Front Page Headlines
Quarantine
The first suspected case of Coronavirus in the north of Cyprus. A 74-year-old woman who was admitted to the Famagusta state hospital with high fever was transferred to the state hospital in Nicosia and quarantined after showing symptoms of the virus. The Health Minister, Ali Pilli, who spoke to Yenidüzen, said, “Our patient was in Dubai a week ago. We had to quarantine her for precautionary measures. She has been diagnosed with pneumonia. He also said that the other passengers who travelled with the patient are being investigated. “Blood tests have been sent to Turkey,” he said.
- “The right-wing parties milked Turkey well” – The leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) and presidential candidate Erhan Arıklı made interesting remarks to Yenidüzen. He answered the paper’s questions, criticized right-wing parties and said he would not negotiate a federal solution if elected.
- The properties must be returned to their 1974 owners or heirs – Lawyer Murat Metin Hakkı who spoke to Yenidüzen said that international law and the roadmap for Maraş (Varosha) was clear. He pointed to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC).
There is death in Luricina (Akıncılar/Louroujina) but no new births
Young people from Akıncılar (Louroujina), also known as “Luricina” leave the village in pursuit of work. There are hardly any young people living in the village, which is located in the district of Nicosia. The village had a population of 500 in the last census, but fewer than 300 people are living in the village today. Speaking to the Kıbrıs Postası, Mayor Hasan Barbaros said the only way to save the future of the village is to open a new crossing point at the village. Noting that there are no new births in the village, he urged the next president to take bold steps on the matter.
- First suspected coronavirus case in the TRNC – A 74-year-old woman who was admitted to the Famagusta state hospital with high fever was transferred to the state hospital in Nicosia and quarantined after showing symptoms of the virus. She was diagnosed with pneumonia but as part of precautionary measures, it was decided she be placed in quarantine in Nicosia.
- Tatar: “The country’s situation urges me to take on the responsibility.”
- Özersay: “The veil over the discretionary fund must be lifted.”
- Erhürman: “Hydrocarbons should be a window of opportunity for a solution.”
Corona quarantine
A 74-year-old woman, who returned from her holiday in Dubai, was admitted to the Famagusta state hospital with a high fever. She was first diagnosed with pneumonia and then transferred to the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu state hospital to be placed in quarantine following suspicions she might be infected with the coronavirus.
- Tons of illegally smuggled meat seized in the last three months – 5.182kg of meat seized by the police in the past three months.
Money poured in for housing
A boom is taking place in the construction sector. The authorities received 2.873 construction permit applications in 2018. Among these applications, 12,804 were for housing units. North Nicosia is the most popular location for new construction according to data obtained from the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors’ Association.
- A worrying suspicion – A 74-year-old woman, who returned from her holiday in Dubai, was admitted to the Famagusta state hospital with a high fever. She was first diagnosed with pneumonia and then transferred to the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu state hospital to be quarantined after suspected of carrying the coronavirus.
- Suspicious ‘border violation’ – The day after arriving from Turkey, they crossed to the south through illegal means only to be arrested when trying to re-enter the TRNC.
- Meat smuggling is gang business – Yakub Karamez, who was arrested while trying to smuggle 243kg of meat apologized from the court and said he was only hired as the driver.
No test results yet
A 74-year-old woman who returned from her holiday in Dubai and went to the hospital with a fever has been quarantined after being suspected of being infected by the coronavirus. Minister Pilli said there was no need to panic.
- I’m just the transport guy – 243kgs of meat was found in the van driven by Y.K.
- Alarm in the south! – One of four passengers on board a plane from Israel to Larnaca tested positive for the coronavirus.
- It will be an alternative for the İncirlik base – It has been reported that a facility to house US troops is being built at the Akrotiri British base.
And now this wretched virus
First, it was bird flu, then swine flu and now the coronavirus! A 74-year-old woman who went to the hospital in Famagusta with complaints of high fever, who was diagnosed with pneumonia was transferred to the state hospital in Nicosia and quarantined after suspicions of carrying to the coronavirus.
- Coronavirus alarm in the south! – Tight measures have been taken in the south against the Coronavirus. Controls on arriving and departing passengers have been increased.
Main News
First suspected case of coronavirus in the north
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The first suspected case of coronavirus in the north emerged on Saturday after a 74-year-old woman from Famagusta who recently returned from a holiday in Dubai was admitted at the Famagusta public hospital with high fever, all six dailies reported.
The woman was then transferred to the hospital in Nicosia and placed in quarantine.
Doctors have diagnosed her with pneumonia but blood tests have been sent to Turkey to determine whether she has the Covid-19 virus.
Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli said there was no reason for panic and that the tests, as well as quarantine, was for precautionary purposes.
He added that other individuals who had travelled with her are also being tracked down and monitored to see if they display any suspicious symptoms.
Voters on the right have been exploited, says Arıklı
Yenidüzen
Governance & Power Sharing, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Parties on the right of the political spectrum have been milking or exploiting Turkey for years, the leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) and presidential candidate Erhan Arıklı has claimed.
Arıklı shared his views and vision in a two-part interview published in Yenidüzen’s Sunday edition.
He explained that the YDP’s roots, previously known as the Rebirth Movement, went back to 1985.
Arıklı recalled that his party back then had won eight per cent of the votes, securing four MPs in the Turkish Cypriot parliament.
Regarding the upcoming presidential election, Arıklı complained that voters who traditionally voted for candidates on the right were disoriented after both the National Unity Party (UBP) and Democratic Party (DP) abused their power.
He said the politicians right had milked right-wing voters and Turkey over the years without actually showing anything for their promises.
“When it came to action they were no different from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) or the Social Democratic Party (TDP) but they all claim to be nationalists. The UBP is nothing more than a party made up of different interest groups. The DP, on the other hand, eroded in time. No one has understood what the Peoples’ Party (HP) is. We don’t know if they’re a party on the right or left,” he said.
Arıklı argued that the upcoming presidential election will be between those who advocate a two-state solution and those who support a federal solution in Cyprus.
Asked whether he saw himself as Turkish or Turkish Cypriot, the YDP leader said he had stopped making such a categorization a long time ago.
“You and I hold the same ID card. The YDP is a party established according to the laws of the TRNC and is a party which has TRNC citizens as its members. We have many members which you would categorize as Turkish Cypriots but we do not differentiate between the two,” he said.
Arıklı said that people who settled on the island after 1975 belonged to Cyprus and that they did not care to convince anyone otherwise.
“We live here, members of my family died here and are buried here. I too will be buried here. We have over 6500 members,” he added.
Asked who the YDP will support if a second round is held in the elections, Arıklı said it will be whoever stands against incumbent president Mustafa Akıncı.
“The reason why we will support any candidate but Akıncı is the concessions he gave on the Cyprus Problem. These concessions, such as the one concerning Turkey’s active and effective guarantees, are impossible for us to accept,” he added.
He reminded that he had met with the other right-wing parties with the hope of nominating a joint candidate to stand against Akıncı but that this idea did not receive support from any of the parties.
Arıklı also said that he would not negotiate a federal settlement if he were to be elected as president.
He argued that Turkey’s position towards a federal settlement had changed after 2018.
Asked to comment on the debate on prospects of the annexation of the north by Turkey, the YDP leader said that he did not believe there was a single political party or individual in the north who would support or advocate such an idea.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and presidential candidate Tufan Erhürman, said that hydrocarbons provided a window of opportunity for the two sides.
He added that the only way the island’s hydrocarbons could be utilized effectively was through a solution on the island.
He also noted that even Greek Cypriots were critical of the EastMed pipeline project, adding that the only logical way to transport the gas in the region to Europe was through a pipeline via Turkey.
“We have to seize the opportunity before us and not miss the train,” Erhürman warned.
On the negotiations process, Erhürman underlined the importance of convening the five-party conference immediately after the presidential elections.
“One of the sides attending this conference will be Turkey. We want Turkey to display a stance in favour of a solution but how will it be possible when there is no coordination and communication between Turkey and the TRNC?” Erhürman asked.
In a separate statement on Saturday, Ersin Tatar, leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) and presidential candidate said the Turkish Cypriot community did not have any other options other than a two-state solution.
Speaking during a meeting with members of the “Independent Youth Platform”, Tatar emphasized the need to develop the TRNC further and to formulate policies which will safeguard the future of the Turkish Cypriots on the island.
“We are working closely with Turkey on a roadmap,” Tatar noted.
He pointed out that many things have changed over the past 45 years.
“It is too late to establish a partnership with the Greek Cypriots or to fight for our rights in such a partnership,” Tatar claimed.
He said that contrary to belief, the UBP also wanted an agreement and a solution on the island.
“We want to live in peace with the international community and on the island but we cannot disregard the realities on the island either,” Tatar concluded.
Independent presidential candidate Kudret Özersay reiterated his known position on collaborating for a solution before a solution during a visit to the Alawite Cultural Center in Nicosia on Saturday.
Özersay argued that the conditions for a federal solution did not exist today and that it was not possible to find the desired solution with the same methodology in place for the past 52 years.
“We have to create new conditions and be creative. We have to collaborate on commerce, economic matters, natural gas and in other areas. As we collaborate, trust will develop between the two communities, which will bring us all closer to the solution,” he said.
Özersay also noted that the president-elect must be impartial and must remain at an equal distance to all political parties and/or to persons. He said the president must be able to represent all voices within the community.
“Instead of creating fights with Turkey, we have to establish healthy relations with our strongest ally through dialogue and we have to guide them on the Cyprus policies,” Özersay said.
KEY ACTORS
Arıklı (YDP)
>> Right parties exploited right voters & Turkey over the years.
>> Upcoming election will be between those who advocate a two-state solution & those who support a federal solution in Cyprus.
>> YDP does not differentiate between those who settled in Cyprus after 1974 & those who were here before.
>> YDP will support whoever stands against Akıncı in the second round because he has made concessions impossible to accept.
>> I will not negotiate for a federal settlement if elected.
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Hydrocarbons provide a window of opportunity for both sides.
>> The only way hydrocarbons can be utilized effectively is through a solution.
>> The only logical way to transfer the natural gas to Europe is through a pipeline via Turkey.
>> It is important to seize the opportunity & not miss the train.
>> The five-party conference must convene following the presidential elections.
>> Turkey should display a stance in favour of a solution but this will be difficult when there is no coordination or communication between Turkey & the TRNC.
Tatar (UBP)
>> The TC community does not have any other options but a two-state solution.
>> Important to develop the TRNC further & to develop policies which will safeguard the future of the TCs on the island.
>> It is too late now to establish a partnership with the GCs or to for rights within a new partnership.
>> The UBP also wants an agreement & solution on the island but realities on the ground cannot be disregarded.
Özersay (HP)
>> Collaboration for a solution before a solution is necessary.
>> The conditions for a federal solution do not exist today on the island.
>> Not possible to find the desired solution by applying the same methodology used for the past 52 years.
>> There is a need for new conditions & to be creative.
>> Sides need to collaborate on commerce, economic matters, natural gas & other areas.
>> As the sides collaborate, trust will develop between the two communities, which will bring them closer to a solution.
>> The president-elect must be impartial and must remain at an equal distance to all political parties and/or to persons.
>> The president must be able to represent the voice of the entire community.
>> Instead of quarrelling with Turkey, TCs need to establish healthy relations with Ankara & guide Ankara on its Cyprus policies.
Properties in Maraş (Varosha) should be returned to lawful owners, says TC lawyer
Yenidüzen
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
Work to return properties in Maraş (Varosha) to their 1974 owners or their legal heirs should begin, Turkish Cypriot lawyer Murat Hakkı Metin said in an interview withYenidüzen.
Metin argued that according to Turkish Cypriot laws, any building built on land belongs to the landowner.
“If Maraş (Varosha) belongs to the Evkaf than the hotels on Evkaf land belongs to the Evkaf administration,” said Hakkı Metin.
He, however, added that even though the land opened for development in Maraş (Varosha) once belonged to the Evkaf, no one pursued the rights of the foundation in the period that followed thus removing any rights to claim.
The Turkish Cypriot lawyer said that if properties in the fenced-off city are returned to their lawful owners than the Turkish Cypriot side will be fulfilling one aspect of its obligations according to international law.
“This is this the most correct and only step that can be taken under the current conjuncture,” he added.
Hakkı Metin also said that the roadmap drawn by the Turkish Cypriot judiciary was clear.
“That is the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) should start returning properties in the fenced-off city to 1974 registered owners or their legal heirs before Turkey files its defence at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on the case concerning the KV Mediterranean Tours Ltd,” he said.
He pointed out that Turkey needed to put forward an official view before April if it wanted to the KV Mediterranean Tours Ltd case to be dropped or prevent similar cases in the future.
“It needs to take action on Maraş (Varosha). April is the deadline for the hearing and it needs to take action before that,” he added.
Hakkı Metin also pointed out political conjuncture in the Eastern Mediterranean was working against the Turkish Cypriot side.
“The Greek Cypriot side is taking many unilateral steps and is refusing to make any concessions. We need to bring to the Greek Cypriots’ attention that the way to transforming Maraş (Varosha) into Turkish owned land had opened and that they are faced with the danger of losing the fenced-off city so as to strengthen our bargaining hand at the table,” he said.
Metin also argued that certain obligations and economic uncertainties will in time push Greek Cypriots to sell their properties in Maraş (Varosha) voluntarily.
“This will lead to Maraş (Varosha) becoming Turkish owned in line with international law,” he added.
Asked about what he thought about the legislation to raise property tax to create funding for the IPC, Metin said he did not oppose such legislation but expressed the view that the law being drafted was insufficient and failed to address different aspects.
He also said that revenues could be created by increasing other taxes or fees.