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Education in total chaos
The 2019-2020 school year began with a shortage of classrooms. It became clear the public school infrastructure is unable to meet the needs of the rising population and that urgent solutions are needed. According to figures obtained from the education ministry, there were 27,448 primary school students and 51,713 secondary school students registered last year.
Snarling at each other before New York
President Mustafa Akıncı and Prime Minister Ersin Tatar lashed out at each other both through social media and with statements at various events. National Unity Party (UBP) leader, Prime Minister Tatar accused the president of venturing into new and unnecessary adventures. Akıncı immediately responded stating that what Tatar described to be an adventure was the Turkish Cypriot side’s goal for a federal solution.
- Eastern Mediterranean is one of Erdoğan’s priorities at the UN
How will the municipalities come up with ₺254 million?
A very serious economic crisis is awaiting the debt-stricken municipalities. The extra time given to the municipalities to pay their due social security and provident fund premiums will be up in three months. The accumulated debts including their interest rates amount to ₺254 million.
Possibility of negotiations causes tension in UBP
The two leaders, who are getting ready to head off to New York, will be meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The possibility of resuming the talks will become stronger should an agreement be reached on the terms of reference, which the UN Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute has brought to a certain point.
The loss is ₺200 million
An inventory of expired medicines at the health ministry’s depot has been completed. Tons of medicines were dumped.
- The race started early – The war of words between Akıncı and Tatar continues.
A serious majority
Mustafa Akıncı who visited Arapköy (Klepini) and Çatalköy (Agios Epiktitos) responded to earlier remarks by Ersin Tatar who described Akıncı’s supporters as a marginal group. Akıncı: “Akıncı’s small group of marginal friends are a serious majority. Those who fail to see this will understand when the time comes.
Main News
Akıncı-Tatar lash out at each other ahead of New York
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
All six dailies reported on the war of words between President Mustafa Akıncı and Prime Minister Ersin Tatar both through social media and statements made at various events ahead of New York.
National Unity Party (UBP) leader and PM Tatar accused the president of venturing into new and unnecessary adventures.
Akıncı responded swiftly, saying that what Tatar claimed to be an adventure, was in fact, the Turkish Cypriot side’s goal to achieve a federal solution.
Akıncı, who visited Arapköy (Klepini) and Çatalköy (Agios Epiktitos) also responded to Tatar’s remark that Akıncı’s supporters are a marginal group.
Akıncı said that what Tatar called a small group of “marginal” persons was, in fact, a serious majority.
“Those who fail to see this will understand when the time comes,” he added.
Tatar hit back at Akıncı through social media accusing Akıncı of engaging in demagoguery.
He also explained what he meant by an “adventure.”
“Akıncı’s insistence on entering talks with the Greek Cypriot side on the basis of the Guterres Framework despite being fully aware of (the GC side’s) intransigence cannot be described as anything else but an adventure,” Tatar stressed.
He said the Greek Cypriot side will not agree to resume talks unless the Turkish side ceases its hydrocarbon exploration, the Turkish Cypriot government abandons its plans to reopen Maraş (Varosha) and Turkey’s guarantees on the island are scrapped.
“Contrary to Mr Akıncı’s claims, the majority of the Turkish Cypriot people will reject a solution if it does not include Turkey’s guarantees, Turkish Cypriots’ right to veto and if areas such as Morphou and Karpaz (Karpas) do not remain under Turkish Cypriot administration,” Tatar concluded.
The leader of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Cemal Özyiğit on Thursday expressed the view that reaching an agreement on the Terms of Reference (ToR) will speed up the negotiations process.
In a written statement, Özyiğit said that such an agreement would have a domino effect on efforts to reach a federal solution.
“The negotiations process must be results-oriented and not open-ended. The framework of a settlement is a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF) based on the 11 February 2014 Joint Declaration and the 30 June Guterres Framework. Political equality and effective participation in decision-making processes are a sine qua non for the Turkish Cypriot side,” he said.
Özyiğit also argued that history and experience showed that a federation was the most realistic solution in Cyprus.
“There is no need to seek new adventures. Under the current circumstances, such a thing is not possible in the near future,” the TDP leader said, adding that the only realistic solution model for the Turkish Cypriot side was a federation.
“The real adventure would be to divert from the right path to other alternatives,” he said.
Touching on the latest agreement signed by Greek Cypriots with TOTAL and ENI for offshore exploration in block 7, Özyiğit said that unilateral moves on the hydrocarbons issue will only raise tensions.
He also criticized the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades for attempting to define the Cyprus Problem as a majority-minority issue.
“This stance ignores UN parameters and does not serve efforts to reach a settlement on the island,” he added.
The TDP leader also criticized Tatar for his latest remarks branding those who support a settlement as being a small group of marginal persons.
“Since when has this been the case?” he asked, reminding that Akıncı had been elected by a majority vote and was continuing his duties in line with the authority granted to him by the people.
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> What Tatar claims to be an adventure is, in fact, the TC’s goal for a federal solution.
>> What Tatar defines as a marginal group is a serious majority.
Tatar (UBP)
>> Akıncı’s insistence on entering talks with the GC side based on the Guterres Framework is nothing but an adventure.
>> GC side will not agree to resume talks unless Turkey ceases its hydrocarbon exploration, TC authorities abandon the Maraş (Varosha) initiative & Turkey’s guarantees on the island are removed.
>> Contrary to Akıncı’s claims, majority of TCs will reject a solution that does not include Turkey’s guarantees, the TC right to veto and TC control over Morphou and Karpas.
Özyiğit (TDP)
>> Reaching agreement on ToR will speed up the negotiations process.
>> Agreeing on ToR would have a domino effect on efforts to reach a federal solution.
>> Solution framework is a BBF based on the 11 February 2014 Joint Declaration & 30 June Guterres Framework.
>> Political equality & effective participation in decision-making processes are a sine qua non for TCs.
>> History & experience showed that a federation was the most realistic solution in Cyprus. There is no need to seek new adventures.
>> Unilateral moves on hydrocarbons will only raise tensions.
>> Federation supporters not a marginal group. Akıncı has been elected by a majority vote & is continuing his duties in line with the authority granted to him by TCs.
East Med is one of Erdoğan’s priorities at the UNGA
Kıbrıs Postası
Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey’s stance vis-à-vis the energy crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean will be among the top items on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s agenda during the UN General Assembly in New York, Kıbrıs Postası reported.
The 74th session of the UNGA will be held in New York from September 21 to September 25. Erdoğan will address international peace and security issues at the UNGA on the first day of talks on September 24.
In addition to Cyprus-related issues, Erdoğan is also expected to speak on the establishment of a safe zone east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, Syrian refugees, and Turkey’s fight against terrorism.