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Three in one
There were three separate protests staged in front of the Prime Ministry yesterday (Thursday). Joining the CAS (Cyprus Airport Services) workers who are on a hunger strike and members of HÜR-İŞ (Free Workers’ Trade Union Federation) who are protesting the minimum wage were the contractors. The Contractors’ Association launched a protest concerning the uncertainty looming over the “masterplan”. All three protests took place at the same time. The head of the Turkish Cypriot Contractors’ Association Cafer Gürcafer threatened to block all roads in Nicosia with 3000 construction machinery if Prime Minister Ersin Tatar leaves on a planned UK visit three days later without solving this problem.
The street of protests
Former CAS workers, then HÜR-İŞ and now the Cyprus Turkish Contractors’ Association have turned Selçuklu Street, where the office of the prime minister is located, into a “protest street.”
- “The presidential elections should be a contest of ideas and visions” – People’s Party (HP) leader Yenal Senin said.
- “Coveted expense account is against the constitution” – Rebirth Party (YDP) leader Erhan Arıklı said the YDP will that the matter to the supreme court.
It’s peoples’ pockets, not their stoves which are burning
Low-income groups have been unable to afford meat, poultry or fish for a long time but now are also staring at fresh vegetables and fruits from afar. Their hopes are vested in the new minimum wage.
- Efforts commenced on constitutional amendments – The parliamentary sub-committee convened to discuss the constitutional amendments to the judiciary. The proposed amendments aim at increasing the number of supreme court judges and raise the age of retirement for judges, attorney generals and attorney general deputies. The sub-committee is also discussing the possibility of changing the date for the upcoming presidential elections, announced earlier. The elections might be held on either April 12 or 19, if approved. National Unity Party (UBP) MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu said the election day depends on the decision to be taken by parliament.
Outraged at chaos
The contractors are outraged with the delay of the Famagusta – İskele (Trikomo) – Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) development masterplan, which had caused the first serious rift between the coalition partners after Prime Minister Ersin Tatar refused to implement it. The Cyprus Turkish Association of Contractor Companies held a protest in Nicosia with their construction vehicles on Thursday. There were nearly one thousand vehicles.
- The referendum to be annexed to the election – Parliamentary sub-committee convened to discuss proposed constitutional amendments. The committee will hold another meeting on Monday with the participation of all political party leaders, the head of the Supreme Court and the Attorney General.
Our state of psychology is not good
34,000 people have been admitted to the state’s Psych Institution for psychological treatment in the past year.
They threatened the government with their vehicles
The contractors are insistent on the Famagusta, İskele (Trikomo) and Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) development masterplan. Contractor companies blocked the main arteries in Nicosia yesterday (Thursday) with their vehicles. Cafer Gürcafer said that their demands as the construction sector meant stability and that they should be met immediately, not postponed to after the election.
Main News
YDP candidate warns of growing resentment against Ankara
Yenidüzen,Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) and presidential candidate Erhan Arıklı warned of growing resentment against Turkey in the north as a result of Ankara’s interference in the affairs of Turkish Cypriots.
Speaking on Bayrak on Thursday night, Arıklı said that much of Ankara’s interference in the domestic affairs of Turkish Cypriots today was the doing of Turkish Cypriot politicians after 1974.
He claimed that Ankara’s interventions over time have led to growing resentment in the north.
Arıklı also argued that Turkish Cypriots needed to emerge as people able to govern themselves but that this was unfortunately not the case.
“However, we are constantly creating opportunities for Ankara to intervene. What is worse we are taking sides according to our interest,” he said.
Arıklı added that one of the reasons for the growing resentment was Turkey’s attempts to influence the outcome of elections in the north.
“We have election buses and dozens of people coming from Turkey during election time. They tour the villages and lobby for the candidate or candidates Ankara favours. This is wrong. The reason why Akıncı is gaining points with his anti-Ankara stance is because of this resentment. Turkish Cypriots like Turkey but do not welcome any form of intervention,” he said.
This something Ankara needs to understand, Arıklı added.
Arıklı in response to a question said the percentage of YDP’s votes were around 15 per cent.
“I believe we will lose some votes to the National Unity Party (UBP) but gain some from the Democratic Party (DP),” he said.
Arıklı also said that his party will be supporting whoever stands against Akıncı in the second round.
“Foreign powers want a Mediterranean without Turkey. The only candidate that is suitable for successfully implementing this strategy is Akıncı because he has opened the issue of security and guarantees to debate. It is out of the question for us to support such a candidate which is why we shall rally behind whoever stands against him in the second round,” he said.
Arıklı pointed out that the YDP must do all it can to block Turkish origin voters from voting in favour of Akıncı.
“Akıncı had received many votes from Turkish origin TRNC citizens in the previous election. We need to change that as we are not talking about the same Akıncı that ran for office in 2015,” Arıklı argued.
Asked whether he could cross over to the south if elected, the YDP leader said he won’t as there is a valid Interpol arrest warrant issued in his name.
KEY ACTORS
Arıklı (YDP)
>> Growing resentment against Ankara in the north due to interference in affairs of TCs.
>> TCs should government themselves but instead are creating opportunities for Ankara’s interference.
>> One of the reasons for resentment is Ankara’s attempts to influence the outcome of elections in the north.
>> Turkey needs to understand that this attitude is backfiring.
>> TCs like Turkey but frown upon interference from Ankara.
>> Akıncı most suitable candidate to implement a strategy of excluding Turkey from Med.
>> Akıncı opened the issue of security & guarantees to debate which is why YDP can’t support him.
>> YDP needs to block votes of Turkish origin TRNC citizens supporting Akıncı.
Baybars says blue ID card holders exempt from residency permit
Yenidüzen
Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Interior Minister Ayşegül Baybars on Thursday said that reports in the Greek Cypriot press claiming that Greek Cypriots residing in the Karpaz (Karpas) area will be required to apply for residency permits following a recent amendment in the statuette for residents and visas were false.
Baybars, who spoke to Yenidüzen on the matter, said that all blue ID holders (issued to Greek Cypriots/Maronites born or residing in the north), were exempt from residency permits or any such requirements.
She said that they have not received any complaints or applications regarding the issue.
Baybars also said that all Greek Cypriots or Maronites born or residing in the north, for the exception of one individual, had blue IDs.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding. There is one Greek Cypriot individual born in the north who does not a (blue) ID or birth certificate. He was warned by a police officer on duty before crossing over to the south to submit his missing documents which were somehow misinterpreted by the Greek Cypriot press. But I can assure you that we have not received any general complaint or application,” she added.
The Greek Cypriot daily Politis had reported on February 4 that a significant number of young Greek Cypriots that had decided to move back to the Karpaz (Karpas) area in the north have been facing issues with their residency papers with the Turkish Cypriot authorities since October.
According to the newspaper, the problem occurred four months ago due to changes in the statuette regulating residency permits and visas, which reduces the number of consecutive days people who do not have TRNC identity cards can stay in the north.
Politis pointed out that the amendment was originally meant to affect citizens from third countries and Turkish citizens, but has also affected Greek Cypriots who grew up in the north and have decided to return. The daily said that the issue concerned 50 to 60 people.
“RoC contacts us daily”
Yenidüzen
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Hazan Gazi, a Turkish Cypriot studying in Tientsin, China says that the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) authorities were checking in on all its citizens daily.
Gazi’s statement on social media came after Yenidüzen reported earlier this week that the Turkish Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not know the exact number of Turkish Cypriots currently residing in China.
She said that the RoC authorities had collected all their information months ago in case of an emergency.
“The RoC is on top of matters. Why? Because they had requested months ago for us to email all our personal information in case they needed to contact us in the event of an emergency. Also, the embassy is checking in on us daily via WeChat since the coronavirus outbreak. More importantly, we are being informed on how best to protect ourselves from the virus,” she said.
Gazi also expressed the hope that the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry adopts similar procedures soon.
Crisis averted over work carried out on buffer zone building
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security, Territory
OVERVIEW
The restoration of the building that once used to house the historic Spitfire Coffee shop almost ignited into a full-blown crisis on Thursday after Greek Cypriot contractors started restoration work on the building which had recently become unstable due to the winter rainfall.
Plans had been initially drawn up by the Turkish Cypriot Department of Monuments and Antiquities, the Nicosia Turkish Municipality and the military for the restoration located on the Turkish side of the Green Line dividing the city.
The building had been categorized as a heritage building by the monuments department.
The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was also informed of the restoration plans since the building’s front facade fell into the UN buffer zone.
However, reports said that a Greek Cypriot contractor firm, in violation of the UN buffer zone, sealed off the area on Thursday morning and started work on shoring up the building as UN peacekeepers looked on without doing anything.
The operation was halted after the Turkish Cypriot authorities warned the UN officials that the Greek Cypriot contractor company was violating the buffer zone and did not have jurisdiction over the site.
An examination of the site after the work was halted revealed that a section of the building had been damaged as a result of the work carried out by the Greek Cypriot company.
Several items such as the sign on the building were also reported to be stolen.
It was also observed that Greek Cypriot troops had been stationed on top of Paphos Gate but later withdrew following warnings from the Turkish Cypriot side.