Front Page Headlines
‘The houses will be put up for sale’
Difficult days ahead for the Brits who are victims of their contractor. The government is yet to take any steps for the British and Scottish families who may be living on the street soon due to the contractor’s debt to the bank. A new development has taken place at the “Greatstone” homes. The Yüksekbaş Group of Companies which bought the property in an auction has decided to sell the homes.
The semester break should be in January not February
Paediatricians have proposed that the Education Ministry should change the month of the semester break from January to February due to the heightened risk of upper-respiratory infections. Remzi Gardiyanoğlu, head of the Freelance Doctors’ Association, said they had made the same proposal for the 2018-2019 school year but that their proposal had not been taken into consideration. Paediatrician Halil Hızal pointed to the fact that flue cases drop in February, therefore, a semester break in January is more advisable. Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu is not in favour of the proposal.
- Masterplan on hold, an ordinance to remain in force for six months – Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay announced the council of ministers meeting decision on the highly debated development master plan.
They took our money and left us to die
101 refugees were taken into custody in the south and 34 in the north. The Syrian refugees, who were rescued in the middle of the sea when the captain of the boat they were travelling in abandoned them, spoke to Kıbrıs newspaper’s reporter as they were being taken to the police station. One refugee said: “The captain left the boat. They took our money and then left us to die.”
- Masterplan on hold, the ordinance in force for six months – Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay announced the cabinet’s decision on the highly debated development master plan.
The bitter side of war
34 Syrian refugees, who wanted to flee the war in Syria, became victims of human traffickers. They were abandoned off the coast of the TRNC. According to information obtained from the refugees, they were made to pay between $4500 and $7500 to traffickers. The boat’s engine failed in the middle of the sea and the boat captain abandoned ship, fleeing the scene and abandoning the refugees.
- The country will lose with unplanned construction – President Mustafa Akıncı warned about the suspended development masterplan for Famagusta-İskele (Trikomo) – Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios).
We would be ruined!
A change in Turkey’s credit card instalment regulations which will limit Turkish cardholders’ payments to a maximum of three instalments has got tourism operators worried. The head of the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers’ Association said the introduction of such a limit would leave hotel owners in a difficult situation as they offer holiday package payments in instalments.
- Much higher than the north –The lowest salary in the South is €1271, the highest salary is €7320.
- More snowfall expected – Greek Cypriot Met Office issued a new storm warning.
Contractors’ appetites grow…They’ve set their eyes on Famagusta
The debate on the Famagusta, Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios), İskele (Trikomo) development masterplan is growing after the National Unity Party is preventing it from going into force. Mustafa Akıncı has also intervened. The head of the Contractors’ Association Cafer Gürcafer has threatened the government of taking protest action.
Main News
Özersay outlines his vision for the presidency
Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister and independent presidential candidate Kudret Özersay said on Tuesday the country needed a president who embraced all segments of society and who could be the voice of Turkish Cypriots around the world.
In a written statement issued by his campaign office, Özersay took a swing at his rivals on a TV programme, arguing that Turkish Cypriots needed more than a president who toured villages and festivals or posed for the cameras.
“We need a president who can do things for a solution and who the public can convey their demands,” he said.
Özersay, touching upon development in the Eastern Mediterranean, said that the Turkish Cypriot side had balanced the playing field thanks to the steps taken in the region by Turkey.
“We have this false impression that the international community revolves around Cyprus or the Cyprus negotiations process. That is not the case. There is more to the world than talks or contacts held under the auspices of the UN,” he said.
There are issues such as natural resources or hydrocarbons, maritime jurisdiction areas and continental shelves that we need to focus on, he said.
Özersay added that the importance of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot state had grown in light of recent developments.
“This growing importance requires a proactive foreign policy; particularly as international actors have started becoming more influential in the region. We need to be more aware and be on top of things. We need to establish policies and we need to display a strong stance on issues concerning our defence and security,” he said.
Özersay also argued that the US was increasing its presence in the region to keep Russia out of the region.
“Shortly after energy giant ExxonMobil started investing in the region, the US decided to lift the decades’ long arms embargo on the South. More recently Washington announced that it could send its response units to Cyprus in the event its citizens and diplomats in the Middle East were attacked. The Greek Cypriot authorities have approved this request, he said.
He added that the EU had also implemented tight controls and restrictions on banking transactions to reduce Russian financial presence on the island.
Özersay argued that the US also wants to use naval bases in the south through deals to be made with France and the Greek Cypriot authorities.
The presidential hopeful also claimed that Turkish Cypriots could become a regional actor.
“We have the opportunity to become a regional actor. Under these circumstances, it is extremely important who will become president. The head of our state should not just be someone who is concerned with the negotiations, who holds meetings in the buffer zone but someone who develops policies and takes steps to implement them, who gives conferences at the international level, who talks to think tanks or gives interviews to media organisations outlining the Turkish Cypriot side’s position,” he said.
Özersay concluded by stating that a Turkish Cypriot state and Turkish Cypriot people who had a political will existed.
“Any nation or country taking steps in this region need to acknowledge us. We can achieve this. This is what I am working to do as a foreign minister and as a presidential candidate,” Özersay stressed.
Özersay who following announcing his candidacy had resigned from the position of HP leader, is the second figure, following the Republican Turkish Party’s leader Tufan Erhürman, to officially announce his candidacy.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> The country needs a president who embraces all segments of society & who can be the voice of TCs around the world.
>> Thepresident should be able to do things for a solution. He needs to be someone to whom the public can convey their demands.
>> TC side had balanced the playing field in the East Med thanks to the steps taken in the region by Turkey.
>> Not right to believe that the int’l community revolves around Cyprus or the Cyprus negotiations process.
>> There is more to the world than talks or contacts held under the auspices of the UN.
>> There are issues such as natural resources, maritime jurisdiction areas and continental shelves that TC side needs to focus on.
>> The importance of Cyprus & TC state had grown in light of recent developments.
>> This growing importance requires a proactive foreign policy; particularly as int’l actors have started becoming more influential in the region.
>> TC side needs to be more aware & on top of things. A strong stance on issues concerning defence & security needed.
>> The US is increasing its presence in the region to keep Russia out of the region as can be seen in its actions.
>> TCs can become a regional actor. There is an opportunity to become one.
>> Under these circumstances it is extremely important who will become president.
>> The head of the state should not just be someone who is concerned with the negotiations, who holds meetings in the BZ but someone who develops policies & takes steps to implement them.
>> Any nation or country taking steps in this region need to acknowledge the TCs & TC state.
New group of Syrian migrants found off Yeşilırmak (Limnitis)
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Migration and Citizenship
OVERVIEW
34 Syrian refugees between the ages of 20 and 40 were discovered nearly one mile off the coast of Yeşilırmak (Limnitis) on Tuesday, all six dailies reported on Wednesday.
According to the information given by the police, the Syrian refugees were found around 1600hrs by the Turkish Cypriot Coast Guard. They were taken to the coast guard harbour in Yedidalga (Potamos Tou Kambou) for processing.
The Syrian refugees, after giving their testimonies to the police, are expected to appear before a court on Wednesday.
In the meantime, Turkish Cypriot Red Crescent has provided the refugees, who are being kept at the Morphou police station, with blankets and food supplies.
Master plan suspended, ordinance extended for another six months
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Territory, Property, Economy, Governance & Power sharing
OVERVIEW
The National Unity Party (UBP) and the People’s Party (HP) coalition agreed to suspend what turned out to be the first significant rift between the coalition partners – the development master plan for Famagusta-İskele (Trikomo) -Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) but the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) was quick to slam the ruling parties for delaying the process until the presidential election is over.
Deputy Prime Minister Kudret Özersay announced that the development master plan will be suspended however the ordinance that limits further development in the area, which was valid until the end of last year, will remain in force for another six months on Tuesday.
Following a five-hour-long cabinet meeting, Özersay said the government did not want to leave any legal loopholes and that efforts to finalize the development master plan were underway.
On Tuesday, the CTP leader and presidential candidate Tufan Erhürman slammed the coalition government’s decision to postpone the implementation of the development master plan.
“Just as expected, the (cabinet) decision is not made to solve the problem but to postpone it. It is a move designed to postpone the matter to after the elections,” Erhürman posted on social media.
He also pointed out that the six-month extension “coincidentally” ended right after the April presidential elections in the north.
President Mustafa Akıncı also got involved in the ongoing debate.
In a statement issued by his office, Akıncı warned about the dangers of unplanned development in the north.
He noted that he has held meetings with the mayors of the three cities and other relevant authorities when the initial disagreement on the said masterplan first emerged.
“In all the evaluations made, we had focused on the dangers of unplanned development and there is consensus that the effort made for the plan must not be allowed to go to waste,” Akıncı said.
He added, “Though difficult to reach common ground, it is vital to have a plan for healthy development.”
Akıncı noted that the masterplan is now obstructed by the prime minister even though it was approved by the Board mandated to evaluate and endorse it.
He urged the authorities to approve and publish the masterplan in the official gazette without delay in line with the relevant laws in place.
“We have suffered a lot from unplanned development, and we should not suffer because of it any longer,” Akıncı concluded.