Front Page Headlines
Seven youth lost in seven months
The number of people who lost their lives in road accidents in the first seven months of 2019 has reached 17. The latest road fatality was 20-year-old Yunus Alkan. The fact that all of the last seven victims that lost their lives were aged between 15 and 27 is extremely sad.
- A three-month analysis of the crossing points – 474,430 Greek Cypriots crossed to the north and 449,581 Turkish Cypriots crossed over to the south.
- “Restitution should be proposed in Maraş (Varosha) through the Immovable Property Commission”– Turkey’s former permanent representative to the Council of Europe, Daryal Batıbay speaks to Yenidüzen.
A brand new beginning
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, who came to the TRNC prior to signing the economic protocol, gave positive messages.
- “We are on the ground and the situation is equalized” – Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said Turkish drilling vessels Yavuz and Fatih establish the balance in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Office of Coordination of Cyprus Affairs to be established in Turkey
17th death in seven months
Yunus Alkan, who was hit by a taxi, could not be saved despite all efforts. 12 people including a four-year-old baby were injured in two other accidents on Saturday evening.
- Long lasting governments is the formula for stability – Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay emphasized “stability” in his speech at the First Economy Conference organized by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot Chambers of Commerce.
Courtesy to Tatar, rejection to Akıncı
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay contrary to past practices did not visit the president during his one-day visit to the North. Instead, he paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Ersin Tatar.
- The countdown for drilling – Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez announced the Yavuz drilling vessel will reach its destination in one week to start drilling.
Murder on the roads
One person lost his life and 12 people were injured in three big accidents which took place on Saturday.
- He gave encouragement – Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay calls on the TRNC government not to delay reforms any further and to attach importance to investments.
- Decree published – Cyprus Affairs Coordination Office being established with the approval of [Turkish] President Erdoğan.
Death every day…a day doesn’t pass without an accident
Be very careful! No one is safe on the roads anymore. At least one person is killed every day as a result of road accidents every day. Families are devastated due to the uncontrolled population, the increase of cars on the roads, the driving licenses issued carelessly and the lack of traffic inspections . 20-year-old Yunus Alkan was killed in the latest accident which took place on the Değirmenlik (Kythrea)-Kyrenia road around midnight. A taxi ran him over accidentally. Alkan who was seriously injured in the accident lost his life at the state hospital.
- Kudret Özersay: We are in the field in the Eastern Mediterranean – “We are now active in the field. The balance has been reestablished. Now that we are in the field if the need arises to stop and talk then everyone will stop and talk. If someone decides to continue everyone will continue. The reopening of Maraş (Varosha) in the near future is a possibility. As the government, we are planning to take a series of steps that will change Maraş’s (Varosha) status as a military zone and to transform it into a civilian area where life can return,” Özersay said.
Main News
Ozersay: Fatih and Yavuz reinstate balance in East Med
Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Afrika
Energy, Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said that the balance in the Eastern Mediterranean has been restored with the Turkish drilling vessels Yavuz and Fatih.
“We are in the field and the playing field is level now,” Özersay added.
Speaking to the Anadolu News Agency in Geneva, Özersay said all actors in the region would now have to act together.
“If there will be a need to stop and talk then, everyone will stop and talk and if someone decides to continue everyone will continue. If there will be an agreement, all the parties will be involved in this agreement,” he added.
Özersay said that the launch of Turkey’s drilling activities had reinstated the balance in the region in view of peace and stability.
He urged the Greek Cypriot side to be more rational and to act pragmatically. “Turkey and the TRNC will not allow a fait accompli in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Özersay stressed, adding that it will not be possible to prevent the Turkish Cypriots from carrying out their own hydrocarbon activities.
Özersay also noted that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to collaborate with the Greek Cypriot side on the issue of hydrocarbons with the aim of removing any risk of conflict and to establish stability in the region.
Also touching on the Maraş (Varosha) initiative, Özersay said: “the reopening of Maraş (Varosha) in the near future is a possibility”. He noted the government has decided to conduct an inventory in the fenced-off city not only to identify the owners of the properties but to determine the condition of the standing structures and surviving infrastructure. He said the way forward will be decided in light of the information obtained from the inventory which is expected to be completed in the coming months. Özersay said the government’s ultimate intention was to allow resettlement in the area without any detriment to the rights of the lawful owners and the Evkaf.
“As the government, we are planning to take a series of steps that will change Maraş’s (Varosha) status as a military zone and to transform it into a civilian area where life can return,” Özersay added.
On the other hand, Turkey announced that drilling off Karpaz (Karpasia) is expected to start within a week.
Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez told the Anadolu News Agency that Turkey’s second drillship, the Yavuz, is expected to start drilling off Karpaz (Karpasia) within the week. At the moment, the Yavuz is docked in Mersin in southern Turkey for refuelling and final checks, Dönmez said.
“Within a week we will start the first drilling with the Yavuz in the Eastern Mediterranean in Karpaz (Karpasia), in the area, we have been licensed by the TRNC,” Dönmez added.
Meanwhile, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay has warned against underestimating Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean or violating its rights and those of the Turkish Cyprus. “Those who move against the legitimate rights of Turkey or Turkish Cypriots and disregard Turkey in the region will not be able to reach their aims,” Oktay said Saturday in Nicosia.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay
>> Balance in East Med restored with Turkish drilling vessels Yavuz & Fatih.
>> All actors will have to act together from now on.
>> Turkey and the TRNC will not allow a fait accompli in the EastMed.
>> Not possible to prevent the TCs from carrying out its own hydrocarbon activities.
>> TC side is ready to collaborate with the GC side on hydrocarbons and is ready to show the necessary flexibility for regional stability.
>> The reopening of Maraş (Varosha) in the near future is a possibility.
>> The way forward will be decided in light of the data obtained from the inventory, which is expected to be completed in the coming months.
>> Government to take steps to change Maraş’s (Varosha) status as a military zone and to transform it into a civilian area where life can return.
Dönmez
>> Yavuz will start its first drilling within a week in Karpaz (Karpasia).
>> Drilling to be carried out in areas licensed by the TRNC.
Oktay
>> Any move against the legitimate rights of Turkey or Turkish Cypriots will be unsuccessful.
Coordination office for Cyprus Affairs being created
Kıbrıs, Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis
Governance and Power Sharing, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Presidency has set up an office to smoothly coordinate the relations of the Turkish government with the TRNC, reports said on Saturday.
According to Anadolu news agency, a Presidential decree was published on 5 July entrusting the task of coordinator to a Turkish Vice President or a minister with the task of coordinating and carrying out relations with the TRNC in all fields.
The decree, which was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, also asks for the establishment of a coordination office for Cyprus affairs.
The aim of this new body will be to contribute to the planning and coordination of financial and technical assistance provided by Turkey.
The consent of the coordinating body will also be sought for any agreement between Turkish public institutions and the Turkish Cypriots. The body will monitor and evaluate the economic programmes signed by Turkey and the North while a technical committee will be involved in the procedures. Moreover, the decree sets provisions for setting up temporary working groups of experts who would monitor and assess the application of the financial programmes agreed between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots community.
It’s official! More GCs cross north than TCs
Yenidüzen
CBMs
OVERVIEW
For the first time since the checkpoints opened in April 2003, the number of crossings by Greek Cypriots into the north surpassed those of Turkish Cypriots crossing over to the south, according to the Turkish Cypriot Central Bank’s quarterly bulletin.
According to the report, 474,430 Greek Cypriots crossed over to the north in the first three months of 2019. A total of 449,581 Turkish Cypriot and 374,432 foreigners crossed over to the north.
The biggest factor cited by the report for the huge influx from south to north was the devaluation of the Turkish lira, which prompted thousands of Greek Cypriots to cross in search of cheaper fuel, medicines and groceries.
The bulletin said that the number of Greek Cypriots crossing over has been rising since the second quarter of 2018.
GC shoplifter arrested in the north for stealing liquor
Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Greek Cypriot Anastasia Kourtella was arrested by Turkish Cypriot police on Friday for attempting to steal a bottle of whiskey from a supermarket in north Nicosia.
According to police, Kourtella was caught red-handed trying to steal a bottle of Chivas Regal Whiskey from the Lemar Supermarket in Ortaköy (Ortakeuy) at around noon.
Supermarket employees notified the police immediately who then arrested Kourtella.
The Nicosia district court remanded the Greek Cypriot woman for three days while the police continues its investigation into the incident.