TCC Press Review 28 Jan 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

The government is absent…all focused on the election

Opposition MPs who spoke to Yenidüzen commented on the government’s performance and the presidential election. The opposition MPs said that the government was over and that both coalition partners had turned all their attention to the upcoming presidential election. They said that no decision could now pass through the Council of Ministers.

  • Peace cannot be prevented in Cyprus – They gave a joint message at Troodos.
  • Thermal camera and isolation room –Measures against the virus at Ercan (Tymbou). The health ministry is setting up a thermal camera and isolation room at the airport.

Kıbrıs Postası

The second round will be between Tatar and Erhürman

Kıbrıs Postası publishes the results of its digital poll in which 5028 people participated. The National Unity Party’s (UBP) candidate Ersin Tatar received 32 per cent of the votes while the Republican Turkish Party’s (CTP) candidate Tufan Erhürman received 23 per cent. Mustafa Akıncı received 18 per cent. The poll shows the president will be determined in a second round of voting with Tatar and Erhürman competing for the spot.

  • Tatar: “A new vision on the Cyprus problem must be tabled.”
  • Erhürman: “We need consistency at the presidency.”

Kıbrıs

They destroyed the beach in the name of cleaning

The soil and rubble dumped by the Esentepe (Agios Nicholas) Municipality at a beachfront belonging to the Esentepe (Agios Nicholas) Development Cooperative turned the site into a waste site. The environmental destruction did not stop there. Work machinery belonging to the municipality entered the beach without informing the cooperative.

  • Cost of living expenses at six per cent – Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu announced.

Havadis

Court of Auditors stops the ₺10m gains for AKSA

The Audit Office found the Council of Ministers’ decision to forego the ₺10,340.000 worth of customs fees unlawful. Following the auditor’s report, the cabinet revoked its decision in favour of AKSA Energy Production Ltd. and its decision was published in the official gazette dated 25 December 2019.

Diyalog

I’m successful

Prime Minister Tatar who recalled that the party will hold its ordinary congress in November 2021 said, “I will either have to resign or die for a congress to be held before then. No one should have false expectations.”

  • EOKA leader Grivas was remembered on the 46th anniversary of his death with state ceremonies

Afrika

50 empty cans in parliament

50 empty oil cans were placed in front of parliament. The “No road tax if no roads” protest group held its second demonstration in Nicosia yesterday (Monday). Around 1000 protesters wearing yellow vests and holding yellow balloons marched from Dereboyu (Shakespeare Avenue) to the parliament building. They then placed 50 empty oil cans representing the MPs in front of parliament’s gates.

  • TRNC took measures against coronavirus – A thermal camera and isolation room are being set up at Ercan (Tymbou) airport.

Main News

Tatar and Erhürman to compete in second round

Kıbrıs Postası
Governance & Power Sharing

OVERVIEW

An online opinion poll conducted by Kıbrıs Postası reveals that the presidential elections will be concluded in two rounds of voting with the final round being between the National Unity Party’s (UBP) candidate Ersin Tatar Tatar and the Republican Turkish Party’s (CTP) candidate Tufan Erhürman, the daily reported on Tuesday.

5028 people participated in the online poll, which was conducted between January 21 and 25. In a further breakdown of the poll demographics, 2224 people took part in the poll from the Nicosia district, 864 from Famagusta, 1341 from Kyrenia, 189 from Güzelyurt (Morphou), 225 from İskele (Trikomo), and 109 from Lefke (Lefka).

According to the results, 32 per cent of the participants who were asked who they would be voting for in the April election said the National Unity Party’s (UBP) candidate Ersin Tatar while 23 per cent ticked the Republican Turkish Party’s (CTP) candidate Tufan Erhürman.

Incumbent President Mustafa Akıncı only received a mere 18 per cent ranking third in the first round of the elections.

Independent candidate Kudret Özersay came in the fourth place with 10 per cent of the votes and Rebirth Party (YDP) leader and party’s candidate Erhan Arıklı received 6 per cent and ranked in the fifth place.

The poll also asked the participants which candidate they would not vote for if the election outcome was to be determined in a single round.

25 per cent said they would never vote for Akıncı while 17.8 per cent they would never consider voting for Ersin Tatar. The YDP’s candidate Erhan Arıklı followed the two with 15.5 per cent of the votes.

35.2 per cent of the participants said the candidate’s approach to the Cyprus problem would impact who they would vote for, whereas 52.8 per cent of the participants said they did not expect any settlement to be reached in 2020.

Finally, the poll showed that the UBP and CTP would be in the lea if general elections were to be held tomorrow.

The UBP received 41 per cent of the votes from the participants, followed by the CTP with 24 per cent.

The People’s Party (HP) received 6 per cent, Social Democratic Party (TDP) 8 per cent.

The YDP received four per cent unable to pass the five per cent threshold to win a seat in parliament.

Meanwhile, the presidential candidates continued their campaigning activities.

Tatar, during a visit to Bostancı (Kato Zodhia), reiterated his known stance and argued that the negotiations process did not yield any results for the past 50 years.

“A new vision and an approach must be brought to the table,” Tatar said.

Erhürman, speaking on Bayrak highlighted the importance of the office of the presidency and said it is the only recognized entity in the north.

“Therefore, there is a need for consistency in the office of the presidency, in which the incumbent will be able to work with the political parties,” Erhürman concluded.


Russia donates $50,000 to CMP

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

The Government of the Russian Federation has donated $50,000 to the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), several dailies reported on Tuesday.

Expressing its gratitude to the first-ever donation by Russia in a written statement issued on Monday, the CMP said the “generous donation” will contribute to the ongoing CMP project of exhumation, identification and return of remains of the missing persons in Cyprus.

The CMP’s overarching goal is “to identify and return as many remains of the missing individuals as possible to bring an end to the uncertainty which has affected so many families for so many years,” the statement said.

The statement said that the CMP so far identified 969 missing persons from both communities and returned the remains to their families for dignified burials.

“The CMP relies on donor support to alleviate the suffering of the concerned families,” the statement noted and concluded.


Cypriot youth express support for a federal solution

Yenidüzen
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Cypriot youth expressed their will for a federal Cyprus during EDON’s annual picnic at the Troodos Mountains, Yenidüzen reported on Tuesday.

The youth divisions of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Social Democratic Party (TDP) and the Left Movement (Sol Hareket) attended the picnic organized by EDON, the youth division of AKEL.

Publishing a joint statement following the event, the Cypriot youth said they have united to “give a strong message for peace and unification from the highest peak in the country.”

They also called on the Cypriot youth from both sides of the island to unite against foreign powers and forces to remove any obstacles on the path to a reunited federal Cyprus.

In the joint statement, the youth organisations also argued that the island due to its geostrategic importance had become the target of imperialist powers.

“It is, therefore, our priority is the solution of the Cyprus problem because it will enable the Cypriots to govern their own nation free from foreign dependency and oppression,” the statement added.

The statement also called on the two community leaders to resume the negotiations process within the Guterres’ framework without any delay. “The solution of the Cyprus problem has never been as urgent as it is now,” the statement stressed, adding that the current division and unacceptable status quo remain to be the biggest obstacles both on land and in people’s minds for reaching the federal solution.

AKEL General Secretary Andros Kyprianou also attended the picnic and delivered a statement saluting the Cypriot youth and showing solidarity with them.


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