Front Page Headlines
The workers were crying from fear
Orders to arrest workers and foreman, an investigation into the company. Judge Temay Sağer has ordered an investigation be launched into Omağ Development Ltd and its directors for allegations of employing workers without permits, not pay wages and seizing workers’ passports. A worker from Bangladesh was charged with assaulting the foreman and of residing illegally in the country.
- “Right-wing politicians milked Turkey well” – Speaking to Yenidüzen, leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) and presidential candidate Erhan Arıklı made interesting statements. (To be published on Sunday)
Dispute over meat!
Some supermarkets have shut down their meat sections following the increase in the price of livestock. On the other hand, Mustafa Naimoğulları, head of Livestock Breeders’ Association, rejected the claims made by the supermarkets. While calling on consumers not to buy meat from supermarkets, he said the price of a kg of meat had only increased by ₺2 (approx. €0.30). The head of Butchers’ Association warned the increase in prices will only serve to encourage meat smuggling from the south. Agriculture Minister Dursun Oğuz said the government will be forced to allow the import of meat if livestock breeders don’t lower their prices.
- Awaiting the official proposal – According to information obtained by Kıbrıs Postası, the Turkish Cypriot side is waiting for Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades’ to officially submit his proposal for a bicommunal committee on (Maraş) Varosha.
- Rebirth party leader Arıklı: “Akıncı had fewer votes than me in the polls he commissioned in 2019.”
- Akinci: “We want the negotiations tables to produce solutions.”
It has been like this for months
The landlines in the village of Kaleburnu (Galliporni) have not been working for months due to fallen telephone poles. The villagers complain that authorities have done anything to repair the poles despite having informed them repeatedly. The villagers are outraged.
- 400kg of illegally smuggled beef seized – Police in Demirhan (Trachoni) seized 400kgs of smuggled meat in a raid organized on Friday night. According to the police, the meat, 400kgs of beef, was found in the back of a van. A 36-year-old individual was arrested, the report said.
EMU Board grants favour to Doğa
The Eastern Mediterranean University’s (EMU) Board of Trustees (VYK) has decided to extend the lease of the Eastern Mediterranean Primary and Secondary schools to Doğa Schools (based in Turkey). The new lease agreement is for 11 years. Cemal Ozyigit, who served as education minister during the four-party coalition is outraged with the news as he had launched an initiative to revoke the contract with the hope of handing back the schools to EMU.
Unbelievable
The Traffic Department collected ₺234m in taxes in 2019; only 23m of that money was allocated for the roads.
- It boosted Greek Cypriots’ morale – France’s famous aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle anchored off Limassol. The ship carries 20 fighter plans, two early warning aircraft and two helicopters.
- We couldn’t persuade her – Norway’s Foreign Minister visited the south but did not cross over to the north.
They took it by spilling blood, they won’t give it away at the table
Anastasiades’ proposal to set up a bicommunal committee on Maraş (Varosha) was left hanging in the air. The Turkish Cypriot side has not responded to Anastasiades’ offer.
- French aircraft carrier in Limassol – The “Charles de Gaulle” aircraft carrier will remain docked at Limassol port until February 26.
- 15-year prison sentence for double homicide – 21-year-old Marios has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the murder of a couple in South Cyprus last year.
Main News
Main principles of a solution are equality, freedom & security
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
“The main principles of the solution are equality, freedom and security,” President Mustafa Akıncı said on Thursday.
He added he has been working towards achieving a federal solution, based on two equal constituent states in which the Turkish Cypriots will enjoy a modern life as well as protect their identity and character in line with the international law.
Speaking at a campaign meeting in Alayköy (Gerolakkos), Akıncı said there is no other option other than a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution (BBF) based on political equality which could be discussed or which the international community would accept.
“The only other option is the continuation of the status quo. This means Greek Cypriots will continue to reap the benefits of being in control of the internationally recognised state on the island while the Turkish Cypriots will slowly disappear,” Akıncı warned.
He said he was running for a second term to prevent this from happening.
Akıncı emphasized the importance of the upcoming elections, stating that it concerned the future of the island as a whole.
“We will either reach an agreement with the Greek Cypriots and live in equality, freedom and security or the island will be partitioned permanently,” Akıncı pointed out.
Akıncı, addressing a full house, said that vital elements of political equality such as effective participation in decision-making processes and a rotational presidency had made its way into the statement issued after the Berlin trilateral meeting.
He recalled that the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres had issued a statement after the trilateral with the consent and approval of the two leaders.
“The statement issued by the UNSG contains the principles that the Turkish Cypriot side is sensitive about…It reaffirmed the BBF as the basis of a settlement and removed any ambiguity regarding the path to a solution It highlighted political equality, effective participation in the decision-making process, a rotational presidency. It also clearly noted the time for endless talks was over and that any new process needed to be results-oriented to reach a strategic agreement,” he said.
Akıncı added that the opportunity for a solution had once again presented itself in Berlin after the failure of Crans Montana.
“The solution of the Cyprus problem is a need not only Cyprus but for the region now,” Akıncı said and warned that the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean will only get worse as long as the Cyprus problem remains unresolved.
He added it will be possible to move forward towards a solution with the five-party conference, which will be called after the elections in the north.
“A new opportunity to solve the Cyprus problem will knock on our door after April,” Akıncı said.
Regarding the roundtable meeting held on Maraş (Varosha), Akıncı said that the reason for organizing such a meeting just two months before the presidential election was obvious.
Akıncı claimed that Maraş (Varosha) was being used as an election ploy and that excuse made not to invite him to the roundtable meeting was not convincing.
He also criticized the current coalition government for not taking any steps on the Maronite Initiative.
“It is not possible to comprehend those who claim they will finalize the Maronite initiative once elected president but have not done anything about it while in office,” Akıncı said.
Akıncı was also adamant that his relationship with Ankara was at no point “hostile”.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and presidential candidate said on Friday that the issue of hydrocarbons could be used to motive the two sides for a solution since it was something both communities would benefit from.
Speaking on Diyalog TV, Erhürman added Turkey would also benefit from a solution of the hydrocarbon crisis.
He repeated the view that Turkey was the most viable route for the construction of a pipeline to transport the gas to Europe.
“In my view, the environment is ripe to discuss a solution to the issue,” Erhürman stressed and said the Turkish Cypriot side should be in dialogue with the international community about it.
“We have to talk about the hydrocarbons issue with the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) before we hold a the five-party conference, which is likely to be called immediately after the elections,” Erhürman noted.
Responding to a question on the Crans Montana process, Erhürman recalled that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades had abandoned the talks with the excuse he could not convince the Greek Cypriot public to accept political equality.
“This cannot be an excuse because political equality just like bizonality is a UN parameter,” Erhürman said.
“It was announced in Berlin that political equality is an accepted UN parameter and is defined in the 1991 UN resolution. So why did we in the first place allow Anastasiades to abandon the table in Crans Montana?” Erhürman asked.
He underlined the importance of clarifying these issues before heading for the five-party conference. “Basic parameters are not negotiable,” he stressed.
Erhürman said he did not want another negotiations process which would last for another ten years.
“We have to be proactive in our foreign policy to go to the five-party conference ready for a solution,” he said.
Erhürman argued that the president-elect needs to be proactive in every area ranging from sports to commerce; and from halloumi to Maraş (Varosha).
“We have to be proactive to bring the Turkish Cypriot community gradually closer to international law, to international norms and to establish a self-sufficient economic structure,” Erhürman concluded.
In the meantime, Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit claimed on Friday that Akıncı will also be receiving votes from the right.
Speaking at a programme on Ada TV, Özyiğit said “It is because Akıncı has embraced all segments of society. This is his character.”
Özyiğit said the latest polls showed that the second round of the elections will be between Akıncı and the National Unity Party (UBP) candidate Ersin Tatar.
He also rejected claims that Akıncı was the TDP’s candidate.
“No doubt Akıncı remains at a high pedestal in the party as its former leader but he has always been impartial and has always stood at equal distance to all political parties during his term in office,” Özyiğit concluded.
“I might be in disagreement with Mr Akıncı but I believe in the state, therefore, I must be respectful of the Office of the Presidency,” leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) and presidential candidate Erhan Arıklı said on Friday.
Responding to a question on the recent remarks made by Mustafa Akıncı to The Guardian during a programme on HaberKıbrıs web TV, Arıklı, said many of the people in Turkey talk ignorantly about Cyprus without being aware of the sensitivities of Turkish Cypriots.
He went on to claim that the tension between Turkey and the north was being created artificially. “It is only Mr Akıncı that gains from such heated debates,” Arıklı argued.
He also claimed that Akıncı’s vote percentage was lower before the debate on the interview.
“Akıncı increased his votes from 14 per cent to approximately 25 per cent since his remarks made for Turkey’s Peace Spring operation,” Arıklı said.
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> The main principles of the solution are equality, freedom & security.
>> BBF solution based on two equal constituent states aims to provide TCs with modern life by protecting their identity & character in line with int’l law.
>> There is no other option than a BBF solution based on political equality which the international community would accept.
>> The alternative is the continuation of the status quo, which means GCs continue to enjoy int’l recognition while TCs will gradually disappear.
>> The upcoming elections are about the future of the island as a whole.
>> Either TCs will reach an agreement with the GCs to live in equality, freedom & security or partition will become permanent.
>> Vital elements of political equality were reaffirmed in a statement after the Berlin trilateral meeting.
>> The opportunity for a solution had once again presented itself in Berlin after the failure of Crans Montana.
>> The solution of the Cyprob is a need not only for the island but for the region now.
>> As long as the Cyprob remains unsolved, the incidents in the East Med. will worsen.
>> A new opportunity to solve the Cyprob will knock on our door after April.
>> Maraş (Varosha) issue is being used as an election ploy.
Erhürman (CTP)
>> The hydrocarbons issue is the source of motivation because it is something both the TCs and the GCs will benefit from.
>> The environment is ripe to discuss the solution.
>> The TC side should be in dialogue with the int’l community about the solution prospects.
>> We have to talk about the hydrocarbons issue with UN & EU before holding a five-party conference.
>> The GC leader had left the negotiations table claiming that he could not convince GC public to accept political equality.
>> This cannot be an excuse because political equality just like bizonality is a UN parameter.
>> TC side should not have allowed the GC leader to abandon the table in Crans Montana.
>> Basic parameters are not negotiable.
>> TC side has to adopt a proactive foreign policy to go to the five-party conference ready for a solution.
>> The president-elect needs to be proactive in every area ranging from sports to commerce, & from halloumi to Maraş (Varosha).
>> TC side has to be proactive to bring the TC community gradually closer to the int’l law & int’l norms and to establish a self-sufficient economic structure.
Özyiğit (TDP)
>> Akıncı to receive votes from the right as well.
>> It is becoming more likely that Akıncı & Tatar will compete in the second round.
Arıklı (YDP)
>> Everyone must be respectful for the Office of the President even if there is disagreement with the president in office.
400kgs of smuggled meat seized
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Police in Demirhan (Trachoni) seized 400kgs of smuggled meat in a raid organized on Friday night. According to the police, the meat, 400kgs of beef, was found in the back of a van. A 36-year-old individual was arrested, the report said.
In the meantime, Kıbrıs Postası reports on the recent fight between the livestock breeders and butchers and supermarkets.
The livestock breeders increased the price of live-animal but the butchers claim the increase will eventually be reflected on the retail price of meat making it more unaffordable.
Thus it is claimed that the price increase will fuel meat-smuggling activities.
The meat prices in the north are approximately 40 per cent higher in the north compared to the south.