TCC Press Review 31 Jan 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

No agreement reached again on the minimum wage

The workers’ representative is asking for a 26 per cent rise whereas the government is offering a six per cent rise. The employers’ representative abstained.

  • Erhürman: We need to prepare well for the five-party conference

Kıbrıs Postası

Either suspend activities or collaborate

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the only way to ensure the rights of the Turkish Cypriots on hydrocarbons, was either to cease all ‘offshore’ activities until the Cyprus issue is resolved or to collaborate with the Turkish Cypriots on the issue.

  • Akıncı to announce his candidacy with the slogan “Trust and Determination”
  • “Turkish Cypriots will also become actors in the region” – Tufan Erhürman said.

Kıbrıs

The state will contribute ₺2400 to each worker annually

All TRNC citizen workers in the private sector, receiving a salary between the minimum wage and ₺4000 (approx. €615) will be given a monthly contribution of ₺200 (approx. €30) from the state. The state will deposit ₺600 (approx €90) every quarter in the workers’ bank accounts. 29,850 workers fall under this category.

  • Yet another real estate scandal – Town Planning Department demanded that the fifth storeys of three buildings at the “Oray 10” housing estate near Kyrenia be demolished. The developer’s construction permit only allows four levels but it had unlawfully built the fifth floor as well.

Havadis

Education in need of a casino

One of the oldest schools in Nicosia, Şehit Ertuğrul Primary School is now at the service of the Merit Hotel’s casino. The parents-teachers’ association (PTA) decided to lease the car-park belonging to the school to be used by the Merit Hotel’s casino after school hours in exchange for the casino covering the school’s financial needs. The school’s principal Selda Ersoy said they have asked the Education Ministry about the verbal agreement struck between the PTA and the casino operator and were told there was “no problem.”

Diyalog

Anger reaches its peak

Residents of Kurudere (Mousoulita) are threatening to block the road if authorities do not take measures to raise safety on the “junction of death”.

Afrika

You should first apologise, gentlemen

Those who have been lying about the martyrs who were buried randomly at the Tekke Bahçe cemetery, who disrespected their families and who still haven’t apologised are now trying to exploit the pain and grief of the martyrs for the upcoming elections. The families of Hüseyin Ruso and Ecvet Yusuf are still waiting for an official apology from the authorities. However all of a sudden, those who failed to apologise remembered the martyrs at Muratağa (Maratha), Sandallar (Santalaris) and Atlılar (Aloda), presenting their families and veterans with national struggle medals.

  • Thermal cameras and quarantine at Ercan (Tymbou) – Measures being taken against coronavirus in the TRNC. Head of the Health Department Services Çiğdem Çağa said that no every one with a fever has the coronavirus. Suspected cases will be taken to a special isolation unit at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu’s Psychiatry Hospital.

Main News

TC MFA welcomes UNSC resolution’s reference to cooperation

Kıbrıs
Negotiations Process, Energy

OVERVIEW

The UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted Resolution 2506 to renew the mandate of its peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) on Thursday, all six dailies report. 

The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry welcomed the reference made in the latest UNSC resolution for cooperation between the two sides.

In a statement issued on Thursday following the adoption of the resolution, the foreign ministry said the UN had demonstrated important political will for the development of cooperation despite all efforts by the Greek Cypriot leadership to change the resolution’s text.

“As a result of the effective and proactive diplomacy carried out by our ministry, the call for cooperation between the sides which has made its way to all reports and resolutions since January 2019 has been further emphasized in detail in the UNSC’s latest resolution. In addition to other areas, the resolution calls for economic and trade cooperation,” it said.

The statement added that the UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) report and the UNSC resolution calls for cooperation through mechanisms to be established for all matters concerning the island, whether it be civilian, military, criminal matters or the protection of the environment.

The foreign ministry pointed out that it had gone down on record once again that the recognition or non-recognition does not pose any obstacles for cooperation.

It also underlines that the 50-year-long unacceptable status quo could only be changed through direct and effective communication as well as cooperation between the two sides.

The statement went on to say that the resolution called on all sides to refrain from unilateral activities on hydrocarbon activities and actions which may raise tensions in the region.

“This implies that the two sides should cooperate on the issue of hydrocarbons. This view is in harmony with the Turkish Cypriot side’s July 2019 dated proposal which is still on the table,” the statement added.

The need to reduce tensions caused by the unilateral and provocative activities of the Greek Cypriot leadership is obvious and cannot be postponed until a solution is reached, the foreign ministry stressed.

The statement furthermore expressed the view that “the international community must encourage the Greek Cypriot side to sit at the table to deal with this issue through diplomacy and cooperation if it is sincere on this issue.

However, there were also several aspects of the resolution which the foreign ministry criticized, particularly the resolution’s attempts to conceal what it said were human rights violations by the Greek Cypriot side.

It pointed out that efforts to prevent Turkish Cypriots from participating in all international activities had particularly intensified in the past six months.

The statement said that such actions, such as the prevention of a student from crossing over to the south to receive an academic award, were excluded from the resolution.

“Also, there are false claims within the resolution concerning the freedom of movement of UNFICYP in the north of the island. It has been understood that the UNSC has been misled on this issue,” it added.

The foreign ministry said that the issue is to be conveyed to the UNSC by the Turkish Cypriot representative in New York.

Furthermore, that resolution pointed out that no progress was achieved in the period following the talks in Crans Montana but that earlier agreed principles were confirmed at the trilateral meeting in Berlin.

“What can be derived from this is that the process has not moved forward but has in fact regressed since 2008. As we have repeatedly stated, either the conditions need to change to reach a negotiated settlement or a solution model suitable to the current conditions needs to be adopted,” it said.

To expect different outcomes from repeating the same exercises means nothing more than preserving the status quo.

“The Turkish Cypriots cannot be condemned to live trapped in the status quo,” it added.

The Turkish Cypriot foreign ministry also argued that the UN contradicted its own principles by failing to seek the consent of both sides in Cyprus to carry out its peacekeeping operations.

“Not only does this question the UN’s impartiality but to repeatedly ignore the Turkish Cypriot side’s call to have its approval sought is also unacceptable,” the statement read.

It warned that the Turkish Cypriot side will be forced to review its current position of good faith and tolerance if the UN continues to refuse to seek its consent. “We expect the UNFICYP to take immediate steps towards implementing this basic principle,” the statement concluded.

KEY ACTOR
TC MFA
>> Welcomes the reference made UNSC resolution 2506 for cooperation between the two sides.
>> The UN had demonstrated important political will for the development of cooperation despite all efforts by the GC leadership to change the resolution’s text.
>> The call for cooperation between the sides which has made its way to all reports and resolutions since January 2019 as a result of ministry’s proactive diplomacy.
>> The resolution calls for economic and trade cooperation.
>> UNSC resolution calls for cooperation through mechanisms on civilian, military, criminal matters and environment protection.
>> Political recognition or non-recognition does not pose any obstacles for cooperation.
>> The 50-year-long unacceptable status quo can only be changed through direct & effective communication & cooperation between the two sides.
>> The resolution’s call for cooperation on hydrocarbons issue is in harmony with the TC side’s July 2019 dated proposal which is valid.
>> The need to reduce tensions caused by the GC leadership cannot be postponed until a solution is reached.
>> The int’l community must encourage the GC side to solve this issue through diplomacy & cooperation.
>> The resolution refrains from touching on the GC side’s efforts to prevent TCs from participating in all int’l activities.
>> UNSC has been misled on this issue of the freedom of movement of UNFICYP in the north .
>> The resolution reveals that the process has not moved forward but has regressed since 2008.
>> The conditions need to change to reach a negotiated settlement or a solution model suitable to the current conditions needs to be adopted.
>> Expecting different outcomes from repeating the same exercises means nothing more than preserving the status quo.
>> The TCs cannot be condemned to continue living trapped in the status quo.
>> The UN contradicts its own principles by failing to seek the consent of both sides in Cyprus to carry out its peacekeeping operations.
>> UN’s impartiality is questioned as a result.
>> The TC side will be forced to review its current position of good faith & tolerance if the UN continues to refuse to seek its consent.


TPAO to continue exploration in East Med, Ankara says

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

OVERVIEW

The Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) will maintain its exploring and drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, ensuring the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hami Aksoy said Thursday, in response to a joint statement by Italy and the Greek Cypriot administration on the issue.

“We invite all EU members, Italy particularly, to abandon their attitudes that ignore the rights of Turkish Cypriots,” Aksoy said, answering a question on the statement made by Italian and Greek Cypriot foreign ministries.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides said in a joint statement earlier Wednesday that the maritime border agreement between Turkey and Libya’s U.N.-backed government is “unacceptable,” claiming it violates international law.

Rejecting the criticism regarding the maritime agreement, Aksoy said that the silence of Italy, along with other EU countries, over the maritime delimitation deal signed between the Greek Cypriot administration and Egypt in 2003 is a reflection of the contradictory and incoherent policy followed by those countries.

Aksoy said that Ankara has repeatedly emphasized that the Turkish Cypriot side has equal rights over natural gas and oil resources as co-inhabitants of the island of Cyprus.

Underlining that oil and gas exploration and drilling will continue with determination as planned to protect both Turkey’s rights on its continental shelf and the rights of Turkish Cypriots, Aksoy said, “The guarantee of these rights is possible either by ceasing all ‘offshore’ activities in the south of the island until the Cyprus issue is resolved or within the scope of a cooperation between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots within the framework proposed on July 13, 2019.”

Aksoy went on to say that Turkey starting negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side is out of the question since Greek Cypriot side does not represent Turkish Cypriots and has been usurping their rights by claiming the name “Cyprus Republic” and by unilaterally changing the constitution in 1963. “Until the Cyprus issue is resolved, Greek Cypriots’ only interlocutor is the Turkish Cypriots,” he added.

KEY ACTOR
Aksoy (Turkey)
>> TPAO to continue exploring & drilling activities in the East Med, ensuring the rights of the TCs.
>> All EU members, Italy particularly, should abandon their attitudes that ignore the rights of TCs.
>> Silence of Italy & other EU countries, over 2003 maritime delimitation deal signed between GC side & Egypt reveals their contradictory & incoherent policies.
>> TCs have equal rights over natural resources as co-inhabitants of Cyprus.
>> The guarantee of these rights is possible by ceasing all ‘offshore activities until a solution is reached or through cooperation within the framework of July 2019 proposal.
>> Out of the question for Turkey to negotiate with GC side as GCs don’t represent TCs.
>> GCs only interlocutor is TCs until a solution is reached.


Good preparation essential for a five-party conference, says Erhürman

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing, Energy, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and presidential candidate Tufan Erhürman on Thursday highlighted the importance and urgency of convening a five-party conference for the solution of the Cyprus Problem as soon as the presidential election in the north is completed.

Erhürman, speaking during a visit to Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association, said he had personally witnessed the reasons why the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades left the negotiating table and why the five-party conference failed.

“Anastasiades left the table because he told us he couldn’t convince the Greek Cypriot community to accept political equality,” he said.

Erhürman said that the only issue discussed over the next two years which followed Crans Montana was political equality.

“We didn’t discuss anything concerning the issue of security and guarantees. Ankara made unexpected statements concerning this issue. As a result, Anastasiades had abandoned the table due to political equality. This is something I am having difficulty in accepting,” he said.

Erhürman said that despite being included in a 1991 dated UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution, the Turkish Cypriot side had been forced to wait for the trilateral meeting in Berlin for the UN to reaffirm political equality.

“All these developments showed us that the necessary preparations for the five-party conference and negotiations process was not done properly. We need to prepare well if we are to convene a five-party conference,” Erhürman said.

He also said that Turkish Cypriots did not have the luxury of waiting for a solution as time was working against them.

On the issue of hydrocarbons, Erhürman said recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean led to the emergence of a number of actors, including Turkish Cypriots.

He said any attempts to downplay the role and importance of Turkish Cypriots in the region was unacceptable.

Erhürman concluded by stating that the most effective and productive way of utilizing hydrocarbons in the region passed through the solution of the Cyprus Problem.

In the meantime, President Mustafa Akıncı and his campaign team shared a video message inviting the public to join him for an event during which he is expected to announce his candidacy.

“We have to carry our experience to the next term and stand united for a better and brighter future,” Akıncı said in his video message circulated on social media.

Akıncı in his video message briefly touched on the past five years. He said he had adopted a solution-focused stance, maintained good relations with Turkey based on mutual respect. Akıncı noted that he did not refrain from taking on any initiatives as and when needed but while the Cyprus talks were underway, he did not neglect the domestic issues either. “Without making any concessions from the Turkish Cypriot community’s free and unique characteristics, we have always acted within the principles of independence and impartiality,” Akıncı concluded his video message and invited his supporters to join him on the evening of Wednesday, February 5.  

KEY ACTOR
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Important & urgent to convene five-party conference immediately after April election.
>> All developments following Crans Montana highlights need to prepare well before convening a five-party conference.
>> TCs are among new actors in East Med following the discovery of hydrocarbons.
>> Efforts to downplay TCs role as actors unacceptable.
>> Effective & productive utilization of hydrocarbons requires the solution of Cyprob.


GC side obstructs the full implementation of the Green Line Trade regulation, Kızılyürek claims

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis
EU matters, Economy

OVERVIEW

Akel MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek has submitted a written motion the European Commission (EC) claiming that the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) creates problems in the implementation of the Green Line Trade regulation thus preventing the growth of trade volume between the two communities.

Relaying the Turkish Cypriots’ complaints to the EC, Kızılyürek said that Greek Cypriot officials were creating problems, among other things, on processed foods of non-animal origin and vehicles over 7.5 tons at crossing points.

“The Greek Cypriot side’s obstructions have economic consequences on the Turkish Cypriots,” Kızılyürek noted and asked the EC whether it is aware of the alleged obstructions in the implementation of the Green Line Trade regulation.

Kızılyürek also asked the Commission what kind of measures the EC plans to adopt for the Green Line Trade regulation to be fully implemented without creating any discrimination.


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