Front Page Headlines
“I have been searching for him since I learned I had a brother”
57-year-old Andri Constandinou is searching for her Turkish Cypriot brother. “My father worked in Lefke (Lefka) from 1945-55. His family had an orange orchid in Morphou. He was engaged to a Turkish Cypriot woman. I don’t know how they met. My father was wealthy whereas the girl was poor. The girl got pregnant but they had to break up after his father and mother did not give consent to their relationship,” said Constandinou. She said her father’s name was Lukas Stliyanou from Morphou and that she was searching for her brother ever since learning of his existence.
Should the traditional media loll on casinos to survive?
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Doğuş Derya expressed her awe regarding statements belittling media employees over the “media support scheme”. She said providing financial support to media that fulfilled the necessary criteria would mean supporting the media sector in the country.
- Özkıraç: “We have to get rid of AKSA in 2023” – EL-SEN (TC Electricity Authority Workers’ Union) president Kubilay Özkıraç underlined the need to purchase four power generators to be able to revoke the contract with the private power plant AKSA in 2023.
The inflation rate is not convincing
The announced inflation rate for October led to confusion as the rate is lower than the one announced in Turkey especially when the north imports many products and raw materials from Turkey. The announcement refuelled the debate as to whether or not the calculations are correct.
- Support to media must continue – CTP MP Doğuş Derya stressed there is a group attempting to strip the media workers’ rights with untruthful accusations.
“LNG” instead of “cable” in electricity
Havadis obtains the minutes from the meeting, held in October 2018, between the Turkish Cypriot Economy and Energy Ministry and the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Ministry regarding the “interconnected electricity supply through cables” project. During the meeting, all alternatives which included an electricity cable project, using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and solar power were discussed. It was recorded that the most feasible model was the LNG option.
It is giving out an SOS
Over 92,000 patients sought treatment at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu [State Hospital] in just one month. Both patients and doctors are unhappy with the situation. The hospital is unable to cope with the growing number of patients as the old building struggles with infrastructural problems. Doctors and staff work under difficult conditions. The head of the hospital Dr Adil Özyılkan who spoke to Diyalog said that the hospital was unable to cope with the growing population. He explained that only 161 doctors were working at the hospital where thousands of patients were being treated.
- Berlin ‘window of hope’ – Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Christodoulides is waiting for concrete results from the November 25 meeting.
Protest against the appointment of a teacher with a headscarf
KTOEÖS (Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers’ Union) and KTÖS (Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union) laid a black wreath in front of the Public Services Commission and the Education Ministry. The two teachers’ trade unions said the assignment was in violation of the constitution and the education law. They protested both institutions accusing them of encouraging conservatism and bigotry.
- 131 migrants from Mersin to Paphos – A boat carrying 131 migrants was towed ashore by Greek Cypriot police.
Main News
Hasipoğlu: “The sides interpret federation differently”
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
National Unity Party (UBP) MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu said on Monday that Turkish Cypriots wanted an outcome to emerge from the trilateral meeting scheduled to take place in Berlin later this month.
“We, as the Turkish Cypriot people do not want to see a meeting held just for the sake of it, he said.
Speaking on Bayrak, Hasipoğlu also said that it would have been wrong to turn down the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s invitation for such a meeting.
Hasipoğlu also accused the Greek Cypriot side of not respecting established UN parameters.
“The Greek Cypriot side has taken a step back on the issue of political equality. They now demand more territorial concessions. They also reject Turkey’s guarantees, which was included in the Annan Plan,” Hasipoğlu added.
He also argued that Turkey’s unilateral right of intervention which fell under the chapter on security and guarantees should also be recognized as a UN parameter.
Hasipoğlu said the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades was now demanding “zero-troops and zero-guarantees.
“If the Greek Cypriot side continues to maintain its stance of zero-troops and zero-guarantees, there would not be anything to talk about,” Hasipoğlu said.
He also argued that there was no point in continuing discussions on achieving a federal settlement because both sides had a very different interpretation of the concept of a federal settlement.
“Nonetheless, the current mindset in the north is shaped in view of the upcoming presidential elections,” Hasipoğlu claimed that the goal was to pump a bit of hope to the community.
“To the contrary, as the UBP-HP coalition government, we strongly believe the Greek Cypriot side must be forced out of its comfort zone,” Hasipoğlu stressed.
Responding to a question on his expectations from the trilateral meeting, Hasipoğlu argued it would not be a success should Anastasiades were to accept political equality in Berlin.
“This was something which had already been accepted during the Talat-Christofias term,” Hasipoğlu recalled.
He also said the Berlin meeting would be a success if the sides reached an agreement on the Terms of Reference (ToR).
“We, without doubt, have our red lines. The security-guarantee system needs to be formulated because it is not possible to find a solution which excludes Turkey,” Hasipoğlu said.
He also underlined that the Turkish Cypriot side’s relations with Turkey must be good because Turkey is part of the negotiations process.
Hasipoğlu, responding to a question on Turkish Cypriot side’s position on the territory, said he did not know what the map presented by the Turkish Cypriot side in Geneva included.
“I have asked for the map from the presidency. I have submitted a written question on the issue to the parliament,” Hasipoğlu said but added that his inquiry had fallen to deaf ears.
On the Guterres framework, Hasipoğlu criticized Akıncı for accepting the framework without seeking the consent of the political parties and parliament.
In the meantime, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Asım Akansoy on Tuesday touched upon discussions held recently at an academic conference held at the International Cyprus University.
Addressing Tuesday’s session of parliament, Akansoy criticized the President of the Turkish Bars Association Metin Feyzioğlu for his speech delivered at the conference.
“Mr Feyzioğlu has been frequently visiting the island recently and is speaking against the need for negotiations and advocating a two-state solution based on sovereign equality,” Akansoy said.
He added that Feyzioğlu needed to get his facts straight and learn more about the Cyprus Issue before speaking.
He said that many from Turkey were meddling in Turkish Cypriot affairs and creating problems for the Cyprus Problem.
KEY ACTORS
Hasipoğlu (UBP)
>> TC people want to see an outcome from the Berlin meeting. Meeting should not be held for the sake of meeting.
>> It would be wrong to turn down UNSG’s invitation to attend the trilateral meeting.
>> GC side does not respect established UN parameters. It has gone back on political equality; dis emanding more territorial concessions & rejecting Turkey’s guarantees.
>> Turkey’s unilateral right of intervention should be regarded as a UN parameter.
>> If the GC side continues to maintain its stance for zero-troops & zero-guarantees, there is nothing to talk about.
>> No point in continuing discussions on a federation because the two sides have a different interpretation of a federation.
>> The goal in the north is to pump a bit of hope head of the elections.
>> UBP-HP coalition believes GC side must be forced out of its comfort zone.
>> Berlin meeting would not be a success even if Anastasiades were to accept political equality as this was already a past convergence.
>> Meeting will be a success if there is an agreement on the ToR.
>> The security-guarantee system needs to be formulated because it is not possible to find a solution by excluding Turkey.
>> TC side’s relations with Turkey must be good because Turkey is part of the negotiations process.
Oktay: Political equality is our sine-qua-non
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process, External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“Political equality is Turkey’s sine qua non for a solution in Cyprus,” Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Tuesday.
He added it is not possible to establish peace on the island based on a minority-majority relationship.
Addressing a group of Turkish Cypriot students at the presidential palace in Ankara, Oktay pointed out that the discovery of hydrocarbon resources in the Eastern Mediterranean was the leading cause of increased tensions in the region.
“Turkey on the issue of hydrocarbons has been displaying the same stance from the very beginning,” Oktay said, adding that the island’s resources should be shared equitably and fairly because two peoples were living on the island.
He underlined the wealth belongs to those living on the island and must be shared equally.
Oktay also advised the group and urged them to be in solidarity with each other. “The young generations in [north] Cyprus have a great responsibility towards strengthening solidarity and overcoming their differences,” Oktay said.
He also noted that the Turkish Cypriot youth should also see Turkey as their homeland. “Turkey will never allow any Turkish Cypriots to be harmed,” Oktay concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Oktay (Turkey)
>> Political equality is Turkey’s sine qua non for a solution in Cyprus.
>> It is not possible to establish peace on the island based on a minority-majority relationship.
>> Turkey on the issue of hydrocarbons has been displaying the same stance from the very beginning.
>> Island’s resources should be shared equitably & fairly between the two peoples of the island.
>> Young generations in north Cyprus have a great responsibility to strengthen solidarity and to overcome their differences.A united front is required on the Cyprus Issue.
>> Turkish Cypriot youth should also see Turkey as their homeland.
>> Turkey will never allow any Turkish Cypriots to be hurt.
CTP MP questions reasons for delay in citizenship law
Yenidüzen
Citizenship & Migration
OVERVIEW
CTP MP Asım Akansoy on Tuesday questioned as to why the cabinet had still not sent the draft citizenship bill to parliament despite the claim by the coalition government that a consensus existed on the matter.
Addressing parliament, Akansoy said everyone had the right to know the reasons for the delay.
He recalled the earlier statements delivered by the Interior Minister Ayşegül Baybars, who is responsible for preparing the new citizenship law.
“The citizenship issue is an open wound for the Turkish Cypriot community and it must be treated without delay,” Akansoy said.
He added that the CTP was ready to support the issue once the bill was transferred to parliament.
He urged the law must be simple, strong and must remove the existing anomalies. It must not lead to any confusion. “In addition to being clear and precise, the law must serve as a guide for the future of the Turkish Cypriot community,” Akansoy concluded.
GC woman searches for her TC brother
Yenidüzen
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
A 57-year-old Greek Cypriot woman is searching for her Turkish Cypriot brother, Yenidüzen reported on Wednesday.
Andri Constandinou asked the paper to help her find her brother, the love child of her father Lukas Stilyanou and a Turkish Cypriot woman.
“My father worked in Lefke (Lefka) from 1945-55. His family had an orange orchid in Morphou. He was engaged to a Turkish Cypriot woman. I don’t know how they met. My father came from a wealthy family but the girl poor. She got pregnant but they had to break up after his parents did not give consent to their relationship,” said Constandinou.
She said she and her twin sister have been searching for him since they learned of his existence.
“I asked around in Morphou, in Lefke (Lefka). I even asked the Turkish Cypriots in Limassol but could not find him,” she added.
Constandinou said that she had learned about the existence of her brother from her father’s girlfriend.
“She told me that a man claiming to be his son had visited my father years ago,” she said, adding that her late father who had passed away in 2010 had confirmed the story.