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No money if no ‘approval’
The details of the 2020 Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement signed between Turkey and the TRNC has started to emerge. In summary, all coordination, implementation and control on the ARMA (Infrastructure and Private Sector Financial Collaboration Instrument model) in annexe 5 will be carried out by Turkey.
- Council of Ministers decisions – June 1: TRNC citizens abroad will be allowed to return on condition of entering mandatory quarantine, Residents of Pile (Pyla) who work in the north will be allowed to cross, night-time curfew will end, funerals of citizens will be allowed to be repatriated. June 8: All foreign nationals with permanent residency, work permits or student visas will be allowed to return on condition of entering mandatory quarantine. July 1: Tourists will be allowed to visit the country but certain conditions such as PCR test certificates or quarantine may apply.
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Corruption at KIBTEK revealed
The special parliamentary subcommittee tasked to investigate the tender dossiers at the KIBTEK (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) has discovered numerous irregularities and evidence of corruption. The scope of the investigation was broadened when the committee found suspicious transactions in KIBTEK’s fuel oil purchase and forged documents. The committee’s term has been extended for three more months. Member of the committee Salahi Şahiner said there is evidence that KIBTEK incurred a significant amount of losses.
- Arrivals to the north to start – The cabinet adopted a new set of decisions.
- Sarper Altıncık appointed as the new Attorney General – Following the retirement of Behiç Öztürk, Altıncık, who had been the acting AG, is appointed by the Higher Board of Judges as the new Attorney General.
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Tourism to remain on holiday for another month
TRNC citizens living abroad will be allowed to return as of June 1, those with work permits will be allowed to return as of June 8 all on condition of entering mandatory quarantine. The quarantine costs of repatriated citizens will be covered by the state. Those with work permits wishing to return will have to cover the cost of being in quarantine for 14 days from their own pockets. Hotels are reopening on June 1 but the Council of Ministers announced yesterday (Friday) that tourists will be allowed into the country as of July 1. Tourists will be categorized into two groups, those from high-risk countries and low-risk countries. Those from high-risk countries will have to enter quarantine.
- Deterring measures –The fine for talking on the phone while driving in the South has risen to €150.
- There is a huge difference – 295 tests have been carried out in the North for the past seven days compared to 16,314 in the South.
The night-time curfew lifted
Another coronavirus restriction is being lifted. According to a decision adopted by the cabinet, the night-time curfew will end on June 1. Additionally, the TRNC citizens with permanent residency in the north will be allowed to return to the island as of June 1. The costs of their mandatory two-week quarantine will be covered by the state. There will be charter flights from Turkey and from the UK in June. Moreover, university students or those with working or residency permits will be allowed to return to the TRNC as of June 8 on the condition that they cover the cost of their quarantine.
- Summer tariffs implemented in electricity – The summer tariffs on electricity to start on Monday.
- Only one positive case – 2,363 tests were carried out in the south and only one positive case was found. 86 tests were administered in the north and no positive cases found.
- Those who passed away in the UK can be buried in Cyprus – The funerals of 11 Turkish Cypriots who passed away in the UK will be brought home.
- Sarper Altıncık appointed as the new Attorney General – Following the retirement of Behiç Öztürk, Altıncık, who had been the acting AG, is appointed by the Higher Board of Judges as the new Attorney General. Altıncık must take an oath before Mustafa Akıncı to assume his new job.
Main News
Economic protocol reaffirms Turkey’s effective control in the north
Yenidüzen
Economy, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The economic protocol reaffirms Ankara’s effective control in the north, Yenidüzen reports on Saturday.
As the details of the 2020 Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement signed between Turkey and the north have started to emerge, it has been revealed that all stages of the agreement will be controlled by Turkey.
The projects will be approved and monitored by Ankara and eventually, the fund transfers will be done accordingly.
The agreement states that the coordination of the programmes, all strategic planning, monitoring the implementation as well as evaluation of the financial collaboration will be managed by Turkey’s Office of Cyprus Affairs. Moreover, the implementation of the grant protocol, the eligibility of the projects their effectiveness, assessment and evaluation of the sustainability will be under the responsibility of the office of the Turkish Vice-Presidency.
The economic protocol agreement also foresees the establishment of a new model called “TRNC-Turkey Infrastructure and Private Sector Financial Collaboration Instrument” (ARMA).
The instrument authorizes the Turkish Embassy Development and Economic Collaboration (KEİ) (formerly known as the Turkish Development Agency) office to carry out the management of the grant scheme in the north.
The agreement clearly states the KEİ office as and when it wants, can carry out control and monitoring activities at the beneficiaries’ premises.
Moreover, according to the protocol agreement, the tenders for the Ankara-based projects will be opened in Turkey and the Turkish legislation will be followed both in the procedure to launch the tender, the bidding process, in identifying the winning bidder and finally in the payment process.
The agreement also notes should the “Turkish State Tender Law” permits, the Turkish Cypriot contractor companies can also participate in the tenders launched by Ankara.
On the other hand, for the projects based in the northern part of the island, the Turkish Cypriot legislation will be in force.
The payments however for the tenders and the implementation of the projects will only be made following approval from the KEİ office.
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar had announced the breakdown of the ₺2.28bn (€377,4m) fund allocation from Turkey following signing the protocol agreement on May 26 2020.
He said ₺650m (€87.8m) will be utilised for defence; ₺273m (€36.8m) for infrastructure; ₺116m (€15.6m) for the private sector investments and ₺1.15bn (€155.4m) to cover the budget deficit.
Tatar had also announced plans for a highway master plan, road repairs and maintenance, road infrastructures for the municipalities and the villages, the 500-bed capacity Nicosia hospital project, purchasing of medical equipment, rural-development and social services projects, agriculture investment support schemes, agriculture loan scheme, tourism support scheme, a loan scheme for the micro-enterprises and the industrialists, construction of a support facility for the physically disabled and the completion of the new prison are among the many projects to be supported with the funds allocated from Turkey.
Among other provisions, the economic protocol envisions limiting the number of personnel to be recruited in the public sector; coordinating and harmonising the e-governance transition with the one in Turkey; preventing the state enterprises from incurring losses and developing the capacity of the statistics department in the north.
The agreement also aims at restructuring the Turkish Cypriot Cooperative Central Bank to make it more professional and modern; analysing the financial stability of the social security system for the coming 20 years; preparing the master plan for ports in the north; implementing the tourism strategic plan and establishing the project steering commission and improving the business environment.
Other provisions include revising the existing practices and the agreements in commerce between the north and Turkey; implementing the energy productivity law; continuing with the electricity and natural gas interconnectivity project; establishing an integrated agriculture information system; implementing the higher education strategy action plan; increasing the capacity of the North Cyprus Investment Agency (YAGA) and the Project Development Unit under the Turkish Cypriot Ministry of Public works and communication.
Major steps towards full normalisation
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Afrika
Economy, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriots residing permanently in the north and Turkish Cypriot residents of Pile (Pyla) will be able to enter the north as of June 1,” Turkish Cypriot Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay announced on Friday.
The decisions were made public by Özersay following an eight-hour-long cabinet meeting which includes the lifting or easing of entry restrictions into the north for certain groups.
Despite the lifting of restrictions for Turkish Cypriots wishing to the return to the island, no mention was made about the crossing points.
According to the decisions, Turkish Cypriots with permanent residency in the north will be allowed to enter the country as of June 1 on the condition they remain in 14-day mandatory quarantine.
The Turkish Cypriot authorities will cover the quarantine costs.
University students or those with work or residency permits in the north will be allowed to enter the north as of June 8, also on the condition of being placed in quarantine.
However, these individuals will have to pay for the cost of the quarantine.
“As long as the current positive conditions in the north continue, the tourists will be allowed to enter the north from July 1 onwards,” Özersay said.
He, however, pointed out that tourists would be divided into two categories, those arriving from high-risk countries and those arriving from low-risk countries.
He said that all arriving tourists would be required to present a negative PCR test.
“Those arriving from high-risk countries will have to remain in quarantine even if their tests are negative whereas those from low-risk countries will not have to stay in quarantine,” he explained.
Regarding the Turkish Cypriot residents of Pile (Pyla), Özersay said they will be allowed to cross to the north from June 1 onwards under certain conditions.
“The Turkish Cypriot mukhtar and the health ministry will coordinate among the Turkish Cypriot residents of the mixed-village to carry out the PCR tests gradually and they will be allowed to cross without being subjected to the mandatory quarantine,” Özersay said.
He added the Turkish Cypriots will be allowed to cross on the condition that they sign a written assurance that they will not cross to the south.
Özersay also noted that the funerals of the Turkish Cypriots, excluding those who passed away due to Covid-19, can be brought back to the north for burials from June 1 onwards.
Other restrictions being lifted is the night-time curfew starting June 1.
However, the mandatory requirement to wear masks in all public spaces will continue, Özersay said.
He also noted the casinos, which have paid their taxes to the state, will be allowed to operate as of June 1.
In the meantime, İlker Edip, Mayor of Beyarmudu (Pergamos) also touched on the issue of allowing the Turkish Cypriot residents of Pile (Pyla) to cross to the north during a Kıbrıs Postası web TV programme on Friday.
“There is concern among the residents of Beyarmudu (Pergamos) regarding the risks involved in the opening of the crossing points,” Edip said.
He added Pile (Pyla) is adjacent to Beyarmudu (Pergamos) and will be the first point of contact.
Edip said the municipality has been in the forefront of the efforts to contain the spread of the virus. He noted the municipality, with contributions from many businesses in the region, carried out disinfection throughout the area as well as on the vehicles that crossed to the north.
Edip also highlighted that in the coronavirus process, the municipality distributed more than 1000 food packages daily.
He also noted having to deal with various authorities in the area such as the British Sovereign Area administration, was also another problem the municipality was faced with during the coronavirus process.
Turkey: Fatih on course for 1st Black Sea deep drilling
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey’s first drillship, Fatih, set sail from Istanbul’s Haydarpaşa Port for a drilling mission in the Black Sea, Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said on Friday.
Speaking at the send-off ceremony, the minister said that Fatih’s 103-meter long towers were disassembled in Haydarpaşa port to enable the vessel for safe passage under the bridges through the Bosphorus and is projected to reach Trabzon in northeastern Turkey on June 1 to be reassembled.
“After completing nearly 1.5 months preparation period, Fatih will start its first drilling in the Black Sea in the Tuna-1 location in mid-July,” Dönmez said.
Turkey will continue to carry on offshore exploration studies which are vital for the country’s energy independence, he added.
“Yavuz continues its operations in Selcuklu-1 location in the Mediterranean Sea, which marks the 7th deep drilling activity that is conducted in the area. Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa and Oruç Reis seismic vessels are also exploring our seas,” he said.
Turkey is currently carrying out hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean with its drilling vessel Yavuz along with two other seismic vessels, Oruç Reis and Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa, that are also operating in the region.
Turkey’s third drillship, Kanuni, arrived in Taşucu, Mersin, a coastal city in the Mediterranean region of the country on March 15.
Following the completion of renewal and upgrade studies, Kanuni is also projected to start operations in the Mediterranean Sea this year, according to Dönmez.
The country plans to conduct five drills in the Eastern Mediterranean this year, according to Turkey’s Annual Presidential Program for 2020.
“Our two seismic and two drilling vessels will continue to work in the Eastern Mediterranean at full capacity. With Fatih’s sail to the Black Sea, we now bridged the most important gap,” the energy minister said.
Dönmez said that under this pact, Turkish Petroleum — Turkey’s national oil company — has applied for drilling activities in country’s licensed areas.
“Within the next 3-4 months, our first activities here are forecast to start,” Dönmez said and added that seismic studies will be conducted and later the exploration areas will be determined depending on the analysis of seismic data.