Front Page Headlines
Experts warn: ‘Numbers grow as it’s kept a secret’
An alarming increase in HIV cases in the country. From 27 cases in 2018 to 74 in 2019! Infectious diseases expert Dr. Emre Vudalı warned that these numbers were official figures and that the real number of HIV cases in the country was much higher. He said many people were not getting tested for HIV because of their lack of knowledge on the disease. Foreigners, on the other hand, were hiding they were HIV positive out of fear of being deported. “This raises the risk of HIV spreading within the community,” he said.
- CTP leader Erhürman ‘Political instability in the country is a serious problem’
“My father and his government had objected to carrying out a military coup in Cyprus in 1980”
People’s Party (HP) MP Erek Çağatay said coup leader Kenan Evren had asked his father, who was prime minister at the time to have a military government in the north. “My father Mustafa Çağatay then had to dissuade Kenan Evren, explaining to him the possible consequences of a military regime in the north,” Erek Çağatay told Kıbrıs Postası.
- Özersay: “Presidential election must be about people’s choice not about political parties.”
- Saner: “No one has the right to dictate to the National Unity Party (UBP) who the party’s candidate will be.”
UBP, CTP and DP increase their votes
According to the September 2019 poll conducted by the Centre for Migration, Identity, and Rights Studies (CMIRS), there are changes in vote percentages of political parties. There is also an increase in the number of voters who say they will not be voting. The number of those who would cast mixed votes have gone down as well.
- Talat: “CTP will not support Akıncı” – Former president Mehmet Ali Talat asked, “Why should we support the candidacy of someone if they are not going to find a solution?” Talat told the Greek Cypriot media.
Stashed it in the middle of the city
As a result of a collaboration between Havadis and the police narcotics unit, a transparent box filled with various types of drugs was found stashed away in the middle of the city.
No decision to be made in October
The base of the UBP on one hand wants Tatar to be a presidential candidate but is also concerned about the collapse of the coalition government.
- A message of ‘no support’ – Talat said that Akıncı could no longer solve the Cyprus Problem.
- I don’t even pay for coffee anymore – Greek Cypriot Nikolas Skourides who built a two-storey house on his plot in Kozanköy (Larnaca tis Lapitou) for €120,000 says he enjoys friendly relations with Turkish Cypriots.
Just as in 1974
People in Syria are migrating once again as they are faced with massacre. The Syrian Democratic Forces have evacuated Ras al-Ain before the five-day deadline ended. Trump pleased with this development said they had secured the oil and were bringing their boys home.
- Mehmet Ali Talat: Akıncı can no longer solve the Cyprus Problem – Talat spoke to the media in the south and said that the Republican Turkish Party will not support Akıncı.
Main News
Erhürman: “CTP remains committed to a federal solution”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The leader of CTP Tufan Erhürman said on Sunday that his party remained committed to a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus Problem.
He also said that a solution could only be found through negotiations under the UN umbrella.
In an interview with the TAK news agency, Erhürman said that a solution to the Cyprus Problem was part of the CTP’s three-pronged vision.
He pointed out that the CTP has been pursuing a policy in support of a federal settlement since 1970.
Regarding the negotiations, Erhürman said that all aspects of the Cyprus Problem have been discussed and that all parties involved are well aware of which areas convergences exist and which areas agreement needs to be achieved.
“That is why the CTP believes that a new negotiations process needs to be different from previous processes. Any new process needs to be results-oriented and subject to a time frame. Past processes have shown us that starting from scratch every time talks are interrupted is nothing more than losing precious time,” he said.
That is why we do not support a process that is held just for the sake of holding talks, Erhürman added.
He pointed out that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades has been voicing and tossing around different ideas in an attempt to remove the moral high ground the Turkish Cypriot side has gained and disrupt the positive climate in the talks by creating confusion.
Erhürman said that the principles of political equality, effective participation in decision-making processes as well as the notion of a rotating presidency were all convergences which had become UN parameters.
Erhürman added that the rejection of these issues meant rejecting criteria and parameters recognized by the UN.
“This is why the UN Secretary-General needs to take on a more active role here. The CTP believes that a settlement can be found in the short term,” he said.
The CTP leader repeated that a settlement to the Cyprus Problem can only be reached through negotiations under the UN umbrella.
“A two-state solution as proposed by the coalition government is impossible,” argued Erhürman stating that neither the Greek Cypriot leadership nor the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council would never grant international recognition to the north.
“Such a solution would require the international recognition of the north. How can we expect the Greek Cypriot leadership that rejects political equality of Turkish Cypriots to recognize a Turkish Cypriot state?” Erhürman said.
Pursuing a proactive foreign policy is also part of the CTP’s vision, Erhürman added.
“In the absence of a settlement, we need to take proactive diplomatic steps which will help us inch closer to a settlement, help us become part of international law and integrate us better with the international community. These are among the goals of the CTP,” Erhürman said.
He said that the Immovable Property Commission was a good example of what could be done in the absence of a settlement.
“With the efforts of Turkey, we were successful in establishing a body recognized by international law. The IPC has relieved Turkish Cypriots in more than many ways,” he said.
Erhürman said that adopting a self-sustainable economic model in the north was also among his party’s goals.
He expressed the view that a strong Turkish Cypriot economy would only help ease a settlement.
KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> CTP remains committed to a comprehensive solution to the Cyprob.
>> A solution to Cyprob can only be reached through negotiations under UN umbrella.
>> Solution of Cyprob among CTP’s three-pronged vision. Proactive foreign policy & an economy that can stand on its own feet also part of this vision.
>> UBP-HP’s idea of a two-state solution under the EU umbrella unrealistic as neither GC side nor the international community would recognize TRNC as a separate state.
UBP will determine its own candidate
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
“UBP will launch its efforts to nominate a presidential candidate by the end of the month without being affected by what anyone says,” UBP’s general secretary Ersan Saner said.
In a written statement issued on Saturday, Saner said that no one had the right to dictate to the UBP who the party’s candidate should be.
Pointing to the party’s bylaws, Saner noted the UBP’s candidate will be identified and nominated in line with the party bylaws following discussions at the party assembly.
Saner said the UBP-Peoples’ Party (HP) coalition is working very hard to solve the problems in the country in line with the expectation of the people.
“The people are waiting for the government to introduce reforms,” Saner said, adding that the UBP remains loyal to the coalition protocol.
He also denied claims that the forthcoming presidential elections were a source tension between the two coalition partners.
In a written statement on Sunday, HP leader Kudret Özersay said that the presidential elections should be about the people’s choice and not about political parties.
“Therefore, the presidential elections should be about the country rather than the interests of political parties,” Özersay added.
The HP leader also said that he was still evaluating whether or not to run in the elections.
“The presidential elections should be an election about serving the best interest of the Turkish Cypriot community and its future,” he said.
Results of the September 2019 poll conducted by the Centre for Migration, Identity, and Rights Studies (CMIRS) revealed there have been changes in the percentages of votes of political parties.
According to the survey results published in Kıbrıs, the UBP, CTP and Democratic Party (DP) all have recently increased their votes, while support for the HP and Social Democratic Party’s (TDP) has gone down.
The survey revealed that the UBP has increased its voter percentage to 24.7 per cent in September 2019 from 21.8 per cent in June 2019.
The UBP’s coalition partner, the HP on the other continued to lose votes. HP voter percentage dropped to 2.29 per cent which was 3 per cent lower than the previous survey conducted in June.
The survey also revealed that the CTP’s votes have gone up by two per cent. The CTP had received 9.8 per cent support in June 2019 whereas, in September 2019, support for the party had gone up to 11.8 per cent.
The DP’s votes increased to 3.66 per cent from 2.7 per cent.
Support for the Rebirth Party (YDP) which was on the rise earlier in the year also dropped by two per cent in September 2019. Support for the YDP stands currently at 0.46 per cent according to the survey.
The TDP joined the HP in its downward trend with a 1.37 per cent support in September 2019. The TDP’s percentage was 1.4 in the June 2019 poll.
The survey also highlights that there is an increase in the percentage of the “absent votes” compared to the previous polls.
The September 2019 poll also shows that there is a rise in the number of people who will not go to the ballot. This figure increased to 27 per cent compared to the previous poll result, which stood at 24.1 per cent.
KEY ACTORS
Saner (UBP)
>> UBP to launch its efforts to nominate a presidential candidate by the end of the month without being affected by what anyone says.
>> No has the right to dictate to the UBP who the party’s candidate should be.
>> UBP’s candidate will be identified in line with the bylaws by the party assembly.
>> UBP-HP coalition is working hard to solve the problems of the country in line with the expectation of the people.
>> The public is waiting for reforms from the government.
>> UBP remains loyal to the coalition protocol.
>> The presidential race is not a source of tension between the coalition partners.
Özersay (HP)
>> The presidential elections should be about the people’s choice, not about the interests of political parties.
>> Priority in presidential elections should be the country, not political parties.
>> The elections should be about serving what is best for the TC community & its future.