Front Page Headlines
He was going to flee after committing the murder
Muhammed Salman was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Famagusta Criminal Court for the murder of Hasan Işık Özgöçmen in 2018. The head of the court Fatma Şenol reminded that Salman had committed the murder while residing in the country illegally and had then fled from the country through illegal ways. She added that the incident had revealed that the public was not safe in the country.
- Harsh criticism from Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu: “Akıncı has started using Turkey as election material”
- “Turkey accepted the removal of the guarantees, Anastasiades proposed a two-state solution” – Greek Cypriot journalists and writer Makarios Drusiotis makes ground-shaking allegations concerning Crans-Montana.
“I have never worked with such a dishonest politician before”
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who has probably worked the most with President Mustafa Akıncı and was present with him at many international meetings including Crans Montana, uttered shocking words about Akıncı.
- Erhürman: “We as the island’s inhabitants must write the story of our joint success.”
- Tatar: “We are approaching a very important election”
- Özersay: “We can make the Güzelyurt (Morphou) producers happy with direct trade”
Politicians’ salaries are shocking
The politicians in the north combined with their additional allowances earn as high as ₺45,000 (approx €6800). Moreover, the president, speaker of parliament, prime minister and MPs draw more money from the state than their salaries. They are entitled to an additional ‘representation allowance’, which is as much as half of their salary.
The second round is definite
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman spoke about the presidential elections, relations with Turkey and other issues during Havadis’ lunch-interview.
- “I have never worked with such a dishonest politician before” – Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in addition to harshly criticizing Mustafa Akıncı said Turkey will not interfere in the TRNC’s elections.
‘Tequila’ hit him hard
B.K who is being accused of trying to rape his co-worker after taking her to an empty field was caught by nearby residents and handed over to the police.
- Big panic experienced – A Chinese woman held under observation after arriving through Larnaca Airport tested negative for the coronavirus.
Akıncı is supporting terrorism
Çavuşoğlu is acting ridiculously. The Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu joined the line of Turkish politicians attacking and insulting Mustafa Akıncı. (Turkish President) Tayyip Erdoğan is still silent over the matter. Çavuşoğlu used vulgar language against Akıncı.
- Look and be ashamed! – An old water pipe was the only thing unearthed from the 45-year-old reopened grave of Martyr Ecvet Yusuf.
Main News
Çavuşoğlu accuses Akıncı of being ‘dishonest’
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Monday he had never worked with such an untrustworthy politician as Mustafa Akıncı, widening the Turkish Cypriot leader’s rift with Ankara as elections in the north loom in April.
Turkish and right-wing Turkish Cypriot politicians bombarded Akıncı over the weekend, calling him to resign over comments he made to the British newspaper, the Guardian, where he said the Turkish Cypriots did not want to become a minority under the Greek Cypriots, nor be ruled by Turkey.
Akıncı further prompted Ankara’s anger after he said the failure of peace talks between the two sides might lead to the annexation of North Cyprus by Turkey.
He also referred to the integration of the Republic of Hatay to Turkey in 1939 through a referendum, stating that he would never consent to such a move should the opportunity arise.
Çavuşoğlu during a joint news conference with his Slovenian counterpart on Monday said, “I have never worked with such an untrustworthy politician,” in reference to Akıncı.
He promised to give “examples” in the coming days.
The Turkish minister said he had worked extensively with Akıncı on Cyprus negotiations “and Turkey’s position on political equality and security is clear”, he said.
Çavuşoğlu also said some Western countries had used anti-Turkey rhetoric as pre-election tactics but neither he nor any Turkish Cypriot could have imagined “that a politician in the TRNC would use Turkey as election material”.
“We [Turkey] are talking about the political equality of the Turkish Cypriots and he prefers to attack Turkey. We have been through a lot in the negotiation process. I have never worked with such an untrustworthy politician. I’ll give examples in the next few days,” Çavuşoğlu added.
Recalling that the presidential elections are looming and it’s out of the question for Turkey to interfere in the domestic affairs of the Turkish Cypriots, Çavuşoğlu stated, “We will always continue to be on their side. We will support those who are defending the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people. Why is Akıncı attacking Turkey for no reason? Why does he make anti-Turkey statements while Turkey is fighting terrorism? The Turkish Cypriots should think about all these.”
Joining the long line of Turkish politicians slamming Akıncı, the spokesman for the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ömer Çelik said: “Should Mr Akıncı continue on his aggressive statements, different answers will be given to him.”
Çelik was briefing the members of the media following AKP’s central executive board meeting in Ankara on Monday.
Turkish main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) also condemned President Akıncı’s remarks to the British daily.
“Akıncı’s statement is unfortunate however referring to Tayfur Sökmen is absolutely unacceptable,” CHP’s spokesman Fatih Öztrak said on Monday.
Speaking to the members of the media at CHP’s headquarters in Ankara, Öztrak claimed CHP has the clearest position on Cyprus among all the political parties in Turkey. He added, “CHP maintains its position since 1974 on Cyprus.”
The Eastern Mediterranean is no one’s property
Kıbrıs Postası
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“Turkey has not laid eyes on anyone’s resources but will also not allow anyone to usurp its rights. The Eastern Mediterranean is no one’s property,” Turkish Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters during a meeting of National Technologies in Turkish Petroleum Industry (PEMT), Dönmez added: “The cause of Turkish Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean is also Turkey’s cause and we will continue to protect it.”
“Turkish seismic research vessels Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa and MTA Oruç Reis and Turkish drillships Fatih and Yavuz, which are milestones in Turkey’s national energy policy, are working on protecting the rights of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and to utilize offshore resources in the region,” Dönmez said.
He argued that all seismic research activities and drillings conducted in line with international law have foiled the games being played against Turkey.
“We will continue on our path and Turkey will never give up on its righteous cause in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Dönmez concluded.
KEY ACTOR
Dönmez (Turkey)
>> Turkey if not after anyone’s resources but will also not allow anyone to usurp its rights.
>> The East Med. is no one’s property.
>> TCs’ cause in the East Med. is also Turkey’s cause & Turkey will continue to protect it.
>> Turkish seismic research & drillships are working on protecting the rights of the TRNC & to utilize the underground resources.
>> All seismic research activities & drillings conducted in line with the int’l law have foiled games being played against Turkey.
>> Turkey will never give up on its righteous cause in the East Med.
The second round is definite
Havadis
Governance & Power Sharing, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
“There is a need for a more active president, who will take charge of communal affairs and will work towards a self-sufficient economy. This is the only way out for the Turkish Cypriot community,” Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader and presidential candidate Tufan Erhürman said.
Speaking about the presidential elections, relations with Turkey and other issues during Havadis’ lunch-interview, Erhürman reiterated that the office of the presidency is the only stable and consistent institution in the north.
He said the presidential elections will likely to be completed in two rounds and that he was convinced he will make it to the second round.
Erhürman also noted that he is ready to discuss the various models that will overcome the inconsistencies in the north and objected to the argument that the only way is to switch to the presidential system. “Semi-presidential model or a stronger parliamentary system could very well overcome the problems,” he noted.
Asked to comment on President Mustafa Akıncı’s remarks to the Guardian, Erhürman said there is no one was demanding that the north be annexed to Turkey – not even the people who’ve settled in Cyprus from Turkey.
“If I had been asked the same question, I would have said neither Turkey nor the north has such an agenda,” Erhürman noted.
Erhürman said it was vital to establish relations with Turkey on the correct premises.
“In my opinion, the correct premise is self-governance and a self-sufficient economy. I believe we have to have good relations with Turkey to reach a federal solution. I also believe the same premise will also apply to south Cyprus and the European Union (EU),” Erhürman said.
Asked about the Crans Montana process, Erhürman said: “When I look back, I see that the Turkish Cypriot side should have been more prepared for the process.”
Erhürman recalled that Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades had abandoned the negotiations table using political equality as an excuse, something he added which was unacceptable.
“He, therefore, emphasised the need to prepare well for the five-party conference following the elections in the north.
“We have to inform all relevant parties in advance about UN parameters and what the convergences or divergences are so that when we sit at the table, it will be negotiations that will take us to a solution,” Erhürman concluded.
Trees planted around the historic church in Sazlıköy (Livadia)
Kıbrıs Postası
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Around a thousand trees were planted around the Panagia Kyras Church in Sazlıköy (Livadia) by the village mukhtar and villagers on Monday, Kıbrıs Postası reports.
Speaking before the event, Mukhtar Güneş Barışsal said they had decided to plant the trees around the third oldest church in Cyprus.
He also said the restoration efforts for the church has commenced with financing from the European Union.
Barışsal also highlighted that a plot of land adjacent to the Church had been leased by the Evkaf Administration to a company in the wine business. The Mukhtar said the lease-holder attempted to uproot trees that are a century old but that he had been stopped by the villagers.
“Our priority is to protect our environment. We want the authorities to support us and to lease the land to a farmer in the village and not to an outsider,” Barışsal concluded.