Front Page Headlines
‘Credit card fraud’
Serious indictments against the mayor and two others, remanded in police custody to two days. The Mayor of Büyükkonuk (Komi Kebir) Ahmet Sennaroğlu, his brother H.S and A.S.M have been arrested by police. The three are of being accused of using a POS machine to illegally withdraw ₺214,230 (€28,255) and 417,610 (€55,055).
- Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay) “We won’t keep the crossing points closed beyond the pandemic”
- (Labour Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu) “₺900 (€116) to ₺1200 (€156) for those working in the south”
- Disaster at scrapyard
Ceased Print/Online Only
It spread poisonous fumes
The fire that broke out at a scrapyard in Haspolat (Mia Milia) caused a series of explosions, blanketing the sky with black smoke. Metal fragments were discharged in all directions with the force of the explosions. The sky was covered in black fumes blanketing a large area due to the strong winds. Electricity poles were also damaged. Two housing units nearby and cultivated fields were also destroyed by the fire. The cause of the fire has yet to be identified.
- 21 tissue samples could only be sent to Turkey two-and-a-half months later –The tissue samples from deceased persons and forensic pathology evidence could only be sent to Turkey yesterday (Tuesday) following the suspension of flights due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The private sector is being given the step-child treatment”
Mehmet Ali Talat criticised the cabinet’s economic measures adopted to mitigate the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic during a programme on Havadis web TV. He drew attention to the inequality between those working in public and the private sector, pointing out that while public sector workers only experienced a pay-cuts, the private sector workers received a mere ₺1500 (€195). Talat asked: “Are people who work in public-sector more valuable than those in the private sector?” He added the cabinet was treating the private sector workers like a step-children. Talat said: “The cabinet spokesman (Kudret) Özersay announces cabinet decisions like he is a dictator. The opposition parties are nowhere to be seen. The parliament does not convene. This is not right! The north is a democratic place and does not accept a dictator-like attitude.” Talat also criticized Mustafa Akıncı’s demand to declare a state-of-emergency and said: “It was a very bad call.”
- 35 applications in two months – Calls to ‘stay home’ triggered domestic violence. 35 women asked for support and protection from the Nicosia Turkish Municipality (LTB) Domestic Violence Task Force in two months.
- There will be a demonstration soon – The Turkish Cypriot workers employed in the south who are unable to get back to their jobs due to the closure of the crossings asked the members of the parliament to find solutions to their plight, warning them that they will hold be staging a demonstration soon if a solution is not found.
- The scrapyard fired spewed poisonous cloud – The scrapyard fire in Haspolat (Mia Milia) spread over to a 20 dönüm (dunam) area and the sky was covered in black fumes. The fire was brought under control in the evening.
- The latest situation: North 108 cases, four deaths; South 903 cases, 23 deaths; Turkey 141,475 cases, 3,894 deaths.
Hit by ‘Corona’
Around 70 people apply daily to the Barış Psychiatric Hospital in Nicosia. Uncertainty about the future is affecting people. Dozens of people who lost their jobs or who are struggling to pay their debts because of the lockdown have been seeking psychological help. The chief physician at the hospital Dr Abidin Akbirgün said there were even those who had fear of death.
- They poisoned the country – Scenes following an explosion at the scrapyard and the fire which broke out reminded us of Hollywood films.
Serious indictment
Look at the man who stoned Afrika newspaper and placed a black wreath in front of Mustafa Akıncı’s office! Büyükkonuk (Komi Kebir) Mayor Ahmet Sennaroğlu, his brother H.S and A.B.S were remanded for two days by the court after it emerged they unlawfully obtained ₺214,230 (€28,255) and 417,610 (€55,055) using a POS machine belonging to Senmar Ltd.
- Massive fire at the scrapyard in Haspolat (Mia Milia) – The firefighters had difficulty putting out the fire, which spread over 20 dönüms (dunam).
- Two new cases and one more death in the south – No positive cases found in the 1016 tests carried out yesterday (Tuesday).
- The workers employed in the south called on the members of the parliament for solutions to their problems – The cabinet is planning to provide payment support to the workers somewhere between ₺900 (€116) to ₺1200 (€156).
Main News
Ankara slams joint declaration denouncing its East Med activities
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Ankara on Tuesday reacted to the joint declaration issued by Egypt, Greece, South Cyprus, France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) claiming that Turkey’s activities in the Eastern Mediterranean were “illegal.”
“The joint declaration of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Greece, South Cyprus, France and the UAE on the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya, is a case in point of the hypocrisy of a group of countries who are seeking regional chaos and instability through the policies they pursue and seeing no harm in sacrificing the democratic aspirations of the peoples to the callous aggression of putschist dictators, and which have fallen into delirium, as their agendas are being disrupted by Turkey,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement Monday.
The foreign ministers of Greece, Egypt, France, the UAE, and a representative from the Greek Cypriot administration held a videoconference meeting on Monday.
A joint declaration released after the meeting criticized Turkey’s activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Aksoy blasted Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration for “relying on irrelevant non-regional actors,” which he said “can only be the legacy of a mentality of mandate and colonialism,” rather than engaging in dialogue with Turkey and North Cyprus on the Eastern Mediterranean.
“The distortion of the steps taken by Turkey to protect its legitimate interests based on international law, through unfair and unlawful pretexts, is unacceptable under any circumstances,” Aksoy stressed.
He said the rulers of Egypt do not protect the rights and interests of their people, as they already preferred renouncing them.
Concerning the UAE, Aksoy said the country has no concern about the Eastern Mediterranean but has united with the other countries in this regard as a result of animosity toward Turkey.
Turkey’s anti-terror operations in northern Syria also led France to attempt “to be the patron of this axis of malice,” he added.
“We call on all these countries to act with common sense, in accordance with international law and practices. Peace and stability in our region can only be achieved through genuine and realistic dialogue and cooperation rather than attempting to create an axis of malice,” Aksoy added.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also condemned the declaration on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting held via teleconference, Erdoğan said Turkey was determined to continue protecting its rights and interests in Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean.
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar also strongly condemned the joint declaration on Tuesday describing it as an ill-intended move to disrupt regional peace and stability.
He said the declaration was unrealistic, uncivilized and hostile far from an understanding that supported cooperation.
Tatar added that Turkish Cypriots has as a much a say in the Eastern Mediterranean as Greek Cypriots did and would not remain a bystander any attempts to disregard these rights.
“While the world continues its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, some countries are trying to advance their sinister plans to usurp the rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot people,” he said.
He argued that some countries, angered by the fact that their plans had been foiled and their interests under threat had stepped up their hostile attacks against Turkey.
Such action neither benefits them or the region. What is needed is cooperation. Not ignoring the rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots,” he said.
Tatar also explained that Greece and the Greek Cypriot side needed to engage in meaningful dialogue with Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side to address regional issues.
He described the declaration as a political move, one which was far from the realities in the Eastern Mediterranean and aimed at creating a false perception of the situation.
Later Tuesday, Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay also issued a statement condemning the joint declaration dubbing Turkey’s activities in the Eastern Mediterranean as “illegal”.
“The Greek Cypriot administration, rather than working to use the natural wealth in the Eastern Mediterranean to serve regional stability through cooperation between the two sides in Cyprus or other regional actors, is attempting, through the support of other countries which have no say in the region, to create misperceptions about the Turkish Cypriots side and Turkey,” he said.
He explained that such attempts which violated international law would not be successful in dissuading Turkey from protecting and defending the rights and interests of Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“The Greek Cypriot administration must abandon its maximalist, domineering and unilateral policies and recognize the equal rights of the Turkish Cypriot people on the island as well as the region if it wants to serve security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he added.
Özersay also stated the Greek Cypriot side’s interlocutor for diplomacy and dialogue in the Eastern Mediterranean was the Turkish Cypriot side.
He argued that as long as the Greek Cypriot side ignored this reality and did not change its stance, its claims that it wanted stability and security would remain insincere.
Özersay also recalled that the Turkish Cypriot side had put forward proposals for cooperation between the two sides on numerous occasions.
“Our July 13, 2019, dated proposal for cooperation is still valid,” he added.
Özersay said the only way forward was for the Greek Cypriot side to immediately abandon its unilateral steps and to cooperate with its true interlocutor, the Turkish Cypriot side.
“The Greek Cypriot leadership is seriously mistaken if it believes that the Turkish Cypriot side will make concessions from its rights as a result of a joint declaration issued by regional and non-regional countries” he concluded.
Turkish Cypriot Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy also lambasted the signatories of the joint declaration on Tuesday.
He said that the declaration was unacceptable and a direct attempt to disregard Turkey’s rightful and justified activities in the region.
“The question is simple. What is the Greek Cypriot administration aiming to achieve by drawing countries into the region who serve nothing more than to raise tensions? You can’t run around doing whatever you want in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Taçoy said in a written statement.
He pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side was desperately trying to create the image that it had strong support from regional and non-regional actors.
“They [Greek Cypriots] would be making a great mistake if they thought they were strong by posing on a French warship. Greek Cypriots need to understand that they can’t achieve anything by ganging up with countries that pursue a colonial mentality,” Taçoy said.
KEY ACTORS
MFA (Turkey)
>> Joint declaration is a case of the hypocrisy of countries who are seeking regional chaos & instability through the policies they pursue.
>> Greece & GC side are relying on irrelevant non-regional actors which can only be the legacy of a mentality of mandate & colonialism.
>> The distortion Ankara’s steps to protect its legitimate interests based on int’l law, through unfair & unlawful pretexts, is unacceptable.
>> Egypt is not protecting the rights & interests of its people.
>> UAE, despite having no interests in the region has united with the other countries as a result of animosity toward Turkey.
>> Turkey’s anti-terror operations in northern Syria also led France to attempt “to be the patron of this axis of malice.
>> These countries should act with common sense, in accordance with international law & practices.
>> Peace & stability in the region can only be achieved through genuine & realistic dialogue & cooperation.
Erdoğan (Turkey)
>> Turkey is determined to continue protecting its rights and interests in Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean.
Tatar (UBP)
>> Joint declaration is ill-intended, unrealistic, uncivilized and hostile in its approach.
>> TCs have as much a say in East Med as GCs.
>> TCs will not remain a bystander to attempts to disregard its rights.
>> Some countries have stepped up their attacks against Turkey after their plans have been disrupted.
>> Such actions will not benefit anyone. Cooperation is essential & not ignoring the rights of Turkey or TCs.
>> Greece & GC side should engage in meaningful dialogue with Turkey & TC side to address regional issues.
Özersay (HP)
>> The joint declaration is a political move which is far from the realities & aimed at creating false misperceptions of the situation.
>> GC side rather than working to use hydrocarbons in the East Med to serve regional stability through cooperation is attempting to create misperceptions about the TC side & Turkey.
>> Such attempts will not be successful in dissuading Turkey from protecting & defending TCs’ rights & interests in East Med.
>> GC side must abandon its maximalist, domineering & unilateral policies & recognize the equal rights of TCs for security & stability in the East Med.
>> TC side is the GC side’s interlocutor for diplomacy & dialogue in East Med.
>> TC side’s July 13, 2019 proposal for cooperation on hydrocarbons still valid.
>> TC side will not concede its rights as a result of joint declarations.
Taçoy (UBP)
>> The joint declaration is unacceptable & a direct attempt to disregard Turkey’s rightful & justified activities in the region.
>> East Med is not a place where you can do what you feel like doing.
>> GC side trying desperately to create the image it has strong support from regional & non-regional actors.
>> GCs need to understand that they can’t achieve anything by ganging up with countries that pursue a colonial mentality.
Explosion at Pile (Pyla), UNFICYP steps up patrols
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) is stepping up patrols in the mixed village of Pile (Pyla) after the detonation of a small explosive device caused damages to a bakery on Tuesday, it said.
“Today at around 3 am a small explosive device exploded outside a bakery in the bi-communal village of Pile (Pyla),” UNFICYP said in a statement.
“The explosion also caused minor damage to property, but fortunately no one was injured.”
UNFICYP added “the incident is cause for great concern,” and urged that the perpetrators must be brought to justice as soon as possible.
“The mission is monitoring the situation closely and has deployed addiction peacekeeping patrols in the area to ensure that calm and stability is maintained,” the statement concluded.
Tatar sends letter to WHO on north’s success against Covid-19
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Ersin Tatar has sent a letter to the General Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explaining the north’s success in the fight against the Covid-19, several dailies reported on Wednesday.
The letter, which was sent after the last Covid-19 patient in the north was discharged from the General Hospital in Nicosia on Monday drew attention to the fact that no new cases have been detected in the island’s north for the past 24 days.
Tatar said in his letter that Turkish Cypriot health experts and doctors in had followed recommendations and guidelines set by the WHO which had played a crucial role in containing the spread of the virus.
He, included in the letter, statistics and figures concerning cases, patients and diagnostic tests carried out in the north.
Tatar pointed out that the figures the World Health Organisation shared on Cyprus did not provide an accurate picture of the situation on the island as it excluded data and statistics from the north.
He added this situation was unacceptable as the WHO shared statistics of even the small of countries and nations.
Tatar reminded that the pandemic did not discriminate between people of different nations, ethnicity, religions or ages nor did it recognize political borders.
Tatar also said that he was proud of the north’s efforts despite its limited resources.
He called on the WHO General Director to once again include the north in its daily update of statistics from Cyprus.
Financial support in the pipeline for those employed in the south
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy, CBMs
OVERVIEW
“The Turkish Cypriot workers employed in the south will receive from ₺900 (€117) to ₺1200 (€156) depending on their marital status, “Labour Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu said on Tuesday.
Speaking during the plenary, Sucuoğlu added the payments will be made within the scope of the social services department and will be based on the list provided by the group of workers.
“The issue will be finalized during the cabinet meeting on Thursday,” Sucuoğlu added.
He also noted he has had a meeting earlier with the representatives of those employed in the south.
“The crossings will remain closed at least for another two more months,” Sucuoğlu concluded.