Front Page Headlines
It carries a prison sentence up to five years
A dossier on death threats and insults against President Mustafa Akıncı and his family were handed over to the police and the chief prosecutor by the presidency. All eyes are now turned on the relevant law. Legal experts say that threatening someone with death is a serious crime which carries a prison sentence of up to five years.
- And a ceasefire… – Following his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, US Vice President Mike Pence announced that Turkey and the US had reached an agreement on a ceasefire in Syria.
Horrifying picture
The Lefka Environment and Publicity Association did what the state failed to do. The association prepared a project for the Stelios Awards and when granted the €10,000, it spent all the money to test the level of chemical contamination from the CMC (Cyprus Mining Cooperation) of the area’s underground water resources and the nearby sea. The results obtained by the association are horrifying.
- Peace Spring operation paused, terrorist organization YPG withdrawing from the area.
- Akıncı: “There will be judicial process from now on” – Death threats directed at the president and his family given to the police and the prosecutor’s office.
- Greek Cypriots failed to have the direct trade regulation removed from EP’s agenda.
YPG is withdrawing
Operation paused. On the ninth day of the Peace Spring Operation, the meeting conducted with the US delegation was concluded just the way Turkey wanted. The two countries reached an agreement.
- People are not happy – Centre for Migration, Identity and Rights Studies (CMIRS) September 2019 poll reveals that the community is unhappy; many feel depressed, outraged and helpless.
Uncontrollable Kyrenia
Shops and businesses in Kyrenia’s Old Town are occupying the pavements leaving no room for pedestrians. Whilst residents are outraged, the Kyrenia Mayor complains the shopkeepers do not listen to him or follow the rules.
- Harassment by Greek F-16s that flew over Akıncılar (Louroujina) – Greek fighter jets which took part in a Greek Cypriot National Guard exercise on Thursday flew at low altitude near the border.
- Trump demanded it, ceasefire announced – US Vice President Mike Pence met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and announced a ceasefire in Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said the operation has only been paused.
Things are the other way around in Cyprus
A 31-year-old man kidnapped, assaulted and threatened his 49-year-old ex-lover who was harassing him. “You either leave the island or we’ll kill you,” said 31-year-old E.Ç.
- The roofs were nearly blown off – Greek F-16 fighter jets flew at low altitude over Akıncılar (Louroujina) and took part in a military exercise in Larnaca.
- Monkey business going on – Birikim Özgür said that attempts were being made for the first time in 50 years for a solution in Cyprus without Turkey.
- YPG to withdraw – The operation in Syria has been paused for 120 hours in line with an agreement reached between Turkey and the US.
Blood flowing in operation Peace Spring has stopped
The US forced Turkey into a ceasefire in Syria after imposing sanctions on Erdoğan and his family. Trump jubilantly welcomed the agreement signed between the Turkish and US delegations, tweeting: “There needed to be some “tough” love in order to get it done. Great for everybody. Proud of all!” US Vice President Mike Pence said that no new sanctions will be imposed on Turkey if it ceases its advance. A safe zone corridor will be established on the Turkish-Syrian border. The Kurdish resistance will withdraw and the safe zone will be under the control of the Syrian army.
- No concession from freedom of expression – Akıncı issues a statement on freedom of expression.
Main News
Akıncı says no concessions on freedom of expression
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
President Mustafa Akıncı continued to stand his ground concerning his ‘anti-war’ comments made earlier this week which ignited a full-blown spat with Ankara and the National Unity Party (UBP)-Peoples’ Party (HP) coalition partners in the north.
“Freedom of expression shall continue to be one of our fundamental principles on which we will make no concessions,” Akıncı said in a social media post on Thursday.
He also said that seeking retribution or responding to threats in a similar fashion should never be an option.
“I would like to thank everyone who supported me and showed me solidarity from the very beginning. Despite the offensive nature of this incident, it is of utmost importance that we preserve our civilized stance,” he said.
Akıncı’s statement came as police launched an official inquiry into death threats made against him following his statement on Sunday regarding Turkey’s military offensive in north-eastern Syria.
Havadis reported on Wednesday that a number of threatening comments were made against Akıncı on social media that were not limited to swearing and insults.
According to other reports, there were already 6,000 such comments posted between Sunday and Tuesday.
A dossier with information on the insults and death threats were handed to police and the chief prosecutor on Thursday by Akıncı’s Undersecretary Gürdal Hüdaoğlu and Akıncı’s Private Secretary Cenk Gürçağ.
Media reported on Thursday that many of the threats were traced to active social media accounts based in Turkey but that several of them belonged to TRNC citizens.
Commenting on the issue, Police Commissioner Süleyman Manavoğlu said that police had already launched its own investigation and would complete its inquiry as swiftly as possible.
Chief Prosecutor Behiç Öztürk also said that his office would take all necessary measures to bring to justice those responsible.
A copy of the file was also sent to the Turkish embassy in Nicosia.
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> Freedom of expression shall continue to be one of our fundamental principles on which we will make no concession.
>> Seeking retribution or responding to threats in a similar fashion should never be an option.
Greek fighter jets accused of airspace violations
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
External Security, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said that his ministry has filed a protest with the UN regarding a violation of TRNC airspace by Greek fighter jets which took part in a Greek Cypriot National Guard exercise on Thursday.
In a post on social media on Thursday night, Özersay said that three Greek fighter jets which took off from Crete had flown over the village of Akıncılar (Louroujina) at low altitude before returning to their base.
“We have launched all necessary initiatives including a protest on this provocative action. Everyone must know that such actions threaten stability in the region and all actors must act responsibly,” he said.
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar also protested against the incident with a post on social media.
“As I have always stressed, the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo has never had the intention of reaching an agreement with us. Greek fighter jets violated TRNC airspace. They supposedly tried to intimidate us. That’s not possible. Our people should rest easy. Motherland Turkey shall continue to provide our security in the best way possible as it has always done. The Greek-Greek Cypriot duo can continue their provocations and intransigence as much as they want. Turkish Cypriots will never abandon their sovereign equality, Turkey’s active and effective guarantees, their rights in the Eastern Mediterranean and their determination to open Maraş (Varosha),” he said in a post on social media.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> Everyone must know that such actions threaten stability in the region and all actors must act responsibly.
Tatar (UBP)
>> Not possible to intimidate TCs. Turkey shall continue to provide security to TCs in the best possible way.
>> TCs will never abandon their sovereign equality, Turkey’s active & effective guarantees, their rights in the East Med & their determination to open Maraş (Varosha).
TC politicians welcome “pause” in Syria operation
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot politicians welcomed the agreement reached between Turkey and the US on Thursday for a ceasefire in northern Syria to allow Kurdish-led YPG forces to withdraw.
While the international community welcomed the ceasefire, Turkish officials refused to call the agreement a ceasefire.
They said that Turkey had only paused the offensive for 120 hours to allow YPG forces to withdraw behind the line brokered in the deal with the US.
Leader of the UBP, Prime Minister, Ersin Tatar, in a post on social media on Thursday welcomed the five-day hiatus to the operation until the terrorist groups will leave the area.
“We wish for Turkey’s safety free from terror,” Tatar said.
Leader of the HP, Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister, Kudret Özersay in a post on social media on Thursday night said that Turkey’s determined stance had yielded results.
Özersay said that peace had been achieved as a result of Ankara’s deterring stance.
“Of course all that is needed from this point onwards is for promises to be kept. All the best!” Özersay added.
The leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman also welcomed the ceasefire agreement.
“I am happy to hear that the operation has been paused. I hope that the region will achieve lasting peace, harmony and stability in the shortest of time,” he said.
Tatar: “I have to listen to my party’s base”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Governance & Power sharing
OVERVIEW
“I have to listen to the party base as the leader of the UBP,” Ersin Tatar said on Thursday while responding to a question on the upcoming presidential elections, during a programme on Güneş web TV.
Tatar said despite having previously stated that he had no intention of running for the post, he needed to listen to his party and follow decisions adopted by the party’s executive branches.
“I don’t have the luxury to act alone as the leader of the party,” Tatar stressed, underlining that he is fully aware of his responsibilities.
Tatar reiterated his objections to President Mustafa Akıncı’s statement on Turkey’s military offensive into Syria.
“I believe Akıncı, who is surrounded by a marginal group, wants to steal votes from the CTP with his statements,” Tatar claimed, arguing that Akıncı’s remarks had harmed the country and raised social tensions.
The UBP leader also criticised the Social Democratic Party (TDP) and the CTP for refusing to sign the joint declaration in parliament.
“Both parties refrained from signing the joint declaration because of the UBP assembly’s decision condemning Akıncı,” Tatar noted.
He pointed out that other parties did not have any say in the decisions adopted by UBP.
“We wanted to show our support for the Peace Spring operation in parliament but they refrained from signing it,” Tatar added.
Speaking on the party assembly decision, Tatar argued that Akıncı’s statement, which came four days after the launch of the operation, caused division within the community.
“We were disturbed by Akıncı’s statement. We said he had lost the trust of the community and urged him not to be involved in any future negotiations,” Tatar added.
Tatar also rejected claims that UBP’s decision was made because of the presidential elections.
“It was Akıncı who had the elections in mind when making the statement. He wanted to win votes from the left at the expense of harming our relations with Turkey,” Tatar stressed.
He questioned the reasons behind Akıncı’s likening of the Peace Spring operation to Turkey’s 20 July 1974 operation, claiming that the majority of Turkish Cypriots across the political spectrum saw the day as their salvation.
“Akıncı, as president, should have evaluated the consequences of his statement before issuing it,” Tatar said.
In response to a question on the Cyprus negotiations process, Tatar pointed out that the two sides had different perceptions of a settlement.
He said that the Greek Cypriot side was disturbed by Turkey’s presence and influence on the island.
Tatar also reminded that the Greek Cypriot side does not accept rotational presidency or political equality of the Turkish Cypriots.
“Therefore, we need sovereign equality rather than political equality otherwise we as the Turkish Cypriot people are doomed on this island,” he concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>> Majority of TCs across the political spectrum see 20 July 1974 as a day of salvation.
>> Two sides have different perceptions of a solution.
>> GCs disturbed by Turkey’s presence & influence in Cyprus.
>> Sovereign equality rather than political equality is more important for TCs. Absence of it will bring the end of TCs on the island.
Özgür: Efforts being made to exclude Turkey from Cyprob
Diyalog
Negotiations Process, External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Former Finance Minister Birikim Özgür said on Thursday that for the first time in 50 years attempts were being made to reach a solution in Cyprus which excluded Turkey from the picture.
Speaking on Diyalog TV, Özgür said that games were being played over Cyprus and that President Mustafa Akıncı was unable to see this.
“Attempts are being made for the de-Turkification of the Cyprus Issue. They’re trying to drag the Cyprus Problem to another level by insisting on zero guarantees, zero troops. What is going on in Syria and the region is part of that game. A similar game is being played in Cyprus and this is not a conspiracy theory,” he said.
Özgür claimed that the foreign forces pursuing this policy wanted Turkish Cypriots to support this goal.
KEY ACTORS
Özgür (CTP)
>> Attempts being made to exclude Turkey from the solution of the Cyprob.
>> Akıncı is unable to see the games being played.
>> Foreign forces want TCs to support this goal.
‘Direct Trade Regulation’ remains on EP’s agenda
Kıbrıs Postası
Economy, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
“Our main objective is to remove the unfair restrictions on our society and to ensure that the direct trade regulation, which will contribute to our economic development at EU standards is implemented,” Fikri Toros said in a post on social media on Thursday.
The head of the Turkish Cypriot delegation in Brussels, CTP MP Fikri Toros announced that the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament had decided to keep the direct trade regulation, which would enable the Turkish Cypriot community to trade with EU member states under preferential tariffs, on the agenda, despite the Greek Cypriot side’s efforts lobbying against it.
“I welcome the decision adopted,” Toros said, adding the Turkish Cypriot side will continue its strategic efforts towards the implementation of the direct trade regulation in collaboration with the representatives of the business community as well as with all the other stakeholders.
Toros, on behalf of the parliamentary delegation to the EP, thanked the EU Commission for its continued support to Turkish Cypriot arguments on the direct trade regulation; all the EP political party group officials who trusted and supported Turkish Cypriot arguments; the Turkish Cypriot representation office in Brussels and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce for their valuable contributions.
The Turkish Cypriot parliamentary delegation consists of CTP MP Fikri Toros, UBP MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu and HP MP Erek Çağatay.
KEY ACTORS
Toros (CTP)
>> Main objective is to remove unfair restrictions on TC community & ensure implementation of direct trade regulation.
>> Welcomes EU’s decision to keep regulation on agenda.
>> TC strategic efforts towards implementation of regulation will continue in collaboration with all stakeholders.
Environmental study paints horrifying picture
Kıbrıs Postası, Diyalog
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Tests conducted by the Lefka Environment and Publicity Association on the level of chemical contamination in the area’s underground water resources and sea from waste left behind by the Cyprus Mining Corporation (CMC) has revealed horrifying results, report the papers.
The association did what the state failed to do by using funding awarded by the Stelios Foundation, to conduct the tests, said the dailies.
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar, Lefka’s District Officer Sadi Güneş, and head of the Civil Defence Organisation Necmi Karakoç visited the site on Thursday.
Following inspections, Tatar instructed state officials to take all necessary measures to ensure that unprocessed ore which remains in the open does not reach the sea.
He instructed the construction of a second embankment over the existing one to stop rainwater from sweeping the residue into the sea.
President of the Association, Ahmet Hızlı said to Kibris Postasi thatthe water accumulated in the lagoon is filled with heavy metal residue and bears the potential to contaminate underground water resources from Lefka all to the way to Elye (Elia). “No tests were ever conducted on the possibility of contamination,” Hızlı stressed.
“If we had been in another country, the health ministry would have conducted monthly tests to prevent people from being poisoned,” Hızlı said.
Hızlı noted that the embankment built in March 2019 was only a temporary measure which needed to be strengthened.
He argued that building a second embankment over the existing one, as Tatar has instructed will not be enough. He said the area near the existing embankment should be covered with concrete immediately.
“The test results have revealed incredibly high amounts of arsenic, lead and cadmium,” Hızlı stressed. He added that experts have said the heavy metals were enough to cause cancer.
Also speaking to Kıbrıs Postası, President of the Biologists’ Association, Hasan Sarpten said that the CMC was the biggest environmental problem of the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Civil society organizations from the area have highlighted that there are at least eight million tons of dangerous chemical waste in the area,” Sarpten added.
“Even though the European Union had allocated €1 million to carry out a feasibility study in the area, none of the governments have included the CMC among their priorities,” Sarpten stressed.
He emphasized that the CMC waste continued to contaminate the air, water and the soil in the area as no other measures than fencing and building embankments have so far been implemented. “The state must seriously consider a rehabilitation project for the area,” Sarpten concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Hızlı (Lefka Environment Association)
>> Water accumulated in lagoon filled with heavy metal residue, bears potential to contaminate underground water resources from Lefka to Elye (Elia).
>> Building a second embankment over the existing one will not be enough. Area near existing embankment should be covered with cement immediately.
>> Test results have revealed high amounts of arsenic, lead and cadmium, which can cause cancer.
Sarpten (Biologists Association)
>> CMC is biggest environmental problem of East Med.
>> CSOs highlighted there are at least eight million tons of dangerous chemical waste in the area.
>> No government has included CMC in their priorities.
>> CMC waste continues to contaminate the air, water & the soil in the area.
>> No measures other than fencing and building embankments have so far been implemented.
>> Rehabilitation project for the area seriously needed.
No data on mobile phone interoperability usage
Yenidüzen
CBMs, Economy
OVERVIEW
No data regarding usage of mobile phones across the divide has been shared, Yenidüzen reported on Friday.
The paper says that neither operators nor the Information Technologies and Communication Council (BTHK) are providing any information on the usage of mobile phones across the divide.
The BTHK which was contacted by the paper to comment said that they were too busy and would get back on Monday.
The paper says it tried unsuccessfully to acquire information such as how many subscribers have been using their phones on the other side and how long have they used their mobile phones.
The only information Yenidüzen was able to acquire from the GSM operators was that subscribers experienced problems in coverage from time to time but that the system, in general, was functioning smoothly.
The Turkish Cypriot Ministry of Public Works and Communication told the daily that the information will be made available soon. Island-wide mobile interoperability came into service on July 11, 2019, as a confidence-building measure which had been agreed to by the two leaders in February 2019