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‘Salaries will be paid but the economy will not be saved’
The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman evaluated the 2020 Financial and Economic Cooperation Agreement to UNITED MEDIA. Answering questions of Yenidüzen’s Mert Özdağ and SİM TV’s Aktay Elektrikçi, Erhürman drew attention to the economic problems caused by the pandemic. He proposed that the government should renegotiate the agreement with Turkey to redirect the money to all of the economy and the real sector.
- Turkish Cypriots working in the south stage protest in front of parliament: “We will lose our jobs if we are not allowed to go.”
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New interest-rate law on the way
The General Coordinator of the “Committee for Victims of High Interest-Rates and Subsequent Court Orders for the Indebted”, Kazım Ant gave the good news that the parliamentary subcommittee is working on new legislation regarding unpaid debts. One of the biggest problems in the north is the number of court cases on the unpaid debts and loans and the problem is growing even bigger due to the absence of a law limiting the interest rate applied on loans. Kazım Ant said the interim laws adopted in 2002, 2003 and 2014 had lost their effectiveness due to the devaluation of the Turkish Lira and the coronavirus pandemic. Ant said the goal of the new law was to protect those unable to pay back their loans and to help them restructure the loans to payable instalments. “The overall objective of the new law is to redesign the loan system, to scrap interest and to restructure the loan based on the initial amount borrowed,” Ant concluded.
- The business community suffered the biggest losses – The business community has incurred losses up to 70 per cent due to the devaluation of the Turkish Lira in addition to the wheels of the economy that came to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- Identifying the conditions for the return of the workers – The cabinet, in its meeting today (Wednesday) will discuss the return of the workers with work-permits, who had to leave the north during the coronavirus process.
- Not bearable anymore – The Turkish Cypriots employed in the south together with their families staged a protest outside the parliament and demanded a decision to be adopted allowing them to cross to the south after 8 June.
Revolt against being deprived of livelihood
Turkish Cypriots workers employed in the south who have been left without work for the past three months as a result of the closure of the crossing points are on the verge of revolting. They placed a black wreath outside the parliament building. Hundreds of workers gathered outside the parliament renewing their demand to be allowed to cross to the south. The workers, holding Prime Minister Ersin Tatar responsible for the closure of the crossings, called upon him to open the crossings immediately. The workers, who have not been able to go to their jobs since March 14, chanted “We are starving” outside the parliament. The workers gave the cabinet 24 hours to adopt decisions in their favour or warned or more protest action if their demands are not met. They will stage another protest on Thursday.
- Pandemic adjustment to graduation ceremonies – The primary and secondary schools will be handing out report cards between June 8 and15. Strict hygiene rules will apply for graduation ceremonies.
- The latest situation: North 108 cases, four deaths; South 952 cases, 24 deaths; Turkey 165,555 cases, 4,585 deaths.
Open the crossings
Life has started to return to normal but citizens who can’t go back to their jobs in the south because the crossings remain closed staged a protest in front of parliament. Attendance at yesterday’s (Tuesday’s) protest was high. The workers who carried signs which read “We want to return to our jobs” and “We asked you to crack the door open but you didn’t listen. Open the door Mr Tatar” laid a black wreath in front of the parliament building. Some of the workers who couldn’t hold back their tears complained that they haven’t been able to earn money for the past three months and were faced with starvation.
Slightly crack the door open
The workers employed in the south staged a protest outside the parliament, playing a black wreath. They will stage another protest on Thursday. Turkish Cypriot workers and their families protested the authorities, demanding that they allow them to cross as of June 8. The workers, who carried placards reading “We want to return to our work”, mainly comprised of workers in the construction sector. The workers, who were at times emotional, accused the cabinet of being callous to their problems.
Main News
Bicommunal technical committee gives green light on crossings
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
“It is now up to the politicians to reopen the crossings because the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health has given the green light on the issue,” Dr Bülent Dizdarlı told HaberKıbrıs web TV on Tuesday.
Dizdarlı, who is a member of the committee, it would be possible to reopen the crossings for daily crossings in 10 days the most once the politicians approve.
He pointed out that there were great similarities between the two sides in the data and coronavirus figures scientifically.
“The data is almost equal on both sides. Ours is at zero and theirs is below one. As a result, we can open the crossings,” Dizdarlı said.
He also noted the additional health measures will be adopted by the scientific boards of the two sides.
Dizdarlı said even though there might be some objections to some of the measures, the members of the two communities must adhere to them strictly.
Asked what transpired during the technical committee meeting, Dizdarlı said the members discussed how they had handled the pandemic in addition to exchanging data with each other.
“If we were to speak for the north, the health minister, prime minister and the president will come together to discuss and solve the matter. Once they agree, the crossings can be reopened in 10 days. I hope the politicians will display the necessary commitment to the matter and especially the prime minister must take on an initiative for the reopening,” Dizdarlı concluded.
TCs working in the south stage protest in front of parliament
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriots who work in the south staged a protest on Tuesday outside the Turkish Cypriot parliament building demanding to be allowed to return to their jobs in the south after June 8.
The protest was given coverage by all major dailies on Wednesday.
The protestors who gathered outside the parliament building placed a black wreath and warned they will return with a second protest on Thursday.
“We want to return to our work,” the workers cried during the protest, pointing out that they were faced with the threat of losing their jobs.
Kamil İncirli, who read a statement on behalf of the workers, said they wanted terms and conditions to be set for their return to work.
They also demanded to know what the government’s intentions were and how it planned to deal with their problem.
“We want to know how Covid-19 tests the Greek Cypriot authorities say we will need to have will be carried out given our economic situation,” İncirli stressed.
He added the closure of the crossings by the two sides affected around 2,000 Turkish Cypriots working in the south that no longer could make ends meet.
He said for various reasons they have not received the assistance granted by the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) to people who pay social insurance but it was also practically impossible to apply for assistance in the north due to the criteria that were set.
İncirli recalled that some of the workers had met with the relevant authorities in the north but that their issue was not even brought to the agenda during the last cabinet meeting.
“We are not able to return to our work and the legal duration prohibiting lay-offs has ended in the south. We are now faced with the threat of losing our jobs,” İncirli stressed.
“We do not want any more promises. We want a date for when the crossings will be opened for us to return to our jobs.”
The workers’ protest was supported by KTÖS (Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union), EL-SEN (KIBTEK/Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority Workers’ Union), Türk-Sen (Turkish Workers’ Union) and KSP (Cyprus Socialist Party). Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MPs Fikri Toros and Salahi Şahiner and CTP General Secretary Erdoğan Sorakın and Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit supported the protestors.
The CTP also supported the workers with a statement issued from the party on Tuesday evening.
“A swift solution for the plight of the workers employed in the south must be found,” the statement read.
The CTP added the necessary measures in line with the recommendations from the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) should be implemented when the crossings are reopened.
“As the covid-19 measures are being relaxed on both sides of the island, the workers are faced with the risk of losing their job. It is, therefore, the CTP urges the leaders and the government to take the necessary steps,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar adopted a defiant stance on the crossing points on Tuesday, stating that north could and would not be pressured by the Greek Cypriot side regarding the reopening of the crossing points.
“I too want the crossings to open but the public’s health comes first. We are still seeing new cases in South Cyprus. I hope the day we open the crossing points come soon,” he said.
Speaking on a programme on Bayrak, Tatar recalled an earlier statement that the crossing points could open on June 8 but pointed out that this was not true.
He reminded that the authority to open or close the crossing points was in the hands of the government.
“The crossing points will only open after the Health Ministry, the health experts and Science Board gives the green light,” Tatar said.
He pointed out that the June 8 date was uttered by the Greek Cypriot administration following a meeting between the two leaders.
“This date was announced by the Greek Cypriot side without consulting the Turkish Cypriot side. According to their policy, there are no borders and the island is a whole. Therefore they believe that they have the power and authority to unilaterally open and close borders,” he said.
Tatar said he was curious to see what the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health had to say on the matter but ultimately the political aspect of the issue was just as important.
“It is out of the question for the TRNC to be forced into doing anything by the Greek Cypriot side,” he added.
The economy continues to dominate the agenda
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
“Health is our priority but the wheels of the economy must also turn,” Ersin Tatar said on Tuesday.
During a programme on Kanal T, Tatar said the recently signed economic protocol agreement was a financial support mechanism to help overcome the economic strife caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“The economic activities must be revived gradually,” Tatar said, adding that he did not see any reason to be pessimistic about the country’s economic recovery when examining the latest figures.
He reiterated that the financial support given by Turkey will contribute to the normalization process on the island.
Also on Tuesday, Labour Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu told Bayrak that the second economic relief package being prepared by the government will focus on the private sector and specifically on supporting companies that employ Turkish Cypriots.
“Planning on the second package is still underway but I can tell you at this moment that the focus will be on the sectors that were hit badly by the lockdown measures,” Sucuoğlu said.
He said in addition to an incentive scheme for companies employing Turkish Cypriots, the companies will also be subsidized with social security premium payments up to 50 per cent.
Also on Tuesday, Cemal Özyiğit, leader of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) argued the funds allocated for the private sector would not be adequate.
Speaking during a Kıbrıs Postası web TV programme, Özyiğit warned that the funds allocated will be spent as “election investments” in the coming months.
Arguing that 2020 is a lost year in terms of the economy, Özyiğit said the cabinet was taking hasty decisions without consulting anyone only to change or revoke that decision.
“The cabinet is like an Ottoman marching band. It goes two steps forward and then one backwards,” Özyiğit concluded.
In another development, Turkish Cypriot finance minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said the “timing of the economic protocol could not have been better,” on Tuesday.
Speaking during a programme on Bayrak, Amcaoğlu added the economic protocol agreement will prevent a further recession in the market.
Refuting the claims the agreement was written behind closed doors, Amcaoğlu said the details of the agreement had been shared numerous times with relevant parties.
He also noted the second economic relief package will be completed before 15 June.
Meanwhile, the north continues to ease or lift lockdown measures.
It was announced on Tuesday by the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation as of June 8.
In addition to hygiene rules the public transport companies will need to adhere to, the ministry will also work together with the sector representatives on fuel oil subsidies and low-interest loan schemes for the companies in economic difficulty, it was announced.
On the other hand, the “Stay safe” certification campaign was launched by the Tourism Ministry on Tuesday.
In a digitally held launch ceremony, Turkish Cypriot Tourism Minister Ünal Üstel said the certification programme will be applied to the hotels and resorts, which pass the hygiene requirements announced by the Turkish Cypriot health ministry in line with the regulated recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The hotels that pass the health inspections will be given the ‘Stay safe’ certificate. The goal is maximum safety at the hotels for the tourists,” Üstel said.
Turkey determined to protect rights in East Med, Ankara says
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday reiterated that the country is determined to “protect the rights of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
In a statement, ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy said the Turkish Petroleum Corporation’s (TPAO) recent application for a permit that would allow for additional oil exploration and drilling activities in the East Mediterranean was within the boundaries of Turkey’s continental shelf based on the UN definition.
Emphasizing that Turkey would “resolutely continue to exercise its sovereign rights in this area,” Aksoy added that the country’s “seismic research and drilling activities are carried out according to the previously determined program.”
Aksoy’s remarks came shortly after Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Dendias claimed Turkey was deploying “illegal” means in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Turkish Ambassador to Athens Burak Özügergin said on Monday that Ankara’s calls for dialogue with Greece had gone unanswered; stressing that Turkey’s activities in the Mediterranean Sea fell in line with international law.
Özügergin made the remarks in a meeting at the Greek Foreign Ministry after TPAO applied for a license for additional oil exploration in the Mediterranean, according to diplomatic sources.
At the meeting, he said that Turkey’s position is known and transparent on various issues such as Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean including hydrocarbon exploration and extraction, Libya, and the whole region.
The Turkish National Security Council echoed the Foreign Ministry statement and said Ankara will continue protecting Turkey’s rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday.
In a statement following its meeting, which was chaired by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the council expressed its determination to protect the country’s legitimate rights at land, sea, and air without any compromises in the Eastern Mediterranean against an alliance formed against Turkey.
KEY ACTORS
MFA (Turkey)
>>Turkey determined to protect rights in East Med.
>> Recent application for an exploration/drilling permit in the East Med is within the boundaries of Turkey’s continental shelf based on the UN definition.
>> Ankara will resolutely continue to exercise its sovereign rights in East Med.
>> Turkey’s seismic research & drilling activities are carried out as previously planned.