Front Page Headlines
Latest situation in the south: Unemployment pay and support package
An economic support package which is among the most raised issued in the north but which has not been brought to life was announced by the Greek Cypriot leadership in the south. As part of coronavirus measures, it has been decided to implement a €700m ‘Extraordinary Financial Support Programme’ for small and medium-sized enterprises. The Greek Cypriot leader described the situation with the words, “we are in a state of emergency”.
- The situation in the north: Race for office won’t stop – Akıncı: “Unfortunately there have been some who have tried to associate this issue with the election race.” Özersay: “The election has no importance for me. I’m open to all options, including the idea of postponing the elections.” Tatar: “We are not at a point where we can think of the elections. Our priority is the public’s health.”
- New coronavirus decisions by Council of Ministers – Entry ban broadened. If conditions change a curfew can be imposed. We can prevent the entry of everyone for the exception of our citizens if need be. No one from 71 countries, including those from the UK and those with legal permits, for the exception of TRNC citizens, will be able to enter the country. We are calling on TRNC citizens in the UK to remain where they are and not return to the TRNC unless necessary. A coordination council has been established to deal with the Salamis Hotel quarantine. Those who fail to abide by the 14-day isolation rule after arriving in the country will be detained by police and taken to a quarantine facility.
- Riot police intervene in the protest at the prison.
- Nine new cases in the South, most of them from the UK.
Ceased print/ online only
Strict measures against corona
The Council of Ministers added to the list of prohibited countries; urged the TRNC citizens not to come back; closed the supermarket’s hot food sections and banned the lorries to leave the ports when they arrive in ferries loaded with goods. As of yesterday (Sunday), the tourists are being sent back to their countries.
- Ten arrested in protest at the prison despite the ban – The police intervened in the on-going protests held by prisoners at the central prison and their relatives. The protest violated the March 12 dated cabinet decision prohibiting any mass gatherings or protests.
- Capital quiet due to coronavirus – It was probably the quietest day north Nicosia has witnessed in its history.
- The number of coronavirus cases in the TRNC reaches six.
- Akıncı renewed his call to collaborate with international organizations.
Lockdown to the island
Cabinets on both sides of the island convene daily due to the increasing number of cases. Both cabinets adopted stricter measures during their meetings yesterday (Sunday).
- Prisoners and their relatives outraged – One woman, nine men arrested in a protest organised by prisoners and their relatives outside the central prison in north Nicosia.
- 41 cases throughout the island – 35 coronavirus positive cases in the south and six in the north.
- Tragedy at Ercan (Tymbou) airport – 22 passengers arriving from Turkey were taken to a small room that lacks the basic hygiene conditions without going through the immigration procedures.
€700m for an emergency support programme
The Greek Cypriot Administration has shut all commercial establishments, restaurants, entertainment venues, theatres, museums and historic sites, sports centres for four weeks. It also took a series of financial measures. The economic measures are aimed at keeping businesses on their feet. The Greek Cypriot government announced a €700m support programme to support businesses which will remain closed during the four weeks.
- North Cyprus: Still no economic measures – Those with legal permits will not be able to enter the country with the seven new measures adopted by the TRNC government. Supermarkets in the north were calmer compared to previous days.
- All flights will halt –Pegasus Airlines Cyprus Director Zeki Ziya says planes were not finding any passengers to fly over the last few days.
- The number reaches six in the north. Coronavirus figures in the south reach 35.
- They want a pardon
- A protest will be staged – Public Workers’ Union has reacted to the decision to call into work of public servants who are not working at the ports, civil aviation and hospitals.
The number has risen to 41
The coronavirus has rapidly spread across our island in a week and more dangerous alarms have been ringing. The number of cases in the south is rising faster than the cases in the north. While the figure reached six in the north, the number in the south has reached 33. After two more cases were confirmed on the British bases, the total figure reached 41. Everyone on the base has been placed under quarantine. Five of the seven cases confirmed in the south yesterday (Sunday) were individuals who arrived on the island from the UK recently. The other two were individuals who had contact with other positive cases.
- New cabinet decisions – TRNC shuts its gates to 71 more countries. Entry from the UK has also been barred. Calls are being made to citizens in the UK not to come. No one for the exception of TRNC citizens, including those with residency or working permits will be allowed into the country. “If conditions change, the possibility of imposing a curfew or other measures might be considered,” said Özersay. Asked to comment on Serdar Denktaş’s proposal to postpone the elections for a year, Özersay said, “The elections do not have the slightest importance for me.”
- The city that lost its voice – An uncommon sight for our country. Streets and avenues in Nicosia empty.
- Incidents at the prison: Protests ended following arrests by police.
Main News
Cases rise to six, TC authorities struggle to implement measures
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot government’s efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus continued on Sunday as a new case was confirmed in the north, raising the tally to six
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar called on Turkish Cypriots living in the UK not to return to the island.
“It’s not an easy thing to ask. This is a very hard thing to say but the UK is following a different policy, one that is not aimed at taking measures,” he added.
Tatar added that four of the patients who tested positive for the virus were German nationals while the other two were Turkish Cypriots who had recently been in the UK.
“One of them lives here while the other lives in the UK but came for a visit. Travellers from the UK pose a risk,” he said.
Tatar reminded that anyone arriving from the UK will have to be self-isolated for 14 days.
He also repeated his call to the public to remain in their homes unless necessary.
“Stay at home, Keep safe. Don’t leave unless you need to. We don’t intend to lock people in their homes. We are working for the health of the public but we must not forget that life continues. We are discussing ways to ensure that essential services continue to operate but at minimum required levels,” he said.
Tatar also repeated that supermarkets remain opened but that people who weren’t working should stay at home or that all their efforts would be in vain.
Responding to a question about the elections, Tatar said that they were not at a point where they could think about the elections.
“Our only priority at the moment is the public’s safety,” he added.
Asked about the possibility of imposing a curfew, Tatar said it was unrealistic to lock everyone in their homes for 14 days.
“People need to go out to meet their essential needs. All we can do is to tell people to avoid going outside unless it is necessary.
Meanwhile, the cabinet announced additional measures on Sunday to meet changing conditions.
The measures were mainly designed to smoothen daily operations, to ensure supply of goods to supermarkets and to broaden earlier restrictions imposed on entry into the north.
Announcing the new measures, Turkish Cypriot Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Kudret Özersay said that they were working hard to ensure the safety of the public.
He said the decision adopted on March 12 to restrict the entry of foreign nationals into the north had been extended to 71 countries now.
“Contrary to the previous cabinet decision, the new one also prohibits the entry of citizens from 71 countries even if they have a legal permit to reside in the TRNC,” Özersay said.
He also noted that the restriction has been extended to British home-owners in the north and said they will also not be permitted to enter.
Özersay also repeated a call made by Tatar for Turkish Cypriots living in the UK not to return to the island.
He also provided clarification on imported goods that arrive either at the Famagusta or Kyrenia ports.
“With a view to continuing imports to our country and providing supplies to markets, trucks containing imported goods from abroad will remain at Famagusta and Kyrenia ports and their containers will be towed and directed to inland depots,” he said.
Özersay also added that the customs officers and customs commissioners will continue to work to ensure a regular supply of goods to supermarkets.
Özersay also said a committee had been set up to coordinate the needs for those under quarantine at the Salamis hotel and the other two hotels.
He also reminded the mandatory self-isolation rule for those who arrive in the north from a foreign country.
“Those who violate self-isolation measure will be detained by police and taken to a monitoring centre which is being set up. They will be kept there under the observation of health officials,” Özersay concluded.
Asked whether the council has evaluated the possibility of postponing the upcoming presidential elections, he said the issue of the elections was not raised during the meeting as it was solely focused on public health.
Responding to a related question Kudret Özersay said, “I can only say the election is not our concern at the moment.”
In the meantime, President Mustafa Akıncı on Sunday repeated his call to the public to respect the measures adopted by the government and to remain home.
Akıncı who addressed the nation in a video message posted on social media also urged the government to reconsider his earlier call to declare a state of emergency.
“If not the people should understand the requirements of the extraordinary situation we are experiencing,” he stressed.
He noted that the declaration of a state of emergency would have allowed the adopted measures to be implemented swiftly.
“It is possible to produce decisions on public health through the council meetings chaired by the president and they would be swiftly implemented with the approval of parliament,” Akıncı said.
He also pointed out that his proposal would not curtail or infringe anyone’s basic rights or freedoms.
Akıncı also slammed claims attempting his proposal for a state of emergency to be declared with the upcoming elections.
He recalled that he had requested from the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades to hold a meeting of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health even before any cases of coronavirus had emerged.
Urging the people to stay at their homes, Akıncı noted that it is possible to establish mechanisms to supply the people with their basic needs with the coordination of the municipalities, civil defence, police and the armed forces.
“It is vital to minimize human-to-human contact,” Akıncı stressed.
He also noted that his office is in constant communication with the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) officials for any health-related needs that might arise.
In a separate meeting on Sunday from Akıncı’s office, Presidential Advisor Erhan Erçin said they had confirmed that the crossings remained open for the Turkish Cypriots.
The statement came following reports that the Greek Cypriot authorities had shut crossing points to all, including Turkish Cypriots.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) also issued a statement shortly afterwards, explaining that the crossing points would remain open for Turkish Cypriots.
Erçin noted that they had been in touch with the UN Good Offices Mission in Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot administration on the matter.
Anastasiades on Sunday said that “Cyprus was facing a state of emergency” as he announced further measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The measures include new provisions on the entry to the south from the crossing points. He said anyone entering the country will be quarantined in reception centres and the conditions will also apply to Turkish Cypriots crossing from the north.
Kıbrıs Postası, which temporally ceased its print edition due to the virus outbreak, reported on Monday that the residents of Beyarmudu (Pergamos) were concerned that residents of the neighbouring village of Pile (Pyla) were being allowed to travel back and forth to the south without being subject to any form of isolation or quarantine procedures.
The daily reported that the authorities have been unable to implement isolation procedures on Turkish Cypriots living in the mixed-village.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, riot police intervened at a demonstration outside the Nicosia Central Prison in the north which had been going on since Saturday after 700 or so inmates started a hunger strike in protest of overcrowded and squalid conditions at the prison.
The inmates and their families, expressing fear over the coronavirus outbreak, have been demanding pardons or shortening of prison sentences.
No cases of the virus have been reported among inmates.
Police arrested a number of the protestors after some of them tried to ram the prison gates with a pick-up truck.
Being unsuccessful in their attempt, the protestors then started a fire and stoned the prison walls.
The protestors were rounded up by riot police and arrested.
Meanwhile, public sector trade unions have been asking the authorities to implement measures to protect public servants while at work. KES (TC Public workers’ Union) said they will not allow their members to report for duty in any public department other than in civil aviation and health services because of the “government’s inadequate measures and inconsistent stance.”
Tamay Soysan, head of TEL-SEN (Telecommunications Board Workers’ Union) said the Telecommunications Board will continue to be on standby for any breakdown of services but that non-essential staff will remain home.
In a written statement issued on Sunday, Soysan said they had conveyed their objection to the Minister of Public Works and Communication that administrative staff needed to report for work.
Provident Fund Workers’ Union Büro-İş, Vergi-sen, the Tax Department Personnel Union, and Haksen, Public Workers’ Union, have notified the cabinet that they will not allow their members to report to duty until the authorities implement necessary measures to protect them from the coronavirus pandemic.
Finally, Havadis reports on Monday, 22 passengers arriving from Turkey were kept in a small room at the Ercan (Tymbou) airport, which lacked basic hygiene conditions without going through the immigration procedures.
Enes Kuzhan, one of the passengers shared the conditions of the building they were being kept in a video message over social media on Sunday.
Kuzhan, speaking to Havadis, said there were 22 male passengers from Turkey and other countries. He added they are being held in a small room that lacks basic hygiene.
Transportation Minister Tolga Atakan, responding to Havadis’ questions on the issue, said that 22 passengers arrived from Turkey on Sunday morning and will be sent back on Monday morning.
Atakan also denied that the conditions of the room the 22 men were kept were bad or unhygienic.
Turkey’s third drilling ship, “the Kanuni” arrives in Mersin
Kıbrıs Postası
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey’s third drilling ship, named “Kanuni” after the famous Ottoman Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, has anchored off the coast of Mersin, Turkey after embarking from a port in the U.K., Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez announced Sunday.
Dönmez announced the development over his Twitter account.
“No one will be allowed to board or leave the ship due to measures in place against the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19). The ship will undergo maintenance once the measures are lifted,” he said.
Dönmez had announced earlier that the Kanuni would be operating in the Eastern Mediterranean, strengthening Turkish Petroleum’s exploration activities in the region.
Disrespect to history
Kıbrıs
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The walls of the Acendu Church in Lefke (Lefka) were vandalized, Kıbrıs newspaper reported on Monday.
The exterior and the interior walls of the church have been painted and written on with spray paint, proving that the Turkish Cypriots do not give historical monuments any respect!
The grounds of the Acendu church had been restored recently with funds provided by the European Union (EU).