Front Page Headlines
And now an injunction
Court injunction for article two of the second Famagusta, İskele (Trikomo), Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) ordinance. The High Court ordered that all actions implemented under section 27.(A) and 27.(B) of article two of the ordinance to be temporarily halted.
No laws, no training but there’s imprisonment!
The only requirement to become an ambulance driver is to possess a valid TRNC driving license. The driver then has to pass a written test. There are no laws in place to identify the required criteria to be an ambulance driver but it is possible to sentence ambulance drivers in prison for accidents. Mehmet Avcı, President of the Association to Prevent Road Accidents (TKÖD), spoke to Kıbrıs Postası on the international requirements for ambulance drivers.
- YDP nominates Erhan Arıklı – The Rebirth Party’s (YDP) assembly has voted to nominate its party leader Erhan Arıklı as its presidential candidate.
- “They embarked on a journey to an unknown country to flee war” – National Unity Party (UBP) MP Resmiye Canaltay spoke about the 12 Syrian migrants, who are held at the Famagusta Police Station. She said: “We also experienced war. I know what they are feeling and going through.”
No one cares about the standards
The road signs are unreadable. The roads are filled with potholes. TRAKAYAD (Road Safety Association) Deputy President Hüseyin Sevay is holding the authorities responsible for the current situation as well as the high number of fatalities on the roads.
- YDP’s presidential candidate is Erhan Arıklı.
The hospital that freezes its patients
During the coldest days of winter, the heating system at the Nicosia Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu state hospital isn’t working. Moreover, the sliding door is also broken and is open all the time. The patients seeking treatment at the hospital are forced to wait in freezing conditions.
- Arıklı is nominated as YDP’s candidate – YDP party assembly decided to nominate Erhan Arıklı as the party’s presidential candidate.
Four pipes have broken loose
The bad weather conditions at sea are making repairs on the pipeline carrying fresh water to Cyprus from Anamur, Turkey difficult. Speaking to Diyalog, the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dursun Oğuz said that there were still 10m cubic metres of water at the Geçitköy (Panagra) Dam which was enough to meet the TRNC’s water needs for another eight to ten months.
- 26 per cent of the population is below the poverty line – More than 100,000 people in the south cannot pay utilities on time.
- There is a serious increase – While Greek Cypriot credit card spending in the north has reached €21.1m, Turkish Cypriot credit card spending in the south is €18.8m.
- His red lines are clear – The YDP’s presidential candidate Erhan Arıklı announced that he will not negotiate a federation with Greek Cypriots if elected.
A shameful dark day
We have not forgotten nor shall we ever forget! Today is January 22. The second anniversary of the lynch attempt on our newspaper under the auspices of the police. Around 1000 protestors, provoked by Turkey’s fascist dictator Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, rained stones on our newspaper while chanting religious slogans while a handful of police officers watched.
Main News
TCs becoming leading actors in the East Med.
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Energy, Regional/International Relations, Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officials continued to issue statements on Tuesday in defence of Turkey’s drilling activities off the coast of Cyprus.
“Turkish Cypriots are on the path to becoming leading actors in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said on Tuesday.
He added that Turkish Cypriots had balanced the playing field with Greek Cypriots as a result of the policies they have been fighting for and defending for years.
Speaking on Bayrak, Özersay said that the policies being carried out by the TRNC were shaping Turkish foreign policy on the Cyprus issue.
“There are claims that the drilling being carried out in the south of the island belongs to Turkey. This is not true. Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) is carrying out these drilling operations in areas licensed by the TRNC,” Özersay stressed.
He recalled that the Turkish Cypriot side had remained a bystander until 2011, watching the Greek Cypriot side sign deals with other countries and grant licenses to international companies.
“We developed a policy after 2011 and took action in the field. As a result, we have balanced the playing field. We are now defending our rights not only on paper but in the field as well. Since the TRNC and Turkish Cypriot people have rights over these resources we shall get our rightful share one way or the other. We are a country with limited resources which is why this issue is very important,” he added.
He noted that revenues from natural gas could be used to fund the north’s infrastructural needs and that these resources will be vital for the Turkish Cypriot economy in ten years from now.
Özersay also pointed out that Turkish Cypriots were only seeking their rights and that they never pursued a policy to prevent Greek Cypriots from carrying out drilling or to use force.
“Nevertheless, we have not allowed anyone to usurp our rights,” Özersay stressed.
He said that it was not fair to expect Turkish Cypriots to wait for a solution before reaping the benefits of natural gas while Greek Cypriots were allowed to go ahead with their plans.
“Turkish Cypriots can benefit from these resources without a solution if the Greek Cypriots can,” he added.
Özersay also argued cooperation on hydrocarbons will not only bring the two sides on the island closer but also contribute to solving regional problems.
In a separate interview with Sputnik, Özersay said the European Union (EU) could not deter Turkey’s presence in the eastern Mediterranean just as it had failed to impose sanctions on Russia for its actions in the Crimea.
He said Turkey’s determination to explore and drill for natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) declared with Libya continued despite increasing threats against Turkish companies and nationals by the EU.
Özersay claimed that the recent agreement signed between Turkey and Libya could be seen as the result of the process launched by the Turkish Cypriot side to protect its rights and interests in the region.
He expressed the view that the Turkey-Libya deal had upset Greek and Greek Cypriot plans in the region, weakening their influence.
Özersay said that the Greek Cypriot side was trying to portray Ankara as an aggressor and occupying state.
“This is not true. Turkey or TPAO is currently drilling off the coast of Cyprus in areas licensed by the TRNC on behalf of Turkish Cypriots. The Greek Cypriots insistently accuse Turkey of being a pirate state, trying to turn the international community against Ankara,” he said.
Özersay added the Greek Cypriot side was doing this because it did not want to lose its status as the island’s recognized government.
“Every time we propose to solve the hydrocarbon issue, they tell us we should solve the Cyprus Problem first. The reality is that we have been unable to solve this issue for the past 51 years. I believe that the path to a solution as well as peace and stability in the region passes through cooperation in various areas, natural gas being one of these,” he said.
Özersay said the EU was backing the Greek Cypriot side as a show of solidarity among member countries but that this stance was not contributing to the solution of the problem.
“Because of this very reason, the EU cannot be impartial in solving the Cyprus Problem or the natural gas issue. We don’t see them as an actor that can be trusted. They have to stand with the Greek Cypriots because of their principles,” he said.
Özersay also vowed to end north Cyprus’s economic problems if elected as the next Turkish Cypriot president.
He said his vision was to adopt a proactive foreign policy and to be creative on the issue of natural gas.
If elected, Özersay said he will focus on exploiting opportunities arising from Brexit, the natural gas issue as well as opening the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha).
“The UK is leaving the EU which means we can start selling our agricultural products and textiles to the UK. This requires a vision to manage and follow such a process” he said.
Opening Maraş (Varosha) and allowing former residents to return is an important opportunity, said Özersay, adding that such a move will boost the construction sector and increase tax revenues.
Meanwhile, President Mustafa Akıncı said on Tuesday that science diplomacy was necessary for the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Either diplomacy based on tensions, as pursued by our Greek Cypriot neighbours will continue, or the right steps based on facts will be taken. We are standing at a junction on the natural gas issue,” he pointed out.
Akıncı was speaking at the opening session of the International Science Diplomacy Forum.
Addressing the forum, Akıncı said the Greek Cypriot side preferred to escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and that the rejection of the proposals made by the Turkish Cypriot side was proof of this.
“On the contrary, the natural gas issue should evolve into an area of collaboration in view of the scientific data. Unfortunately, there are no signs of it,” he added.
He said the EastMed project, which was signed on January 2 January 2020 between Greece, Israel and the Greek Cypriot side, was proof of unrealistic attempts that were void of any scientific data.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Tuesday that Turkey’s drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean will continue.
Speaking in Davos, Switzerland ahead of the World Economic Summit, the Turkish foreign minister said that Turkey was drilling in blocks that fell within its continental shelf or which were licensed to TPAO by the TRNC.
“Our drilling activities at two locations are continuing. The first location is in an area which falls within our continental shelf. These areas clash with areas licensed by the Greek Cypriot side but we are not even discussing these areas,” he said.
Çavuşoğlu pointed out that no one was objecting to the fact that Turkish Cypriots also had rights in resources discovered off the coast of the island.
“The Greek Cypriot administration, encouraged by the EU, is resuming its unilateral activities. Our drillship which completed its operations south of the Karpaz (Karpasia) peninsula is headed to block 8 where the Greek Cypriot side has granted licenses. We are ready to cooperate here. We will not allow anyone to usurp Turkey’s rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are both at the table and in the field,” he said.
The issue on the agenda of Tuesday’s session of the Turkish Cypriot parliament,
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Doğuş Derya addressing the plenary said, “The most rational option for Turkey and Greece is to focus on solving the Cyprus problem instead of resorting to gunboat diplomacy” in her speech entitled “The need for diplomacy in the energy equation in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Derya explained the regional dynamics in detail focusing particularly on Turkey’s agreement with Libya and the reactions of other countries in the Mediterranean.
She also complained that the Turkish Cypriot parliament fails to debate the regional developments adequately warning that “gunboat diplomacy would narrow one’s manoeuvrability in the diplomatic sphere.”
Derya noted she also does not approve of Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades’ policies aimed at alienating Turkey.
“At the same time, Turkey must not delay its diplomatic initiatives any further towards solving the Cyprus issue on a federal basis,” Derya said arguing that “an energy dialogue between Turkey and Greece” will make both countries stronger.”
She also urged the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry to carry out lobbying efforts abroad on peace diplomacy.
“The key to stability in the region is a federal solution on the island,” Derya concluded.
Responding to Derya, Özersay argued it was not necessary to wait until a solution to collaborate on the natural gas issue.
“Officials from some of the leading EU member states have acted as the intermediary between the two sides in Cyprus regarding the natural gas issue,” Özersay said.
He noted Turkey does not politically recognize the Greek Cypriot side but this was not an obstacle for dialogue.
He also added there are also political actors and the representatives of international petrol companies visiting the north from time to time.
“If interdependency is developed, there will be no risk of conflict in the region or on the island,” Özersay stressed.
Özersay also rejected Derya’s reference to “gunboat diplomacy” and argued, “had the Turkish side truly resorted to gunboat diplomacy; the Greek Cypriot side could not have been drilling for natural gas at the moment.”
In a separate development, the Russian Embassy in Cyprus denied the claim that Moscow plans to recognize North Cyprus.
“This news does not reflect the truth,” the Russian Embassy in Cyprus said to Russian news agency Sputnik referring to the claims made by retired Staff Colonel Ünal Atabay in Turkish daily Sözcü.
He had claimed Russia is planning to either recognize the TRNC or ask Abkhazia to recognize it as part of its energy plans in the Eastern Mediterranean. Atabay had further argued that Russia’s collaboration with Turkey is inevitable for smooth utilization of the energy resources in the region.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> TCs are on the path to becoming leading actors in the East Med.
>> TCs side has balanced the playing field with GCs as a result of the policies implemented.
>> TRNC’s policies are shaping Turkish foreign policy on the Cyprob.
>> TPAO is carrying out these drilling operations in areas licensed by the TC side.
>> TCs are defending their rights not only on paper but in the field as well.
>> TCs have rights over the island’s resources.
>> Revenues from natural gas could be used to fund infrastructural needs. These resources will be vital for the TC economy in the near future.
>> TCs are only seeking their rights, are not preventing GCs from carrying out drilling or using force.
>> Not fair to expect TCs to wait for a solution before reaping the benefits of natural gas while GCs are allowed to proceed with their plans.
>> TCs can benefit from these resources without a solution if the GCs can.
>> Hydrocarbons will not only bring the two sides closer but will also contribute to solving regional problems.
>> EU cannot deter Turkey’s presence in the East Med.
>> Turkey-Libya deal has disrupted Greek & GC plans in the region.
>> The path to a solution as well as peace & stability in the region passes through cooperation in various areas including natural gas
>> EU which backs GC side cannot be impartial in solving the Cyprob or the natural gas issue.
>> Opening Maraş (Varosha) and allowing former residents to return is an important opportunity, that such a move will boost the construction sector and increase tax revenues.
>> Not necessary to wait until a solution to collaborate on the natural gas issue.
>> Turkey does not politically recognize the GC side but this is not an obstacle for dialogue.
>> If interdependency is developed, there will be no risk of conflict in the region or on the island.
Akıncı
>> Science diplomacy is necessary for East Med.
>> Either diplomacy based on tensions, as pursued by GC side will continue, or the right steps based on facts will be taken.
>> The natural gas issue should evolve into an area of collaboration in view of the scientific data.
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> Turkey’s drilling activities in the East Med. will continue.
>> Turkey is drilling in areas within its continental shelf or which have been licensed to TPAO by TC side.
>> Everyone acknowledges that TCs also have rights over East Med resources.
>> Turkey will not allow anyone to usurp its rights in the East Med as Turkey is both at the table and in the field.
>> Turkey ready to cooperate in contested areas.
Derya (CTP)
>> The most rational option for Turkey & Greece is to focus on solving the Cyprob instead of resorting to gunboat diplomacy.
>> Gunboat diplomacy narrows one’s manoeuvrability in the diplomatic sphere.
>> Turkey must not delay its diplomatic initiatives any further towards solving the Cyprob on a federal basis.
>> An energy dialogue between Turkey & Greece will make both countries stronger.
>> The key to stability in the region is a federal solution on the island.
Spehar warns of growing scepticism between two communities
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Elizabeth Spehar, the United Nations Special Representative to Cyprus warned of “growing scepticism” among the island’s population.
She nonetheless, expressed content about the continued strong and unanimous support on the part of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the Cyprus peace process, the work of the Good Offices and United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
Speaking to reporters after a closed UNSC briefing at UN headquarters, in New York on Monday, Spehar said, she reminded the Council members the peace process remains in hiatus, with no talks being conducted for two and a half years since the closing of the Conference on Cyprus, in July 2017, in Crans Montana.
Spehar called for more efforts to broach differences between the Turkish and Greek communities in the divided Mediterranean nation.
She highlighted to the UNSC that according to recent polls in Cyprus, a strong desire for a comprehensive settlement remains in both communities, but at the same time, there is growing scepticism as to whether this is still possible.
“The leaders’ role remains critical and the role of the guarantor countries is, of course, the key to arriving at a solution. And this is something I again underscored to the Security Council” Spehar said.
She recalled the outcome of the Berlin meeting and the two leaders’ commitment to a comprehensive settlement within a foreseeable horizon, based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with political equality as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions.
“The Secretary-General has urged the leaders, the guarantor powers and other interested parties to make productive use of the coming period to concretely and convincingly demonstrate that upon a return to the negotiating table, this time it would indeed be different,” Spehar said.
Touching on the regional developments, Spehar referred to the UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) report and said the UNSG Antonio Guterres is monitoring the developments with concern.
She recalled Guterres’ call for serious efforts to avoid any further escalation and to defuse tensions in the region and on the island.
KEY ACTOR
Spehar (UN)
>> Growing scepticism among the island’s population.
>> UNSC strongly supports the Cyprus peace process.
>> The peace process remains in hiatus, with no talks being conducted for since July 2017.
>> Recent polls in Cyprus show a strong desire for a comprehensive settlement in both communities.
>> The leaders’ role remains critical & the role of the guarantor countries is, of course, the key to arriving at a solution.
>> UNSG urges the parties to return to the negotiations table for a process that would be different.
>> UNSG is monitoring the developments with concern & calls for serious efforts to avoid any further escalation & to defuse tensions in the region & Cyprus.
Kızılyürek raises concerns on preservation of TC identity
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası
Human Rights, Migration & Citizenship, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Akel MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek has asked the European Commission (EC) intends to protect Turkish Cypriot identity vis-à-vis the increasing number of naturalisation of Turkish origin people while Turkey strengthens its economic foothold in the north, Kıbrıs Postası and Yenidüzen reported on Wednesday.
In a statement released by Kızılyürek’s office on Monday, it was stated that Turkey has been controlling the northern part of Cyprus, which is EU territory, and Turkish Cypriots, who are EU citizens, for many years.
Kızılyürek argued that the increasing number of people of Turkish origins becoming TRNC citizens, thus altered the political demographics in the north.
“A political party made up of settlers alone has already come into existence and Turkey is bringing pressure to bear on the Turkish Cypriot authorities to step up the pace of naturalization.”
Kızılyürek also touched on the economic measures imposed by Turkey on the north and claimed Turkey is using unfair methods that are against any notion of fair competition.
He also accused the Turkish government of waging a cultural war on the secular traditions of the Turkish Cypriot community in a bid to impose religion on all walks of public life.
“As a result of these hostile actions, the Turkish Cypriot community (the smallest community in the EU) is being threatened by assimilation and integration with Turkey,” Kızılyürek stressed.
He gave the construction of new mosques in the north as an example of Turkey exerting its influence and threatening the secular way of living of the Turkish Cypriot community.
Kızılyürek questioned what the EC intends to do against Turkey’s impositions so that the Turkish Cypriot community maintains and protects its own identity as a component of the Federal Republic of Cyprus.
YDP nominates Arıklı as its candidate
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The Rebirth Party (YDP) on Tuesday night nominated its party leader Erhan Arıklı as its candidate for the upcoming presidential elections.
Arıklı is the fourth official candidate to join the race following CTP leader Tufan Erhürman, former Peoples’ Party (HP) leader and independent candidate Kudret Özersay and leader of the UBP Ersin Tatar.
Arıklı, addressing party members at Tuesday’s party assembly meeting where he announced his candidacy, said the April election will be no ordinary election as it will be just as important for Turkey as it will be for the north.
Taking a swing at President Akıncı, Arıklı said, “This election is about settling a score with the mentality that promised to concede 20 per cent of our land to Greek Cypriots without the knowledge of the government and parliament.”
Arıklı said that attempts were being made to create a Cyprus without Turkey.
“They would have been successful has it not been for the YDP,” he added.
The YDP leader said that the race will be between candidates who will be discussing terms of surrender to the Greek Cypriots and those who will work for the promotion of the TRNC.
He said that it was wrong to remove Turkey’s guarantees in Cyprus or even open the subject to debate.
Arıklı also said that he will never negotiate a federation with Greek Cypriots.
“I believe that a federation will be the end of Cyprus. I do not believe in a federation,” he stressed, adding that he would only negotiate a two-state solution with Greek Cypriots if elected.
KEY ACTORS
Arıklı (YDP)
>> April election will be no ordinary election. It will be just as important for Turkey as it will be for TRNC.
>> Election will be between canidates surrending land & rights of TCs to GCs & those defending the TRNC.
>> Federation will not be negotiated with GCs. Only a two-state solution can be negotiated.
>> It is wrong to end Turkey’s guarantees in Cyprus.