TCC Press Review 5 Sept 2019

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

No one is turning the lights on

Many of the main roads are pitch dark at night. We inquired on behalf of the public. The public works ministry and KIBTEK (TC Electricity Authority) are also complaining. Public Works Minister Tolga Atakan complained the Department of Highways which is in charge of lighting on the main roads did not have electrical engineers. He also complained that they did not have the means to maintain the main roads. The General Director of the TC Electricity Authority Ahmet Dargın said that the authority was only in charge of street lighting in cities, towns and villages.

  • 30 per cent share before a solution! – Anastasiades’ latest proposal on natural gas.

Kıbrıs Postası

Amnesty for unregistered labourers to be implemented in October

Labour Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu said the unregistered labour force amounts to approximately 30 per cent. Several measures will be implemented and one of these will be to prohibit the employment of labourers from third countries for a month.

  • Benter calls for support for “November 4 hearing on Maraş (Varosha) case”
  • Kanol: Artworks and audiovisual recordings to be displayed at Ledra Palace.

Kıbrıs

A new investigation on claims of bribery

In addition to the existing charges brought against her, police inspector Gülay Bayram Çekici, who has been arrested, is accused of having “asked for bribes”. She appeared before the judge on a stretcher due to her ongoing treatment.

  • Anastasiades making proposals knowing they’ll be rejected –Hasan Hasturer writes Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades’ proposals disregard the Turkish Cypriot side.
  • Amnesty on unregistered labour force ready – Labour Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu said the amnesty bill is ready but waiting for parliament to open in October to be enacted.
  • Zahid Masood’s situation is puzzling – Greek Cypriot officials announced they are not aware of murder suspect Masood’s arrest but sources close to Turkish Cypriot police claim he is in a hospital in the south together with his family members.

Havadis

Lute sets up camp in Nicosia

UN Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute continues her efforts launched on Sunday in an open-ended manner. Lute is determined to achieve what she wants.

  • Eight more days for the suspect brought on a stretcher – The police officer, who is charged with corruption, was brought to court on a stretcher. The investigating police officer said new incriminating evidence has been found on the suspect Gülay Bayram Çekici, who was a senior member of the financial crimes unit in the police force.
  • How much did it cost to advertise such lies? – TC Teachers’ Union (KTÖS) General Secretary Şener Elcil accused the government of trying to take credit for President Akıncı’s achievements.

Diyalog

A hidden section found in her home

Police inspector Gülay Bayram, arrested on several charges, was brought to court on a gurney after undergoing an angiography.

  • He knows his business! – Anastasiades said that Turkish Cypriots could withdraw funds from the natural gas escrow fund before a solution is reached.

Afrika

A 30 per cent share before a solution

Anastasiades makes a striking proposal to the Turkish Cypriot side on the natural gas issue. Anastasiades made a new proposal to counter Akıncı’s proposal for a joint committee. The proposal is to give Turkish Cypriots a 30 per cent share of the revenues from the island’s natural gas. The proceeds will be deposited in an escrow fund and the Turkish Cypriot side will be able to start reaping the profits as of 2022 even in the absence of a settlement. However, Anastasiades has one condition. That is Turkey will recognize Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In other words, Turkey will halt its activities in Cyprus’s waters.

Main News

Lute to hold more meetings on Thursday

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

UN envoy Jane Holl Lute will hold a fifth round of meetings with leaders on Thursday as part of her efforts to agree on the terms of reference for the resumption of Cyprus talks, all six dailies reported.

According to President Akıncı’s Spokesman Barış Burcu, Lute will meet separately with the two leaders on Thursday morning.

In a written statement issued after Wednesday’s hour-long meeting, Burcu said that meetings with Lute would continue for a little longer.

Deputy Speaker of Turkish Cypriot Parliament Zorlu Töre on Wednesday said the ultimate goal of the Greek Cypriot side would never change even if a consensus was reached on the term of references to resume talks.

Töre accused Akıncı of showing weakness and vulnerability on the Cyprus Issue.

He said the national cause could not be defended by constantly shifting and changing positions like a spinning top.

“We could suffer great consequences as a result of politicians and officials who choose to ignore the mentality and demands of the Greek Cypriots. We need to be careful,” he warned.

He said Turkish Cypriots were being tricked with false hopes and promises that an agreement was near.

“The Greek Cypriot side’s positions and perspectives on the system of guarantees, sharing the island’s wealth, governance and power-sharing, political equality and the sovereignty rights have never changed,” he said

Töre also argued that the notion of effective participation in decision-making processes which the Turkish Cypriot side was so insistent on, fell far behind the power-sharing arrangements of the 1960 Cyprus Republic.

Also touching upon the presence of UNFICYP in Cyprus, Töre said that the UN peacekeeping force’s role had become redundant and it was not UNFICYP but the Turkish Peace Forces which maintained the security and freedom of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit on Wednesday slammed Peoples’ Party leader Kudret Özersay for accusing Akıncı of selling out the Turkish Cypriot people.

He accused Özersay via social media of “defending the status quo” adding that such attempts to divide the Turkish Cypriot community at such critical turning points did not help anyone.  

“It is time to be in unity and solidarity to define our future together,” Özyiğit underlined.

Özyiğit said that the timing of Özersay’s accusations was deliberate but would only serve to weaken the Turkish Cypriot community’s position at the [negotiations] table.

The TDP leader said that Akıncı had repeatedly proven that he was working for the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot community.

He also recalled that Akıncı was the elected representative of the Turkish Cypriot community and that any attempt to undermine him would mean to undermine Turkish Cypriots.

KEY ACTORS
Töre (UBP)
>> Ultimate goal of the GC side will never change even if a consensus is reached on the term of reference.
>> The national cause cannot be defended by constantly shifting and changing positions.
>> TCs could suffer great consequences as a result of politicians’ choice to ignore the mentality & demands of the GCs.
>> TCs are being tricked with false hopes & promises that an agreement was near.
>> GC side’s positions and perspectives on key issues remain the same.
>> The notion of effective participation in decision-making processes falls far behind the power-sharing arrangements of the 1960 RoC.
>> UNFICYP’s role has become redundant. It is not UNFICYP but the Turkish Forces which maintain the security & freedom of the TCs.

Özyiğit (TDP)
>> Özersay’s accusations harming TC community. Dividing TCs at critical juncture will not help anyone.
>> Time for TCs to be in unity & solidarity to define their future.
>> Özersay’s deliberately timed accusations will only weaken the TC’s position at the [negotiations] table.
>> Akıncı has repeatedly proven his is defending rights & interests of TCs.
>> Akıncı is acting with the authority given to him by the TC community.
>> Akıncı elected representative of TC community. Undermining him will mean undermining TCs.


Oped: ‘Anastasiades deliberately making unacceptable proposals’

Kıbrıs
Energy

OVERVIEW

Kıbrıs newspaper’s columnist Hasan Hastürer on Thursday claimed that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades was making proposals that he knew would be rejected and turned down.

Hastürer was referring to Anastasiades’ latest proposal to grant Turkish Cypriots a 30 per cent of shares of any revenues to be acquired from the island’s natural gas in exchange for Turkey recognizing Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone and ceasing its activities off the coast of Cyprus.

Hastürer said this proposal completely disregarded the Turkish Cypriot side.

“There is an agreement between the two sides based on the principle that any proposal made must be acceptable in nature and content,” he said.

Hastürer added: “It is not possible to achieve anything in a process in which the Greek Cypriots will take all the decisions, ostracizing the Turkish Cypriots in the process.”

He claimed that Anastasiades did not have the slightest bit of intention to share any revenues from natural gas with Turkish Cypriots.


Zahid Masood’s situation is puzzling

Kıbrıs
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

Greek Cypriot officials announced they are not aware of the arrest of Zahid Masood who is wanted in the north in connection with the murder of Gökhan Nami. However sources close to Turkish Cypriot police claim he is in a hospital in the south together with his family members, Kıbrıs reports.

Citing Greek Cypriot media as its source, Kıbrıs reported that the authorities in the south denied knowledge of any such arrest. However, it said that Greek Cypriot papers reported that one individual had attempted to flee the scene during a police raid and as a result was injured. The same reports also noted that the said individual, who is being treated at a hospital at the moment, is not under arrest and there is no request put forward by the United Nations (UN) for his return to the Turkish Cypriot authorities.


Benter calls for support for “November 4 Maraş (Varosha) case”

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Diyalog
Property, Territory

OVERVIEW

İbrahim Benter, General Director of the Evkaf Administration of Cyprus, said the forthcoming hearing at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on November 4 regarding Maraş (Varosha) will be a fight for humanity.

In a written statement on Wednesday, Benter said that religious foundations such as the Evkaf were established to serve humanity.

“Nowhere in the world would it be acceptable to transfer ownership of foundation property to individuals,” Benter stressed.

He asked the Turkish Cypriot community to show solidarity with the Evkaf Administration.

Benter noted that the legal proceedings are underway regarding Maraş (Varosha) and said the Evkaf was actively defending its rights.

“We have evidence showing and detailing all transactions from 1571 to 1974,” Benter underlined. He said that the Evkaf will intensify its public awareness efforts as well.

Benter reiterated his call for support and said that the gains to be achieved from the Maraş (Varosha) case, will be utilized in social projects, education and health.

KEY ACTORS
Benter
>> November 4 Maraş (Varosha)case at ECHR will be a fight for humanity.
>> Transferring foundation property to individuals unacceptable.
>> TCc must show solidarity with the Evkaf Administration.
>> Evkaf is actively defending its rights regarding Maraş (Varosha).
>> Gains to be achieved from Maraş (Varosha) case, will be utilized in social projects, education and health.


Cultural heritage co-chair welcomes exchange of artworks & audiovisual recordings

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
CBMs

OVERVIEW

The Turkish Cypriot co-chair of the Bicommunal Technical Committee for Culture Kani Kanol welcomed the exchange of artworks and audiovisual recordings that took place on Tuesday.

In an interview to the TAK News Agency published on Wednesday, Kanol said that the exchange had relieved the Turkish Cypriot community of an important burden.

He said they had been feeling the weight of this burden for years.

“If only we could rid ourselves of other burdens as well,” he said.

Kanol said that a difficult process had been experienced before the exchange and that the actual exchange was quite emotional.

“This exchange is the result of a long process undertaken by the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Culture.

The audiovisual recordings obtained from Cybc include national day celebrations of the Turkish Cypriot community, receptions hosted by Dr. Fazıl Küçük and his visits to villages, the inauguration of Saray Hotel, football matches between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus, songs by Kamran Aziz and voice recordings of İhsan Aziz as well as the opening of the Cyprus Radio service.

Kanol said that the list of audiovisual recordings had been compiled by retired programme producers from Bayrak as well as members of the public.

He said that the transfer of the recordings digitally was carried out by a Belgian company which was why the process had taken so long.

Kanol added that there were still recordings they were waiting for.

“A total of 83 recordings, 69 film/video and 14 sound recordings were handed over,” he said, adding that the recordings will be stored at Bayrak and the National Archives.

Regarding the 219 pieces of artwork belonging to Greek Cypriot artists that had been returned, Kanol said that a detailed inventory had been conducted on the paintings stored at the Ataturk Cultural Centre in Nicosia in 2016.

He said that the paintings had been photographed several times earlier but had not been listed numerically.

Kanol pointed out that the artworks will be displayed at an exhibition to be set up at the Ledra Palace hotel.

“Some of the paintings belong to well-known artists such as George Pol Georgiou, Christoforos Savas and Stelios Votsis. These were collected mainly from homes, hotels and the municipal art gallery in Maraş (Varosha) after 1974,” he added.

Kanol also expressed his disappointment on how the issue was perceived by the general public on both sides of the divide.

“There are many wounds we need to heal. This is not something that we can accomplish overnight. It’s unfortunate what people, even those who know the details on the issue, have been posting and commenting on social media. A delicate balance is required at this stage for steps to be taken. This is something we show attention to when taking steps,” he said.

Kanol added that the committee was prepared to undertake new initiatives if concrete data is provided.

“It is the first time we have a budget this year and we have now reached a stage where we can draft projects,” Kanol concluded.


Rally’s special leg to include both sides of Nicosia

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis
CBMs

OVERVIEW

A coordination meeting was held under the leadership of the Nicosia Turkish Municipality (LTB) for the European Rally Championship’s (ERC) special spectator leg to be held in Nicosia, all six dailies reported on Thursday on their sports pages.

LTB was tasked with the interdepartmental and institutional coordination of the event, which is being organized in collaboration with the Cyprus Automobile Association (CAA) and by the North Cyprus Turing and Automobile Association (KKTOK). Representatives from the Turkish Cypriot foreign ministry, Nicosia District Office, Sports Department, Traffic Unit of the Police General Directorate, Civil Defence, and Roads Department attended the coordination meeting held on Wednesday.

The Nicosia special spectator leg of ERC will be held on September 28 on both sides of Nicosia with the race cars crossing through the buffer zone.


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