Front Page Headlines
‘Candidates leading ahead of political parties’
Poll for 2020 Presidential Elections. Director of Redborder Research and Consultancy Dr Salih Egemen evaluated the forthcoming presidential elections for 2020. He said that the leading names that emerged within the Turkish Cypriot community were Erhürman, Akıncı and Özersay. “No party has the power to get a president elected. It will be more about the candidate than the party,” he added.
- ‘Terms of Reference’ summit at the palace – Akıncı: “New developments provide a reason to continue working.” Tatar: “Not much hope, nothing concrete. Akıncı said nothing new.” Özersay: “As long as there is no change in mentality, Turkish Cypriots will continue to be trapped in this vicious circle.” Erhürman: “We support the determination put forward to start a results-oriented process.” Özyiğit: “The framework and terms of reference must be finalized as soon as possible.”
Akıncı asks for ‘patience’, but political parties are pessimistic
President Mustafa Akıncı briefed the political party leaders on UN Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute’s efforts and her six-day long shuttle diplomacy. He asked the parties to be “patient” and not “judgmental” but party leaders expressed their lack of hope, disappointment and caution after the meeting.
- One more arrested – Investigation into illegal online betting operations deepens.
- Akıncı’s hand will be stronger at the negotiations table – Prof. Dr Gürkan Kumbaroğlu, President of the International Energy Economy Association, said Akıncı’s hand at the negotiating table would be stronger if Turkey were to deliver electricity to the north.
Those who look to the future can survive
23-year-old woman, who grew up at the S.O.S. orphanage in Nicosia, talks to Kıbrıs about her life, her experiences and her goals. She gives important advice to others, who will follow her in her footsteps.
- Enough developments achieved to justify continuing with efforts for a solution – President Mustafa Akıncı said progress has been made in UN Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute’s efforts to justify continuing with the efforts.
- UBP and HP negative; CTP and TDP positive; DP and YDP pessimistic – President Mustafa Akıncı briefed the leaders of political parties in parliament on his meetings with the UN Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute. Party leaders expressed different viewpoints based on their political positions.
Everyone talking differently
President Mustafa Akıncı briefed the political party leaders represented in the parliament on the work regarding the terms of reference, which will pave the way for the resumption of talks. Akıncı is cautiously optimistic but the political party leaders are confused.
- Disappearing history – Nicosia’s historic walls, dating back to the 16th century, are suffering from negligence. The current state of the walls is heartbreaking!
Do not carry them in your pocket
Urologist Dr Alper Sözüöz warned there was an alarming increase in STDs and drew attention to the importance of using condoms. However, he warned young people not to carry condoms in their pockets because of Cyprus’ exceptionally hot weather.
- They are very happy – Greek Cypriot Archbishop Chrisostomos is doing everything in his power to convince Russians living in North Cyprus to leave but without any success.
New move on Cyprus from Turkey
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu arrived in Cyprus on Saturday after the UN special envoy’s unsuccessful week-long contacts and rolled up his sleeves to determine a new strategy. Çavuşoğlu’s intense contacts on the island are starting in Yenierenköy (Yialousa) where he will be meeting with the Turkish Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Başçeri. He will be coming together with members of the public at the restaurant of the Yenierenköy (Yialousa) public beach. All members of the public are invited to attend the event which will start at 5pm. Çavuşoğlu will be meeting with Akıncı tomorrow (Monday) morning at 10 at the presidential palace. He will later attend a roundtable meeting with the party leaders. Çavuşoğlu will then come together with Foreign Minister Özersay at lunch and will meet with Prime Minister Ersin Tatar in the afternoon before leaving the island.
- No tripartite meeting in New York – Akıncı briefed political parties on the process. “The process to follow will involve meeting separately with the UN Secretary-General in New York. That means no tripartite meeting,” said Akıncı.
Main News
Akıncı says parties should be unbiased when evaluating developments
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President Mustafa Akıncı on Saturday briefed the leaders of the political parties with seats in the Turkish Cypriot parliament on the week-long shuttle diplomacy carried out by the UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute to finalize the terms of reference that would form the basis of the new talks.
The meeting was attended by leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) and Prime Minister Ersin Tatar, leader of the Peoples’ Party (HP)-Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman, leader of the Democratic Party Serdar Denktaş, leader of the Social Democratic Party Cemal Özyiğit and leader of the Rebirth Party Erhan Arıklı.
Akinci said on Saturday that it would be wrong to say that no developments had taken place.
“We are not after a process like before. This will be a new process it will not be endless or open-ended and drag on forever” he said.
In response to criticism from his opposition, he said that political parties should not be biased when they look at the situation.
Akıncı added that sufficient progress had emerged to continue efforts to finalize the terms of reference.
“It is however too early to say anything on the outcome of Lute’s contacts.
Commenting on Anastasiades’ latest counter proposal on hydrocarbons, Akıncı said that it was out of the question to accept the proposal which offered to give a share of natural gas revenues to Turkish Cypriots on the condition that Turkey recognizes South Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
“There are three ways we can proceed on this issue. The first is all sides halt activities until a settlement is reached. The second, which we support the most, is establishing a joint committee for the co-management of these resources. The third is what is currently taking place. All sides conduct their activities,” he said.
Akıncı added that the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will have separate meetings with him and the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades in New York.
“Guterres will then decide if he will call a tripartite meeting that would likely take place at the beginning of October following the completion of the UN General Assembly,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Tatar said he was not hopeful of the ongoing process.
“Our opposition to restarting talks for a federal settlement is clear. We do not believe any new process will be successful. Of course, this is a process. There will be more contacts with the parties involved and the guarantor countries, Tatar said.
He added that Akıncı had not told them anything new and that they will continue to evaluate the issue together with the Turkish foreign minister on Monday.
Tatar said that Anastasiades’ latest proposal to share natural gas revenues could not be evaluated without discussing the matter with Turkey.
“The Greek Cypriot side made this proposal just for the sake of having made one and it is not a serious proposal,” Tatar added.
Özersay told reporters on Saturday that the conditions on the island and the Greek Cypriot side’s mentality had not changed.
“It would be a serious mistake to enter negotiations for a federal settlement as long as there is no change in mentality or conditions, particularly an open-ended process. This would only trap Turkish Cypriots in the same vicious circle,” he said.
Erhürman said that the process needed to results-oriented and not open-ended.
He added that his party supported the restart of talks.
“Ending the debate on political equality and recognizing the Turkish Cypriots’ political equality is important for us. We support the determination and commitment of Akıncı to start a results-oriented process,” he said.
Özyiğit said that the briefing revealed that important progress had been achieved during Lute’s contacts and that they supported Akıncı’s contacts.
He underlined the need to finalize the terms of reference as soon as possible.
Arıklı complained that the Greek Cypriot side was constantly spreading false and manipulative reports.
He said that efforts were continuing and that a new process could be launched in October.
“We will be following developments closely. We shall be learning Turkey’s views on the issue on Monday,” he added.
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> It would be wrong to say that no developments have taken place.
>> Too early to say anything on Lute’s efforts. Sufficient progress emerged to continue efforts on terms of reference.
>> Process aimed is different and will be new, will not be endless or open-ended & drag on forever.
>> Political parties should not be biased when they look at the situation.
>> Anastasiades’ counter proposal on hydrocarbons unacceptable.
>> Three ways to proceed on hydrocarbons. Halting activities until a settlement, establishing a joint committee or everyone proceeding unilaterally.
Tatar (UBP)
>> Not hopeful of development. UBP opposed to restarting talks for a federation.
>> Anastasiades’ hydrocarbon proposal needs to be discussed with Turkey first.
>> Proposal, not a serious proposal.
Özersay (HP)
>> GC side’s mentality and conditions on the island have not changed.
>> It would be a mistake to resume talks under such circumstances.
>> Restarting open-ended talks will only trap TCs in a vicious circle.
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Process needs to be results-oriented and not open-ended.
>> CTP supports restarting talks but the debate on political equality needs to end.
>> CTP supports Akıncı’s determination & commitment to start a results-oriented process.
Özyiğit (TDP)
>> Briefing revealed important progress had been achieved during Lute’s contacts.
>> TDP supports Akıncı’s efforts.
>> Terms of reference needs to be finalized as soon as possible.
Arıklı (YDP)
>> YDP chooses to follow developments closely and to listen to Turkey’s views first.
>> Developments could take place in October.
Candidates ahead of the political parties
Yenidüzen
Governance and Power sharing
OVERVIEW
Salih Egemen, Director of Redborder Research and Consultancy said none of the political parties has the power to get any one of the candidates elected president in the north, in an interview published in Yenidüzen. “The candidates will be more in the foreground than the political parties,” he added. Egemen noted the race will be between Tufan Erhürman, Mustafa Akıncı and Kudret Özersay.
Egemen claimed that the outcome of the race will be determined in the second round of voting.
“Nearly one-third of the people are in the ‘undecided’ category,” Egemen told Yenidüzen based on a recent survey carried out by his firm.
He refrained from sharing exact vote percentages received by possible candidates as none of the candidates put forward in the questionnaire has announced their candidacies officially. “There is a four per cent difference between Akıncı and Erhürman in the top two places,” Egemen added.
Egemen claimed that the developments in the Cyprus negotiations process will also be a defining factor. “Even though the Cyprus problem is on the public’s radar at the moment, there is a serious impasse on the federal solution issue,” Egemen pointed out.