cypriot side’s obstructive efforts.
He said, however that no one could silence the Turkish Cypriots at international platforms.
“The Greek Cypriot administration’s outdated methods and efforts are unacceptable,” he added.
Özersay said that his contacts in Geneva were focused mainly on humanitarian issues such as asylum seekers and refugees as well as the missing persons in Cyprus issue.
Addressing a conference on the Cyprus Problem in Geneva on Thursday, Özersay said that a federal solution in Cyprus was not possible as long as the main actors did not reach an agreement on sharing power or wealth.
He said the time had come to try other alternatives.
Özersay argued that the biggest obstacle in the way of a solution was the absence of a ‘joint vision’ between the two sides.
He said that the talks have been going round in circles for years due to the Greek Cypriot side’s reluctance to share power and the island’s wealth with Turkish Cypriots.
“It is the Turkish Cypriots that suffer the most from the status quo and the absence of a settlement,” Özersay said, adding that Greek Cypriots refused to cooperate on the issue of hydrocarbons or distanced themselves from a settlement because the status quo worked in their favour.
Özersay reminded that the resources in the eastern Mediterranean belonged to both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots and that the two sides needed to find an alternative way to cooperate on the issue.
“Achieving this would create interdependence between the actors involved in the Cyprus Problem and the region,” he added.
Responding to a question on clearing mines in the UN buffer zone, Özersay recalled that the Turkish Cypriot side had proposed to rid the island of all mines but that this offer had been turned down by the Greek Cypriot side.
“The two leaders have agreed to partially clear mines in some areas and that process has begun,” Özersay added.
Asked whether or not talks could resume any time soon, Özersay said that this will not be possible unless the international community did more than call on two sides to resume the talks
Speaking on ADA TV, Peoples’ Party (HP) MP Erek Çağatay said that a more realistic solution model was needed for Cyprus.
He pointed out that the two sides’ understanding of a federal settlement were very different from each other.
Çağatay pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side did not have any intentions to share power or wealth. “It is for this reason, to insist on nothing but a federation can only strengthen the status quo on the island. Instead, we must increase cooperation with the south,” Çağatay stressed.
Çağatay, in response to a question on hydrocarbons, said Turkish Cypriot side has rights on the island’s natural resources and must, therefore, have a say in any decisions related to the issue. He added that the percentage the Greek Cypriot side was willing to give the Turkish Cypriot side was not as important as Turkish Cypriots being excluded from the process of granting licenses to international companies.
Çağatay recalled the Greek Cypriot side rejected the numerous proposals made by the Turkish Cypriot side on forming a joint committee on hydrocarbons.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> GCs cannot silence TCs at international platforms. Such attempts are unacceptable.
>> Contacts in Geneva focused on humanitarian issues concerning asylum seekers and missing persons in Cyprus.
>> Federal solution not possible as long as main actors do not reach an agreement on sharing power & wealth.
>> Talks going round in circles for years due to GCs reluctance to share power & wealth.
>> The biggest obstacle in the way of a solution is the absence of a ‘joint vision’ between two sides.
>> The time has come to try other alternatives.
>> TCs suffer the most from the status quo and the absence of a settlement.
>> GCs refuse to cooperate on hydrocarbons issue or distance themselves from a settlement because the status quo works in their favour.
>> EastMed resources belong to both TCs & GCs. An alternative way to cooperate must be found.
>> Achieving cooperation will create interdependence between actors involved.
Çağatay (HP)
>> A more realistic solution model needed for Cyprus.
>> TCs & GCs understanding from federation very different.
>> GCs have no intention of sharing power or wealth with TCs.
>> Insisting on nothing but a federation only strengthens the status quo. Instead, cooperation must be developed with the south.
>> TCs have rights on island’s resources and must have a say in decisions made.
TMT Association welcomes government’s Maraş (Varosha) initiative
Havadis, Kıbrıs, Diyalog
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
The spokesman for the Society for Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT) Fighters, Soner Çuvalcıoğlu on Thursday welcomed the government’s initiative to re-open the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha) under Turkish Cypriot administration without any detriment to Evkaf Administration’s and owners’ rights.
In a written statement, Çuvalcıoğlu recalled that a title-deed registry was found at the basement of a hotel building in Maraş (Varosha) in 1974, revealing the list of original Evkaf properties.
He said the registry documented which Evkaf property had been transferred to Greek Cypriots and by whom buildings had been constructed on the properties in question.
Çuvalcıoğlu added that the registry had been submitted to the Famagusta (District) Court (in 2005) as evidence.
He recalled that the court had ruled that the properties in Maraş (Varosha) belonged to the Evkaf Administration.
Çuvalcıoğlu noted the British colonial regime at the time had subdivided the plots in violation of the Ahkam-ül Evkaf (Charter governing Evkaf properties and other matters) and in violation of the 1878 agreement when taking over the control of the island.
Turkey will not bow down to threats
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Thursday the Greek Cypriot side could do nothing to stop Turkey from drilling for natural gas, and if it tried it would get a response like in the past.
He also said that their drilling activity inside the island’s exclusive economic zone was in response to South Cyprus’s failure to guarantee the rights of Turkish Cypriots.
“To us, these kinds of threats from the Greek Cypriot administration are meaningless,” the Turkish foreign minister told state-owned TRT Haber. “They know they cannot take a step against us, and if they dare to do so they will get their response like in the past.”
Stressing that Turkey notified the UN and the EU over its activities in the eastern Mediterranean, Çavuşoğlu said all steps taken by Turkey are in compliance with international law.
He also highlighted that Turkey, as the country with the longest continental coastline, has legitimate rights and vital interests in the eastern Mediterranean and that it has been fully exercising its sovereign rights over its continental shelf in accordance with international law.
In a similar vein, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday threated to take action against any party attempting to deny his country access to natural gas resources in the eastern Mediterranean.
“We are taking all legitimate steps and shall continue doing so. But should some quarters, who do not recognize [international] law, stand in our way, then we too can speak the language they understand,” Erdoğan told reporters after concluding a tour in China.
Erdoğan also accused the European Union of “acting insincerely,” and accused the Greek Cypriot side of using its membership of the bloc to squeeze Turkish Cypriots out.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu
>> GCs cannot stop Turkey from drilling for natural gas. Attempt to do so will get a response like in the past.
>> Turkey’s drilling activity in response to GC side’s failure to guarantee the rights of TCs.
>> GC side’s threats against Turkey are meaningless.
>> Turkey notified EU and UN over its activities in EastMed. All steps are in compliance with international law.
>> Turkey as a country with the longest coastline has legitimate and sovereign rights in EastMed.
>> Turkey has been exercising sovereign rights over its continental shelf in accordance with international law.
Erdoğan
>> Turkey will take all legitimate steps on hydrocarbons.
>> EU is insincere. GCs using EU membership to squeeze TCs out.