Front Page Headlines
“We knew this place as our home…We’ve been sold out”
British citizens, whose homes were auctioned off because the contractor owed money to the bank, spoke to Yenidüzen. The residents who have been living at the estate for the past ten years had each paid £150,000 for the houses.
Turanlı’s solar park project cancelled
Emrullah Turanlı, who is a shareholder in the T&T Ltd, which manages Ercan (Tymbou) airport, failed to meet requirements for building a solar plant. As a result, it emerged that the permit for the project has been cancelled. According to the information given by the Renewable Energy Board, Turanlı applied for the pre-project permit but did not purchase the field on which the solar panels were to be installed nor did he get an electrical engineer to draw up a technical project.
- Ersin Tatar: “I am not obliged to sign it” – Prime Minister Ersin Tatar spoke about his reasons for not signing the Famagusta-İskele (Trikomo) – Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) development masterplan.
Greatstone-2 shock
The Britons, who lost their homes because the land their homes were built on was given as a bank-guarantee, are traumatised. Experts warn that the development has destroyed the confidence of foreign property owners and potential buyers. They also warn there will be many more such cases if the authorities do not take the necessary measures.
- The fate of 23 thousand residential units is unknown – Prime Minister Ersin Tatar who spoke about the Famagusta-İskele (Trikomo) – Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) development masterplan said that more work was needed to be done on the plan.
The government has expired
National Unity Party (UBP) leader Ersin Tatar’s refusal to sign the Famagusta-İskele (Trikomo) – Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) development masterplan has led to the first serious crisis between the coalition partners. The opposition believes the development masterplan revealed the lack of harmony and accord between the UBP and the People’s Party (HP).
The homes of the Brits should be returned
We are calling on the president, the government and all the leaders of the political parties to prove that the TRNC is not an illegal or lawless state.
- He’s after tension – the Greek Cypriot Defence Minister Savvas Angelides has gone to Rome to ask for stronger Italian presence in the region.
Aerial war exercise
Air defence systems will be used in a military exercise in the Morphou area. The Morphou District Office announced air defence weapons will be used at the shooting range from January 28-29. Authorities have called on the public not to enter the area.
Main News
Erhürman: Proactive diplomacy needed in the absence of a solution
Yenidüzen
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power sharing
OVERVIEW
The leader of the main Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and presidential hopeful Tufan Erhürman said on Sunday there was a need for proactive foreign policy in the absence of a solution to the Cyprus Problem.
His remarks came during a campaign visit to Karaağaç (Charkeia) and Esentepe (Agios Nikolaos).
Speaking in Esentepe (Agios Nikolaos), Erhürman said that every Turkish Cypriot individual supported a settlement to the Cyprus Problem to end the current uncertainty that affected every aspect of their lives.
“In the event, a comprehensive settlement is not reached, the Turkish Cypriot side’s will in support of a political settlement and just demands must be explained to the world through proactive diplomacy,” he said.
Erhürman added that a self-sustaining economy, democracy and self-administration was the joint desire of the Turkish Cypriot community.
The CTP leader also said that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to work for a settlement.
“Following the presidential elections, we must convene the five-party conference and achieve conditions for a results-oriented and timetabled negotiations process which will lead us to a comprehensive solution,” he added.
Erhürman concluded his remarks by stating that Turkish Cypriots did not have the luxury to lose any more time regarding a settlement.
KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Proactive foreign policy needed in the absence of a solution of the Cyprob.
>> Every TC supports a solution with the hope of ending uncertainty in their lives.
>> TC side’s will & just demands must be voiced to the world in the absence of a solution.
>> TCs desire self-sustaining economy, democracy & self-administration.
>> TC side will continue to work for a solution.
>> Talks should resume after presidential elections.
The most realistic option is the Turkish market
Kıbrıs
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“The most realistic option for the natural gas from Cyprus is to be consumed in the Turkish market,” TRNC’s honorary representative in Los Angeles Mehmet Mustafaoğlu said.
Mustafaoğlu, who is also the investment officer for Transglobal Financial in LA, pointed to the fact that despite natural gas pipeline investments, Turkey is still dependent on Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan.
As a result, he added, the cost of natural gas for Turkey is on the constant rise.
“It is not feasible to transfer the natural gas from Cyprus to Europe,” Mustafaoğlu said, adding that the Turkish market is big enough to purchase all the gas.
Touching on the EastMed pipeline project, Mustafaoğlu expressed his view that the project was economically unfeasible due to the long distance that was needed to be covered.
He said the project, once completed after reaching Italy, would cost $10bn.
“This will mean doubling the gas price for the Europeans and they will refuse it,” Mustafaoğlu stressed.
Mustafaoğlu argued that Cyprus has become more important in the Eastern Mediterranean after Turkey woke up and decided to identify its borders in the seas.
“The Cyprus problem for a long time has not been a conflict between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots,” Mustafaoğlu said.
He added that Cyprus has turned into an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean, which is making the solution of the Cyprus problem and the hydrocarbon crisis harder and harder to achieve.
He claimed the key to the solution of all the problems in and around Cyprus is Turkey’s relations with Israel.
“However, it does not look likely that the Turkey-Israel relations will improve at all in the coming period,” Mustafaoğlu concluded.
Restoration of historical Selimiye Mosque begins
Yenidüzen
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Restoration of the historical Selimiye Mosque (St Sofia Cathedral) located at the centre of the old town of Nicosia has begun.
The restoration project which will take three years to complete at a cost of €4.4m is being funded by the Evkaf Administration while the restoration is being carried out by international experts.
The mosque will be partially open throughout the restoration works.
Originally constructed as a catholic cathedral, St Sofia Cathedral was converted into a mosque in 1571 following the Ottoman conquest of the island.