Front Page Headlines
“There is no money so we sent them on leave”
The Mayor of Büyükkonuk (Komi Kebir) Ahmet Sennaroğlu gave 6 months unpaid leave to 14 employees due to financial problems at the municipality.
- Leader of CTP (Republican Turkish Party) Tufan Erhürman: The bonfires of peace will burn until we reach a federal solution
Çınarlı (Platani) dried up
The Çınarlı (Platani) village is suffering from neglect! Both the mukhtar and the residents of the village complain about the authorities’ lack of attention to the village which once was the attraction of tourists with its monumental tree and its İncirli cave.
- Ersin Tatar: “We are in favour of an agreement based on two states”
- Tufan Erhürman: “The only logical way is peace”
People in panic
Our country is not prepared for coronavirus. People have rushed to pharmacies searching for ways to protect themselves from the virus. It is reported that there is an increase in sales of masks, gloves and disinfectants.
Faster than SARS by five times
The coronavirus has spread to five continents in 52 days. 259 people have died and 12000 people have been infected. The coronavirus reached what the SARS epidemic had reached in eight months.
‘I’m ashamed’
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said that they were working to help the British citizens who are being tried to be evicted from their homes in Lapta (Lapithos). He also expressed outrage against practices in the sale of properties to foreigners.
- The decision is in force – Licenses of drivers driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or speeding will be suspended.
Those who stoned the paper have been condemned to hunger
The Mayor of Büyükkonuk (Komi Kebir) who was among the organisers of the January 22 attack on our newspaper is unable to pay the salaries of the workers who stoned Afrika’s office.
- Tighter measures in place in the south —The Greek Cypriot Road Transport Department has decided to suspend licenses of those who speed, drive under the influence of alcohol or use drugs while driving.
- Case of coronavirus in the south not confirmed – A suspected case of coronavirus has emerged in the south but the Ministry of Health said that chances it was coronavirus was low.
- Quarantine unit set up at the hospital – Health Minister Ali Pilli: Patients suspected of having the virus will be treated in special quarantine unit.
Main News
UN’s role and reports important for a solution, says Hasipoğlu
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
National Unity Party (UBP) Famagusta MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu on Saturday said that it was important to recognize the importance of the United Nation’s (UN) role and reports irrelevant of what kind of a solution is reached in Cyprus.
Hasipoğlu, evaluating the UN Security Council’s latest resolution extending the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), said that resolution could be summarized under four headings.
These he added were “different process”, “natural resources”, UN jurisdiction” and “cooperation”.
He said that the report expressed the view that any new process should be different and that this has turned into a UN parameter.
“This will be an important point for the road maps to be put forward by the presidential candidates,” he said.
Those supporting alternatives other than a federal settlement will raise various alternative models to the public’s attention, Hasipoğlu added.
Hasipoğlu argued that the new process indeed needed to be different for the future of the Turkish Cypriot community.
He warned that any expectation that a different outcome will be reached through the same methods will only lead to disappointment.
“I do not believe that the UN will bear the consequences for a third failure following the collapse of the talks in Geneva and Crans Montana. This is why I believe that the UN will also move away from a federal settlement in the period ahead,” Hasipoğlu argued.
He said that all that was needed was for a president who will bring different alternative models to the table to be elected.
“To continue with the same understanding will only result in the continuation of the status quo. No one has the right to confine the Turkish Cypriot people to the status quo,” he said.
Hasipoğlu added that any new negotiations required a new vision.
He pointed out that the resolution also made reference to the issue of hydrocarbons and proposals on the issue by both sides.
“Mention in the resolution of the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposal for the creation of a joint committee, the rejection of this proposal by the Greek Cypriot side on a number of occasions and the fact that both sides have rights over the island’s offshore resources is important,” he said.
Hasipoğlu argued that the natural resources could be used as a last opportunity for a solution.
“If international actors, particularly the EU is sincere on the solution of this problem, then they should work towards pressuring the Greek Cypriot side to the table and to encourage diplomacy and cooperation rather than issuing statements criticizing Turkey,” he added.
Hasipoğlu also argued that the presence of UNFICYP which has been stationed in Cyprus since 1964 should also be questioned as the situation on the island had changed after 1974.
“There is currently only one line dividing the two communities unlike the situation prior to 1974. The example of the UN camp located at the heart of Famagusta is a good example. This camp is unnecessary and outdated under current conditions,” he said.
Furthermore, UNFICYP has always refrained from signing a status agreement with the Turkish Cypriot side similar to the one it has signed with the south, he said.
“We need to raise the problem of legitimacy concerning UNFICYP’s activities in the north,” he said.
Hasipoğlu added that the call made in the resolution for cooperation between the two sides in all areas, including civilian, military, criminal matters and the environment was a positive thing.
“The resolutions states that any form of cooperation is important and despite Greek Cypriot concerns will not constitute the political recognition of the TRNC,” he said. “It underlines that the unacceptable status quo on the island which has been continuing for more than 50 years can be changed through effective communication and cooperation. This is an important message to the Greek Cypriot side”, Hasipoğlu concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Hasipoğlu (UBP)
>> It is important to recognize the importance of the UN’s role and reports irrelevant of what kind of a solution is reached in Cyprus.
>> UNFICYP resolution could be summarized under four headings: “different process”, “natural resources”, UN jurisdiction” and “cooperation”.
>> Any new process should be different and that this has turned into a UN parameter.
>> This will be an important point for the road maps to be put forward by the presidential candidates.
>> The new process indeed needed to be different for the future of the TC community.
>> Any expectation that a different outcome will be reached through the same methods will only lead to disappointment.
>> The UN will bear the consequences for a third failure following the collapse of the talks in Geneva and Crans Montana thus UN will also move away from a federal settlement in the period ahead.
>> A president who will bring different alternative models to the table must be elected.
>> To continue with the same understanding will only result in the continuation of the status quo. No one has the right to confine the TC people to the status quo.
>> UNSC Resolution referred to important points on hydrocarbons such as TC side’s proposal and GC side’s rejection of it and that both sides have shares on the resources.
>> The natural resources could be used as a last opportunity for a solution.
>> If int’l actors, particularly the EU is sincere on the solution of this problem, then they should work towards pressuring the GC side to the table and to encourage diplomacy and cooperation rather than issuing statements criticizing Turkey.
>> UN’s presence on the island must be questioned.
>> UN camp located at the heart of Famagusta is unnecessary and out-dated under current conditions.
>> UNFICYP has always refrained from signing a status agreement with the TC side similar to the one it has signed with the south.
>> Need to raise the problem of legitimacy concerning UNFICYP’s activities in the north.
>> The call made in the resolution for cooperation between the two sides in all areas, including civilian, military, criminal matters and the environment was a positive thing and will not deliver the political recognition of the north.
>> UNSC resolution gives an important message to the GC side by saying status quo on the island can be changed through effective communication and cooperation.
CTP lights peace bonfire in Kyrenia
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The leader of the Republican Turkish Party and presidential candidate Tufan Erhürman said on Friday that the peace bonfires will continue to burn until a federal solution is reached in Cyprus.
Addressing party supporters at a bonfire event in Kyrenia, Erhürman said that the region was going through a tense and difficult phase.
“Both sides can equally benefit from the island’s offshore resources if a rational approach is adopted. We can bring peace to both the island and region if we work together. We want a solution in Cyprus right now and we know that solving the Cyprus Problem will bring peace to the region,” Erhürman said.
“Road to Independence” (Bağımsızlık Yolu), which started as a civil society organisation but then evolved into a political party, has adopted a decision to support Mustafa Akıncı in the April elections in the north.
The party, which organized a press conference to announce its decision on Friday, said the viewpoints of the party members as well as the best interest of the Turkish Cypriot community have been taken into consideration when reaching the decision to support Akıncı.
Bağımsızlık Yolu, which promised to work for Akıncı to win the elections, urged everyone to vote for him ‘for the best representation of Turkish Cypriots’ political will and for federation.’
“The UBP is in favour of a mutually acceptable, honourable solution that is based on two-states living side-by-side,” UBP candidate and prime minister Ersin Tatar said on Friday.
During a meeting with his party supporters in İskele (Trikomo), Tatar claimed the Greek Cypriot side does not respect the Turkish Cypriot side or the community.
“UBP must come out victorious from the presidential elections for the future of the TRNC,” Tatar said and reiterated that his party is the assurance of the TRNC.
He noted that the UBP is not against any agreement but added that the sides must negotiate a two-state solution over everything else.
“Therefore, we are advocating for a solution on the basis of sovereign equality rather than political equality,” Tatar emphasized.