TCC Press Review 25 Apr 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

11,000 workers, 27,000 students. The majority want to go back

While many of the workers or university students on the island returned homes due to the pandemic, thousands remained here. According to the records of the Labour and Social Security Ministry, there are still 11,000 workers and 27,000 university students in the country, many of which want to return home.

  • No cases in the north, nine new cases in the south, one death
  • 5,000 persons under observation – 160 more repatriated citizens from the UK who were kept in quarantine at dorms in Güzelyurt (Morphou) were discharged yesterday (Friday) after they all tested negative for Covid-19.
  • Fire at the (General) hospital again.

Kıbrıs Postası

Cease Print/Online Only

Kıbrıs

Whatever is produced in the north will be consumed in the north

Agriculture and Natural Resources Minister Dursun Oğuz said the cabinet will implement measures to please local producers and protect consumers at the same time. Oğuz said, “We have to plan our policies and ensure the farmers continue with their farming activities.” He added the import of onion, watermelon, apricot, prune and garlic have been prohibited with the aim of protecting local farmers.

  • The efforts for normalization intensified – Labour Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu said there are plans to reopen some of the sectors on May 4. He added he will present his proposal to the cabinet on Wednesday.
  • Many of the people adhered to the requirement to wear masks – It is mandatory to wear masks when going out since Friday. Those in violation of the ruling can be sentenced to a year in prison or forced to pay a fine equivalent to ten per cent of the minimum wage or both.

Havadis

The people are aware of everything

Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu evaluated the cabinet’s performance on Havadis web and answered questioned on the financial situation. “The people are aware of everything,” Amcaoğlu said and added the cabinet is trying to cope with a crisis with limited resources. “We value criticisms but those criticising the cabinet should also provide alternative proposals,” Amcaoğlu stressed.

  • Famagusta TMK started to produce disinfectants – Turkish Maarif College (TMK) teachers have started to produce disinfectant at school labs.
  • The latest situation: North 108 cases, four deaths, South 804 cases, 14 deaths; Turkey 104,912 cases, 2,600 deaths.

Diyalog

Strategy determined

It was decided following a meeting of the three ministers that small businesses such as car mechanics and the construction sector will be opened first. Faiz Sucuoğlu said they were trying to calculate how crowded some sectors would be. “Following these calculations, we are planning to open the sectors by introducing certain conditions and measures. The second phase will include businesses such as barbershops and hairdressers. The necessary decisions will be taken on Wednesday.

  • No positive cases – 564 people were tested in North Cyprus yesterday (Friday).
  • Another death – The total number of cases in the south rose to 804 with nine new cases.
  • Death toll reaches 2,600 – The total number of cases in Turkey jumps to 104,912 with 3,122 new cases. 

Afrika

Returning to normal on 4 May

Speaking to Turkish TV channels, Ersin Tatar said the struggle against the virus has been successful and added: “The coronavirus nightmare is over in the north.” The land registry department will resume work on May 4. The civil servants will work only half a day and will work with an appointment system.

  • No positive cases in the north 546 tests administered in the north on Friday. Turkish Cypriot health minister said the tests were administered to the workers of the Nicosia Turkish Municipality, Famagusta Municipality, and the İskele (Trikomo) municipality. Those who had been kept in quarantine at the Royal Palace Hotel was also tested on Friday. Pilli added the total number of tests carried out in the north to date are 8,423. The total number of cases remains at 108. Nine new cases identified in the south and a 69-year-old patient passed away. The total number of cases in the south increased to 804. The total number of cases on the island reached 912.
  • Loans worth ₺10m (€1.34m) from the Development Bank – The loans to be given to small businesses have been approved.
  • Crossings will not open until the threat of the virus is completely eradicated – Professor of microbiology and molecular virology at the University of Nicosia Medical School, Petros Karayiannis said.

Main News

No positive cases in the north for seventh consecutive day

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The north on Friday reported that no new cases of the coronavirus had been observed over the past week.

Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli said 2,868 tests had been conducted over the past week, none have tested positive.

Pilli said 546 people had been tested on Friday alone and that the last positive case was confirmed on April 17.

A total of 8423 tests have been carried out to date and the number of cases remains at 108.

He said the tests were carried out on municipal workers from the Nicosia Turkish Municipality, Famagusta Municipality and İskele (Trikomo) municipality, petrol station workers, Ercan (Tymbou) airport ground staff, and the personnel on-board the ships docked at the Famagusta port.

Pilli said that patients referred to the pulmonology ward at the state hospitals in Nicosia and Famagusta were also tested.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot political parties on Friday expressed their appreciation and support to the close coordination between the two leaders as well as acknowledge the professional daily work of the bi-communal technical committee on health care.

The parties also paid to tribute to the physicians, nurses, health experts and auxiliary medical staff from health care units for their sacrifice and hard work in halting the spreading of the disease COVID-19 causing huge human tragedies.

The joint declaration issued by the parties which participate in the bi-communal meetings at the Ledra Palace Hotel said they were aware of the danger the coronavirus pandemic represented for the whole of humanity including Cyprus and its citizens, Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.

The parties also called upon all Cypriots to respect strict and precautionary measures in place in order to stop the pandemic from spreading.

“At this difficult time, the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots should set aside their differences of opinion over the solution of the Cyprus problem and concentrate on their mental and physical strength in order to eliminate the danger facing public health and its social and economic consequences in the future,” the declaration read.

The parties pointed out that it was important more than ever in the history of the island, for people from all over the island to show solidarity, and if necessary, provide them with medical and material assistance to cope more effectively and quickly with the coronavirus spread.

“In this context, leaders and representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties highly appreciate and support close coordination between the leaders of both communities and acknowledge the professional daily work of the bi-communal technical committee on health care,” the statement read.

The parties also encouraged the two leaders to continue to cooperate as closely as necessary.

“It will show the world, whether after the pandemic is eliminated, that we are capable of refreshing our dialogue and progress in the peace process leading to the reunification of our divided country. The common struggle against the coronavirus pandemic can be seen as an opportunity to find new ways to approach each other, and realise that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are destined to live together in peace and brotherhood in a united society,” the declaration concluded.


Normalisation process to be launched on May 4

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

OVERVIEW

“The process of reopening of economic sectors and lifting certain restrictions will take place in four stages from May 4,” Health Minister Ali Pilli said on Friday.

Speaking on HaberKıbrıs web TV, Pilli said that the government had come up with a plan.

In the first phase, the opening of construction sites, small businesses such as mechanics will be allowed, followed by a second phase which will include the remaining sectors.

The third phase will include public offices and schools while the fourth phase will include the outside world,” Pilli said.

He said smaller business will be the first to be opened but the details will be announced next week.

 “It is not possible to indicate any timelines for the reopening. We will have to observe the developments following the first phase,” Pilli concluded.

Speaking to Turkish broadcaster TGRT on Friday, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar confirmed Pilli’s statement and said the smaller businesses, workshops and car-mechanics will be the first places to be reopened on May 4.

Social distancing and existing hygiene guidelines will remain in place none the less, he added.

Tatar also highlighted that he has been in constant dialogue with Ankara.

“As a result of the pandemic process, Turkey has given a reassurance that it will assist the north to overcome the economic difficulties in the north,” Tatar said.

He added once the process is over the north will direct its attention to higher education, tourism, construction, agriculture, industry and information technology sectors with the availability of state incentives.

Earlier on Friday Tatar, met with the board members of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KTSO).

In addition to reiterating his earlier remarks, Tatar highlighted that once the coronavirus pandemic is over, the cabinet will focus on local employment and production.

“We have to develop policies that will protect the Turkish Cypriot producers and the industrialists…Therefore we will have to work together to increase the capacity and the competitiveness of the Turkish Cypriot companies,” Tatar said.

Earlier in the day, KTSO had slammed the cabinet regarding the economic measures.

In a statement issued before the meeting with Tatar, KTSO said despite its warnings, the cabinet continued to discriminate between open and closed businesses in its economic relief packages.

“The cabinet refuses to accept the fact that all the businesses have been impacted by the economic fallout caused by the crisis,”,” the statement read.

KTSO also urged the cabinet to adopt a system based on loss of revenues.

“Any business which has lost more than 25 per cent of its turnover should be eligible for receiving economic support,” the KTSO statement concluded.

Labour Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu also announced on Friday that steps to reopening economic sectors will begin on Friday, May 4.

“Our goal is to open some of the sectors that operate without too many employees or have limited contact with customers. The cabinet will be examining a comprehensive list of sectors when it convenes on Wednesday to decide which ones will be allowed to reopen,” Sucuoğlu said.

He added any business or sector which will be allowed to resume activities will be subject to various hygiene rules and procedures.

Responding to a question on the salary support scheme, Sucuoğlu said there are 15,000 workers from third countries and 22,000 from Turkey, who will be eligible for the support scheme.

“Moreover, the third-country nationals in the north will also be included in the employment security system following an amendment to be made in the job security regulation,” Sucuoğlu said.

Also responding to a question on the cabinet’s decision to lower the unemployment benefit wage from ₺2674 (€348) to ₺1,500 (€200), Sucuoğlu said that many workers or employees were demanding their employers to lay them off so that they could receive unemployment benefit which was higher than what the government was offering as part of the support scheme.

“The increase in the number of the unemployment benefit applications forced the labour ministry to adopt measures to prevent this as the state has limited resources and every lira counts at this stage,” Sucuoğlu concluded.

Abdullah Korkmazhan, founder of “Left Movement” also criticised the cabinet for lowering the ‘unemployment benefit’ amount and levelling it with the ‘salary support scheme’.

Arguing that the National Unity Party (UBP)-People’s Party (HP) coalition wants the lower-income groups to bear the burden of the crisis, Korkmazhan urged the authorities to implement measures to protect the people without any delay.

“The state budget must be revised and funds allocated to defence spending should be transferred to health. The finance ministry should also launch efforts against the grey economy, a 40 per cent cut should be implemented from the revenues of banks, financial institutions and casinos. An additional ten per cent tax should be imposed on bigger companies and five per cent haircut should be introduced to individuals who have more than ₺1m (€134,000) in their bank accounts,” Korkmazhan concluded.

In the meantime, Turkish Cypriot Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay announced on Friday that the Development Bank had granted 216 businesses up to ₺10m (€1.34m) in loans.

In a social media post, he noted the loans, which was approximately ₺500,000 (€65000) per applicant, was one of the steps taken by the cabinet to assist the private sector in overcoming the economic fallout of the crisis

In a separate development, the European Commission (EC) signed the first batch of grant contracts with farmers in the Turkish Cypriot community on Friday as part of the 4th Rural Development Grant Scheme, Yenidüzen reported on Saturday.

In a statement issued from the EC, 25 out of 58 grant beneficiaries of the scheme with a total value of €5m, signed contracts, which the average European Union (EU) funding per contract amounts to €90,000.  

“The grant scheme aims at increasing the competitiveness of the rural economy in the north by improving crop and animal production, whilst promoting the sustainable use of natural resources,” the statement read.

The EC noted the emphasis of the grant scheme has been on innovative concepts concerning renewable energy, cost-cutting projects with increased profits. Improvement of production methods as well as increasing the production of sheep and goat milk, which could be used to produce hellim (halloumi) have also been prioritized by the EC.


75 Syrian migrants deported to Turkey

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Human Rights, Migration & Citizenship, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

75 of 175 undocumented Syrian migrants, who have been staying in an apartment complex in İskele (Trikomo) since being rescued on 21 March, have been deported back to Turkey, all dailies reported on Saturday.

The migrants were sent to Mersin from the Famagusta Port on Friday where they will be placed under quarantine for 14-days.

It is reported that the Interior Ministry had launched an initiative with officials in Ankara regarding the deportation of the Syrian migrants but Turkey had only agreed to receive 75 of them.

The Interior Ministry has also implemented a new provision to keep the families together in the apartment complex where the Syrian migrants are being held. Otherwise, the male and female migrants are being kept separately in two buildings.


Turkey slams EU Council final declaration’s East Med remarks

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

Turkey on Friday slammed the European Union (EU)over its remarks on the Turkish drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and called on Brussels to “stop being used” by Greece and South Cyprus in the name of archaic solidarity.

“We see once again that the eastern Mediterranean part of the conclusion of the EU Council meeting was written with the understanding of archaic solidarity. This section of the conclusion is yet another example of how the EU, contrary to international law and its own acquis, is being abused by the Greek Cypriot/Greek duo and becoming a tool for their maximalist policies,” read a statement issued by Hami Aksoy, the spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The EU leaders held a meeting late April 23 to formulate the European response to the pandemic and its economic consequences.

Although the meeting was mainly on fighting the outbreak, the conclusion also mentioned an ongoing conflict between Turkey and Greece/South Cyprus on the hydrocarbon activities in the eastern Mediterranean.

“The illegal drilling activities by Turkey in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone were raised by some member states. We expressed our full solidarity with Cyprus and recalled and reaffirmed our previous conclusions on this matter,” read the conclusion.

KEY ACTORS
MFA (Turkey)
>> EU should stop being used by Greece/GC duo in the name of archaic solidarity.
>> Final declaration example of how EU contrary to Int’l law & acquis is becoming a tool for Greek/GC side’s maximalist policies.


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