TCC Press Review 11 Mar 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Emergency

Corona, Fear and Panic. A 65-year-old German tourist in the north tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid-19). The Salamis Hotel which she was staying in was quarantined off and a series of measures were introduced. Schools have been shut and charter flights cancelled. People rushed to supermarkets and pharmacies, emptying shelves. Sanitising gels and respiratory masks were sold out.

Kıbrıs Postası

Corona alarm

The coronavirus, which was knocking on our doorsteps, is seen in the TRNC. A 65-year-old German tourist, who had arrived on the island as part of a group of 30, tested positive for coronavirus. Measures are being implemented in the north one after the other. Health ministry urged people not to panic and to follow personal hygiene rules.

  • Atakan: “If there is a need, the measures can be increased.”
  • The people rushed to the supermarkets – People in panic, rushed to the supermarkets to stock up on food.

Kıbrıs

It was like a warzone

The first case of coronavirus in the TRNC caused alarm in the north. People panicked and rushed to the pharmacies to purchase masks and medicine as well as supermarkets to stock up on food.

  • First coronavirus positive case in Turkey – Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced the news at a press conference held at midnight.

Havadis

Corona hits hard

There was chaos in the north following the first case of coronavirus was detected in the TRNC. The people rushed to the supermarkets and pharmacies. Schools have been closed and public events cancelled.

  • First coronavirus positive case in Turkey – Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced a male patient tested positive for coronavirus at a press conference held at midnight.
  • “Collaborate on the epidemic” – Another protest was held at the Lokmacı (Ledra Street) crossing, which is one of the four crossing points closed by the Greek Cypriot administration due to Covid-19. The protestors urged the two sides to collaborate on the epidemic.

Diyalog

A panic unseen during wartime

Schools were shut, parents are staying home and citizens rushed to supermarkets and pharmacies after only one case of coronavirus appeared in the country. Extraordinary measures were taken after a German woman on holiday in Famagusta tested positive for the virus. The Education Ministry shut down all schools until Monday and hundreds of parents working in the public sector have taken leave. The government suspended all charter flights from Germany and France and decided to implement tighter controls at crossing points. Following numerous false and fake news reports on social media, consumers across the country went on a shopping frenzy purchasing essential items such as toilet paper and sanitising gels. Pharmacies were sold out of masks, gloves and other hygiene products.

  • German group on the wait –Three hotels placed under quarantine after 65-year-old German tourist tested positive.
  • The patient is doing well –Turkey’s health ministry announced its first confirmed case of coronavirus late last (Tuesday) night.

Afrika

Corona panic

There was turmoil after a 65-year-old woman from a group of German tourists tested positive for the coronavirus. Three hotels have been placed in quarantine. Schools have been closed until March 15. Schools, buses and other public spaces are being disinfected. Charter flights from France and Germany have been suspended until April 1.

  • Crossing points to remain closed until March 18 –The Greek Cypriot Council of Ministers which convened to discuss the latest on coronavirus decided to extend the closure of the four crossing points until March 18. A protest was staged at Lokmacı (Ledra Street) crossing point yesterday (Tuesday) but the UN police did not allow the protestors who were carrying olive branches and flowers to cross.

Main News

TC authorities tighten measures after first case of Covid-19 in the north

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot authorities on Tuesday announced a whole new set of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus after the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in the north.

Schools, universities in the north will be closed throughout the week as three hotels have been quarantined in Famagusta.

The measures were taken after a German tourist, a 65-year-old woman, who was staying at one of the hotels in Famagusta, tested positive for the virus after being quarantined on Monday night.

She had arrived in the north through Ercan (Tymbou) airport with a group of 30 other people.

The hotel she was staying at, as well as two other hotels in which her co-travellers are staying, have been quarantined while everyone who came into contact with the woman is tested.

Reports said the woman was responding well to treatment.

Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar announced after an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday that groups of over 10 persons would not be allowed to cross from the south to the north.

He also said that charter flights to the north would be stopped until April 1.

He also announced that all schools including universities would remain closed until next Monday, subject to review.

Tatar also said that all museums and archaeological sites in the Famagusta district were being disinfected.

The issue was also discussed at a separate meeting at the President Mustafa Akıncı’s office.

Speaking at a live address after the meeting, Akıncı said however that, in his opinion, schools should remain closed until the end of the month.

He also said that crossings must not close completely.

Earlier on Monday, the government has issued a series of new measures following news that two cases of coronavirus had been confirmed in the south.

The measures included increased health checks at crossing points, the establishment of a crisis desk and expanding existing quarantine facilities.

Staff at the crossings was also to be doubled and questionnaires would be given to those crossing asking where they had been and where they had entered from.

The authorities also advised people on Monday evening not to cross to the south of the island, unless necessary.

Since the virus was detected on both sides, Akıncı said on Tuesday crossings should not be closed but effective screenings should be made.

Akıncı also said there was no need to panic as measures were being taken to prevent the spread of the virus in cooperation.

He added that his office would be cancelling all public events and gatherings, including a symphony concert scheduled for Friday, March 13.

The Turkish Cypriot Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu also announced that unnecessary trips abroad by academic staff and higher education students ought to be cancelled or postponed.

All internship training, including in hotels, will be postponed as well as social, cultural and other events.

Çavuşoğlu said that the government would review these measures based on developments.

As part of measures, crews from the Turkish Cypriot Civil Defense Organisation, the Health Department and the Forestry Department have started spraying public areas with disinfectants.

Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli told a late evening press conference aimed to update the public on the latest situation that the treatment of the German tourist was continuing.

He said that the woman was responding well to treatment and that four others who had come to close contact with her were in quarantine and being kept under close observation.

He also said there were no other cases of the virus but that the group of 141 which travelled with the German woman was also being kept in quarantine.

Pilli added that the public should not disregard false or fake news concerning the situation and that authorities will continue to update the public regularly in a transparent manner.

He also reassured the public that all necessary measures were in place, including the spraying of crowded public spaces with disinfectant.

Pilli, responding to a question as to how the patient succeeded to pass through thermal scans at the airport, said that the woman did not have a fever when she arrived but developed a temperature the day after.

In the meantime, consumers across the country went on a shopping frenzy purchasing essential items such as toilet paper and sanitising gels.

There were scenes of panic and hoarding as people filled their shopping carts with food and supply.

Pictures of empty food stalls at major supermarkets were also posted on social media.

Many also rushed to pharmacies asking for respiratory masks and there were widespread complaints that some pharmacies were exploiting the panic and overcharging on items such as masks.

The head of the Turkish Cypriot Pharmacists Association Umut Öksüz said that they had run out of respiratory masks and that more stocks would arrive on Wednesday.


Tatar praises TC police, slams UN over Lokmacı (Ledra St) protest

Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

“The TRNC is a sovereign state with borders and everyone must be aware and respect this fact,” Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said on Tuesday.

Tatar, accompanied by Chief Police Commissioner Süleyman Manavoğlu was speaking during a visit to the Lokmacı (Ledra Street) crossing point on Tuesday,

Tatar, referring to the scuffle that broke out between Turkish Cypriot and UN police on Monday said that the Turkish Cypriot side will never tolerate such incidents or any infringements on TRNC soil.

He stressed it is wrong for UNFICYP (United Nations Peacekeeping force in Cyprus) to act as a tool of the Greek Cypriot side.

He also thanked the TC police officers on duty for pushing the UN officers back to their line of jurisdiction.

 “The UNFICYP remained bystanders as Greek Cypriot police spraying Turkish Cypriot protestors with pepper spray on Saturday,” Tatar complained.

Tatar reiterated that UNFICYP must sign a status agreement with the Turkish Cypriot side to identify how it will operate in the north.

He said the Turkish Cypriot side will insist on an agreement to be signed with the UN to define its operations in the north, Tatar concluded.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot protestors gathered at the Lokmacı (Ledra Street) crossing point on Monday, the fourth time in days, demanding the reopening of the crossing point closed by Greek Cypriot authorities as part of measures against the coronavirus.

As was the case on Monday, UN police refused to allow the protestors from crossing through the narrow stretch of the buffer zone to the south side of the checkpoint to deliver olive branches and flowers to the Greek Cypriot police.

The General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union (KTÖS) Şener Elcil, speaking at the event said that it was meaningless for Greek Cypriot authorities to spend their time and energy on the crossing points.

“Stop taking steps that will raise tensions and open the crossing points. Take measures at entry points to the island, cooperate on the outbreak,” he said.

Elcil argued that the struggle against coronavirus could be transformed into an opportunity for cooperation between the two communities.

“Just as climate change is affecting humankind, so is this virus. This problem does not just concern Turkish Cypriots or Greek Cypriots but the world. Take steps together now!” he said.


CTP has always & only advocated for a federal solution

Yenidüzen
Governance & Power Sharing, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

“The CTP has not changed its position in support for a federal solution for the past 49 years,” Tufan Erhürman, leader of the Turkish Republican Party (CTP) and presidential candidate said on Tuesday.

During an event organized to inaugurate his party’s newly built Famagusta office, Erhürman argued the CTP has not changed its stance on a federal solution even when others were discussing the possibility of other options.

Erhürman also recalled that the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) was established during the CTP’s term in office.

“It is unfortunate to see that the IPC has not been utilised properly and has now come to a point where it might lose its position as a domestic remedy recognized by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR),” Erhürman said.

He also recalled that the Lokmacı (Ledra Street) crossing was opened during the former president Mehmet Ali Talat’s term in office following despite strong resistance from the Turkish military.

“It’s disappointing to see that the crossing point has now been temporarily closed,” he said.

Erhürman also expressed disappointment on the fact that three years had been wasted on discussions on the issue of political equality even though this was an issue which had been agreed upon during his party’s term in office.

“It seems now we have a long way to go,” said Erhürman.

He said CTP’s and his priority was to reach a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus without further delay, adding that he will push towards achieving a solution with lessons learnt from the past.

Erhürman also vowed to adopt a proactive foreign policy and if the Turkish Cypriot side’s efforts for a comprehensive settlement fail, to step up diplomatic efforts to tell the international community about the Turkish Cypriot side’s desire for a solution.

“We will have to adopt a proactive foreign policy to establish a self-sufficient economy and to lift the obstacles before tourism, trade and higher education,” he said.

Erhürman recalled that the Office of the President is the only institution with international recognition and that it can establish a dialogue with the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and the international community. 

KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> CTP has not changed its position in support for a federal solution for the past 49 years.
>> Unfortunate to see the IPC is not been utilised properly & has now come to a point where it might lose its position as a domestic remedy.
>> If elected I will adopt a proactive foreign policy & if the TC side’s efforts for a comprehensive solution fail, I will step up diplomatic efforts.


Turkey to send its third drillship to East Med

Havadis
Energy, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

“Turkey will be sending its third drillship to the Eastern Mediterranean,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu told the Anadolu News Agency’s Editors’ Desk on Tuesday.

Çavuşoğlu said that Ankara was determined to continue to protect the rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean.

He reminded that Turkey’s areas arising from its continental shelf had expanded further with the deal signed with Libya.

Çavuşoğlu added that Turkey’s continental shelf was determined according to the Law of the Sea and decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> Turkey to send its third drillship to East Med.
>> Ankara determined to continue to protect rights of Turkey & TCs’ in East Med.


Translate »