Front Page Headlines
Milk production has gone down by 30 per cent
The bovine and livestock breeding sector continues to decline every passing year. While the falling number of livestock causes prices to rise, milk production is also going down.
“No road tax if no roads” ignored by parliament
During the first meeting of the parliament in the New Year, members of the parliament refrained from even mentioning the name of the group which has been conjuring support on social media, currently exceeding 20,000 members. Instead, the MPs continued to debate on the development masterplan and touched on the Cyprus problem, municipalities and food safety.
- People’s Party (HP) celebrated its fourth anniversary – Özersay: Neither HP nor Özersay will refrain from the presidency.
Livestock breeders suffer from “Sheep pox disease”
As a result of the outbreak of the disease, the Dipkarpaz (Risokarpaso) area has quarantined. Livestock breeders want the state to subsidize their losses. The Veterinary Department has launched a widespread vaccination and public awareness programme in the area.
- Özersay: Neither HP nor Özersay will refrain from the presidency – Özersay hinted he will run as a candidate during the upcoming presidential elections in his speech given during a reception celebrating his party’s fourth anniversary.
Ege’s health depends on funds
Sever year-old İsmail Ege Aşıtaş, who was diagnosed with Apert syndrome, has had five operations to date. He needs to undergo one last operation to fully recover but his family does not have ₺130,000 (approx €19,000) for the operation!
- Both HP and I are ready – People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay hinted he will run as a candidate during the modest ceremony held at Bedesten for his party’s fourth anniversary.
Oh my dear country
This is not Zambia, its Nicosia’s industrial zone. The roads are full of trash making it impossible for cars to drive through in some areas. The head of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry Candan Avunduk told Diyalog that the area’s garbage and trash problem was growing every passing day due to disagreements over which authority has jurisdiction over the zone. He added that the industrial zone’s lack of infrastructure was a whole different problem. “Everyone has to take responsibility to clean the area,” he said.
- He gave the green light – Peoples’ Party leader Kudret Özersay gave the signal at Monday’s anniversary reception that he will be running for president.
- No one knows who his boss is – A man was caught trying to smuggle 150gr of drugs into the north from the Lokmacı (Ledra) crossing.
- They were demoralised – Suspects trying to smuggle 190gr of drugs into the north through Metehan (Agios Dometios) crossing point were jailed for two months pending their trial.
30,000 people ready to take part in the protest
Members of the social media group “No road tax if no roads” is preparing to hold its first protest at the bus terminal in Nicosia at 6 pm. Participation is expected to be high.
- HP to announce its candidate tomorrow – Rebirth Party leader Erhan Arıklı is also expected to announce his candidacy. “I will be announcing my candidacy before January 20,” Arıklı said.
Main News
Çavuşoğlu: No point in starting talks just for the sake of it
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
There is no point in starting negotiations for the sake of negotiations, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğu said on Monday during a news conference evaluating Ankara’s foreign policy for 2019.
He said that the reason why a solution was not reached in Cyprus was that the Greek Cypriot side did not want to share anything with Turkish Cypriots.
“We are not insisting on any solution model for the period ahead. However, we are also opposed to the idea of any solution model being imposed on the talks. What is more important than the solution model is reaching an agreement on the Terms of Reference (ToR) which need to include elements of political equality such as a rotational presidency, effective participation in decision-making and a positive vote for Turkish Cypriots. Otherwise, we have informed the UN and other actors that there is no point in starting negotiations for the sake of negotiations,” he said.
In relation to Turkey-EU relations, Çavuşoğlu said that relations had moved on a more positive track during Romania’s term presidency.
He said that relations with the EU had not been at the desired level during Finland’s term presidency due to issues related to the Eastern Mediterranean and hydrocarbons.
“We expect the same positive climate to continue during Croatia’s term which began recently,” he added.
Also touching upon the issue of Libya, Çavuşoğlu said that Turkey and Russia had become two important actors on the Libya issue.
He said that both countries were committed to continuing dialogue and that efforts to broker a ceasefire in Libya will continue.
“We have to develop our own game plan and implement it in the Mediterranean, “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said during the inauguration ceremony held for the new headquarters of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) in Ankara.
Erdoğan added “the threats and challenges we are faced with in this turbulent period keep evolving and enhancing…There are alliances formed in the Eastern Mediterranean against Turkey and we cannot simply sit back and do nothing.”
He said Turkey now has the capacity to act in its best interest, as a result of MIT’s intelligence and contributions, without needing any permission or assistance from any other country.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> No point in starting talks for the sake of starting negotiations.
>> Non-solution of Cyprob due to GC side’s reluctance to share anything with TCs.
>> Ankara not opposed to any solution model but against anyone model being imposed.
>> What is more important than the solution model is ToR which needs to include elements of political equality.
Erdoğan (Turkey)
>> Turkey needs to develop its own game plan & implement it in the Med.
>> There are alliances forming in the East Med. against Turkey & it is not possible to sit back & do nothing.
>> Turkey now has the capacity to act in its best interest, without needing any permission or assistance from any other country as a result of effective MIT.
HP to announce its candidate this week
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The Peoples’ Party (HP) will be announcing its presidential candidate on Wednesday, January 8, HP MP Mesut Genç announced on Monday.
Speaking to Bayrak, Genç said that the party’s assembly will be convening on Tuesday night with the agenda to discuss the nomination of the HP’s presidential candidate.
“Despite being a relatively new party, the HP has left its mark on Turkish Cypriot politics during this short period of time. That is why the HP will be nominating its own candidate in the April 2020 presidential elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, the HP celebrated its 4th anniversary of establishment on Monday.
A reception was held at the Bedesten in Nicosia which was attended by party members, the National Unity Party (UBP) and supporters.
Addressing the evening, HP leader and Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay hinted he will be announcing his candidacy on Wednesday.
Touching upon the Cyprus Problem, he said that Cyprus was going through an important phase in terms of defence and security.
He pointed out that many new actors were slowly being involved in the region and that this situation had even become more dominant than the Cyprus Problem.
“We have to make it clear that our foreign policy can longer just be linked or focused on the Cyprus Issue. Does the HP have the luxury to keep away from the presidential elections? Neither the HP nor Kudret Özersay can keep away on such an important issue which involves the future of the country,” he said.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> Cyprus going through an important phase in terms of defence & security.
>> New actors slowly being involved in the region. Hydrocarbons & other regional issues become more dominant than the Cyprus Issue.
>> TC foreign policy can longer just focus on the Cyprus Issue.
>> HP cannot keep away from such an important issue which involved the country’s future.
Runite Nicosia to take place next week
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Nicosia is preparing for the second edition of Runite Nicosia, when runners run around the whole of the divided city, symbolically uniting it.
The event will take place next week, on Saturday, January 11.
A statement issued by organizers called on everyone from both sides of the divide to attend.
“The aim of the annual event is to leave the physical and mental barriers behind and experience Nicosia as a whole. Runite Nicosia is neither a race nor a competitive run, it’s open to all runners from all corners and all communities of the island, to get to know each other and send a positive message through the streets of Nicosia. “Running brings us together, running unites” and that’s what they hope to do again with next week’s event,” the statement read.
The run will start at 10:30 am from the Home for Cooperation (H4C) in the buffer zone and will be an easy 8-10km run on both sides of Nicosia.
It will finish back at the H4C where hot coffee and tea will be served and where the Bi-communal Choir for Peace in Cyprus will be singing.
As the route will cross both the southern and northern parts of Nicosia, participants are required to bring their ID along.
Drug courier caught at Lokmacı (Ledra) crossing
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
A foreign national was caught by Turkish Cypriot police at the Lokmacı (Ledra) crossing point trying to smuggle 150gr of Marihuana into the north.
Police launched an investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, two other suspects who were caught at the Metehan (Agios Dometios) crossing point on the weekend trying to smuggle drugs into the north were charged on Monday.
The two were sent to prison for a period no longer than two months pending their trial.