Front Page Headlines
“My daughter never used that road. What was she doing there?”
The death of Sedef Sevgi Derin left her mother Emine Baysal with many unanswered questions. Derin died in a traffic accident on the Alayköy (Gerrolakkos) road.
- “Guterres sounding out the two sides” – Cyprus talks in New York.
“If caught, don’t give our names, call our lawyer, we will save you”
A former employee for an illegal online betting site spoke to Kıbrıs Postası about the organisation’s structure as investigations and hearings are underway for those involved with online betting. He said the organisation employs students from Turkey as computer operators operating in rented flats. He noted the salaries paid are very good.
- It’s now possible to use the internet (on mobile devices) on both sides of the island
Much awaited regulation for tighter entry controls comes into force
The “residence and visa regulation” which was prepared to curb the growing crime rate mainly due to a lack of strict controls on people entering the country is finally being implemented. It will now be possible to question people upon arrival as to how much money they have in their pockets before they enter the country.
- Internet usage on both sides of the island starts – Following implementation of the mobile telephone interoperability in July 2019, subscribers can now use the internet on mobile phones as of Tuesday after the completion of technical work.
Great tragedy
Meltem Sertsoy did not see her two-year-old daughter Deniz Sertsoy as she backed out of her driveway in Ötüken (Spathariko). The mother seriously injured the child after hitting her with her car. Deniz Sertsoy was taken to Nicosia Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital.
We’re not joking
Özersay said that necessary inquiries were launched into the dumping of ₺200 million worth of expired medicines and allegations of irregular practices concerning Şeker Insurance as well as the purchase of vehicles and second-hand generators without tenders.
- Female tank operators at the forefront – Greek Cypriot and Greek forces displayed a show of might at the ceremony marking the 59th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus.
We continue to erode away while we mock the occupier
The Trade Unions’ Platform staged a protest in front of parliament, complaining that the community was being pushed into annihilation. But that very same community does not accuse Turkey, which has brought it to the brink of annihilation for the past 45 years, of being an occupier.
Main News
Hasipoğlu: “No solution, only negotiations in foreseeable future”
Kıbrıs Postası
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
National Unity Party (UBP) MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu said on Tuesday that he was not surprised by the outcome of the meeting between President Mustafa Akıncı and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“I don’t think we have been successful in convincing either the UN or the Greek Cypriots that new talks should not be open-ended and results-oriented. From what we have understood, the most important thing Akıncı has been working towards is to make sure the process is kept alive until the forthcoming elections. This means we shall continue to pump the public with false hopes and wait for the Greek Cypriot side to be forthcoming,” he said in a written statement.
Hasipoğlu said that the UN in its latest report had used the term “foreseeable future” instead of mentioning any timetables for the process.
This was the result of the Turkish Cypriot side’s efforts as a foreseeable future could be referring to any length of time, he added.
He pointed out that there was no solution, just negotiations for the foreseeable future.
Hasipoğlu said that the absence of a settlement was the result of both communities having different perceptions of what a federal solution will entail.
The UBP MP said that not a single joint document had emerged during Akıncı’s term in office, for the exception of the Guterres framework which even the two sides had differing views regarding its date and content.
Hasipoğlu criticized Akıncı’s stance towards the Greek Cypriot side on the Cyprus issue, blaming him of giving away too many concessions.
“The president failed to reach an outcome despite presenting a map during the talks in Switzerland. Instead of showing any flexibility, the Greek Cypriot side is now demanding more territorial concessions and is setting preconditions such as halting drilling activities for hydrocarbons and the removal of the guarantees to resume talks,” said Hasipoğlu.
He said that the Greek Cypriot side also adopted a new position which rejected the principles of political equality and effective participation in decision-making processes.
“If only they had reached an agreement on the issues of guarantees, political equality, rotating presidency and EU becoming primary law before our towns and villages were made bargaining chips,” he said.
Hasipoğlu said that no one doubted Akıncı’s sincerity but blamed him for failing to acknowledge or comprehend the Greek Cypriot side’s bad faith regarding a settlement.
“The more we give the more they ask for. The Greek Cypriots voice their readiness to hold tripartite or five-party talks in an attempt to remove Turkey’s right to intervene and gain more territorial concessions,” Hasipoğlu added.
He argued that the Turkish Cypriot side’s insistence on a federal settlement allowed the Greek Cypriot side to be more comfortable and intransigent at the negotiating table.
“When we told them we were reopening Maraş (Varosha) they all panicked because they saw the return of the town in the event of a federal settlement as a done deal,” he said.
Hasipoğlu said that the Kosovo model could be applied to Cyprus as well.
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman said the parliament should be spared from endless debates on the Cyprus problem or the upcoming presidential elections.
In his address on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the new legislative year in the Turkish Cypriot parliament, Erhürman recalled that former Turkish Cypriot leaders had reached a significant number of convergences on a federal settlement.
“Therefore, a federation is the only realistic solution model,” Erhürman stressed.
He pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side would never accept a two-state formula nor would the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades accept the recognition of the TRNC.
“Negotiations in such a situation would last much longer than 50 years!” Erhürman concluded.
Also addressing parliament on Tuesday, Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit warned against seeking alternative solutions to the Cyprus problem despite the failure of efforts to reach a settlement, which was within reach.
Özyiğit said that everyone on the Turkish Cypriot side was opposed to an open-ended process.
“Political equality, effective participation and the continuation of the guarantees are a sine qua non for TDP,” Özyiğit stressed.
“Turkish Cypriots must be successful in being a community standing on their own feet,” Özyiğit added and expressed the view that the UN Secretary-General will call for a tripartite or a five-party meeting soon.
In the meantime, Yenidüzen sought the views of experts on the Cyprus Problem regarding the latest developments.
Former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat told Yenidüzen that Akıncı’s latest meeting with Guterres was important and expressed the hope that a tripartite or five-party meeting will take place soon.
Talat argued that all aspects of the Cyprus Problem had been discussed and that the time had come to put all that was discussed on paper.
International Relations academic Prof. Dr Ahmet Sözen described the current phase in the Cyprus Problem as a process of bargaining before official negotiations could begin.
He expressed the view that the UN will be eager to undertake a new initiative on Cyprus in light of the growing tensions in the Mediterranean and developments over Maraş (Varosha).
Former negotiator Osman Ertuğ expressed the view that any new process will be a repeat of a vicious circle on the Cyprus Problem as long as the mentality of the two leaders did not change.
Academic Bilge Azgın said that the Turkish Cypriot community had lost its interest in the Cyprus Problem.
KEY ACTORS
Hasipoğlu (UBP)
>> TC side has been unsuccessful in convincing the UN or GC side on a results-oriented process.
>> Akıncı’s priority is to make sure the process is kept alive until the forthcoming elections.
>> No solution, just negotiations expected for the foreseeable future.
>> Absence of a settlement is the result of both communities having different perceptions on a federal settlement.
>> Akıncı’s concessive stance encouraging GC side’s intransigence.
>> GC side demanding more concessions due to Akıncı’s wrong moves particularly on maps & territory.
>> GCs are eager for three-way or five-party meeting to gain more concessions.
>> Kosovo model could be applied to Cyprus as well.
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Federation is the only realistic solution model.
>> GC side would never accept a two-state formula nor would GC leader Anastasiades accept recognition of the TRNC.
Özyiğit (TDP)
>> Political equality, effective participation & continuation of the guarantees are a sine qua non for TDP.
>> TCs must be successful in being a community standing on their own feet.
Mehmet Ali Talat (CTP)
>> The time has come to put all aspects of Cyprus Problem on paper.
Smaller leftist parties critical of UN efforts
Kıbrıs Postası
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The smaller leftist parties in the north issued statements on Tuesday regarding the latest efforts to restart the Cyprus negotiations process.
In a written statement, the Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP) claimed it was not possible to find a solution under the auspices of the United Nations (UN). “The UN, the Turkish Cypriot leader and the Greek Cypriot leader are collaborators of the imperialist powers,” the KSP claimed in a written statement on Tuesday.
It accused them of trying to impose new plans on Cypriots to divide the island and to pillage its natural gas reserves.
“We have to take control of the solution of the Cyprus problem,” KSP said, urging the Cypriots to impose their solution on the UN and all the imperialist powers.
KSP claimed that Cypriots would not be able to exercise true political will for a solution as long as they continue to elect collaborators of imperialist powers as their respective community leaders.
United Cyprus Party (BKP) leader İzzet İzcan on Tuesday said that it was time to take determined steps to permanently solve the Cyprus problem.
He urged the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convene a five-party conference.
İzcan noted that an adequate amount of meetings had been held on the Cyprus problem, adding: “The ball is in Guterres’ court now.”
He also said UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute could return to the island to iron out the differences on the Terms of Reference (ToR) document in October and November.
“Should the current opportunity be missed, tension-oriented policies will dominate both the island and the region,” İzcan warned.
“Our future is in a solution and peace,” İzcan concluded, urging all relevant sides to work towards a federal united Cyprus.
KEY ACTORS
Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP)
>> Not possible to find a solution under UN auspices as the two sides’ elected leaders are collaborators of imperialist powers which are plotting to divide island & pillage Cyprus’ natural resources.
>> Cypriots have to take control of the Cyprob.
İzcan (BKP)
>> UNSG should convene a five-party conference.
>> Ball is now in Guterres’ court as sufficient numbers of meetings have been held on Cyprob.
>> If opportunity missed, there will be tension-oriented policies on the island & in the region.
>> Future of Cyprus is in a solution & peace. All relevant sides need to work for a federal united Cyprus.
Kızılyürek to open office in the north
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Akel’s member of the European Parliament (EP) will be opening up an office in the north in line with his election promises. According to a statement issued from Kızılyürek’s office, the north office, which will be inaugurated on October 11, will be managed by EU expert Derya Beyatlı, who is currently working with Kızılyürek as an adviser.
Data coverage added to mobile phone interoperability
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Data network coverage on both sides of the island has started, Akıncı’s office announced on Tuesday through a written statement.
The move follows the island-wide mobile phone interoperability which was launched in July this year as a confidence-building measure agreed by the two sides.
Previously subscribers could only text or talk on their mobile phones but could not benefit from data packages on their devices when they crossed over from one side to the other.
Announcing the move, the co-chair of the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Economy and Commercial Matters, Günay Çerkez, thanked Mustafa Akıncı for his contribution.
Akıncı had earlier highlighted the importance of island-wide mobile interoperability in terms of contributing to confidence-building between the two communities.
Property issue in open section of Maraş (Varosha) must be solved
Havadis
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
The former general director of Evkaf and former director of the National Archives, Mustafa Haşim Altan said one must differentiate between Turkish Cypriots and foreigners (Turkish settlers) living in the open section of Maraş (Varosha).
Altan raised the issued amidst the ongoing debate on property claims of the Evkaf Administration of Cyprus on the fenced-off town of Maraş (Varosha).
Altan said that although it was possible to turn a blind eye to Turks utilizing the properties it was still unlawful to occupy Evkaf property regardless of the occupants’ ethnicity.
He said the state needs to table the issue of property rights for those living in the open parts of Maraş (Varosha) and must find a remedy without any detriment to the property rights of the Evkaf.