Front Page Headlines
“Current amount owed ₺440 million”
Exclusive statements to Yenidüzen by Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu. “There are 28 casinos which haven’t paid withholding tax on the gambling tables and machines they operate. We are owed money by the casinos and from the privatisation of Ercan (Tymbou) airport.
- “Two Greek Cypriots arrested in the north”
Let’s battle it out in court
Suat Günsel (owner of Near East University) is to sue Kıbrıs Postası for publishing EL-SEN’s (TC Electricity authority workers’ union) statement on social media and for publishing EL-SEN president’s statement.
- The first day of lessons at Akdoğan (Lysi) – 2019-2020 school year will start with a ceremony at Dr Fazıl Küçük primary school in Akdoğan (Lysi). Even though Greek Cypriot media reported that the stolen flag will be returned on Monday, Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu said he had not been informed about the developments and that he would raise the issue during his address at the school ceremony.
- Single visa for tourists to visit both Turkey and TRNC
Director of turbulent times, reappointed
Cemal Redif, who was held responsible by the Finance Ministry’s Audit Department for unlawful practices and incurring damages at Cypfruvex (State-owned citrus packaging and processing company), has been appointed once more to the helm of the company as if there was no one else left for the job
- Neither schools nor hospitals will be sufficient without population planning – KTÖS (TC Teachers’ Union) General Secretary Şener Elcil said both schools and hospitals fail to meet the public’s need due to the absence of proper population planning. Elcil talked about students being transferred to a private school due to an inadequate number of classrooms at 23 April primary school in Kyrenia.
UBP dead quiet
National Unity Party (UBP) is maintaining a deep silence over the lifting of the political immunity of UBP MP Hüseyin Özgürgün. The special parliamentary sub-committee tasked to investigate the matter is scheduled to complete its work on September 29. Özgürgün, in the meantime, continues to direct harsh criticism at his party claiming Kudret Özersay and his gang are conspiring against him.
A ‘golden award’ to the one who solves this problem
Congestion experienced again at Metehan (Agios Domestios) and Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing points on Sunday. The recent increased flow of Greek Cypriots to the north to buy fuel, groceries and medicines is making shopkeepers happy. However, the long queues at Nicosia’s Metehan (Agios Domestios) and the Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing points are making it an ordeal for Greek Cypriots wanting to cross north and Turkish Cypriots trying to cross to the south.
Disgrace
Gross human rights violations in the north of Cyprus. The invader is preventing people from taking photographs of their own homes! A Greek Cypriot mother and her daughter have been arrested by TRNC police! A 52-year old Greek Cypriot woman and her 20-year-old daughter were arrested in Morphou whilst attempting to take a photograph of their occupied home. Turkish Cypriot Police confirmed the arrest which was reported by the Greek Cypriot media. The reason given for their arrest was the attempt to take a photograph in a restricted area.
- Savvas’ father apologized – Father of 16-year-old Greek Cypriot teenager wrote a letter to Mustafa Akıncı apologizing for his son’s actions. He said his son was regretful of his actions. The flag is set to be returned in the next 24 hours through the UN.
Main News
Çavuşoğlu: TCs need Turkey’s guarantees ‘more than ever’
Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, External Security, Governance & Power Sharing, Energy
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriots need Ankara’s guarantees “more than ever”, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Sunday.
“If there were no Turkey’s guarantees, the rights of Turkish Cypriots would have been exploited. To me, it is needed more than ever,” Çavuşoğlu said in an interview with the Greek Cypriot weekly newspaper Kathimerini.
He argued that the Turkish Cypriot side favoured the continuation of the guarantees which was why Turkey could not ignore this.
Çavuşoğu also said that the argument of zero troops and zero guarantees was not realistic.
“This issue does not only concern Turkish Cypriots, Greece or the Greek Cypriots. There is much going on in the region, particularly the issue of hydrocarbons. Greek Cypriots would never consider sharing natural gas with Turkish Cypriots if it were not for Turkey’s presence as a guarantor,” Çavuşoğlu argued.
“Turkey’s guarantees are vital for Turkish Cypriots, Ankara showed flexibility on this issue at Crans Montana but I would like to remind everyone that it was the Greek Cypriot side which refused to accept our offers. From the Greek Cypriots’ perspective, the only issue at hand is the issue of security and guarantees. They [Greek Cypriots] took a step back on the issues of the rotational presidency, effective participation in decision-making and positive vote despite our flexible approach on the issue of guarantees,” he added.
Çavuşoğlu said “new options” should be evaluated after the latest negotiation process, the Conference on Cyprus, ended without an outcome in Crans Montana in July 2017.
He noted Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades had put forward conflicting ideas, such as a a decentralized federal model or a two-state solution in Cyprus.
Çavuşoğlu underlined the need for clarity on the issue before talks could begin.
“Different options should be evaluated. We do not impose any of these different options, and we do not exclude any of them but let’s determine what to negotiate […] and then go for a result-oriented negotiation,” he said.
Çavuşoğlu added Anastasiades was responsible for the unsuccessful negotiations, saying: “He [Anastasiades] does not believe in political equality. There is an understanding that does not want to share anything with the Turkish Cypriot side.
“We say that what we are going to negotiate this time should be clear at first.”
About Turkey’s drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, Çavuşoğlu said Ankara will not relinquish its legitimate rights to oil and gas exploration there.
On the issue of Maraş (Varosha), Çavuşoğlu said that it was time the fenced-off city was opened as keeping it closed was not in the interest of anyone.
“We support the Turkish Cypriot authorities’ move on Maraş (Varosha). We shall announce our plan once all the work is completed,” he said.
Asked whether opening the fenced-off city under Turkish Cypriot administration will create problems with the UN, Çavuşoğlu said that this was not important and that the only thing that mattered was for the rights of property owners to be reinstated.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> TCs need Turkey’s guarantees more than ever, as the rights of TCs would be exploited without Turkey’s guarantees.
>> Guarantees & Security not only involves TCs & GCs but the region as well.
>> Clarity needed on what to negotiate before talks can begin. New options should be evaluated.
>> Ankara will not relinquish its legitimate rights to oil & gas exploration.
>> Ankara supports TC authorities’ move on Maraş (Varosha).
>> The only important thing is for property owners’ rights to be reinstated.
Two GCs arrested in Morphou for taking photos of their old home
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Human Rights, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
A Greek Cypriot woman and her daughter were arrested in the north on Sunday for taking photos in Morphou and are expected to appear before a military court on Monday, all six dailies reported on Monday.
Citing Philelefteros as its source, the Turkish Cypriot media reported that the 52-year-old woman entered the garden of the house in which she lived before 1974 with her 20-year-old daughter where an army officer now resides and took photos.
Turkish Cypriot authorities also issued a statement regarding the incident, saying the mother and daughter were arrested at 10am on Sunday for taking photos and videos in a military zone.
Father of 16-year-old apologises to Akinci
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The stolen Turkish flag from the Dr Fazıl Küçük primary school in Akdoğan (Lysi) will be returned on Monday, all six dailies report, citing Greek Cypriot media. However, Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu, in his statement to Kıbrıs Postası, said he was informed on the latest developments and would be raising the issue when he addresses the ceremony in the morning.
In the meantime, it has been reported that the father of the 16-year-old Greek Cypriot sent a letter to President Mustafa Akıncı apologizing and expressing his son’s remorse for creating such a crisis. The Greek Cypriot family expressed hope that the incident will not be used as an excuse to disrupt the positive climate, dialogue and collaboration between the current and former residents of Akdoğan (Lysi).