Front Page Headlines
Winter fright
The rivers in Morphou have overflowed. Residents are worried again. The rivers and streams burst their banks flooding livestock pens and roads. It took hours to save stranded livestock and free cars from the floodwaters.
- Four-month sentence to British tourist and support from women’s association –Women’s organisations staged a protest after a court in the south found the British woman who alleged she was raped guilty of lying. The court gave a four-month suspended jail sentence to the 19-year-old teenager. She will now be able to return home.
Not likely for us to see the new Ercan (Tymbou) airport completed in 2020
While the debate on whether the construction of the Ercan (Tymbou) airport will be completed on time or not, another problem has emerged due to Emrullah Turanlı (Director of T&T Ltd., company that manages the airport). Turanlı needs to pay ₺450,000 to KIBTEK (TC Electricity authority) for the new terminal building to be connected to the main power supply. KIBTEK had been waiting for the payment since October 2019. On the other hand, T&T Ltd. still has unpaid debts to the state as well as to its contractor companies.
- Restoration commences at the Selimiye Mosque (Saint Sophia Cathedral)
The east hit by storms and the west by floods
Flooding caused by the heavy rainfall throughout the island caused rivers in Lefke (Lefka) and Morphou to overflow and roads to close In Famagusta, İskele (Trikomo) and the Karpaz (Karpasia). The areas were hit by strong storms causing severe damage.
Cyprus surrenders to winter
The bad weather conditions, heavy rains and strong storms have caused serious damage on both sides of the island. Some roads were flooded when the diversion (derivation) channel in Lefke (Lefka) collapsed.
Natural nightmare
Rivers in Lefke (Lefka) and Morphou overflowed, roads were closed, livestock perished, power lines in Karpaz (Karpasia) were downed and water tanks were blown off roofs.
ISIS has infiltrated us
The world’s bloodiest jihadist terrorist organisation ISIS has infiltrated our society. Everyone is curious if there is a sleeper cell of ISIS, known for its bloody and horrifying execution methods in Syria and Iraq, exists in the country. ISIS member Ömer Öztürk who was wanted in Turkey was arrested by police in a raid in Famagusta in the early hours of the morning. Religious books, magazines, bank cards, DVDs, CDs, hard disks and other electronics were seized during the raid.
- The court in South could not bear the consequences of the sentence –British tourist who alleged she had been raped but was found guilty by the court for lying was sentenced to four months in prison. However, her sentence was suspended for three years and she was allowed to leave the country.
Main News
Taçoy: Hydrocarbon discovery is drawing new actors
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy on Tuesday said there were an estimated four quadrillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean which was drawing the attention of various international actors.
This has raised the importance of our country. We need to claim what is rightfully ours in the region, Taçoy said during a programme on Bayrak
Taçoy said that Greece and the Greek Cypriot side had unlawfully violated and usurped the rights of Turkey and other countries in the region.
“This has brought conflicts of interest with it to the region,” he added.
Taçoy accused the European Union (EU) of supporting the Greek Cypriot side and Greece, allowing it to act as it wished since 2004.
He recalled that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side had signed a continental delineation agreement in 2011 followed by the licensing of areas to Turkish Petroleum within the TRNC’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Taçoy said that Turkey with its drilling activities in the region gave out a clear message that it will not allow anyone to usurp Turkey’s and the Turkish Cypriots’ rights in the region.
“After a long time, Turkey has won a victory both at the table and in the field. Turkey has further extended its rights in the region through its determined stance by signing a maritime boundary agreement with Libya,” he added.
KEY ACTORS
Taçoy (UBP)
>> Discovery of hydrocarbons in East Med has drawn the attention of various actors.
>> Situation has raised the importance of the TRNC.
>> Greece-GC side’s actions have caused a conflict of interests.
>> Turkey has given a clear message that it will not allow anyone to usurp rights of Turkey & TCs in East Med.
Operating TC buses in south tops discussion in parliament
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Economy
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay on Tuesday accused the Greek Cypriot side of making up excuses to prevent Turkish Cypriot bus companies from operating in the south.
The issue was discussed during Tuesday’s session of parliament.
Responding to a question posed by Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Biray Hamzaoğulları on the issue, Özersay said that both the presidency and the foreign ministry had been raising the issue for the past eight years with EU officials to enable Turkish Cypriot commercial buses to operate in the south.
“EU officials have unfortunately not pressured the Greek Cypriot side enough to allow TC buses to operate in the south,” Özersay said.
He added that the Greek Cypriot side had so far come up with excuses to prevent the Turkish Cypriot commercial buses from crossing to the south.
“The Turkish Cypriot public transportation sector must also improve and develop itself. The Greek Cypriot side will not have any excuses left after the vehicle inspection system is brought to EU standards,” Özersay said.
Responding to Hamzaoğulları’s demand to impose similar restrictions on Greek Cypriot buses operating in the north, Özersay said any measure to be implemented must not impede the south-to-north focused tourism efforts.
He noted the economic contribution of tourists crossing over from the south on the Turkish Cypriot economy cannot be disregarded.
“Moreover, we must not allow the Greek Cypriot side to take a blow at our tourism sector,” Özersay concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> GC side is making excuses not to share tourist transportation market with TC bus companies.
>> TC side has raised the issue with EU officials without any success.
>> EU officials have unfortunately not pressured the GC side enough to allow TC buses to operate in the south.
>> The TC public transportation sector must also improve & develop itself.
>> The GC side will not have any excuses left after the vehicle inspection system is brought to EU standards.
>> Any reciprocal measure to be implemented must not impede the south-to-north focused tourism efforts.
>> The economic contribution of tourists crossing over from the south on the TC economy cannot be disregarded.
>> TC side must not allow the GC side to take a blow at TC tourism sector.
Restoration of Selimiye Mosque (St. Sophia Cathedral) commences
Kıbrıs Postası
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Restoration work at the Selimiye Mosque (Saint Sophia Cathedral) has commenced, İbrahim Benter, General Director of the Evkaf Administration of Cyprus confirmed on Tuesday.
Speaking to Kıbrıs Postası, Benter said the restoration project will last for three years and will cost approximately ₺30m to complete. He added that the restoration efforts will be carried out in collaboration with the Turkish Directorate General of Foundations.