Front Page Headlines
Jailed pending trial
Illegal online betting operation: Well known businessman B.A has been sent to prison for three months pending trial.
- Electronics without CE standards certificates can be confiscated while crossing to the South
“Turkey will deploy its navy”
According to Prof Dr Ahmet Sözen Turkey will not even allow the start of new drilling activities following the Greek Cypriot side’s latest agreements. Kıbrıs Postası spoke to Ahmet Sözen, Özdil Nami and Gürkan Kumbaroğlu.
- Bulut Akacan sent to prison for no longer than three months pending trial
Akacan in jail
Businessman Bulut Akacan, who is on trial for running illegal gambling, online betting and money-laundering operations has been sent to prison to await his trial.
Knee-deep in dirty money
Kyrenia District Court ordered businessman Bulut Akacan to remain in prison for the duration of his trial. Akacan has been identified as the owner of online betting sites Dobrabet and Kalebet. Police also discovered that Akacan paid his contractor companies with money earned from his illegal operations.
It’s intentional
National Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu made strong accusations against the President of the Public Service Commission, claiming that the shortage of teachers was his fault.
Akacan will wait in prison for three months
Bulut Akacan experiences the first shock in the illegal online betting case. Bulut Akacan who appeared in court on Wednesday for a bail hearing was jailed pending trial. Judge Meltem Dündar stated that the accused could commit a crime if released and ordered him to remain in prison for no longer than three months.
Main News
Burcu says Cyprob to be solved by two equal entities
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The Cyprus Problem will be solved between two equal entities and not on the basis of a majority-minority relationship, President Akıncı’s spokesman Barış Burcu said in a written statement on Wednesday.
Burcu’s statement was issued in response to earlier remarks by Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades to the Associated Press.
Akıncı’s spokesman said that the Greek Cypriot leadership needed to come to terms with this reality that had become a UN parameter.
“Anastasiades has attempted to distort the truth by claiming that it was Turkey which was insisting on the principles of effective participation in decision-making processes and the concept of a positive vote. Both the principle of political equality and the concept of effective participation in decision-making processes are Turkish Cypriot positions from the beginning. Both, which are supported by Turkey, are also UN parameters,” he said.
Burcu reminded that political equality and effective participation in decision-making processes which had made their way into various UN reports and Security Council resolutions were fundamental concepts agreed upon in the negotiations.
He recalled that a convergence already existed for a positive vote in the Council of Ministers of a future federal Cyprus.
Burcu also accused Anastasiades of ignoring the political equality of Turkish Cypriots and of denying existing convergences.
“As it is known, the UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute has yet to finalize the terms of reference. Our efforts as the Turkish Cypriot side is to create these terms of reference through constructive approaches,” he added.
Burcu said that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to work with goodwill in a calm and constructive manner through cooperation with the UN for a settlement in Cyprus.
He also said that the Turkish Cypriot side remained committed to past convergences and UN parameters.
KEY ACTORS
Burcu
>> Cyprob to be solved between two entities, not on basis of a majority-minority relationship.
>> GC leadership needs to come to terms with this reality which has become a UN parameter.
>> Political equality & effective participation in decision-making processes are TC positions from the very beginning, which are supported by Turkey & are UN parameters.
>> TC side’s efforts aimed at creating terms of reference through a constructive approach.
>> TC side will continue to work with goodwill and constructively through cooperation with the UN.
>> TC side remains committed to past convergences.
UNSG says leaders need to agree on ToR
Havadis
Negotiations Problem
OVERVIEW
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underlined on Wednesday the need for the two sides in Cyprus to quickly reach an agreement on the Terms of Reference (ToR), in order to restart talks aimed at reaching a solution to the Cyprus Problem.
He added that “the political process needs to be restarted.”
“It’s very important to quickly come to an agreement on the terms of reference to be able to start substantial talks that this time I would hope would be different from all past ones. So that is the message I will convey to all the leaders that I will meet,” he said during a press conference ahead of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.
He said it was time to at least agree on the terms of reference, based on the work that was done, namely at Crans-Montana, “because I’m a strong believer that the political process needs to be restarted and I think that is also very important for the parties.”
“I see a lot of impatience, namely the UN Security Council, with the fact that there has been no progress,” Guterres added.
KEY ACTOR
Guterres (UN)
>> Leaders need to quickly reach agreement on ToR based on work done, namely at Crans-Montana.
>> Political (peace) process needs to be restarted & hopefully will be different from all past ones.
>> UNSC very impatient with lack of progress.
Cyprob remains obstacle before Turkey’s EU bid
Yenidüzen
EU Matters, Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Lack of a solution to the Cyprus problem is the biggest hurdle in Turkey’s visa liberalisation process, Turkish news outlet T24 wrote on Wednesday. One of the remaining criteria for the visa liberalisation process is the establishment of necessary mechanisms for judicial cooperation, including the return of criminals between Turkey and all member states.
However, the main obstacle on this particular criterion is the absence of diplomatic relations between Ankara and the Republic of Cyprus and a solution to the Cyprus problem.
There are six remaining benchmarks out of 72 EU criteria for Turkey to fulfil for its citizens to be allowed visa-free travel to the bloc.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in a decree dated September 17, 2019, ordered public institutions to accelerate efforts to meet EU criteria easing the process of issuing visas to Turks, T24 said on Wednesday.
The decree also authorizes the Directorate of EU Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to carry out the visa liberalisation negotiations with the EU, with support from the ministries of Justice and Interior.
The six remaining criteria for Turkey to be eligible for visa liberalisation are: amendments to the counter-terrorism legislation; EU compliance with anti-corruption efforts and amendments to the existing legislation in view of GRECO (Group of States against corruption) recommendations; collaboration with Europol; protection of personal data; judicial collaboration and return of criminals with EU member states; and full implementation of the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement, which was signed on 16 December 2013 in parallel with the commencement of the Visa Liberalisation Dialogue.
Maraş (Varosha) initiative recipe for disaster
Yenidüzen
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
The former head of the Evkaf Administration Taner Derviş described the government’s plans to reopen the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha) as a recipe for disaster.
In a statement on Wednesday, Derviş said that the Greek Cypriot side no longer required the legal services of Achilleas Demetriades and Murat Hakkı who are overseeing the cases filed at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) thanks to Özersay’s statements.
“The statements made by Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay and former ambassador Daryal Batıbay are sufficient to hand over Maraş (Varosha) to Greek Cypriots through compensation. Mr Özersay and Mr Batıbay both do not accept the fact that Maraş (Varosha) in its entirety belongs to the Evkaf,” he said.
Derviş argued that the Turkish Cypriot foreign minister was directing Greek Cypriots to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) by recognizing the property rights of the former residents, which Derviş argued had unlawfully acquired property in Maraş (Varosha).
Experts warn hydrocarbon tensions will escalate
Kıbrıs Postası
Energy, Regional/International Relations, External Security
OVERVIEW
“Turkey will deploy its navy to stop the commencement of drilling in block seven,” Prof Dr Ahmet Sözen told Kıbrıs Postası in response to a question on the latest contracts signed by the Greek Cypriot side with Italy’s ENI and France’s TOTAL for exploration within the South’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The daily spoke with international relations expert, Prof Dr Ahmet Sözen; former negotiator and former economy and energy minister Özdil Nami and Prof Dr Gürkan Kumbaroğlu, President of the International Energy Economy Association. South Cyprus on Wednesday signed agreements with TOTAL and ENI for exploration in block 7 of its EEZ.
Ankara claims the block partially falls within an area of its continental shelf.
Sözen pointed out Turkey had earlier stopped ENI’s explorations in block three and has claims over block seven.
“If the hydrocarbon exploration is planned for the north-western quarter of the block, Turkey will send its navy to prevent any work from taking place there,” Sözen warned, adding that Ankara was determined to protect its rights and those of the TRNC.
He expressed his view that TOTAL and ENI will not be able to carry out any drilling in that block.
Former Turkish Cypriot Economy and Energy Minister Özdil Nami expressed concern over developments in the eastern Mediterranean.
Speaking to Kıbrıs Postası, he said that both sides were making unilateral moves that served to escalate tensions.
Nami also argued that the Greek Cypriot side will not approach the idea of cooperating on natural gas before a solution is reached in Cyprus.
“I hope the meetings at the UN at the end of September will bear results that will deescalate tensions,” he said.
Prof. Dr Gürkan Kumbaroğlu said that such agreements did nothing more than fuel tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.
He added Turkey’s determination to protect its and Turkish Cypriots’ rights were known.
Kumbaroğlu noted Turkey, as a first step, should raise the issue with the United Nations.
In the meantime, Kıbrıs Postası reported on Thursday that Turkey’s second research vessel, the Oruç Reis is on its way to the eastern Mediterranean.
Oruç Reis which set sail from Antalya, Turkey is on its way to its designated area where it will carry out surveys, Turkey’s Defence Ministry announced.
The Oruç Reis is being accompanied by the TCG Oruçreis frigate.
KEY ACTORS
Sözen
>> Turkey will deploy its navy to stop drilling in block seven.
>> Turkey is determined to protect its and TRNC’s rights.
>> TOTAL and ENI will not be able to carry out any drilling in block seven.
Nami (CTP)
>> Both sides are making unilateral moves that serve to escalate tensions.
>> GC side will not cooperate on natural gas before a solution is reached in Cyprus.
Kumbaroğlu
>> Such agreements do nothing but fuel tensions in the eastern Med.
>> Turkey’s determination to protect its & TCs’ rights is known.
>> Turkey should raise the issue with the UN.
TMT Association: “An apology is not enough”
Kıbrıs Postası
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
“An apology is not enough,” said the Vice President of the Cyprus Turkish Resistance Organisation Fighters’ Association (TMT) Celal Bayar regarding the letter delivered by the family of the 16-year old Greek Cypriot teenager who had stolen a Turkish flag and a photograph of the former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktaş from the Dr Fazıl Küçük primary school in Akdoğan (Lysi).
In a written statement on Wednesday, Bayar said that the association found the apology to be “fake” and “insincere” and urged the authorities to take necessary measures to rectify the situation.
“This was a professionally planned provocation and is a clear consequence of Greek Cypriot chauvinism,” Bayar stressed.
Bayar also accused President Mustafa Akıncı of playing down the incident and the political parties for playing along.
He also claimed that the true author of the letter of apology was being kept a secret.