Front Page Headlines
Fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies not taken into account
Former finance ministers and experts warn the 2020 state budget does not take into account possible fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies against the Turkish Lira. They say the value of foreign currencies will dictate whether it would risk Turkey’s financial assistance or not and whether there will be a need for an internal loan.
- 612 inmates in state prison built for 173 – The prison is jam-packed.
The children misbehave, the father remains silent
ELAM is not only satisfied by torching the TRNC flag but also issued a new and bold statement on Sunday filled with threats. The statement said that ELAM will not behave.” Özersay in another statement said the silence of the Greek Cypriot leadership and political parties over the issue was thought-provoking.
- “We had left the door open by including a federal settlement in the TRNC declaration” – Osman Ertuğ, one of the architects of the TRNC, spoke to Kıbrıs Postası.
A fortune spent on overtime payments
Overtime payments in the public sector continue to grow every passing year. In the last four years, the increase in overtime payments was 119 per cent. ₺195 million, which is the amount to be paid in overtime payments in 2019, is equal to the minimum wage salaries of 4799 people.
- More than one-and-a-half million entries into the north in nine months – 991,706 Turkish nationals have entered the north in the period from January to September, according to data obtained by the Tourism Ministry from the Police General Directorate.
- Turkish Cypriot officials outraged with ELAM torching the flag.
Concerns over the plan
Various sections of the public are concerned that the Famagusta-İskele (Trikomo) – Yeniboğaziçi (Ayios Sergios) development master plan will bring construction and real estate development in the area to grinding halt. They expect the officials will consider their concerns.
We want respect
The Turkish Cypriot people unite against the torching of their flag by ELAM. Many across the political spectrum from left to right condemned ELAM’s act. They demand the Greek Cypriot government to take measures.
- Ranked among the top five in the world – There are 285 thousand firearms in South Cyprus. 155 thousand of them are registered.
Outrage against Greek Cypriot fascists, but going easy on the Turkish fascists
Those who have embraced the mob during the lynching of the newspaper, claim they will arrest those who torched the TRNC flag in South Cyprus. There is no difference between Turkish fascist and Greek Cypriot fascists.
Main News
Turkish side outraged by ELAM’s act
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Governance & Power Sharing, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
All six dailies report on the statement issued by officials on the burning of a TRNC flag by members of the far-right ELAM during demonstrations on Friday marking the 36th anniversary of the establishment of the self-proclaimed TRNC.
Speaker of the Turkish Cypriot parliament Teberrüken Uluçay on Sunday condemned the incident which he said was carried out with the excuse of protesting the establishment of the TRNC.
He pointed out such incidents would not benefit efforts to build confidence between the two communities on the island.
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar in a post on social media said his government will pursue the matter and will take all measures against those responsible.
He said that the incident carried out by members of ELAM, which has seats in the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives, revealed the kind of mentality Turkish Cypriots were faced with.
“Such acts cannot be evaluated as isolated incidents. This is the consequence of a great majority of the Greek Cypriot mindset,” Tatar stressed.
He assured that the Turkish Cypriot government will continue to pursue the perpetrators.
Foreign Minister Özersay on Sunday responded to a statement made by ELAM targeting him.
He said the Greek Cypriot leadership’s and Greek Cypriot political parties’ silence over the matter was thought-provoking.
“To remain silent in the face of such incidents and actions is to approve of them. This is what is extremely dangerous,” he said.
Özersay said the climate of mistrust will only deepen as long as the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades did not condemn the incident and as long as no measures were taken by Greek Cypriot authorities to discourage such actions. He urged the Greek Cypriot leader to exercise responsibility.
Members of the Turkish Cypriot cabinet as Turkish Cypriot NGOs also issued statements condemning the incident.
In the meantime, the Turkish Foreign Ministry also released a statement on Sunday, condemning the flag torching incident.
“We condemn the burning of the TRNC flag on the 36th anniversary of its establishment by the Greek Cypriot side and we give full support to TRNC authorities’ statements regarding this incident,” the statement said, adding that the fact that the Greek Cypriots have neither made any statement condemning this act of hatred nor have they investigated the perpetrators, demonstrates that this act has official support behind it.
“We believe that the Greek Cypriot Administration, as well as the Greek authorities, with their statements provoking hatred towards the Turkish Cypriots, has a responsibility in this incident,” it underlined.
The statement further added that under these circumstances, Turkey expects the international community to invite the Greek Cypriot side and Greece to avoid rhetoric further deteriorating the atmosphere of tension on the island, as pointed out in the latest report of the UN Secretary-General.
In a tweet on Sunday, Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay also condemned the incident stating that the attack against the Turkish Cypriot peoples’ symbols and values was unacceptable. He said that the perpetrators should be brought to justice, adding that Turkey will continue to stand with the Turkish Cypriots.
Time for new & creative ideas on the Cyprob, says Tatar
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
“It is vital for everyone to be aware of the Greek Cypriot side’s preconditions that will obliterate the Turkish Cypriot community, taking it back to pre-1974 conditions,” Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said in a written statement issued on Sunday.
Tatar urged those who believe it is possible to achieve a result during the trilateral meeting in Berlin to explain how this will be possible when all efforts and processes for the past 40 years has failed to do so.
He also pointed out that the recent incident of the torching of the TRNC flag and student protests organized by the Greek Cypriot leadership to chant fascist slogans against Turkish Cypriots at the crossing points was concerning.
He argued that this was the consequence of the dominant ideology on the Greek Cypriot side.
“None of the Greek Cypriot side’s preconditions is acceptable by the Turkish Cypriot side,” Tatar said.
He added that the Greek Cypriot leadership and the political parties categorically rejected the continuation of Turkey’s guarantees, Turkish Cypriots’ effective participation in decision-making processes and the right to veto.
“The Greek Cypriot side demands us to accept the Guterres framework, which contains the establishment of a committee to facilitate the return of Maraş (Varosha) and for Turkey and the TRNC to cease all of their hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. They also demand the Turkish Cypriot side to make significant territorial concessions by returning Güzelyurt (Morphou) and insist on revoking Turkey’s right to unilateral intervention,” Tatar said.
He concluded, “In other words, there is not even the slightest change in the Greek Cypriot mentality.”
“It is not enough to simply claim you want federation but what you say before the Greek Cypriot side’s preconditions matter,” Tatar stressed. He noted that the United Nations (UN) in this respect plays an important role in opening the way before the Turkish Cypriot community to be integrated into the international community.
Tatar also argued that a Kosovo-like model could be implemented in Cyprus to ensure lasting and sustainable peace on the island.
“We will either cooperate as two states on the island or be slaves to the status quo,” Tatar said. He added it is the right time to put forward new and creative solution models on the table.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>> Everyone should be aware of the GC side’s preconditions that will obliterate the TC community, taking them back to pre-1974 conditions.
>> Incidents & protests in the Southis the result of the dominant ideology on the GC side.
>> None of the GC side’s preconditions are acceptable by the TC side.
>> Preconditions show that there is not even the slightest change in the GC.
>> It is not enough to simply claim you want a federation but what you say before the GC side’s preconditions matters.
>> UN plays an important role in opening the way before the TC community to be integrated into the int. community.
>> Kosovo-like model could be implemented in Cyprus to ensure lasting & sustainable peace on the island.
>> There will either be cooperation between two states or the two sides will be slaves to the status quo.
>> It is the right time to put forward new & creative solution models on the table.