Front Page Headlines
Munitions depots on my left and right
Kyrenia woke up to a huge explosion. A military ammunition depot exploded, a fire broke out, roads were closed, tourist resorts and several villages were evacuated. A major disaster on the island where “ceasefire” conditions still exist was averted. Around 2,000 tourists in a resort located next to the military zone where the explosion took place were forced to spend the night on the beach in panic and fear. No lives were lost, 12 people were taken to hospital with slight injuries but apart from that, there were no casualties. A technical team from Turkey is to investigate the incident.
It was a close call!
We were woken up with the sound of blasts. It was an ammunition depot exploding. The government is determined to review the locations of military facilities, especially those that house munitions depots within or near residential areas.
- “We must not allow the tourism sector to be affected negatively” – Tourism Minister Ünal Üstel said.
Fear, panic and damage
12 people were injured; tourism resorts, houses and shops were damaged as a result of the explosions at an ammunition depot near Arapköy (Klepini) and Çatalköy (Agios Epiktitos). [Authorities] are concerned the tourism and higher education sectors will be negatively affected by the incident.
- Voice recording presented as evidence – The trial of a senior police officer from the financial crimes section continues. The investigating police officer presented the court with voice recordings of the suspect offering bribes.
Ticking bomb
The ammunition depot explosion in Çatalköy (Agios Epiktitos) reminded us of the 2011 explosion in Mari, Limassol. The ammunition depots located near residential areas on both sides of the island pose a threat to the public.
₺1.1 billion will be paid
Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said that they were waiting for ₺450 million from Turkey as part of the first instalment and that preparations to pay three [public sector] salaries in November and December were underway.
- Necessary measures will be taken – Life returns to normal following the fear and panic caused by the explosion at the ammunition depot.
- Their spending surpassed ours – While Greek Cypriots spent €14 million in the TRNC in the past eight months, Turkish Cypriots spent €11.4 million.
Cyprus’ September 11
It reminded us of the September 11 attacks on the twin towers. If you come across unexploded ordinances don’t touch them! Following the stray missile which crashed into the foothills of the Five Finger (Pentadaktylos) Mountains an ammunition depot in a military zone in Çatalköy (Agios Epiktitos) exploded. There were no casualties and only three people were slightly injured in the explosions which lasted until five in the morning.
Main News
Çavuşoğlu says preparations underway to open Maraş (Varosha)
Kıbrıs Postası
Property, Territory, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Foreign Minister Melvüt Çavuşoğlu confirmed on Thursday that preparations were already underway to re-open the fenced-off town of Maraş (Varosha)
Just days after visiting Maraş (Varosha) as part of his recent contacts in the North, Çavuşoğlu told CNN Türk: “We are making preparations. Yes, we will open Famagusta.”
Çavuşoğlu reiterated that no one could tell Turkey what to do in the eastern Mediterranean, nor could anyone obstruct its plans. “We will defend our rights and those of Turkish Cypriots.”
He said that a gas agreement that excluded Turkey would be financially non-viable.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> Preparations underway to open Maraş (Varosha).
>> No one can tell Turkey what to do in eastern Med.
>> Turkey will defend its rights and those of TCs.
>> Gas agreement excluding Turkey not financially viable.
Akinci: As long as Cyprob exists, so will military arsenal on both sides
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
External Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot officials issued a barrage of statements on Thursday following a series of explosions at an ammunition depot in a military zone near Çatalköy (Agios Epiktitos), calling on the public to remain calm and to show solidarity.
There were no casualties but twelve people were slightly injured from shattered glass caused by the explosion.
All six dailies gave extensive coverage of the incident, giving room to details and pictures of the level of damage caused by the blasts at the nearby Acapulco Hotel.
The papers reported that tourists and guests staying at the hotel had been moved to a safe location near the beach where they spent the night out in the open.
Pictures showed shattered windows, damaged corridors and pieces of shrapnel from the blasts on the hotel grounds.
Residents of nearby Arapköy (Klepini) were also temporarily evacuated but later returned to their homes, it was reported.
Ankara has sent a team from Turkey to launch a probe into the incident, both the Turkish Defence Ministry and the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces announced on Thursday.
Holding a press conference on Thursday, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said that a government enquiry was also underway into the incident.
“This is an extremely important issue and we shall be showing the necessary sensitivity. The safety of human life and property comes first. The government shall take action to ensure that such incidents do not reoccur in the future,” he said.
The team of experts from Ankara which are in Cyprus to investigate the cause of the blasts will also check whether there may be unexploded ammunition in the area, Tatar told the media.
Asked whether sabotage was suspected, he said that investigations continue but there was no such indication so far.
Asked why there was a military installation so close to a residential area, Tatar said that the depot was located there before the area became residential but added that the safety of military installations will be reviewed.
Ayşegül Baybars on Thursday said that the location of military zones where munitions are stored must be moved away from residential areas.
Speaking on Bayrak, Baybars reminded that a similar danger had been experienced during the big forest fire of 1995.
President Akıncı on Thursday afternoon visited the site of the ammunition depot as well as the Acapulco Hotel which was affected by the blasts.
“Thankfully there were no victims. All, including the 79 soldiers serving at the camp had been evacuated to a safe location,” Akıncı told reporters during his visit to the hotel where he was briefed on the extent of the damage caused.
He said it was necessary to consider ways of making the island a safer place for everyone.
“Unfortunately, as long as the Cyprus Problem remains unresolved the military forces on both sides will continue to maintain their military arsenal,” he said.
Akıncı added that the matter was beyond ideological differences of political parties and that it needed to be addressed by the community as a whole.
Speaking earlier on Thursday from the crisis desk set up at the Çatalköy (Agios Epiktitos) Town Hall, Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay warned that people should refrain from touching any fragments scattered across the area as a result of the blasts, as they may carry chemicals or other harmful substances.
He said that the blast radius covered an area of 200 dönüms (dunams) of land.
Özeray also said that the explosions had taken place in one section of the munitions facility.
“Other parts of the site have not been damaged,” he said, adding that reports in the Turkish media that a tourist resort had been evacuated did not reflect the truth.
Özersay also announced a series of temporary precautionary measures until authorities declared it was safe.
Fireworks displays and hunting in the vicinity of the blast zone have been banned in line with the measures taken.
The Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association on Thursday issued an announcement warning the public not to pick up pieces of ammunition that may have scattered because of the explosions as these may contain harmful chemical substances. People with respiratory problems are urged to wear a mask or to leave the area, they added.
TC side seeks return of Turkish flag
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry has launched an initiative with the UN on Thursday for the return of a Turkish flag that was taken down and stolen by a 16-year-old Greek Cypriot from a primary school in the village of Akdoğan (Lysi) last Sunday, when thousands of original residents and their families flocked to the church there for the first service in 45 years.
News emerged on Wednesday that the 16-year-old slipped away from the service attended by around 2,000 former Greek Cypriot residents from the village.
CCTV footage shows a figure, believed to be the 16-year-old, taking down a Turkish flag hoisted at the Akdoğan (Lysi) primary school, located roughly 100m from the church.
The 16-year-old then reportedly entered the school building and took a photo of the former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktaş, taking both items – the flag and the photo – with him to the South.
According to the ministry, the 16-year-old individual has been identified.
“The UN has been informed and an official request has been made for the Turkish flag and the picture of the founding TRNC President Rauf Raif Denktaş to be returned immediately,” the statement read.
An arrest warrant has also been issued in the North for the teenager who crossed over to the South from the Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing point on September 8.