Front Page Headlines
Accusation against Canaltay of fake diploma
It’s been documented that the National Unity Party (UBP) MP Resmiye Canaltay completed a master’s programme at the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) with a diploma from the online Breyer State University. The equivalency certificate of the online university is not recognized by EMU. Canaltay who spoke to Yenidüzen claimed she has an M.A degree from EMU but the university says that Canaltay only has an online degree from Breyer State University. The Director of EMU’s Public Relations and Press Office Murat Aktuğralı confirmed that Canaltay had applied to a master’s programme with a certificate she obtained from Breyer State University. He told Yenidüzen that their university does not seek equivalency certificates but checks whether or not the documents presented are fake. The Deputy Head of EMU’s Higher Education and Research Institute Prof. Dr Ahmet Rızaner said that there were no irregularities in her application. Canaltay denies the allegations, describing them as shallow attempts to discredit her.
KIBTEK cannot go on like this!
Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy held a press conference dedicated especially to the Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority (KIBTEK). He said the authority is no longer sustainable administratively, financially or technically. “Everybody must accept this fact,” said Taçoy but added that privatizing the authority all together is out of the question because electricity production is strategically important.
- Sensitivity on Cyprus expressed in Erdoğan’s Treaty of Lausanne message
- “EU has disqualified itself in Cyprus” – Turkish Ambassador [to Greece] Burak Özügergin said
- Lacroix is expected to meet with Akıncı – Lacroix met with Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades on Wednesday.
All eyes on the decision on cost-of-living allowance
The decision to cut two per cent from the cost-of-living allowance had been taken to the Supreme Court by the Trade Unions Platform. The court is expected to announce its verdict, which will affect 70,000 people, on Monday. The Trade Unions Platform claims that the two per cent cut violates the constitution. The cut is also mentioned in the recently signed economic protocol agreement.
- KIBTEK to be restructured – Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy said the Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority (KIBTEK) is no longer sustainable administratively, financially or technically. He added efforts will be launched for alternatives in various areas.
- Reactions to the protocol – Trade unions, NGOs and some political parties reacted to the economic protocol signed between Turkey and the TRNC. They claim the public-private partnership models contain “traps” and added they will struggle against their implementation.
- Step by step to the unofficial five-party meeting – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed for a joint meeting with the two leaders following the UN General Assembly.
Time to pay for health services
While state hospitals continue to charge people under the pretext of ‘donations’, it has been decided the state will procure services from the private sector in six areas. It has been decided patients will have to pay half of the private hospital charge for colonoscopies, smear tests, MRIs, mammograms, colostomies, and cat scans. It is considered a small step towards implementing the “General Health Insurance” scheme. The Labour and Social Security Ministry is overseeing the efforts undertaken to implement the system.
- Doctors claim there is no epidemic but wards are full – Families are concerned with the widespread cases of diarrhoea, vomiting and high fever among children. The pediatric wards are full but doctors claim it is not an epidemic.
- Scorched under the 40 degrees heat – Despite the scorching heat, many construction workers had to work in Nicosia.
Slaughtering houses in the hands of God
The slaughterhouse built with an EU grant of three million US dollars has not been put into operation for ten years. While South Cyprus was forced to shut down 180 slaughterhouses before joining the EU, two new slaughterhouses built with EU funds are operational under the supervision of veterinarians. There are currently 60 slaughterhouses operating in the north without proper inspections. The slaughterhouse built in Nicosia with grants has not become operational for ten years. For the exemption of a few trials conducted by the Nicosia Turkish Municipality, the facility remains closed.
- In New York in September – Guterres who spoke with Akıncı on the phone proposed a tripartite meeting.
- He has concerns – Talat expressed support for the economic protocol signed with Turkey but said he did not find a five-party conference to be right.
All force commanders set to arrive in the TRNC
Surprise visit. Should we wish for the best? The Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar is arriving in the TRNC tomorrow. He will be accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces General Yaşar Güler, the Commander of the Turkish Land Forces Ümit Dündar, Commander of the Naval Forces Admiral Adnan Özbal and the Commander of the Turkish Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Küçükakyüz. The commanders will be paying visits to President Akıncı and Prime Minister Ersin Tatar. They will also be visiting the Boğaz Martyrs’ Cemetery and the headquarters of the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus.
Main News
UNSG Guterres proposes joint meeting with leaders
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed a joint meeting with the two leaders, President Akıncı’s office announced on Wednesday.
The proposal for the tripartite meeting came after a telephone conversation between the UN Secretary-General and Akıncı on Wednesday afternoon.
Akıncı accepted the secretary-general’s invitation for a meeting in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Guterres told Akıncı that he looks forward to a meeting between the latter and the Greek Cypriot leader on August 9, and reaffirmed his readiness to assist the two sides for a solution in Cyprus, according to a written statement issued by Akıncı’s office.
Welcoming the fact that the two leaders will be meeting on August 9, Guterres wished the meeting to be successful.
He also said that it would be helpful to complete in the period that followed the terms of reference his special envoy Jane Holl Lute was currently drafting.
The UN Secretary-General also said that the process of convening an informal five-party meeting should be carefully planned.
Akıncı told the UN Secretary-General that political will and determination was required for a solution to the Cyprus Problem and added that the Turkish Cypriot side has demonstrated its will concretely and constructively at every opportunity.
Meanwhile, Kıbrıs Postası reported on Wednesday that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) completed its deliberations on the draft resolution for the renewal of the mandate for the United Nations Peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for an additional six more months. It said that the text is now in a tacit acceptance procedure. If no disagreement arises, the draft resolution will be tabled for adoption in an open meeting, possibly on 25 July, the paper reported.
Citing diplomatic sources, the paper reported that the UNFICYP resolution will re-emphasize its call to the sides to establish strong mechanisms so that a climate of trust and confidence between the two communities can be developed. Greek Cypriot officials have relayed their concern on “elevating the status of the TRNC” regarding the said mechanisms.
The same sources note Greek Cypriot diplomats in New York intensified their lobbying efforts to convince the Security Council to agree to formulate collaboration mechanisms under the “technical committees” that had been established by the leaders.
Moreover, the sources note that the US insists on the resumption of the talks for a “swift solution” and that the peacekeeping mission’s presence on the island should not overtake the political negotiations for a comprehensive settlement.
Kıbrıs Postası claimed that the Washington administration also insists on the introduction of a timetable and deadline to the talks.
Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Cypriot parliament Zorlu Töre on Wednesday said the Greek Cypriot side intended to transform Cyprus into a Greek island.
He said all past and present actions and statements by the Greek Cypriot leadership since 1955 made this intention obvious.
In a written statement, Töre said that the Greek Cypriot side has been waging a struggle for the past 70 years to achieve the island’s union with Greece.
“It has always been the Greek Cypriots who have rejected the UN’s solution plans. They succeeded in taking over the 1960 Cyprus Republic by putting into force the Akritas plan but failed to take control of the whole island. The Greek-Greek Cypriot duo has never abandoned their goal of uniting the island with Greece,” said Töre.
He questioned why President Akıncı continued to insist on a federal solution and whether or not his obsession was ideologically motivated.
Former president Mehmet Ali Talat on Thursday objected to a proposed five-party meeting arguing that such a meeting could only be held at the end of a process.
“A five-party meeting can only be considered when the parties reach a certain stage on issues such as the guarantees, security, or hydrocarbons,” Talat said during a programme on Diyalog TV.
He recalled the outcome of the Crans Montana meeting and noted that no one had predicted the collapse of the talks in 2017.
“I believe it will not be possible to cope with the failure of a new five-party meeting,” Talat stressed, arguing that such a meeting should be postponed to a later stage.
“There is no meaning in discussing the political equality of the Turkish Cypriots at a five-party meeting,” Talat said. He argued the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey will defend the political equality for Turkish Cypriots but that the UK cared little or had no interest towards the issue.
Talat said Anastasiades instead should be asked to clarify his positions and he should be convinced that both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side will carry on their efforts to reveal to the world the Greek Cypriot side’s violations of the United Nations resolutions and decisions.
In response to a question as to whether or not the federation model was still on the table, Talat said negotiations were needed to determine this.
He recalled there have been no negotiations for the past two years.
“I do believe the basis for the negotiations is still a federation,” Talat said, adding that it was not possible or easy for either side to abandon the federation model.
On the issue of Akıncı’s hydrocarbons proposal, Talat said the Greek Cypriot side rejected this timely and appropriate proposal despite acknowledging the fact that Turkish Cypriots do have rights on the island’s hydrocarbon reserves.
“However, the Greek Cypriot side also says the Turkish Cypriots cannot benefit from the reserves until a settlement is reached,” Talat stressed.
In view of the leaders’ meeting on 9 August, Talat expressed hope that the two leaders will agree to discuss the pending and urgent issues until the unofficial five-party meeting.
In response to a question on Maraş (Varosha), Talat highlighted that the reopening of the fenced-city is possible only if there is immense international support for it. Drawing attention to existing UN resolutions on Maraş (Varosha), Talat noted that any decision on the fenced-city could be taken through discussions with the United Nations.
KEY ACTORS
Guterres (UN)
>> Ready to assist two sides’ efforts to solve the Cyprob.
>> Process of convening an informal five-party meeting should be carefully planned.
Akıncı
>> Political will & determination required for a solution to the Cyprob.
>> TC has demonstrated its will in a concrete & constructive manner at every opportunity.
Töre (UBP)
>> GC side’s real intention is not to solve Cyprob but to transform Cyprus into a Greek island.
>> GCs have been trying to control the whole island since 1955 without success.
>> GCs have not abandoned their goal of uniting the island with Greece.
Talat (CTP)
>> Proposed five-party meeting is wrong as such meetings can only be considered when the parties reach a certain point on various issues.
>> Failure of five-party meeting would be difficult to cope with.
>> There is no meaning in discussing the political equality of TCs at a five-party meeting because UK has little care or interest on the issue. Only TCs & Turkey will defend it.
>> Anastasiades should be asked to clarify his positions during the five-party meeting.
>> GC leader should be told Turkey & the TC side will continue to carry out efforts to tell the world of the GC side’s violations of UN resolutions.
>> Negotiations needed for a federation to be on the table. No negotiations for two years.
>> The basis for the negotiations is still a federation.
>> GC side says TCs cannot benefit from the reserves but acknowledges their rights on hydrocarbon reserves.
>> The two leaders should discuss pending & urgent issues at August 9 meeting.
>> The reopening of Maraş (Varosha) only possible if there is immense international support.
>> Any decision on the fenced-city could be taken through discussions with the UN.
Ankara expresses resolve to continue drilling in East Med
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday stressed that Turkey’s recent steps in the Eastern Mediterranean and northern Syria – including drilling for natural resources and counter-terrorism operations – clearly demonstrate its determination to protect the rights of both the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.
“The steps we have taken in the Eastern Mediterranean (and Syria) demonstrated our determination to protect the rights of our nation and Turkish Cypriots” in his message published on the 96thanniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne.
Erdoğan added the steps taken have shown Turkey’s sensitivity on protecting the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots and no explicit or implicit threats to sanction the country will deter it from pursuing our goals.
“This year also represents the centennial of the beginning of our struggle for independence,” Erdoğan said. He stressed Turkey has today the strength and determination to eradicate any threat directed towards its independence, survival, and the peace and security of its citizens.
Turkey’s ambassador to Greece Burak Özugergin said on Wednesday that the European Union’s latest decision to impose sanctions on Turkey had disqualified the bloc from playing a positive role in solving the Cyprus issue.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview, Özügergin criticized the recent EU decisions against Turkey on the Eastern Mediterranean, including its continental shelf and drilling activities.
Özügergin described the EU’s decision as a mistake.
“The EU, by losing its chance to play a positive role in solving the Cyprus problem, in a sense has disqualified itself,” he said.
He said Turkey could not be approached this way.
On the prospects of a new negotiations process in Cyprus, Özügergin said no one could sit at the negotiating table before the demands of the Greek Cypriot side become clear.
“So far there has been no positive signal,” he added.
Turning to Turkish-Greek relations, Özügergin said waiting for political and legal problems between the two countries to be solved is a waste of time.
On the other hand, he said: “There is no reason not to improve economic relations.”
KEY ACTORS
Erdoğan (Turkey)
>> Turkey’s recent steps in the East Med & northern Syria demonstrate its determination to protect the rights of both Turkey & TCs.
>> No explicit or implicit threats to sanction Turkey will deter it from pursuing its goals.
Özügergin (Turkey)
>> EU’s latest decision to impose sanctions on Turkey has disqualified it from playing a positive role in solving the Cyprob.
>> No negotiations can be held before GC demands are clear. No positive signal so far.
>> Waiting for political & legal problems between Turkey & Greece to be solved is a waste of time. Economic cooperation is possible though.
Akıncı meets with GSM operators
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
CBMs, Economy
OVERVIEW
All six dailies reported that President Mustafa Akıncı met on Wednesday with the managers of the two GSM operators in north Cyprus, Telsim Vodafone and KKTCELL.
Akıncı first met separately with the operators before holding a joint meeting.
The two GSM operators shared with Akıncı statistical data on the extent of the use of mobile phones across the island following the implementation of mobile interoperability on July 11.
Ideas on how to expand mobile interoperability, reducing rates and enabling data usage across the divide were also taken up during the meetings.
The Turkish Cypriot GSM operators also expressed their gratitude to Akıncı for his determination and consistent stance on mobile interoperability.
The GSM operators described the move as the most significant confidence-building measure (CBM) since the opening of the crossing points in 2003.
The meetings were also attended by Meltem Onurkan Samani, General coordinator of Technical Committees and Akıncı’s economy adviser Ömer Gökçekuş.