Front Page Headlines
“A blow to producers”
Citrus growers were dealt another blow after it emerged that Cypfruvex (Citrus packaging company) had paid traders ₺1750 per ton of citrus fruit. The intermediary traders had bought the citrus from growers for ₺950 per ton. The President of the Turkish Cypriot Citrus Growers Union Ali Alioğlu said that this was a great insult to growers. “Growers have incurred heavy losses after having sold their produce at a lower price. All those responsible including the government should resign immediately,” he said.
- The difference in prices between north and south on products imported from Europe – There is a serious difference in prices on some items imported from Europe between the two sides.
The era of ‘agency free’ tourism is ending
The KITSAB (Turkish Cypriot Tourism and Travel Agents’ Association), the Ministry of Tourism and the police are preparing to take steps to curb illegal travel agencies. All domestic and foreign tours will be inspected at entry and exit points. Unregistered agencies will no longer be able to organise any tours, tourism or travel excursions.
- Özersay: “We need a foreign policy free of the Cyprus Issue”
- Tatar: “We are living in peace, prosperity and security”
- Erhürman: “The Office of the President must play an active role in every field”
- A Turkish Cypriot returning from China: “There are no checks or controls at Sabiha Gökçen (Airport)”
An important step for “human” rights
Legislation against “human smuggling, “human trafficking” and “hate speech” on the way. The legislation will include prison sentences up to ten years for committing these three crimes.
- Apolostos Andreas blanketed in white – A 30-minute hail storm at Zafer Burnu (Cape Apostolos Andreas) left behind a picture fit for postcards.
We want action not elections
The government which tried to postpone the Famagusta, İskele (Trikomo)-Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) development masterplan to after the election was forced to take a step back following the protest staged by the Turkish Cypriot Contractors’ Association. A committee is being set up on Monday to deal with the issue.
‘It’s necessary’
Former President Mehmet Ali Talat defended the discretionary fund. He said that such funds existed both in Europe and Turkey. The issue has come to the agenda once again ahead of the presidential election. Talat reminded that Mustafa Akıncı had vowed to put an end to the fund before his election. “I had warned him after his election that he had made a mistake but promising to do such a thing,” he said.
- It’s the TRNC’s turn next – South Cyprus has purchased a unit to determine the coronavirus.
There will not be a second Tayfur Sökmen case
Mustafa Akıncı who spoke to the UK’s popular “The Guardian” newspaper compared himself to Hatay’s last president Tayfur Sökmen. Speaking of a united Cyprus within the European Union (EU), Akıncı said he did not support a policy which was independent on domestic affairs but which was based on annexation when it came to foreign affairs. Referring to Tayfur Sokmen, the president of Hatay who accepted the annexation of the state to Turkey in a referendum in 1939, Akıncı said, “I will not become the second Tayfur Sokmen.”
- Graves at the Tekke Bahçesi (cemetery) to be opened – Two decrees for the opening of the graves at the cemetery and reburial of the martyrs come into force.
- The ₺170m from Turkey has not arrived yet –The ₺170m which Ersin Tatar said would arrive from Turkey has not yet been received. However (Economy Minister) Taçoy is saying that now is not the time to discuss this issue.
Main News
Akıncı warns Cyprus is facing permanent partition
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
President Mustafa Akıncı has warned Cyprus faces permanent partition unless an agreement is swiftly reached involving an “equitable” federal solution.
In an interview with the Guardian, published by Turkish Cypriot dailies on Saturday, Akıncı said the differences between the two sides were growing more entrenched every year, diminishing the prospect of reunification. “We need to hurry up. After all these years we have come to a crossroads, a decisive moment,” he said.
Akıncı – who on Wednesday evening launched his re-election campaign – said the only viable solution to the Cyprus Problem was reunification under a federal “roof”.
If this failed to happen, he said the north would grow increasingly dependent on Ankara and could end up being swallowed up, as a de facto Turkish province.
Akıncı said he was cautiously optimistic a dialogue would resume: “The train was derailed in Crans-Montana. I think we have relaunched it on a realistic and mutually acceptable path.”
He also argued that conditions were being created for a lasting division.
“It’s becoming more consolidated each year, physically, demographically, economically. It consolidates in the mind of youngsters.” Akıncı said he and his wife – both born in the south – had a closer, more emotional relationship with Greek Cyprus than a newer generation including their children.
Concerning relations with Turkey, Akıncı said he disagreed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s vision of the relationship between Ankara and Nicosia as one of “mother and baby”.
“I want independent, brotherly relations,” he explained.
He acknowledged that the TRNC had to do more to make its economy less reliant on Turkey, which pays the government’s bills.
To do this he needed support from the south, he said.
The president said Turkish Cypriots had their own distinct identity which was was secular, democratic, and plural.
“We want to keep this,” he said.
Akıncı said the prospect of Crimea-style annexation was “horrible” and against Turkey’s interests.
His vision was wholly different, he said – of a unified Cyprus within the EU. “I’m not going to be a second Tayfur Sökmen,” Akıncı added, referring to the president of Hatay, who in the 1930s merged his republic – formerly part of French-mandated Syria – with Turkey after a referendum.
Akıncı said he hoped Boris Johnson – who has a Turkish great-grandfather – could use his good standing with Ankara to reboot stalled Cyprus negotiations. Of Brexit, the president said: “I didn’t applaud it but we have to respect it.”
He added: “I don’t know if you will be able to keep your country as one, after this. That might be very difficult.”
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> Cyprus faces permanent partition unless an agreement is swiftly reached involving an “equitable” federal solution.
>> Differences between the two sides are growing more entrenched every year, diminishing the prospect of reunification.
>> The sides need to hurry up as the Cyprob has come to a crossroads.
>> Federation only viable solution.
>> Failure to reunify Cyprus under a federation will lead the north to grow increasingly dependent on Ankara & could end up becoming a de facto Turkish province.
>> Cautiously optimistic concerning a new process.
>> Conditions are being created for lasting division.
>> Division becoming more consolidated each year, physically, demographically & economically, particularly in the mind of youngsters.
>> Relations between Turkey & TCs should be independent & brotherly.
>> TC side needs to do more to make its economy less reliant on Turkey. South’s help is needed in achieving this.
>> TCs have their own unique identity.
>> Prospect of Crimea-style annexation is “horrible” & against Turkey’s interests.
>> Cyprus should be in reunified in the EU.
>> UK PM could use good standing with Ankara to reboot stalled Cyprus talks.
TC security forces say GC workers removed from BZ
Yenidüzen
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
“The Greek Cypriot municipal workers have been successfully removed from the dilapidated building near the Yiğitler Burcu (Roccas Bastion),” the Turkish Cypriot Security Forces (GKK) said on Friday.
In a written statement, the GKK said the Greek Cypriot municipal workers had attempted to enter the dilapidated building which once housed the iconic Spitfire coffeeshop from its facade located on the buffer zone under the supervision of UN peacekeeping troops.
The GKK said the building was located within the Turkish side of the dividing line.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) on Friday issued a separate statement asked the sides to suspend the on-going activities, which had caused an escalation of tensions along the Green Line.
“The Mission reiterates the need for all concerned to work constructively with UNFICYP to that end” and that “at this juncture, UNFICYP calls on involved parties to suspend all ongoing activity in and around Spitfire cafe,” the statement read
Tensions between the two sides along the dividing line ignited on Thursday after workers from a Greek Cypriot contracting company started restoration work on the building which had recently become unstable due to the winter rainfall.
Turkish Cypriot authorities said on Friday that they had been planning to restore the building, most of which is located within the Turkish side of the dividing line.
UNFICYP was also informed of the restoration plans since the building’s front facade fell into the UN buffer zone.
However, Turkish Cypriot media reported the Greek Cypriot contractor firm had sealed off the area on Thursday morning without giving any notice and had started work on shoring up the building as UN peacekeepers looked on without taking any action.
It was reported that 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.
It’s not easy to obtain blue IDs anymore, say GCs living in Karpaz (Karpas)
Yenidüzen
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Greek Cypriots living in the Karpaz (Karpas) area complain that acquiring blue IDs (issued to Greek Cypriots and Maronites) was not as easy as it used to be.
The Greek Cypriot residents who spoke to Yenidüzen following the Interior Minister Ayşegül Baybar’s earlier statement that all Greek Cypriots living in the north did not require residency permits claimed that this did not reflect the exact situation.
The residents, who spoke to the paper on condition of anonymity, said that it was true that those who possess blue IDs and who have been living in the area for years do not experience any problems.
“However, those who want to return and live in their old family homes, or who want to live here for some time are only permitted to stay in the north for 90 days. After that, they need to exit and re-enter the north through a crossing point. As far as we know there are around a hundred people who are affected by this procedure. The conditions and criteria to obtain blue IDs are not as easy as it used to be so they’re not given to everyone,” the residents said.
After that, they need to exit and re-enter the north through a crossing point. As far as we know there are around a hundred people who are affected by this procedure. The conditions and criteria to obtain blue IDs are not as easy as it used to be so they’re not given to everyone,” the residents said.
RoC ID required for road tax papers at Ayios Dometios crossing
Kıbrıs Postası
Governance & Power sharing
OVERVIEW
“The Greek Cypriot administration no longer accepts TRNC ID cards at the Ayios Dometios crossing point when issuing temporary road tax papers,” Kıbrıs Postası reported on Saturday.
Warning the Turkish Cypriot drivers, the paper said that Greek Cypriot authorities, in line with a new regulation, no longer accepted TRNC IDs and that all drivers applying for the document needed to present their Republic of Cyprus (RoC) ID.
The daily also reported that TRNC driving licenses for Turkish Cypriots are still an accepted and valid document when obtaining the road tax permit.
Pro bono assistance to victims of human trafficking
Yenidüzen
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Bar Association and the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights’ Foundation announced on Friday that they are providing pro bono assistance to the victims of human trafficking.
The two organisations announced the launch of the “Justice for victims of human trafficking” project on social media.
The post included a hotline number 05428620060, which is also accessible on WhatsApp, and Viber.
The project is financed by the European Union within the grant scheme entitled “Together Against Trafficking in Human Beings.”
In addition to working on improving the legislative situation in the north, the project aims at providing “reachable and sustainable” services under the “Pilot Legal Assistance and Support Programme.” In-line with its goal, the project also established a pool of 30 translators/interpreters to work in eight languages.