Front Page Headlines
Wrangle over authority
President Mustafa Akıncı: “Health has a say over politics. Health will set the course and politics will follow. The administration in the south set its conditions for crossings to begin but we haven’t. The only thing missing are the views of our health experts and their conditions. Restrictions have been lifted in countries which are in even in a worse situation than we are.” Prime Minister Ersin Tatar: “We are positive towards the reopening of the crossings if the necessary conditions are reached. It’s important to determine how the PCR tests will be carried out, how the crossings will be facilitated. The decisions to be produced by the health experts and science board are also extremely important. The process is continuing.” Özersay emphasised the July 1 date. Deputy Prime Minister Kudret Özersay says the July 1 date set for allowing people to enter the north without a need to be placed in quarantine will apply for crossings as well.”
- Protest again – Turkish Cypriot workers working in the south who risk losing their jobs due to the closure of the crossing points staged a protest in front of parliament yesterday (Thursday) for a second time this week.
Ceased Print/Online Only
This environmental disaster must come to an end
Lefke (Lefka), which is being eroded slowly by the CMC (Cyprus Mining Cooperation), has not been cleaned from the mine tailings for 46 years. The residents of Lefke (Lefka), as opposed to the abandoned and poisonous mine, are now concerned over reports that a new mining company is planning to start operations in the area. Although the cabinet recently revoked the management contract for “Port Isbi Cyprus Free Zone Marine & Logistic Service Ltd.”, the town’s residents have started debating the possibility of CMC Mine being leased to another company. The Lefke (Lefka) civil society organisations platform said they will not allow another company to operate in the area.
- Tense wait – Turkish Cypriots who work in the south staged another protest outside the parliament building. They demanded a clear date for when the crossings will be opened. President Mustafa Akıncı and Prime Minister Ersin Tatar met yesterday (Thursday) to discuss the crossings. Kudret Özersay, speaking during the plenary, said PCR tests will be done for those who cannot wait until July 1.
- Turn your face to us – Organizations representing 15 sectors are preparing to stage a joint protest claiming the cabinet did not take any decisions in their favour.
- Flights to the TRNC to commence on 10 June – Turkish Transportation and Infrastructure Minister announced flights to some countries including the TRNC will commence from June 10 June onwards. Turkish Cypriot Public works and communication minister Tolga Atakan said those who will arrive in the north before July 1 will have to be quarantined for 14 days.
Chaos
Hundreds of Turkish Cypriots, unable to return to their jobs in the south due to the closure of the crossing points, staged their second protest outside the parliament. The workers demanded a clear date for when the crossings would be opened. Even though authorities have been pressured into taking action there is still no result. Prime Minister Ersin Tatar, who talked to the protestors, said he is working on finding the best solution and then asked to meet with the President. Following a long meeting between President Mustafa Akıncı and Ersin Tatar, they have agreed on the methodology of the opening of the crossings. In statements issued after the meeting, it was announced the crossings will be opened as soon as possible within the framework identified by the Science Board and the health committee. Despite not being able to reach a clear date on when the crossings would be opened, Deputy Prime Minister Kudret Özersay announced as Akıncı and Tatar were still meeting that crossings to the south would be possible from July 1 onwards.
- The workers will continue with their protests – The committee established for the Turkish Cypriots working in the south said they will continue with their protests until they get what they want.
- The first flight is to Ercan (Tymbou) airport – Turkish Transportation Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu said flights to 40 countries will gradually commence as of June 10.
- The latest situation: North 108 cases, four deaths; South 958 cases, 24 deaths; Turkey 166,422 cases, 4,609 cases.
₺510m (€68m) to be spent
Agriculture and Natural Resources Minister Dursun Oğuz said there was 9m3 at the Geçitköy (Panagra) Dam and that no water shortages would be experienced until September. Speaking to Diyalog, Oğuz said that a ten, 500m long pipes were being produced to repair the damaged pipeline. He added along with its installation, the repairs would cost of ₺510m (€68m). He thanked Turkey, which is carrying out the repairs.
Boo to all
Turkish Cypriots who work in the south staged another protest outside the parliament building. The protestors booed both the government and the opposition. Ersin Tatar, whom the protestors said should listen to Akıncı, asked the workers “not to politicise” the matter. He reassured them that the crossings would be opened when the necessary work is completed the crossings. Tatar also said they were being cautious for the community’s health. The protesters demanded a clear date for when they can cross to the south. “We do not want to lose our jobs,” the workers chanted, adding they will continue their protests until they are given a clear date. The workers also said they will not accept the July 1 date given to them. Ersin Tatar was accompanied by Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman, Democratic Party (DP) leader Fikri Ataoğlu and Social Democratic Party (TDP) MP Hüseyin Angolemli.
- No new cases in the south – Both sides have reached zero cases mark. Just like in the north, there were no new cases found in the south yesterday (Thursday).
- The first flight will be to the TRNC on June 10 – Turkey announced the flights will resume to 40 countries including the TRNC.
Main News
Uncertainty over reopening crossings continue, dates uttered
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The uncertainty over when the Turkish Cypriot side will be ready to reopen the crossing points continued on Thursday, as President Mustafa Akıncı and Prime Minister Ersin Tatar met following a second protest this week in front of parliament by Turkish Cypriot workers unable to return to their jobs in the south due to the closure of the crossing points.
The workers were demanding the authorities to set a date as to when they would be allowed to cross and to subsidize the cost of medical tests requested by the Greek Cypriot authorities.
Earlier on Thursday, the protestors refused to meet with Ersin Tatar to discuss the way forward.
They also said their protests would continue until the government found a solution to their problems.
As the protest outside the parliament building continued, Mustafa Akıncı and Tatar met in the afternoon.
The two were originally scheduled to meet on Friday but the meeting was moved up following the pressure from the protestors.
While the meeting continued at Akıncı’s office, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay announced that as of July 1, there would be travel without quarantine. This would also apply to crossings to the south.
Özersay said he has held a meeting with a group of Turkish Cypriot workers employed in the south on Thursday.
“We will start conducting PCR tests to those whose jobs are at risk as of tomorrow (Friday) to facilitate their crossing to the south,” Özersay said, adding that those who cross to the south will have to remain there until the mandatory quarantine rule is lifted on July 1.
Speaking to reporters after he met with Akıncı, Tatar said that there was no obstacle on the government’s part to reopen the crossing points but that it was important to determine how the crossings would be facilitated.
He added that he was on the same page with Akıncı concerning the urgency of opening the crossing points, particularly for those working or receiving medical treatment in the south.
Tatar stressed it was important not to politicise the matter, that the government’s priority was the public’s health and that they were working on minimizing the risk the crossings would pose for the public. ,
Akıncı, in a statement after the meeting, said issues such as the public’s health or livelihood should unite everyone on the issue of the crossings.
Akıncı added the public’s health was everyone’s concern and came before ideology or political views.
He said that the course would be set by health experts which the politicians would need to follow.
Akıncı noted that measures had been relaxed on both sides and that the downward trend in cases in the south, as well as no new cases in the north for more than 45 days, had naturally raised the issue of reopening the crossing points.
He recalled his telephone conversation held with Greek Cypriot leader on 21 May and their agreement to gradually open the crossings initially allowing Turkish Cypriots working, studying and receiving medical treatment in the south as well as the Greek Cypriots and Maronites with permanent residency in the north.
Referring to an earlier statement made by the Turkish Cypriot health minister, Akıncı pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side had identified and notified the north on their conditions for reopening crossings.
“What is missing in the process is what we want. The Turkish Cypriot health authorities have yet to identify the conditions for crossings. For example, the Turkish Cypriot health minister Ali Pilli said earlier in the day he is ready to discuss the conditions for crossings but the Greek Cypriot side has already identified them and inform the Turkish Cypriot side about them,” Akıncı said.
He added the Greek Cypriot side has already shared its epidemiological data with the Turkish Cypriot side but the health ministry has not.
“It would have been good if the Turkish Cypriot side’s report had been ready during the bicommunal health committee meeting on June 1,” Akıncı complained.
He expressed his hope the report will be finalised and be ready for the next meeting of the bicommunal technical committee on health.
Akıncı also said that Tatar was also against Turkish Cypriots employed in the south to lose their jobs and that he will raise the issue of their crossing during the next cabinet meeting.
“Issues of public health or livelihoods are not issues that we would think differently. On the contrary, these are issues that unite us all. The issue is how we will balance them both,” Akıncı concluded.
Also on Thursday, Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli expressed his readiness to discuss the issue of the crossing points with the Greek Cypriot side to discuss the reopening of the crossings.”
Speaking during a programme on HaberKıbrıs web TV, Pilli refuted the claims that the Turkish Cypriot side was insisting on a precondition for the south to have zero cases for consecutive 14-days before the crossings could open.
“We are ready to sit down to discuss with the Greek Cypriot side the required conditions and agree with them for the opening of the crossings,” Pilli said.
He added the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to open the crossings for the workers employed in the south.
Pilli also accused the Greek Cypriot side of trying to put the Turkish Cypriot side in a difficult position.
“The Greek Cypriot side is trying to corner us while creating excuses not to open the crossings. First of all, there is no decision to open the crossings on June 8. The Greek Cypriot side is claiming there are asymptomatic cases within the Turkish Cypriot community and is using these baseless claims as an excuse not to reopen the crossings,” Pilli argued.
He also pointed out there are still positive cases of coronavirus in the southern part of the island.
“We are ready to share our data with the Greek Cypriot side. We are not against the idea of opening the crossings on June 8. We can discuss the conditions with the Greek Cypriot side. We are saying we will sit down to solve the issue,” Pilli concluded.
Speaking in parliament later on Thursday, Pilli said more than 33,000 coronavirus tests have been done to date.
Refuting the claims on inadequate testing, Pilli noted one-third of these tests were PCR tests.
“I have never said the pandemic was over. To the contrary, I have always urged the people to be extremely cautious and to adhere to the personal hygiene rules,” Pilli said.
In a separate development, Abdullah Korkmazhan, from the Left Movement argued the National Unity Party (UBP) – People’s Party (HP) coalition was intentionally stirring tensions to keep the crossings closed.
In a social media post, Korkmazhan recalled Akıncı and the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades had agreed in principle for the opening of the crossings on June 8 for those working in the south, studying and receiving medical treatment as well as the Greek Cypriots and Maronites whose permanent residence is in the north.
“In addition to the United Nations (UN) experts, the members of the bi-communal Technical Committee on health had said the gradual opening of the crossings do not pose any health threats. However, the UBP-HP coalition government is creating problems on purpose because they have made it a matter of political competition with President Akıncı. They are trying to use the issue of crossings as political materials to suit their secessionist policies,” Korkmazhan stressed.
Korkmazhan was also critical of the government for not sharing any epidemiological data with the president or with the community.
“The government sees the covid-19 pandemic as a way to permanently keep the crossings closed and to prevent bicommunal contact even though they also know that what they want is impossible,” Korkmazhan concluded.
KTOEÖS (Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers’ Union) asked the two leaders to launch an initiative for the Turkish Cypriots employed in the south to be able to return to their jobs in the south.
In an open letter sent to the two leaders, the union argued that preventing the right to employment and work of nearly 2,000 Turkish Cypriots, who are European Union citizens, also constitutes a violation of human rights.
The letter, which was signed off by KTOEÖS President Selma Eylem asked the two leaders to launch an initiative for the Turkish Cypriots to be allowed to cross to the south to claim their jobs.
“The price of disregarding scientific facts on issues on community’s health would be very high,” former speaker of the parliament Sibel Siber said on Thursday.
In a written statement, Siber underlined that the decision to close the crossing points was taken purely on medical grounds and not with political agendas.
“It is, therefore, the decision to be adopted on the reopening of the crossings must also be based on scientific facts,” Siber stressed.
She added even though the current situation in the north following the efforts to contain the virus is encouraging, it is not possible to claim the pandemic is over.
Siber posed three questions for the Scientific Board to answer before recommending whether or not to open the crossing points.
“Is the ‘Rt’ number (infectiousness number) same or close to each other on both sides? Is the medical infrastructure adequate and well-equipped to deal with a second wave of the pandemic? Does the health sector have enough personnel to cope with the second wave of the pandemic?” Siber asked.
“The answers to these questions will have to be presented to the politicians to adopt a decision, which then will be shared with the public. This is the only way to gain the trust of the community,” Siber concluded.