Front Page Headlines
The situation is serious
The Finance Ministry has borrowed ₺40m to “pay salaries.” The Finance Ministry Undersecretary Özdemir Kalkanlı said that the money had been borrowed as a ‘measure’ to pay salaries and cover public expenditures.
- 101 migrants from Mersin to Paralimni – A group of migrants, mainly women and children who embarked from Mersin arrived in the south of the island on a 15m boat.
“Akıncı and his team have turned the election into a battle for survival”
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Asım Akansoy argued Akıncı and his team had turned the election into a battle for survival, provoking polarisation and raising tensions within the community to new heights. “It is a big disadvantage for Akıncı not to utilize civil diplomacy in his relations with Turkey let alone his international relations,” Akansoy added. He said even if a federation is established on the island, good relations with Turkey are vital. Akansoy spoke to Rasıh Reşat on Kıbrıs Postası web TV.
- Erhürman: “The president must be able to follow through long-term projects.”
- Tatar: “Solution is a two-state one.”
- Özersay: “We must not lose our solidarity.”
- The decision on crossings turning into a scandal – The Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades first used the excuse of coronavirus to close the crossings and now he came up with the excuse of migrants. The Turkish Cypriot foreign ministry criticized the Greek Cypriot leadership for its manipulative statement while the UN High Commissioner for Refugees office denied the claims.
New measures implemented against coronavirus
Ministry of National Education and Culture ceased all cultural and sports activities that require travel abroad. The Health Ministry announced that entry to citizens of five high-risk countries where the outbreak of coronavirus is widespread has been stopped.
- “We have opened a new page on the Cyprus policies” – Prime Minister, National Unity Party (UBP) leader and presidential candidate Ersin Tatar spoke to Kıbrıs regarding the government’s activities, the Maraş (Varosha) initiative, relations with Turkey and his presidential race.
Corona blow to tourism
TRNC tourism has also been negatively affected by the coronavirus. Nearly 50 per cent of the hotel reservations have been cancelled. Orhan Tolun, head of the TC Travel Agents’ Association, held both the health ministry and the Greek Cypriot administration responsible.
- TRNC citizens will be subjected to quarantine – As part of new health ministry measures against coronavirus, nationals from Iran, China, Iraq, South Korea and Italy will not be admitted into the north. TRNC citizens returning to the north via Turkey will be subjected to screening.
Find a solution
The shutting down of the Derinya (Dheryneia) crossing point has also hit businesses in Famagusta. Business owners called on authorities, through Diyalog newspaper, to find an urgent solution. Shopkeepers complain that business was not great but that they were able to meet their daily needs with what little they sold to Greek Cypriots. They also warned that they might be forced to shut down their shops if the crossing points do not open before the weekend.
- The coronavirus didn’t affect it –The Limassol Carnival attended by 30,000 people came to an end.
New measures at the crossing points
Greek Cypriot authorities are placing thermal cameras at all crossing points as of today as well as increasing the number of nurses. Despite a ban introduced by the north on all those arriving from Italy, the south continues to resume flights to Italy. No cases of the virus have been seen either in the north or the south. An Asian person placed under quarantine in the south tested negative for the virus.
Main News
TC MFA slams GC side’s decision on crossings
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Negative reactions in the north towards the Greek Cypriot side’s decision to shut four crossing points as part of measures against the spread of coronavirus continued on Tuesday.
“The Greek Cypriot leadership is attempting to legitimize its decision to shut the four crossings by making up baseless claims,” the Turkish Cypriot foreign ministry said in a written statement issued on Tuesday.
The ministry said the Greek Cypriot side’s latest attempt to legitimise its claims and to deceive the Greek Cypriot community as well as the international community could be seen through the false news reported by the Greek Cypriot press.
“The Greek Cypriot leadership claimed there are illegal crossings through the buffer zone in an organised manner. Following the news, we launched a broad investigation into the claims only to find that the reports were false,” the ministry statement read.
The ministry furthermore noted that the news sources close to the Greek Cypriot administration have even claimed that there are applications made by individuals from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, India and Senegal.
Moreover, the statement stressed that the officials from the United Nations Peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have also confirmed that there are no such illegal crossings through the buffer zone as claimed.
“It is understood that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades is trying to deflect the pressure he has been under following his decision to close the four crossings as of Saturday morning,” the statement read.
The ministry also reminded the Greek Cypriot leadership that the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposal to collaborate on the issue of migrants was still valid.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay on Tuesday reiterated his view that the Greek Cypriot side’s decision concerning the crossing points was harming relations between the two communities.
Özersay, in a written statement, said that all political circles in the north shared the view that the Greek Cypriot side was in the wrong.
“Since we agree that there is something wrong then we should all be able to say this out loud. This move is most likely aimed at preventing the TRNC from prospering economically,” he said.
Özersay recalled that the Greek Cypriot leadership had recently introduced changes to the Green Line Regulation (GLR) for the very same reason.
“The Greek Cypriot leadership attempted to introduce new measures after seeing that the increased commercial activity between the two communities was developing against its economic interests. Since it was aware that it couldn’t change the regulation on its own, it changed the code of implementation, bringing with it new restrictions,” he said.
Özersay said that his office had sent letters to the European Union (EU) and United Nations (UN) officials, bringing to their attention that what was aimed through the change in the GLR implementation code was to make the regulation more restrictive.
“At the end of the day, the changes were vetoed by the European Commission (EC) which gave the message that the implementation code could not be changed without actually amending the regulation itself,” he said.
Özersay claimed that the Greek Cypriot leadership was now using the virus as an excuse to strangulate the Turkish Cypriot economy.
He argued the Greek Cypriot leadership was trying to use the virus to achieve what it couldn’t with the proposed changes to the GLR.
“The same goes for the issue of migrants. They tried to use it as an excuse but we wrote to both the EU and the UN, explaining that illegal migrants were not using the crossing points to cross to the south,” he said.
Özersay also highlighted the importance of displaying a unified stance against the Greek Cypriot side.
“The decision to shut the crossing points will cause trouble for the Greek Cypriot side,” he added.
Özersay also slammed the Greek Cypriot side for its attempts to portray the north as a potential high-risk area for the coronavirus but shutting down four of the nine crossing points.
“Because there have been far more suspected coronaviruses in the south, the Greek Cypriot side has only embarrassed itself in the eyes of the international community,” he stressed.
Özersay concluded by stating that the Greek Cypriot side should review its decision and reopen the crossing points.
Meanwhile, shopkeepers and business owners in Famagusta are experiencing the negative effects of the decision by the Greek Cypriot authorities to shut down the Derinya (Dheryneia) crossing point.
Shopkeepers speaking to Diyalog, complain that business has come to a standstill since the crossing was shut down on Saturday.
They said that business was not great before the decision but that were still receiving Greek Cypriot customers to get by.
The business owners are urging the government to find a solution to their problem, warning that unless the crossing points open soon, they will have to shut their businesses as well.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> The GC leadership is attempting to legitimize its decision to close the four crossing points with baseless reasons.
>> The latest attempt to legitimise its claims and to deceive the GC community or int’l community can be seen in the false reports concerning migrants.
>> The GC leader is trying to deflect the pressure he has been under following his decision to close the four crossings as of Saturday morning.
>> TC side’s proposal to collaborate on the issue of migrants is still valid.
>> The GC side’s decision concerning the crossing points is harming relations between the two communities.
>> There is consensus in the north that the GC is in the wrong.
>> The decision is aimed at preventing the TRNC from prospering economically.
>> The GC leadership is trying to use the virus to achieve what it couldn’t by proposed changes to the code of the implementation of the GLR.
>> The fact that illegal migrants were not using the crossing points to cross to the south explained in letters to EU & UN.
>> Important to display a unified stance against the GC side.
>> The GC side has only embarrassed itself in the eyes of the int’l community with its decision to close the crossing points.
>> The GC side should review its decision & reopen the crossing points.
New measures implemented against coronavirus
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot health ministry announced on Tuesday that a series of new measures were being introduced against the spread of the coronavirus.
A restriction on passenger arrivals from several countries came into effect as of 29 February, all six dailies reported.
In a written statement, the ministry stated the citizens from high-risk countries such as Iran, China, Iraq, South Korea and Italy will not be allowed entry into the north until further notice.
The new restrictions exclude Turkish Cypriots but new procedures will be applied to any Turkish Cypriot arriving from those countries.
“The TRNC citizens who will be flying back to the island will have to fill an information form at Turkish airports or seaports and will be subjected to screening. Individuals may be placed under quarantine for 14 days, should the officials deem it necessary,” the statement noted.
The ministry also urged the Turkish Cypriots to postpone their scheduled visits to these countries.
The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday said that the decision by the Greek Cypriot authorities to shut some of the crossing points and to slow down passage through others harmed daily life as well as, social, political and commercial interaction between the two communities.
A statement issued by the chamber said that the move which had nothing do with measures aimed at preventing coronavirus was unacceptable.
It added that the Greek Cypriot side’s behaviour once again highlighted the importance of establishing direct trade between the EU and Turkish Cypriots.
The chamber pointed out that the issue of shutting crossing points had not been brought to the attention or agenda of the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Health.
“The new practice has not completely cut off contact or interaction between the north and the south. Contact continues. However, the south has not taken any measures to cut relations with countries where the coronavirus has been confirmed,” the statement read.
The chamber also claimed that the Greek Cypriot side had started preparations to make crossings harder months ago and had shared these decisions with the public.
It pointed out that the decision by the Greek Cypriot administration to shut down crossing points once again demonstrated that Turkish Cypriots could not establish their relations with the world through South Cyprus.
“EU officials, as a result of the latest developments, need to once again see, understand and acknowledge the necessity to establish direct relations with Turkish Cypriots, to strengthen commercial relations with Turkish Cypriots and to implement the Direct Trade Regulation (DTR). Moreover, these developments have shown that the expansion of the GLRand the implementation of the Financial Assistance Regulation (FAR) should not be subject to the approval of the Greek Cypriot side,” the chamber said.
The chamber also called on the Greek Cypriot administration to revoke its decision as soon as possible.
“The decision serves to build mistrust between the two communities and hinders cooperation between the two peoples as well as harms efforts to solve the Cyprus Problem through negotiations,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Health met on Tuesday to discuss the island’s measures against the spread of the coronavirus.
Meltem Onurkan Samani, General Director for the Technical Committees, in a statement after the meeting, said that they had expressed disappointment with the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral decision to shut down the four crossing points.
She reminded that a consensus had been reached at the technical committee’s last meeting on February 20 that there was no need to introduce any measures at crossing points since no cases of the virus had been detected on either side.
Samani added that the decision taken had no scientific or technical basis nor had any new developments that would question the validity of the decisions taken by the committee taken place since February 20.
“We as the Turkish Cypriot side do not see any need to introduce countermeasures at the crossing points at this point,” she added.
Samani added that the excuse provided by Greek Cypriot members of the technical committee that the virus had started to spread in Italy and that the measures were taken as a precautionary measure was invalid as direct flights to the south from Italy continued.
“This is not a convincing argument. More importantly, the measures taken by the Greek Cypriot authorities have increased panic in the south,” she said.
KEY ACTORS
KTTO
>> The GC authorities’ decision to shut four of the crossing points & slow down passage through others has harmed daily life.
>> The decision which had nothing do with measures against preventing coronavirus is unacceptable.
>> The GC side’s behaviour has highlighted the importance of establishing direct trade between the EU & TCs.
>> The south has not taken any measures to cut relations with countries where the coronavirus has been confirmed while trying to hinder contact with the north through the closure of crossing points.
>> The GC side has demonstrated that TCs cannot establish their relations with the world through South Cyprus.
>> EU officials need to acknowledge the necessity to establish direct relations with TCs, to strengthen commercial relations with them & to implement the DTR.
>> The developments have shown that the expansion of the GLR and the implementation of the FAR should not be subject to the approval of the GC side.
>> The decision serves to build mistrust & hinder cooperation between the two communities as well as harms efforts to solve the Cyprob through negotiations.
Samani
>> Disappointment overGC side’s unilateral decision to shut down four crossing points has been conveyed.
>> The decision has no scientific or technical basis nor has any new developments.
>> The TC side does not see any need to introduce countermeasures at the crossing points.
>> The excuse provided by GC members of the technical committee that the virus had started to spread in Italy & the measures were taken as a precautionary measure is invalid as direct flights to the south from Italy continue.
>> The measures by the GC authorities have raised panic in the south.
“We have opened a new page on Cyprus policies,” says Tatar
Kıbrıs
Property, Territory, Energy, Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
“The National Unity Party (UBP) – People’s Party (HP) coalition has opened a new page on policies regarding the Cyprus Issue following developments in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Prime Minister, UBP leader and presidential candidate Ersin Tatar said in an interview with Kıbrıs.
Tatar who gave the example of the Maraş (Varosha) initiative as one of the government’s accomplishments, described it as the most important development over the past 45 years.
“The initiative to open the fenced-off city which has been a ghost town for the past 45 years was important since it has not been possible to reach an agreement on the Cyprus Problem,” he said.
Tatar said the lawful owners of the fenced-off city will be allowed to return to their properties once the initiative is implemented.
“This initiative will be done in accordance with the international law and through the Immovable Property Commission (IPC). The majority of the applicants will be given their properties back and the compensation option will not be considered,” Tatar said, noting that the Evkaf Administration will also be allowed to apply to the IPC.
Tatar, responding to a question on what the government’s position will be regarding those who will ask for compensation for their properties, said, “There was a war but now we are asking the property owners to come back and claim their properties. For example, a hotel was worth $1m in 1974 but now its value is $100m. The value of all tourism properties has increased in the eastern Mediterranean since then. Therefore, we will be handing over such valuable properties to their lawful owners. They should be very happy to receive it. Yes, there has been some damage to the buildings but the value of the properties has also increased,” Tatar said.
Asked to comment on his presidential candidacy, Tatar said he was not running to negotiate a settlement but to ensure continuity of the Turkish Cypriot state.
He added that he will become “everyone’s president.”
In the meantime, speaking during a campaign visit on Wednesday, Tatar stressed that any negotiations on the Cyprus Problem must be carried out based on the realities on the island to reach a two-state solution.”
Tatar argued that it has not been possible to reach a settlement through the negotiation processes.
“The Greek Cypriot side has displayed their usual attitude by unilaterally closing four crossing points believing they are the sole sovereign power on the island,” Tatar said, adding the Greek Cypriot leadership had not even bothered informing the bicommunal technical committee on health before taking the decision.
Tatar also touched on the hydrocarbons issue in the eastern Mediterranean. He recalled the steps taken in the region including the recent agreement signed with Libya.
“The hydrocarbon activities in the region are important moves to protect both Turkey’s and the Turkish Cypriots’ rights,” Tatar said.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>> The UBP-HP coalition has opened a new page on policies regarding the Cyprob.
>> The Maraş (Varosha) initiative has been the most important development of the past 45 years.
>> The initiative to reopen the fenced-off is necessary.
>> The lawful owners will be allowed to return to their properties with the Maraş (Varosha) initiative.
>> The Initiative will be done in line with int’l law & through the IPC.
>> Majority of the applicants will be given their properties back & compensation option is not considered.
>> The Evkaf Administration will also be allowed to apply to the IPC.
>> The value of all tourism properties have increased in the east Med. therefore compensation will not be given.
>> The negotiations must be carried out on the realities of the island to reach a two-state solution in Cyprus.
>> The GC side has displayed its usual attitude by unilaterally closing four crossing points believing they are the sole sovereign power on the island.
>> The hydrocarbon activities in the region are important moves to protect both Turkey’s & TCs’ rights.