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Outrage against the crossing point
Both the Turkish Cypriot residents of Pile (Pyla) and Turkish Cypriots working into the south have lost their patience over the closure of the crossing points within the framework of Covid-19 measures. Their anger transformed into a demonstration yesterday (Wednesday) as the villagers staged a protest on the southern side of the Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing point demanding that they are allowed to cross north in a controlled manner. “We want a homeland without checkpoints,” said Pile’s (Pyla) Turkish Cypriot Mukhtar Veysal Güden.
- CTP youth: “The people of Pile (Pyla) are not alone”
- €11m support package to Turkish Cypriots from the European Union (EU)
- Two new cases in the south, one 85-year-old dies…No new cases in the north.
Ceased Print/Online Only
Electricity current claims two lives
Two workers, a Syrian and an Egyptian on board the anchored freight ship “Anakin” suffered a horrific death while cleaning the deck of the ship with water. The 23 and 26-year-old crew members were killed after being electrocuted due to faulty electricity on the ship. They were first rushed to shore with a speedboat as the ship was anchored offshore but could not be saved despite the paramedics’ attempts
- Longing and outrage – Turkish Cypriots living in Pile (Pyla) protested the closure of the crossing points as part of measures adopted against the coronavirus at the Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing point. The Turkish Cypriot workers employed in the south also came to the crossing point to support the Pile (Pyla) residents. Turkish Cypriot Mukhtar of Pile (Pyla) Veysal Güden said, “500 Turks have been forgotten in Pile (Pyla)” and added, “We want a country without any barricades.” On the other hand, the families, who were separated due to the closure, found the opportunity to meet with their relatives under police supervision.
Outrage, rebellion, tears
The Turkish Cypriot residents of Pile (Pyla) and the Turkish Cypriots employed in the south protested the closure of the crossings yesterday (Wednesday) at the Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing point. The Turkish Cypriots of Pile (Pyla) have been stuck in the village and not allowed to cross to the north due to the measures adopted to contain the spread of Covid-19. The Turkish Cypriots accused the cabinet of not doing anything about the crossings and not providing any food supplies to them. The closure of the crossings also affected those employed in the south. The Turkish Cypriots employed in the south have not been able to earn a living for nearly two months now. There are also Turkish Cypriots whose on-going medical treatment stopped due to the closure of the crossings. Turkish Cypriot Mukhtar of Pile (Pyla) Veysal Güden asked the authorities to find solutions to their problems.
- A helping hand for the Turkish Cypriots from the EU – The European Commission (EC) has launched an emergency economic support package worth €11m to mitigate the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The package aims at reducing the deep socio-economic effects of the pandemic in the Turkish Cypriot community.
- The latest situation: 108 cases, four deaths; South 905 cases, 24 deaths; Turkey 143,114 cases, 3,952 deaths.
Massive loss of revenue
Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said there was a need for ₺3bn (€398,4m) until the end of the year. He also said that the state had a ₺4bn (€531,2m) debt to a bank from the past. Amcaoğlu said it would not be possible to overcome this period without Turkey’s support. He added that there was a huge drop in state revenues.
- Protest with ‘black coffin’ – (TC) Residents of Pile (Pyla) expressed their outrage for not being allowed to cross north due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- ‘Urgent support package’ – EU to provide €11m support to North Cyprus.
Pile (Pyla) victims revolted
As coronavirus measures relaxed, protests started. The Pile (Pyla) residents, who have been isolated from the north, and the Turkish Cypriot workers employed in the south held a protest at the Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing. During the protest, the villagers held placards with ‘We are not refugees’ written on them. The Turkish Cypriot Mukhtar of the village Veysal Güdan said nothing had changed for the residents of Pile (Pyla) even though the normalization process had been launched in the TRNC. “500 Turkish Cypriots have been forgotten in Pile (Pyla),” he said.
- One more death and two new cases in the south – No positive cases in the north. There are not any positive cases in the north anymore. 1,560 tests carried out yesterday (Wednesday) and 27,633 to date.
- Death on board the ship at Famagusta Port – A Syrian and an Egyptian working onboard a ship at the Famagusta Port, died due to stray voltage while cleaning the deck of the ship.
- Olive producers want the authorities to stop the import of olives.
Main News
TC residents of Pile (Pyla) protest TC authorities
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot residents of the mixed village of Pile (Pyla) staged a demonstration at the Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing point on Wednesday demanding that the authorities allow them to cross freely to the north.
Turkish Cypriot authorities have banned the village’s Turkish Cypriot inhabitants from coming and going to the north since March as part of restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The authorities are arguing that it would be simply too risky to allow the villagers to cross daily because they had no way of detecting whether or not they also came into contact with anyone from the south where new cases are still being reported.
The villagers are claiming that they are not infected with Covid-19.
Wednesday’s protest was supported by Turkish Cypriot workers who aren’t able to return to their jobs in the south.
The protestors chanted slogans calling for the authorities to take action.
At one stage, they dropped a black coffin at the Pergamos checkpoint and some were shouting the slogan “They will not have us, nor our corpses.”
Pile’s (Pyla) Turkish Cypriot Mukhtar Veysel, speaking at the protest, complained that the villagers were suffering because of the closure of the crossing points.
He slammed the government for treating them as second-class citizens and abandoning them to their fate.
Veysel added that dozens of villagers were at risk of losing their jobs in the north or were unable to receive medical treatment.
“Pile’s (Pyla) [Turkish Cypriot] population grows smaller by the day because of the state’s actions. The younger generations leave and don’t return. We want justice but haven’t seen any. We don’t want our country to have checkpoints,” he said, adding that both sides were wrong to close the checkpoints and that it would have been enough to only close the external borders.
The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Youth Branch expressed support to the protestors with a statement on Wednesday, arguing that the situation in Pile (Pyla) was unacceptable.
“We, the CTP Youth Branch which is waging a struggle for a United Federal Cyprus, is observing that the borders and crossing points are hurting our people. The 14-quarantine required for Pile (Pyla) residents crossing north is unacceptable,” the statement read.
It warned that dozens of residents were facing the risk of losing their jobs which was why the government needed to revise its decision concerning Pile (Pyla).
“We stand by the people of Pile (Pyla) in their rightful struggle,” the CTP Youth Branch said.
Speaking later in the afternoon, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said he was aware of the plight of Pile’s (Pyla) Turkish Cypriot residents and was trying to solve the problem with the Health Ministry and the Science Board,”
He refrained from providing any further details and added the issue will be evaluated by the cabinet in the coming days.
Just hours later, Turkish Cypriot Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister unveiled what he said was a plan which would put an end to the problems of the Turkish Cypriot residents in the mixed village.
He said he would table his proposal to the cabinet on Thursday.
“The Turkish Cypriots will sign a declaration stating they will not cross over to south Cyprus, to keep away from crowded places. The system will l be monitored by the mukhtar and his deputies,” Özersay said on a HaberKıbrıs web TV programme.
He said the cabinet was aware of the problems experienced in Pile (Pyla and that nobody was happy about the situation.
“Our citizens in Pile (Pyla) are right to be angry but I urge them to be fair when directing criticism at us. Let me remind them that this decision was not taken to punish them but to lower the risks for the general public,” Özersay said.
He noted the goal was to protect the closed-circuit system created in the north.
“There are people who need to cross to the north for work daily but they cannot due to the quarantine requirements in place. In this regard, the model which I will propose to the cabinet will be based on a personal declaration by individuals who need to cross to the north. Each individual will sign the declaration and the mukhtar and his deputies will monitor the system,” Özersay said, adding the model will be based on trust.
He also said those who do not comply with the details of the declaration will then be removed from the list of people allowed to cross.
Also on Wednesday Abdullah Korkmazhan, in a written statement on Wednesday on behalf of the Left Movement, pointed out that the Covid-19 outbreak was under control on both sides and that the crossing points should be gradually opened by taking the appropriate measures.
Korkmazhan pointed out that more than 1,500 Turkish Cypriots employed in the south were now faced with irreparable economic damages due to the closure of the crossings along with many others who seek health services and attend schools in the south.
“As a result of the closure, the members of the Maronite community and the Greek Cypriots are also left helpless,” Korkmazhan stressed.
“Given the relaxation of the measures and end of the lockdown on both sides of the island, the authorities’ insistence to keep the crossings closed is unacceptable,” Korkmazhan argued.
He added it was time to open the crossings with the necessary health measures in place.
Korkmazhan also argued that opening of the crossings will have a positive impact on the Turkish Cypriot economy, which is in a severe crisis at the moment.
Claiming that the authorities used the covid-19 as an excuse to close the crossings permanently to cut the inter-communal relations, Korkmazhan said keeping them closed is unacceptable.
“The nationalist governments on both sides must be aware that the decision to keep the crossings is unacceptable and we will not refrain from holding mass protests if the insistence to keep them closed continues,” Korkmazhan concluded.
Emergency Economic Support Package from the EC
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
EU Matters, Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
The President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed President Mustafa Akıncı that the EC will continue to work with the Turkish Cypriot side against the medical, economic and social effects of the covid-19 pandemic, the dailies report on Thursday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Akıncı’s office announced the EC president also noted they are finalizing the efforts to provide support for micro-businesses and to the self-employed individuals in the coming period.
“Ursula von der Leyen also fully agrees with Akıncı’s viewpoint of all relevant actors collaborating and fighting against the virus in coordination,” the statement read.
Leyen, in her letter also noted the EC is working on broadening the grant schemes and micro-financing options given to micro-businesses and retailers. “Additionally, a grant scheme for the farmers under rural development programme has reached its final phase before the announcement,” Leyen said in her letter.
Leyen also noted the EC through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has procured health equipment worth €2.5m, which is half of the promised €5m aid for the Turkish Cypriot community and has provided financing for 25 health professionals for three months.
“Von der Leyen concluded her letter by reassuring Akıncı that the EC will maintain its close working relationship with the Turkish Cypriot community against the pandemic’s medical, economic and social effects,” the statement concluded.
In parallel tandem, the EC representation in Cyprus announced it is initiating a series of new economic measures to help address the broader socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Turkish Cypriot community.
In a statement issued from the EC office on Wednesday, it is stated the goal of the economic aid scheme is to assist the Turkish Cypriot community in overcoming the deep socio-economic crisis.
Entitled the “Emergency Economic Support Package,” the new economic aid is worth €11m and will include support for structural business reforms, grants for micro-businesses and industry, and direct investments for energy efficiency measures to stimulate green growth and jobs.
“Subject to the adoption of the financing decisions, the measures will be implemented through grants to small businesses, structural business reform and job creation through investment in energy efficiency infrastructure,” the statement read, adding that the first activities are expected to commence in July 2020.
The Emergency Economic Support Package is comprised of three parts. The first one is granting funding for small businesses to help ‘kick-start’ the economy; secondly, the promotion of social and economic development with a focus on improving the business environment and with an emphasis on green energy.
The third element of the package will be the “Energy Efficient Schools” project complemented by a comprehensive programme to promote development towards a greener economy and job creation by up-skilling the local labour force and developing local innovative and sustainable solutions.
The EC has allocated €3m for micro-businesses, €3.5m for small industrial companies under the first element; €1m under the second one and €3.6m for the third component.
North and south touch base on Covid-19
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The Bicommunal Technical Committee on Health convened on Wednesday via teleconference to discuss the situation pertaining to the coronavirus outbreak across the island.
According to a statement issued by Akıncı’s office, the committee members briefed each other on the pandemic, the situation on both sides and the measures in place.
The issue of the crossing points was also discussed at the meeting attended by officials from the UN Secretary-General’s Good Offices Mission in Cyprus.
An agreement was reached at the meeting to step up coordination and cooperation to solve the issues which concerned both sides directly.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot General coordinators in charge of the technical committees Meltem Onurkan Samani and Andrianos Kyriakides held a separate meeting on Wednesday morning.
The meeting held via video conference focused on assessing the level of work being carried out by the various bicommunal technical committees.
An agreement was reached for members of the technical committees to continue meeting via teleconference until conditions return to normal and to support the work of the committee so that the projects progress as planned.
The cabinet has not learned anything from the crisis
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
“The coronavirus pandemic has proven once again the need to restructure the public sector in the north and to create a more efficient bureaucracy,” The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) said on Wednesday.
In a social media post, the KTTO said the cabinet, contrary to this view, had decided to implement the summer-working hours for the public sector.
“The government has switched to the new working hours at a time when the private-sector requires longer public-sector working hours following a two-month-long hiatus in the economy,” the statement stressed.
It added the cabinet gave a strong message that nothing in the north will change following the pandemic.
“The cabinet must take lessons from the coronavirus pandemic and without delay start working on restructuring the public sector,” KTTO stressed.
The chamber also expressed the view that parliament should not have its normal summer recess for summer.
In a parallel development on Wednesday, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Electrical Engineers also urged the cabinet to open the way for digitizing the public services on Wednesday.
Görkem Çelik, president of the Chamber said all the state institutions must launch a digital transformation programme including licensing and construction permit systems.
“The pandemic process has created the opportunity for the authorities to seize and launch the digital transformation process to make the public services faster,” Çelik concluded.
In another development, Turkish Cypriot Minister of Tourism Ünal Üstel said the tourism season could be opened on June 15 in light of the recommendations from the health ministry.
Speaking on Genç TV, Üstel noted the priority is to start with the domestic tourists but added it could only happen after all the sectors were reopened.
People’s Party (HP) leader Yenal Senin also warned the cabinet to launch the preparations for the wheels of the economy to start turning following the pandemic process on Wednesday.
In a statement issued, Senin added the cabinet must consider the economic leg of the efforts against the pandemic and must spread its measures for the long term.
“The wastage of resources must come to an end at the public institutions,” Senin stressed and added it is necessary to increase the performance of the public sector.
“The necessary reforms must be done, the state incentive schemes must be revised and the producers must be supported in the new era,” Senin concluded.
In another development, Agriculture Minister Dursun Oğuz said the problem in the pipeline that supplies fresh water to the north will be repaired by August.
Speaking to Bayrak during a visit to the Famagusta Port, Oğuz said 10 500m-long pipes are being produced for the repair work, which will cost ₺35m (€4.5m) on its own.
“There is enough water at the Geçitköy (Panagra) dam to last the north until the repairs are done,” Oğuz concluded.