TCC Press Review 20 Jan 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

It’s both environmentally friendly and economical

The road tax fee in the south is both more environmentally friendly and economical despite the difference in the exchange rate. The road tax fees in the south are determined according to carbon emissions. Environmentally friendly vehicles which emit lower carbon emissions pay lower tax. Road tax in the north, on the other hand, is determined according to the vehicle’s curb weight. Road tax for Euro6 type vehicles for 2014-2018 models is zero.

Kıbrıs Postası

“We cannot tolerate any more delays for the new Ercan (Tymbou) airport”

Public Works Minister Tolga Atakan said the delay in the new Ercan (Tymbou) airport is not acceptable. As the responsible ministry, Atakan said the current stage of the construction tells us that the completion of the new airport will be delayed. “We will submit a report to the Council of Ministers this week,” Atakan added.

  • “We did not give licenses to TPAO (Turkish Petroleum) for nothing” – Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay spoke about the Yavuz and its new assignment.

Kıbrıs

They were deported

The 33 migrants, who were rescued off the coast of Yeşilırmak (Limnitis) were sent back to Turkey to be returned to their country. 13 police officers are accompanying them to Mersin, Turkey. According to information obtained, the migrants had each paid ₺15000 (approx €2,300) each to the boat owner Erdal Özden before departing and another ₺1000 (approx €150) as they were boarding the 11m long fishing boat named ‘Sultanım-1’.

  • IPC suffers from lack of funds – The Immovable Property Commission (IPC) has so far received 6,658 applications. 970 of the applications were concluded through amicable agreements. 33 of them were resolved through the courts. The commission needs ₺750m (approx. €115m) to be able to pay the compensation for 203 cases but only ₺100m (approx €15m) has been allocated to the IPC from the budget.

Havadis

“Culture of obedience must be overcome”

Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit evaluated the National Unity Party (UBP) and the People’s Party (HP) coalition government, the developments in the Cyprus issue as well as the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. He said the coalition government does not have any economic policies and is only focused on handing out the money it receives from Turkey. “In my opinion, the government has failed both economically and politically,” Özyiğit said.

Diyalog

Rush to the rescue Turkey

Public Works and Communications Minister Tolga Atakan said that all projects to ensure roads safety are ready. He said there was a need for ₺269m (approx. €72m) to complete the projects.

  • He warned the Greek Cypriots – Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said, “We can only succeed in removing Turkey from Cyprus by solving the Cyprus Problem.”

Afrika

Disrespect creates outrage

The disrespectful act against the first martyr of 1974 Ecvet Yusuf has revealed the true faces of those who exploit the martyrs’ issue for political purposes. In addition to Yusuf’s family, the Turkish Cypriot society has been outraged with the scandal.

Main News

Yavuz to proceed with new drilling

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officials issued messages on Sunday in response to statements by the Greek Cypriot side branding Turkey a ‘pirate state’ for new drilling planned off the coast of Cyprus.

Turkey’s drillship, the Yavuz, which embarked from Mersin to its new location dubbed Lefkoşa-1 (Nicosia-1) was 100 nautical miles off the south of the island, within block 8 on Sunday.

Ankara on Sunday condemned a statement by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell critical of Turkey’s energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“The EU, acting under the pretext of union solidarity, should first of all end its unrealistic, prejudiced, and double standard policies,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hami Aksoy said in a statement.

“The European Union has remained silent since 2003 to the usurpation and violation of the rights of both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean. The EU has never mentioned or referred to the Turkish Cypriots in any of its statements on the subject and as such, it ignored the existence and rights of the Turkish Cypriots,” Aksoy said, referring to the year before Cyprus joined the EU.

“No one should doubt that Turkey will continue to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots also in the south of the island, until their rights to the hydrocarbon resources of the island are guaranteed and a cooperation mechanism is established within the framework of the proposal of 13 July 2019,” Aksoy added, citing a Turkish Cypriot proposal.

On Saturday, following the announcement that Turkey’s drillship Yavuz is to be dispatched for more drilling, Borrell issued a statement on Turkey’s so-called “illegal drilling activities in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.”

Aksoy stressed that the Yavuz proceeded to license area G south of the island to conduct its third drilling operation in line with the licenses granted to the Turkish Petroleum Corporation in 2011 by the Turkish Cypriot authorities.

“In this license area, as the co-owners of the island, Turkish Cypriots have as many rights as the Greek Cypriots. Should oil and natural gas be found in this area, both parties will share the revenues,” he said.

“In this regard, the proposal made by Turkish Cypriot authorities on 13 July 2019 concerning the equitable sharing of the hydrocarbon resources and revenues is still valid and is an important opportunity for a solution,” Aksoy added.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Cypriot foreign ministry on Sunday said that it will continue to take steps to protect its interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The foreign ministry, in a written statement, said that the Greek Cypriot leadership which continued to claim sovereignty over the whole island through unilateral steps was in a panic, making uncontrolled moves and issuing frantic statements.

“The statements issued by the Greek Cypriot leadership along with its provocative actions fall in direct contradiction with the calls made by the UN Secretary-General,” the statement said.

It claimed that the Greek Cypriot side’s moves revealed why it has not been possible to solve the decades-long Cyprus Problem.

“As it will be remembered, the late Greek Cypriot leader Archbishop Makarios had acted with such a mentality, transforming the joint republic into a Greek Cypriot state by robbing Turkish Cypriots of their right of say in the administration and openly trampling the constitution by seeking to amend it,” the statement read.

The statement added that Turkish Cypriot have been waging a struggle on the island as equal partners since Turkey’s military intervention in 1974 which brought them security, independence and the right to live.

The Turkish Cypriot foreign ministry argued that the Greek Cypriot side, by refusing to share power and wealth with the Turkish Cypriots has usurped their rights and was in a delusion that it was the sole authority on the island.

“Even under such circumstances, it is the Turkish Cypriot side which is putting forward proposals for cooperation. The Greek Cypriot side continues to outright reject these problems, maintaining its usurping mentality with the belief that the island’s resources which belong to both sides will be conceded to it. It must be understood that the Turkish Cypriot side, along with Turkey, will continue to do what is necessary to protect their rights and interests,” the statement concluded.

In a separate statement on Sunday, Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay defended drilling activities set to take place in block G, south of Cyprus by Turkish Petroleum (TPOA).

Özersay said that the Turkish Cypriot side had stated months ago that it would be taking such steps.

“Of course, we will be conducting drilling activities which the TRNC licensed to TPAO. We didn’t issue these licenses for nothing,” he said.

Özersay pointed out that everyone acknowledged that Turkish Cypriots had rights in the said areas.

He added that TPAO will be drilling in areas it sees fit just as energy firms granted licenses by the Greek Cypriot side do the same.

“It has become inevitable for all the parties involved to cooperate as soon as possible for resources in and around Cyprus as well as the Eastern Mediterranean,” said Özersay.

He argued that all involved parties needed to come together to discuss the issue without waiting for a solution to the Cyprus Problem to achieve regional stability and peace.

“As we have been saying for the past two years, the solution to this issue requires cooperation before a political settlement on the island,” he added.

Özersay said that expecting Turkish Cypriots to wait for a solution to benefit from the island’s resources was unacceptable.

“If Greek Cypriots are carrying out these activities before a solution is reached than Turkish Cypriots can also take such steps. It is only their natural right,” he said.

He added that the Greek Cypriot leadership was reluctant to share both political power and wealth with Turkish Cypriots.

“Its unilateral activities on hydrocarbons is proof of this,” he noted.

Özersay concluded by warning the Greek Cypriot side not to mock the Turkish Cypriot side with its actions.

KEY ACTORS
MFA (Turkey)
>> The EU, acting under the pretext of union solidarity, should end its unrealistic, prejudiced, & double-standard policies.
>> The EU has remained silent to the usurpation & violation of Turkey’s & TCs’ rights in East Med.
>> Turkey will continue to protect the rights of TCs until their rights to the hydrocarbon resources are guaranteed & a cooperation mechanism is established within the framework of the 13 July 2019 proposal.
>> TCs’ have as many rights as GCs’ in island’s south & if hydrocarbons are discovered in this area, both parties will share the revenues.
>> TC side’s proposal concerning the equitable sharing of the hydrocarbon resources & revenues is still valid & is an important opportunity for a solution.

Özersay (HP)
>> TPAO will continue to drill off Cyprus as TC authorities didn’t grant these licenses for the sake of it.
>> Everyone has acknowledged that TCs have rights in the area.
>> It has become inevitable for all the parties involved to cooperate as soon as possible for resources in the region.
>> It is necessary for all involved parties to come together to discuss the issue without waiting for a solution to the Cyprob to achieve regional stability & peace.
>> Expecting TCs to wait for a solution to benefit from the island’s resources is unacceptable.
>> If GCs are carrying out these activities before a solution is reached then it is only a natural right for TCs to do the same.
>> GC leadership is reluctant to share both political power & wealth with TCs. GC side’s unilateral activities are proof of this.


Akıncı highlighted the urgency of a solution to Cyprob

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, Energy, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

President Mustafa Akıncı said that efforts to defend and protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots will continue.

Akıncı was speaking during visits to Mallıdağ (Melounta), Çınarlı (Platani), Ardahan (Ardana), Tuzluca (Patriki) and Kilitkaya (Krideia) on Sunday.

“It is important that we continue to pursue our rights on a realistic, reasonable and correct basis. We shall persistently continue our struggle until we win the respectable status we deserve within international law, he said.

Akıncı pointed out that the negotiations process had been brought back on track as a result of the trilateral meeting in Berlin.

He said that the outcome of the meeting had removed all ambiguity concerning the basis of the talks.

“Political equality has been stressed. It has also been confirmed that any new process will be results-oriented, will not be open-ended and will be carried to achieve a strategic agreement,” he said.

Akıncı added that the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres was also expected to take on a more active role regarding the Cyprus talks.

On the issue of hydrocarbons, Akıncı said that the outright rejection of the Turkish Cypriot side’s July dated proposal by the Greek Cypriot side had unfortunately contributed to the further rising of tensions.

“We are acting with the view that unilateral actions will only raise tensions whereas cooperation will contribute to peace and will be beneficial for everyone. We are working to open a window for cooperation before it is too late to acknowledge our just position on this issue of hydrocarbons,” he said.

Akıncı recalled that both the UN and EU had been informed of the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposal.

He added that to this day, both sides had benefited from all steps taken in the name of cooperation and confidence-building.

Akıncı also highlighted the urgency of cooperating on the issue of hydrocarbons and of solving the Cyprus Problem. “It has become clear that as long as the Cyprus Problem remains unresolved, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean will become even more complicated. I am repeatedly highlighting the fact that a solution to the Cyprus Problem has become a necessity not just for the island but for the region as well,” he said.

KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> Efforts to defend & protect the rights of TCs will continue.
>> It is important rights are pursued on a realistic reasonable & correct basis.
>> TC side shall persistently continue its struggle until it wins its respectable status within int’l law.
>> Berlin trilateral removed all ambiguity on basis of negotiations.
>> Meeting’s outcome reaffirmed political equality, a results-oriented process which not be open-ended & which will aim to achieve a strategic agreement.
>> Outright rejection of TC side’s July dated proposal by GC side has only served to further raise tensions.
>> TC side acts with a view that unilateral actions will raise tensions whereas cooperation will serve peace.
>> TC side working to open a window of cooperation before it is too late to acknowledge TC’s rights.
>> Both sides have benefited from steps aimed at cooperation & confidence-building.
>> Non-solution of Cyprob will further complicate the situation in East Med.
>> Solving Cyprob is a necessity not just for the island but for the region as well.


IPC suffers from lack of funds

Kıbrıs
Property, Territory

OVERVIEW

“The Immovable Property Commission (IPC) needs ₺750m to be able to pay the compensation amounts for 203 cases but only ₺100m has been allocated to the Commission from the budget,” Kıbrıs reported on Monday.

The IPC has paid £303.8m in compensation amounts to date but it has not been possible to close the remaining 203 cases for the past six years due to lack of funds. The IPC needs nearly £100m in funds to cover compensation payments.

There are also more than 5200 applications the IPC has not even looked at yet. Among them, there are 280 applications on Maraş (Varosha).

Citing former director of the State Planning Organisation (SPO), Ödül Muhtaroğlu’s article in Kıbrıs, it is reported that the IPC was only allocated ₺100m (approx €15m) from the state budget, which amounts to about £13m.

Muhtaroğlu urges the Turkish Cypriot authorities to focus on the work of the IPC and the authorities must find ways of creating more funds for the IPC.

He outlines various ways of creating funds for the IPC and writes that the current user of the property must be asked to pay an additional tax on the increased value of the property.

This is also a proposal Turkey is in favour of, Muhtaroğlu concludes.


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