Front Page Headlines
They slept in cars and containers
The plight of Turkish Cypriot workers and the government’s stance became an issue. Members of the Committee for Workers in the South were at the crossing points yesterday (Wednesday) to support the workers. Gürcan Osmanbuba, a member of the committee, said that around 35-40 workers had registered to be tested to be able to return to their jobs and that 25 workers had crossed in the first two days.
- UN concerned: ‘Cooperation essential’ –The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) expressed its concern over the situation with the crossings and the disruption it has caused members of the public from both sides of the divide. UN Spokesman Aleem Siddique said, “It is imperative that the parties continue to work closely together to open the crossing points. The (UN) mission is ready to assist both sides in moving forward.”
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We rank fourth in gambling addiction
North Cyprus is heading towards a world record in gambling addiction leaving Macau, China behind. According to research conducted in 2007, addiction to gambling in the north was recorded at 2.2 per cent but the percentage rose to 4.6 in 2018. According to the population, 13,542 people are ‘seriously addicted’ to gambling and 27,084 who are regarded as ‘problematic addicts’. On the global scale, Puerto Rico with 7.4 per cent is the leading country in gambling addiction, followed by Native Americans with 7.1 per cent, Maoris of New Zealand by 5.9 per cent and North Cyprus with 4.6 per cent. Prof Dr Mehmet Çakıcı, Chief Psychiatrist at the ‘Pink Mansion’ Psychiatry Institution said they had many patients receiving treatment for gambling.
- Unemployment rose due to pandemic – Labour Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu said 430 people applied for unemployment benefit during the pandemic lockdown in addition to the 500 already receiving support before the pandemic.
- Five human traffickers arrested, 13 Syrians placed in quarantine – 13 undocumented migrants and five human traffickers were caught red-handed while trying to enter the north illegally in Tatlısu (Akanthou).
₺13m (€1.7m) interest benefit to AKSA
Even though the annual interest rate for commercial banks is 11 per cent, KIBTEK (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) has accumulated debts to AKSA (Private power plant) amounting to ₺225m (€29.6m) with a 16.2 per cent interest rate. According to an agreement between KIBTEK and AKSA, the private power plant for unpaid debts charges three per cent for the first month and 1.2 per cent in the following months. Turkish Cypriot Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy, who touches frequently on corruption allegations at KIBTEK, has remained silent over the AKSA issue. Taçoy also has family ties with the two KIBTEK workers in charge of the company’s finances.
- This picture does not assuage concerns – According to the health ministry’s ‘initial’ report on Covid-19, 8,500 PCR tests and 25,000 rapid tests were carried out. According to the report, 1,942 contact persons of the 108 cases were also tested in the process. 2,052 people stayed in the central quarantine facilities and 288 are still under quarantine. According to the report, 13,500 PCR tests were purchased and 11 new laboratories were established to carry out these tests. The number of ventilators at the intensive care was increased from 37 to 78. 50 new monitors were purchased.
- The UN is focused on the crossings – United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) said it is ready to assist both sides in moving forward. UNFICYP also asked the north to clarify the situation on crossings.
- The latest situation: North 108 cases, four deaths; South 974 cases, 25 deaths; Turkey 173,036 cases, 4,746 deaths.
No one knows what’s going to come out of the egg
The tourism operators, public transport operators and workers in the south have turned their attention to today’s (Thursday’s) Council of Ministers meeting. The protest staged by the Public Transport Owners Association (Kar-İş) entered its fourth day. In addition to the public transport companies, travel agencies, hoteliers and workers in the tourism sector are anxiously waiting for decisions to be adopted by the cabinet on incentives and the resumption of flights. Also on the agenda of the cabinet is whether or not workers crossing over to the south will have to enter quarantine when returning to the south. The Council of Ministers is also expected to announce a decision as to when flights to and from Turkey will begin, which countries will be given priority as well as which measures will be placed for those arriving.
- Caught after a tip-off – Police who waited in ambush in Tatlısu (Akanthou) caught 13 illegal migrants and five others believed to be smugglers.
My residency is the south from now on
In addition to the eight citizens including workers and those receiving medical treatment, 14 more crossed to the south yesterday (Wednesday). Beyarmudu (Pergamos) resident Mehmet Özcezarlı, who left his wife and children behind, said: “Even if the crossings were to open, I do not plan on returning to the north. My residency will be the south.” Another person said: “We are now crossing to the south but when we return, we will kiss Mr Kudret on his forehead. What did this government expect us to do? You are forcing me to abandon my home and telling me not to come back.”
- Solidarity movement with the Turkish Cypriots working in the south – Association of Cypriots have launched a campaign to find accommodation for the workers who crossed to the south.
- 164 more passengers to arrive from England – One funeral will also be brought today (Thursday).
- “The occupation regime does not intend to collaborate on the crossings” – Greek Cypriot media reports.
Main News
UNFICYP expresses concern over crossings
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) on Wednesday expressed its concern over the situation with the crossings and the disruption it has caused members of the public from both sides of the divide.
“It is imperative that the parties continue to work closely together to open the crossing points. The (UN) mission is ready to assist both sides in moving forward,” UNFICYP spokesman, Aleem Siddique said in a statement.
He added that UNFICYP has asked the north to clarify the situation on crossings across the entirety of the buffer zone.
Siddique said that although the UN supports all necessary health-related measures that need to be taken to deal with the pandemic, there was concern over the disruption caused to members of the public on both sides of the divide.
The statement came after authorities in the north allowed certain groups of Turkish Cypriots including students, people needing medical treatment and workers to cross over to the South.
Yenidüzen published the photo of 64-year-old Mustafa Ruso from Güzelyurt (Morphou) sleeping in his car after crossing to the south on Tuesday.
Ruso, a truck driver who has been working in the south since 2005, told the paper he had no other option since authorities in the north had done nothing to help during the past three months when they were unable to get to their workplaces and earn their salaries.
Around 40 people have crossed between the two sides, the majority to the south, since Monday when the Greek Cypriot side started allowing workers, students and people receiving treatment in the government-controlled areas to start crossing again.
Several of them crossed with mattresses, bedsheets and kitchen utensils.
The majority of those who crossed were forced to seek accommodation in the south after Turkish Cypriot authorities told them they would either have to be placed in 14-day quarantine when they crossed back to the north or have to wait until July 1 when this measure will be lifted.
In the meantime, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Doğuş Derya took a swipe at Kudret Özersay on Wednesday following the reports of the situation of workers having crossed over to the south.
“The foreign minister’s attitude is based on his secessionist mindset and not health,” Derya stressed.
Referring to UNFICYP’s statement, she argued the government’s attitude is neither scientific nor rational.
“UNFICYP expressed its readiness to assist both sides in moving forward but what does the National Unity Party (UBP) – People’s Party (HP) coalition do instead? They obstruct the crossing of the workers to the south until July 1,” Derya said.
Derya also criticized the Turkish Cypriot health ministry for sending a two-and-a-half page report instead of a comprehensive one.
“We had posed the same questions to the coalition parties during the parliamentary assembly but were unable to get a proper response. We are asking again, what are you planning on doing in the 20 days left before July 1? Will you be able to build a pandemic hospital?” Derya said.
“Is it your intention to use the Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse to keep the crossings closed? The crossings which opened as a reflection of the public’s will during the Annan Plan?” she asked.
In another development, Turkish Cypriot health minister Ali Pilli criticized President Mustafa Akıncı’s statement on the Covid-19 report prepared by the ministry.
“Akıncı should have shared his opinions of the report with the health ministry instead of attempting to belittle the state institutions via the media,” Pilli stressed.
Pilli said the health ministry’s main policy is to provide preventive public health service and to prioritize public health, especially during this pandemic process.
“As the Turkish Cypriot side’s success in containing the coronavirus pandemic should be exemplary, the presidency’s efforts to humiliate the state institutions including the health professionals is thought-provoking,” Pilli said, adding that the health ministry was ready to collaborate with Akıncı’s office on any matter.
“It must not be forgotten that health is an issue that goes beyond politics. Those who attempt to use health to gain political leverage will eventually be crushed under it,” Pilli concluded.
Head of the Left Movement Abdullah Korkmazhan announced on Wednesday via social media that they had solved the accommodation problem of five Turkish Cypriot workers who returned to their jobs in the south.
He said that dozens of Greek Cypriots had offered to open up their homes for the workers.
“We shall continue to work to solve the problems of the workers. We would like to express our gratitude and love to our fellow Greek Cypriot citizens and compatriots,” Korkmazhan said.
The Social Democratic Party (TDP), the Mayor of the Nicosia Turkish Municipality Mehmet Harmancı as well as other organisations and individuals expressed support to the workers, reaching out to help and use their contacts in the south to find temporary accommodation for the workers.
TC MFA slams civilian development deal for land in SBAs
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security, Territory
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said that Turkish Cypriots also had rights in areas within the British sovereign bases (SBA) which will be opened to civilian development.
The statement came in response to an announcement on Tuesday by the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) on the implementation of the next stage in the bilateral arrangement reached in 2014 with the UK on the regulation of non-military development in the area of the Sovereign bases.
The agreement concerns 18 square kilometres of around 254 square kilometres – or 3 per cent of the island’s territory — retained by former colonial ruler Britain in Akrotiri in Limassol, and Dhekelia, Larnaca, as sovereign territory used as military bases.
Under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment, properties inside the two areas could only be used for agricultural purposes.
The arrangement between the two countries was made in 2014 between Anastasiades and then British prime minister David Cameron.
In a written statement on Wednesday, the Turkish Cypriot foreign ministry argued that the status of the bases was based on the International Cyprus Treaties signed in 1960 by the three guarantor countries as well as the leaders of the two communities.
It pointed out that it was not possible to amend the agreements without the knowledge and approval of all signatories.
“Any changes introduced without the knowledge and approval of the signatories is a clear violation of the 1960 Cyprus Treaties and the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties,” the statement said.
The foreign ministry said that the changes made without seeking the consent of Turkish Cypriot authorities should not be expected to be binding for the Turkish Cypriot side.
“As it is known, Turkish Cypriots have as much a right as Greek Cypriots over the bases areas. Attempts, through the agreement, to create the perception that the Greek Cypriots have the authority or total say over these areas is problematic in its approach and bears the risk of bringing the two communities against each other,” it added.
The foreign ministry said that the Turkish Cypriot side had shown the necessary sensitivity in similar situations, particularly in regards to the preparation of a development plan for Beyarmudu (Pergamos) in December 2019.
“A guarantee was provided to us that our citizens living in the area would not be affected by an agreement signed in 2014 following contacts with British officials at the highest level. A similar initiative has been launched by our ministry to discuss the issue with British officials. We shall be following developments closely,” the statement concluded.
13 irregular migrants arrested by police
Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis
Migration and Citizenship
OVERVIEW
13 undocumented migrants of Syrian nationality were detained by the police on Tuesday in Tatlısu (Akanthou), the dailies reported on Thursday.
The migrants had arrived by a speed boat late in the evening on June 9 and entered the north illegally through a cove in Tatlısu (Akanthou).
Police have also detained five others, believed to have brought the migrants ashore.
The migrants were placed in quarantine.
It is reported the police investigation is still underway on the case.