Front Page Headlines
“Law inadequate, students work for cyber betting companies”
The Financial Crimes Unit at the Police Department established eight years ago opened its doors for the first time to Yenidüzen. Police inspector Evren Er: “Gambling and betting are destroying the fabric of society but the law is inadequate in addressing the problem.”
- 2700 citizenships in nine months
A majority share of the budget goes to education but…
Teachers’ unions complain about not being consulted regarding the state budget even though it is a requirement of the relevant law. Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu, on the other hand, said he is working on reaching a consensus. The ₺8.8bn budget has become a source of debate even before it has passed.
- Akıncı responds to Talat – “You are far from the truth and seriousness.”
Famagusta could be flooded with sewage
Serdar Atai, who is a founding member of the Famagusta Civil Society Platform and Deputy President of MASDER (Famagusta Old Town Association) warned of the environmental problems Famagusta faced. Atai stressed Famagusta was facing a very serious sewage problem.
Allegations at Kızılay
The Turkish Red Crescent has donated the North Cyprus Red Crescent Association six thousand food parcels but it is alleged that five thousand of the parcels have been sold to a company owned by Engin Yücelen. Havadis obtained invoices written to the North Cyprus Red Crescent from Engin Yücelen Gift Shop. Ltd. Informants claim the payments were made for the donated food parcels.
- The realistic and constructive approach will be continued – President Mustafa Akıncı has responded to the criticisms directed at him.
There is high demand
Interior Minister Baybars said that 3018 people had been granted citizenship in the first 10 months of 2019. Baybars said that anyone with 11 consecutive annually renewed residence permits can apply for citizenship. She added that during her 22 months in office, 5422 people had applied and were given citizenship.
- Meaningful message ahead of Berlin – Akıncı: “We shall continue a realistic and constructive stance with the determination to protect the legitimate rights and interests”
- Irene shocked – Greek Cypriot who stole wallet forgotten by another customer in the clothing store was caught as she crossed over to the TRNC at a later date.
We don’t have to see eye-to-eye with Turkish officials
Mustafa Akıncı responded to criticisms directed against him by Ersin Tatar and Mehmet Ali Talat regarding his relations with Turkey. Akıncı said, “My suggestion to those who are in a constant attempt to criticize me to turn their faces to the public and to respect the will of the community.
- 2700 citizenships granted in nine months – Interior Minister Ayşegül Baybars said that 2700 people had been given citizenship in the past nine months. The figure was 2314 the previous years
Main News
Akıncı hits back at criticisms from Tatar and Talat
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
“Turkish Cypriot side will continue its constructive and realistic stance with determination to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot community during the trilateral meeting in Berlin,” President Mustafa Akıncı said in a written statement issued on Wednesday.
Akıncı said it is his responsibility towards the community to seize every opportunity that might contribute to establishing a fair and lasting federal solution based on two constituent states that will safeguard the equality, security and freedom of the two communities.
“Nonetheless, it is not possible to remain quiet any longer about the attacks made domestically,” said Akıncı as he responded to earlier criticisms voiced by Mehmet Ali Talat and Ersin Tatar.
Pointing to the inconsistencies in Tatar’s statements on whether he should attend the trilateral meeting or not, Akıncı urged Tatar to think twice before he talks and to respect the community’s will. Rejecting Talat’s claims, Akıncı said he has been working towards the solution of the Cyprus problem since the first day in office.
“Since my first day in office, I have worked for the solution of the Cyprus problem, without waiting for anything and by taking on new initiatives. The Turkish Cypriot side, during my term, has been actively involved in the process and fact at times was the driving force behind it,” Akıncı said.
He added the Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot sides worked at every level in collaboration contrary to the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat’s earlier claims.
“There is no need for an in-depth analysis to understand the reasons behind the failure to solve the Cyprus problem but to claim that I have poor relations with Turkey and that this is what is making a solution impossible is false and baseless claim,” Akıncı stressed.
Akıncı added “there might be some people who believe that the key to a good relationship is not voicing your own opinion, but I have never been such a person. To the contrary, the first condition of a good relationship is good and equal communication, honesty and openness. If there is no harmony, there will only be obedience and subordination,” Akıncı stressed.
He also said that it wasn’t necessary to see-to-eye with Turkey on all issues.
“That is the beauty of democracy. Anything other than that would be pure subordination,” he said.
Akıncı added that contributions and support of all the guarantor states including Turkey were vital for a settlement.
“Assistance from the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and the international community are required, but it must not be forgotten that both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots must want a solution and make an effort in that direction. The solution first and foremost must be adopted and accepted by the two communities for it to be sustainable,” Akıncı concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> TC side will continue its constructive and realistic stance with determination to protect the legitimate rights & interests of TCs.
>> Responsibility towards the community is to seize every opportunity that will contribute to establishing a fair & lasting federal solution based on two constituent states which safeguards the equality, security & freedom of the two communities.
>> Assistance from the UN, EU & the int’l community is required for a solution but TCs & GCs must want a solution & make an effort in that direction.
>> A solution first & foremost must be adopted & accepted by the two communities for it to be sustainable.
Cypriots must agree to a solution
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
“The world wants nothing but to reach an agreement from the Cypriots,” Alpay Durduran who is a member of the New Cyprus Party’s (YKP) secretariat said on Wednesday.
In a written statement from the YKP, Durduran said that efforts to reach a solution were marred with accusations and allegations. “Even though the United Nations’ decisions aim for the unification of the island, the continuation of the talks indicate that the partition has not become permanent yet,” Durduran argued.
Durduran noted that all relevant sides have entered a blame game and recalled the statements made by Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot authorities including former leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community. “It is obvious none has understood the importance of unifying the island,” Durduran added.
He concluded by urging all sides to stop the blame game and to agree on a lasting solution of the Cyprus Problem.
The General Secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP) Ersan Saner said on Wednesday that everyone needed to accept the fact that there were two states in Cyprus. Speaking on Güneş TV, he said the TRNC, like many other examples around the world, had emerged from what used to be a single state.
Touching upon the upcoming trilateral meeting in Berlin, Saner said he did not expect anything to come out of the meeting. He also said that it was too late to hold a special session in the Turkish Cypriot parliament ahead of the trilateral meeting.
“My expectations are low mainly because the Greek Cypriot side’s main way of thinking is opposed to the idea of sharing with Turkish Cypriots. Negotiations have been going on and off since 1968. Are we going to wait for a rabbit to come out of a hat? I read the statements made on the Greek Cypriot side. It’s like they’re making fun of the world. There is no change in their positions,” he added.
Saner also underlined the importance of defending the Turkish Cypriot state. “The reason why we established the TRNC was to emphasize that there are two sovereign peoples on the island. There are two equal states, two equal peoples in Cyprus. We support the continuation of Turkey’s guarantees while the Greek Cypriots aspirations to unite with Greece continue,” he said.
Saner also expressed the view that the trilateral meeting in Berlin will also be giving the world a false message.
“What will the message be? It will be that Nicosia remains the last divided capital in Europe. But the reason why Nicosia remains divided is that the Greek Cypriots had voted against the UN plan. Someone needs to come out and tell Anastasiades that the non-solution and division remain because of his community,” he concluded.
“The consequences of the absence of a solution will worsen by the day,” DISY Larnaca MP Annita Demetriou said in an interview with Kıbrıs.
Noting that the biggest problem in Cyprus is the Cyprus problem, Demetriou emphasized the need to resume talks from where they left off in Crans Montana.
She said as a young Cypriot, she wanted to see a reunified island.
“Otherwise, the consequences of the absence of a solution will grow worse by the day,” Demetriou warned.
“If the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots can live together again, we will set an example of peace to the entire world,” Demetriou added.
Demetriou also noted that the demographic changes in the north were a source of concern.
She said if the Cyprus problem is not solved, it will not be possible to ensure the future of the island.
Demetriou also acknowledged Mustafa Akıncı’s efforts and determination towards a solution in Cyprus.
Appealing to the Turkish Cypriot community, Demetriou said: “We want Turkish Cypriots’ freedom and partnership in managing the regional problems together.”
She concluded the interview by expressing her hope for a different outcome in the process.
KEY ACTORS
Durduran (YKP)
>> The world wants nothing but to reach an agreement from the Cypriots.
>> The solution efforts marred with accusations & allegations.
>> The continuation of the talks indicates that partition is not partitioned yet.
>> All relevant sides have entered a blame game.
>> It is obvious none has understood the importance of unifying the island.
Saner (UBP)
>> Everyone needs to accept the fact that there are two states in Cyprus.
>> TRNC, like many other examples around the world, emerged from what used to be a single state.
>> No outcome is expected from trilateral meeting in Berlin.
>> The GC side’s main way of thinking is opposed to the idea of sharing with TCs.
>> There is no change in Greek Cypriot side’s positions.
>> The reason why we established the TRNC is to emphasize that there are two sovereign peoples on the island.
>> There are two equal states, two equal peoples in Cyprus. We support the continuation of Turkey’s guarantees while the Greek Cypriots aspirations to unite with Greece continue.
>> The trilateral meeting in Berlin will be giving the world a false message that Nicosia remains the last divided capital in Europe.
>> The reason why Nicosia remains divided is the fact that the GCs had voted against the UN plan.
Demetriou (DISY)
>> Consequences of the absence of a solution will worsen by the day.
>> The biggest problem in Cyprus is the Cyprob.
>> It is important talks resume from where they left off in Crans Montana.
>> If the TCs & GCs can live together again, this can set an example to the rest of the world.
>> The demographic changes in the north are a matter of concern.
>> If the Cyprob is not solved, it will not be possible to ensure the future of the island.
Baybars: “3081 citizenships granted in 2019”
Yenidüzen, Diyalog, Afrika
Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Interior Minister Ayşegül Baybars on Wednesday announced that 3081 TRNC citizenships had been granted in the past ten months.
Speaking on Diyalog TV, Baybars said that 2700 citizenships had been granted in the first nine months with an additional 381 given in October bringing the total figure to 3081.
She pointed out that 2314 citizenships had been granted the previous year.
She also said that 5422 citizenships had been granted during her 22 months in office as interior minister.
“We exceeded this figure this year,” said Baybars, confirming the total number of citizenships granted in 2019.
She, however, refrained from stating how many of the citizenships were granted by the cabinet.
Baybars pointed out that anyone with 11 consecutive and uninterrupted residence permits renewed annually could apply to become a TRNC citizen.
“There are too many applications. There are many applications pending, particularly of spouses or children of citizens.
Baybars said that the new citizenship law will be taken up in parliament following the completion of the ongoing discussions on the state budget.
Asked whether a citizenship scheme existed for investors, Baybars said that anyone who invested over €1.5m could apply for TRNC citizenship.
Poems read in Brussels for peace in Cyprus
Yenidüzen
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
AKEL MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek continues to organize a series of events to bring the two communities closer.
A group of 55 Cypriots from both sides of the island took part in a visit to the European Parliament (EP) upon an invitation from AKEL.
The Cypriot delegation first attended a presentation on the European Union delivered by EP officials before observing a session of the parliamentary assembly.
Later, the delegation attended an event organized by Kızılyürek entitled ‘Songs of our poets.’
In his statement during the event, Kızılyürek said: “We like poets because they can take us beyond the ideological walls built by politics, communities, and nationalism.”
TC police arrest GC woman accused of theft
Diyalog, Havadis
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
A Greek Cypriot woman was arrested by Turkish Cypriot police on Thursday after being accused of stealing a wallet she found in the dressing cabinet of a shop.
The incident is reported to have taken place at a store in Nicosia on November 16.
The accused was arrested as she crossed over to the North on Thursday.
She appeared before the Nicosia District Court yesterday and was ordered to remain in police custody pending trial on grounds that she lived in South Cyprus.
The police officer in charge of the investigation said that the accused who had found the wallet in the dressing cabinet told a store employee that the wallet belonged to her.
The wallet is said to have contained ₺700 (approx. €110) in cash.