TCC Press Review 23 Sept 2019

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Fight for life at sea

A boat carrying four people out on a fishing trip capsized off the coast of İskele (Trikomo). The four were rescued after an intense search and rescue operation.

  • He drowned 44-year-old Greek Cypriot Arestis Panayi who went swimming at the Bedis Beach drowned after being swallowed by waves.

Kıbrıs Postası

TRNC anxiously awaits impact of the petrol crisis!

Following the attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, the country’s production has been reduced to 5.7 million barrels which in turn has impacted petrol retail prices. Petrol prices increased by 15 per cent, reaching its highest levels in four months. Fuel oil retail prices in Turkey went up by ₺0.35 last Wednesday but the increase in global oil prices has yet to be reflected on the price of petrol in the north.

  • “Let’s protect the Evkaf for humanity” – İbrahim Benter, General Director of the Evkaf Administration of Cyprus spoke in Ankara.

Kıbrıs

What has happened to our beloved Cyprus?

People are not happy with the growing crime rate and corruption cases in the north. Kıbrıs spoke with the public regarding illegal online betting, corruption in the real estate sector and the police force as well as other criminal incidents. The public demands tighter security measures and a better system to tackle growing crime.

  • Akıncı departs for New York on Monday – President Mustafa Akıncı will be meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York. Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay left the north on Sunday.

Havadis

“Two-state solution is the best option”

Final communiqué of the “Last Word on Cyprus” conference held in the Turkish capital Ankara last week has been published. The communiqué states that a federal partnership is not a suitable model of reconciliation in Cyprus.

Diyalog

Transfer of property without payment

Murat Serdar Özcan who is accused of threatening Mehmet Eminoğlu, currently in prison for forging documents, has also been arrested.

  • Critical week for Cyprus – Guterres will be meeting with both leaders separately this week and representatives of the guarantor countries as part of his efforts to seek a basis for the restart of talks.
  • He was swallowed by the waves – A 44-year-old Greek Cypriot who went swimming at Famagusta’s Bedis Beach drowned. Four others were saved from drowning in separate incidents.

Afrika

Search for New Cyprus in New York

All eyes turned again to New York. Will Akıncı and Anastasiades succeed in changing despair to hope? Mustafa Akıncı departs for New York today (Monday). Kudret Özersay left yesterday (Sunday). Akıncı posted on social media that Anastasiades made it clear once again during an address in London that he was far from accepting the political equality of Turkish Cypriots. “While he rejects past convergences, he continues to demonize the concept of effective participation in decision-making processes,” he said.

  • Death at sea – 44-year-old Greek Cypriot Arestis Panayi drowned while swimming Famagusta’s Bedis Beach.

Main News

Akıncı: Anastasiades remains opposed to TCs’ political equality

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing

OVERVIEW

President Mustafa Akıncı on Sunday criticized the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades for his views regarding the political equality of Turkish Cypriots.

Akıncı responded to Anastasiades’ latest remarks in London via social media.

He recalled that both political equality and effective participation in decision-making processes were established UN parameters and were among past convergences reached between the two sides.

Akıncı said that he will convey to the UN Secretary-General that Anastasiades was rejecting these elements.

“Mr Anastasiades’ statement in London shows that he is far from an understanding of the notion of political equality. He continues to reject past convergences and demonize effective participation in decision-making processes. It also serves his interest to present what has been a Turkish Cypriot position from the very beginning as something which Turkey is trying to impose,” he said.

Akıncı said that he was going to New York to meet with the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres with the determination to defend the rights of Turkish Cypriots to exist freely, equally and securely within the framework of international law.

Meanwhile, Akıncı departed for New York on Monday morning. Among other contacts, he is set to meet with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and will be returning to the island on October 3.

Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay departed early on Sunday from Ercan (Tymbou) airport for New York, where he will attend the foreign ministers’ summit organised by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

According to Turkish Cypriot media, Özersay will also hold meetings with high-ranking UN officials, permanent members of the UN Security Council, and representatives of states participating in the UN General Assembly.

KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> Political equality & effective participation in decision-making processes are UN parameters & part of past convergences.
>> UNSG will be informed that Anastasiades is rejecting these.
>> Anastasiades’ statement shows that he is far from an understanding of the notion of political equality.
>> Anastasiades continues to reject past convergences & demonize effective participation in decision-making processes.


“Two-state solution is the best option”

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process, Property, Territory, Energy

OVERVIEW

“A two-state solution is the best option” was the conclusion of the final communiqué issued on the “Last Word on Cyprus” conference held in Ankara last week.

All six dailies covered the communiqué published on Sunday.

It stated that a federal partnership was not a suitable model of reconciliation for Cyprus and highlighted the need for Turkey and the TRNC to revise its strategy in the Eastern Mediterranean in line with the changing geopolitics of the region.

It also stated that it would be a serious mistake to restart talks from where they left off in Crans Montana or within the framework of the Guterres document.

“The Cyprus Problem is not only about who will effectively be in control of the Eastern Mediterranean but is directly related to the security and welfare of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot people,” the communiqué read.

It pointed out that Turkey was vital for the TRNC’s security and that Turkey’s guarantees were indispensable, unchangeable and not subject to debate.

“The same goes for Turkey. The TRNC is vital for Turkey’s security and welfare,” it read.

The communiqué also warned that the disagreement between the two peoples on the island had reached a point which was more than a simple dispute of territorial waters.

It said that the expansionist policies of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo in the Eastern Mediterranean based on a nationalist ideology was the cause of rising tensions.

“Under the current circumstances, the UN parameters, including the 1977-1979 High-Level Agreements, are no longer valid. Efforts to reach a federal partnership have failed and the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo which is under the influence of Hellenism reject the idea of power-sharing based on political equality and Treaties of Guarantees and Alliances,” the communiqué said.

It added that 42 years of failed attempts proved that a bizonal, bicommunal federal settlement based on political equality, which was initially proposed at the High-Level Agreements, was not a suitable solution model for Cyprus and that any talks should focus on alternative solution models.

The communiqué expressed the view that the hydrocarbon drilling activities carried out by Turkey in areas licensed by the TRNC and the Maraş (Varosha) initiative were appropriate and well-planned moves that would help change the status quo on the island.

The communiqué also emphasized that the property rights of the Evkaf Administration in Maraş (Varosha) must be protected when allowing the former residents of the fenced-off town to resettle.

“Due to obstacles which are impossible to overcome, the best option is a two-state solution that protects the Turkish Cypriot people’s sovereign equality,” the communiqué stressed.

It added that the right path to achieving this goal was to increase the TRNC’s political and economic visibility.

The communiqué pointed out that in this respect, the option of ‘velvet divorce’ should be attempted with the Greek Cypriot side.

Arguing that the Greek Cypriot side wants to grant minority rights to the Turkish Cypriot people, the communiqué stressed: “this is not acceptable for the Turkish nation.”  

The communiqué also proposed a series of measures and steps that should be taken to further strengthen ties between the two countries such as expanding trade between Turkey and the TRNC, minimizing the effect of embargoes imposed on the TRNC, bringing to life the electricity supply project from Turkey via cable, speeding upon the work of the Immovable Property Commission and opening the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha) to resettlement on the basis of international law by taking into account the legal status of the immovable property rights of the Evkaf Administration as well as the legal status of properties owned by foundations.


GC man drowns at Salamis

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

A 44-year-old Greek Cypriot man drowned at a beach next to the ancient ruins of Salamis on Sunday.

According to reports, Arestis Panayi was seen struggling with large waves before being pulled under.

Diyalog reported that Panayi had been pulled out of the sea by his friends but was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Police are continuing its investigation into the incident.


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