Front Page Headlines
Municipalities: “We are outside the process”
While reforms for local administrations are underway, the mayors are upset. They’re complaining they’ve been excluded from the process and have not been informed of the new reforms by the Ministry of Interior. “We have no information as to what is going on,” they said.
- Theology memorandum of understanding – Coordinators are being appointed as part of the memorandum of understanding signed between the Turkish and TRNC ministries of education. According to Çavuşoğlu, the coordinator will not be from Turkey. He also confirmed that an Anatolian Theology program will be opened within the Hala Sultan Theology College (Lycee). Çavuşoğlu said that all steps were in line with article nine of the TRNC constitution.
Memorandum of understanding signed to increase the quality of education
Education minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu held a press conference to inform the media regarding the memorandum of understanding he recently signed with his Turkish counterpart. Çavuşoğlu said the agreements were signed to increase the quality of education in the schools in the north. He also rejected allegations that he was hiding the details of the signed agreement.
- “Anastasiades said the best option is a two-state solution” – Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades had told him that the “best option is a two-state solution because Greek Cypriots do not want to share anything with the Turkish Cypriots.”
- Akıncı-Anastasiades meeting on 9 August – Presidential spokesman Barış Burcu announced the two leaders will meet on 9 August.
Claims aimed at undercutting retail prices of medicines
The Pharmacists’ Association refuted allegations that Greek Cypriots were purchasing medicines in the north for cheaper prices. It said “Micardis”, which is quoted with a €2 retail price in the Greek Cypriot media, is sold at ₺38,19 (approx. €6). Süay Sevinç, president of the association said that pharmacists were now working on a system which will reflect price changes in Turkey to pharmacies in the north.
- 11 new schools needed for primary education.
- Glifosat is claimed to be carcinogenic – The agricultural herbicide Glifosat, which is used widely in the north to eradicate weeds, is claimed to be carcinogenic. Experts, however, note Glifosat is licensed by the European Chemicals Agency and add if it is banned in Europe, it will also be banned in the north.
The price of ₺750 million will be heavy
The economic and financial protocol signed between Turkey and TRNC, which was kept a secret, was leaked to the media. The New Cyprus Party (YKP) General Secretary Murat Kanatlı shared the details of the agreement, which includes slashing various rights of public sector employees and privatization. Difficult days awaiting the public sector.
- First rendezvous five months later – President Mustafa Akıncı and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades agree to hold an unofficial meeting on 9 August.
- Anastasiades’ ‘oxi’ delivered to Akıncı – Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades sent his response to Akıncı’s natural gas proposal to the United Nations, European Union and to President Mustafa Akıncı.
The button has been pressed
The management of ports and telecommunications department will be privatised but ownership will remain with the state. The list of conditions for the move will be prepared before November, Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu announced on Monday. A tender will be launched in 2020.
- Critical meeting – Akıncı and Anastasiades will be meeting on August 9. Greek Cypriots are unhappy after the US expressed its desire for a deadline to be introduced should negotiations restart.
- The economy is the priority – Mitsotakis did not include the Cyprus issue in his government program.
North Cyprus in the hands of bigots
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration in Turkey which banned the theory of evolution and which removed mathematics as a compulsory requirement from school curriculum is now dragging the Turkish Cypriot community into the dark ages. Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu announced that a new theology program will be opened at the Hala Sultan Theology College (Lycee) and that students will be able to transfer from Hala Sultan Theology Programme to the Anatolia Theology Programme.
Main News
KTEZO expresses support to Akıncı on a federal solution
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President of the TC Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans (KTEZO), Mahmut Kanber on Monday said there is a need for a solution that will end the uncertainty in Cyprus, put an end to tensions and be acceptable to both the communities.
Kanber added there was no doubt the only solution model was a federation under the current conditions.
The KTEZO president was speaking during a courtesy visit paid to President Akıncı by the newly elected board of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans.
He noted the chamber has always been supportive of rapprochement of the two communities and confidence-building measures.
Kanber also pointed out that heightened tensions as a result of hydrocarbon drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean had highlighted the urgency for reconciliation, peace and stability in the region.
“We need solidarity, collaboration, sincere dialogue and respect among our institutions more than ever and regardless of our differences,” Kanber said.
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesman Barış Burcu announced on Monday that the two leaders will be meeting on August 9 for an informal meeting at the resident of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar.
KEY ACTORS
Kanber (KTEZO)
>> Need a mutually acceptable solution to end uncertainty in the country & put an end to tensions.
>> No doubt the only solution model is a federation under current conditions.
>> Chamber has always been supportive of rapprochement of the two communities & confidence-building measures.
>> Reconciliation, peace and stability have become more important as a result of heightened tensions.
>> Solidarity, collaboration, sincere dialogue & respect among institutions needed more than ever.
Çavuşoğlu: Turkey ready to cooperate on hydrocarbons as long as TCs granted their rights
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Energy, Regional/International Relations, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Turkey was ready to cooperate on solving the dispute over energy resources in the region on the condition that Turkish Cypriots were granted their rights.
Çavuşoğlu was speaking in an interview with Turkish broadcaster TGRT regarding the latest in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as on Turkey’s foreign policy issues.
Çavuşoğlu recalled earlier proposals on collaboration in the Eastern Mediterranean and said Turkey will support any steps taken towards sharing of the resources.
“The European Union is only taking decisions to please the Greek Cypriot side and Greece but in response, we deployed our fourth vessel (Oruç Reis) to the Eastern Mediterranean,” Çavuşoğlu said.
He reminded that there had been a recent change in government in Greece and that Ankara was ready to sit down around the table to solve its disputes with Greece.
He expressed appreciation of the Greek foreign minister’s positive statements as well. “However, there is growing public pressure both in Greece and on the Greek Cypriot side,” Çavuşoğlu emphasized. “The latest proposal from the North has been rejected by the Greek Cypriot side,” Çavuşoğlu said.
He added the Greek Cypriot side does not want to share anything with the Turkish [Cypriot] side. “We informed the EU about it and told them [Greek Cypriots] that should they wish to take steps in sharing the natural gas and oil in the Eastern Mediterranean, we are ready for collaboration as long as the interests and rights of the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot people are safeguarded,” Çavuşoğlu stressed.
Çavuşoğlu recalled his meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader in Crans Montana two years ago and said: “Anastasiades told me the best option for a solution is a two-state solution. When I asked why he responded by saying it was because the Greek Cypriots do not want to share anything with the Turkish Cypriots. He said a federation will not work.”
The Greek Cypriot side could not get international support for the two-state solution, which resulted in the idea of a confederation, Çavuşoğlu noted.
He said Turkey’s seismic research vessel and two drillships are currently operating in the region.
“In the event any contrary steps are taken, we will increase our presence [in the region]. We will not allow anyone to question our rights in our continental shelf,” Çavuşoğlu added.
He recalled his telephone conversation with his German counterpart Heiko Maas and said Switzerland also expressed their desire to work as an intermediary. He reiterated Ankara’s readiness to collaborate with institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union.
“If they can be objective and impartial, we can ask them to take steps towards sharing of the natural resources but in the case of the contrary, we will take more steps in the region and intensify our presence,” Çavuşoğlu stressed.
Responding to a question on negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side, Çavuşoğlu said Ankara agreed to hold unofficial meetings with the Greek Cypriot side but the aim of an informal conference is for each party to discuss the way forward, not from where things left off in Crans Montana in 2017. He argued that talks for a federal solution have failed and there was a need for other alternatives.
Spokesperson for the Turkish presidency İbrahim Kalın on Monday rebuked the EU on the Cyprus issue, saying the bloc accepted the Greek Cypriot administration as a full member without resolving the issue.
In an op-ed in Bloomberg, Kalın said that the EU not only violated its principles but also committed a great injustice against Turkish Cypriots.
“Most recently, the Turkish side’s offer to establish a regime of a fair and equal share of resources in the eastern Mediterranean has again been rejected,” he added.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> Turkey is ready to cooperate to solve the dispute over energy resources in the region on condition that TC rights are granted.
>> Turkey will support any steps taken towards sharing of the resources.
>> EU is only taking decisions to please the GC side & Greece.
>> In response to EU, Ankara deployed its fourth vessel to East Med.
>> Ankara wants to sit down around a table to solve disputes with Greece as a package.
>> GC side does not want to share anything with TC side.
>> Anastasiades said the best option is a two-state solution because GCs do not want to share anything with the TCs.
>> GC leader said federation will not work.
>> GC side could not obtain international support for the two-state solution, which resulted in the idea of a confederation.
>> In case any steps are taken against the interests of Ankara or the TCs, Turkey will increase its presence in the region.
>> Won’t allow anyone to question our rights in our continental shelf.
>> German counterpart Heiko Maas & Switzerland also expressed their desire to work as an intermediary in the hydrocarbons issue.
>> Reiterated Ankara’s readiness to collaborate with institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union.
>> If they can be objective & impartial, we can ask them to take steps towards sharing the natural resources but if the contrary, we will take more steps in the region and intensify our presence.
>> Ankara agreed to hold unofficial meetings with the GC side.
>> The upcoming informal five-party meeting will be to discuss the way forward, not start from where they left off in Crans-Montana.
>> Talks for a federal solution have failed, need alternatives.
Kalın (Turkey)
>> EU has violated its principles & committed great injustice against TCs by allowing GCs to join the bloc before a solution.
Contents of interim protocol signed with Turkey revealed
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Havadis, Afrika
Economy, Governance & Power-sharing, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The interim financial and economic protocol signed between Turkey and the TRNC was leaked to the press on Monday.
According to the protocol’s action plan, all goals and reforms will be implemented in full and on time.
The most striking aspect of the protocol concerns public sector employees. No legislation or decisions will be introduced to increase benefits or rights of public sector employees.
New collective agreements will also not be made.
The number of new employees to be hired in the public sector, with the exception of those affected by privatisations, will not exceed the number of public servants who retired the previous year.
No temporary employees or workers will be hired in the public sector until the end of the year.
Measures will be introduced to save ten per cent from all additional expenditures, salaries excluded.
The protocol also states that overtime payments will not exceed overtime payments made the previous year.
According to the protocol ₺1,064,419,646 will be allocated for defence payments, infrastructure projects and the real sector.
The protocol also lays out measures for a number of state enterprises and institutions as well.
The state-owned KOOP Bank (Cooperative Bank) will be restructured and its subsidiaries will be sold while KIBTEK (TC Electricity Authority) will be restructured.
Tendering processes will also be launched for the telecommunications department, the Famagusta Port, and the Kyrenia Ports (Old Harbour and Commercial Port) based on the public-private partnership model.
The tender dossiers will be completed by the end of 2019 and tenders launched in early 2020, according to the protocol agreement.