Front Page Headlines
‘We have special permission’
Special passengers arrive at Ercan (Tymbou) without quarantine. A plane belonging to ADA air which took off from Antalya, Turkey carrying nine passengers, five men and four women, landed at Ercan (Tymbou) airport at 10 pm the other day. It was claimed the group passed through the side entrance of the VIP after telling officials at the airport they had special permits and that they would not be entering quarantine. The Minister of Public Works and Communication Tolga Atakan said, “I have no knowledge of their arrival. I can’t know where they will be going. The ministry only determines flight permits” and redirected Yenidüzen to the health ministry. Commenting on the issue, the Health Ministry Undersecretary Ali Çaygür said that the nine individuals had entered the country with special permission from the Council of Ministers. He said that 13 not nine passengers had arrived on a ‘special mission’.
- “Cooperation is the only way to overcome challenges, which are common for both communities in our homeland” – Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot political parties and organizations issue joint statement.
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Citrus produce pleases growers
Ahmet Hastürk, head of the Akdeniz (Mediterranean) Citrus Exporters Association said there is a ten per cent increase in this year’s citrus harvest and the citrus exports. He added 45,000 tons of mandarin oranges and 58,000 tons of Valencia oranges were picked. 42,000 of mandarin oranges and 48,000 tons of Valencia type oranges were exported.
- No more salary cuts and the previous cuts will be paid back – Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said. He added the second economic relief package will be announced tomorrow (Monday) and noted the money pumped into the market will ensure the economic momentum.
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Goodbye Cyprus
Hundreds of Turks are leaving as a result of the collapse of tourism and a drop in business related to tourism. The suspension of transportation and the subsequent collapse of tourism has left thousands unemployed. Thousands of Turkish nationals with work permits who have been without work for three months have lost all hope of returning to their jobs. They continue to leave in mass.
- €9m becomes a dream – The case filed by six Turkish Cypriots seeking compensation for their properties in Larnaca has been rejected by the Greek Cypriot court.
- Joint action on all issues –Red soil being sent from Cyprus to Greece to grow Cypriot potatoes.
- AIDS cases exceed 1000 – No new (coronavirus) cases detected in South Cyprus. Cases remain at 980.
It’s boot-licking, not health
The government’s decision to allow arrivals from Turkey, where coronavirus cases continue to surge, drew harsh reactions from the public and Mustafa Akıncı. More than a thousand cases are recorded daily. Akıncı who pointed to the increase in the number of cases in Turkey said: “Today (Saturday), the number of cases reached 1,495. A health expert, now talking on a Turkish TV said this is a concerning development.” Akıncı asked if the Turkish Cypriot Science Board was concerned about July 1 or not. “The health experts, whom we expect to guide the politicians in the right directions, need to express their opinions and viewpoints,” Akıncı stressed. “Communication and transportation with Turkey are vital however we also bear the responsibility to hold the community’s health above all others,” Akıncı concluded.
- Pay cuts will be paid back – PM Ersin Tatar said the salary-cuts from the public sector will be paid back in June, July and August.
- The case is lost – The lawsuit filed by six Turkish Cypriots to be compensated regarding their properties in Larnaca, is rejected.
Main News
TC & GC parties/organisations call for cooperation
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, CBMs, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
A group of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot political parties and organisations on Saturday issued a joint statement calling for the two leaders in the post-Covid-19 period.
The joint statement was issued by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the Social Democratic Party (TDP), the United Cyprus Party (BKP), the New Cyprus Party (YKP), the Left Movement, AKEL, OPEK and Workers’ Democracy stated that cooperation is the only way for the two communities to overcome their joint obstacles.
The statement said that cooperation was the only way to overcome challenges which were common for both communities.
“We call on the two leaders to move in this spirit, not only during the post-Covid-19 pandemic but also throughout the forthcoming likely developments on the Cyprus peace-building process, the statement read.
The parties and organisations also said that as far as the reopening of the checkpoints was concerned, cooperation was imperative in the making of a joint decision on preventive health controls and the decision at the earliest appropriate date.
It added that the ongoing lifting of the restrictive measures in phases on both sides facilitated the adoption of an appropriate decision.
“By benefiting from the advice of scientists, and in particular the Bi-communal Technical Committee on Health issues, the procedure that will ensure safe crossing must be agreed upon at the earliest. At the same time, joint efforts aimed at the prevention of any further likelihood of an outbreak of coronavirus across the island must be strengthened,” the statement read.
The parties said that they stood ready to contribute to providing specific proposals to achieve that goal.
They added that following the effective management of the coronavirus pandemic and the elections in the north in October, the two sides should resume sincere dialogue aimed at the resumption of result-oriented negotiations for the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.
“This goal is reachable provided that the procedure is based on the convergences reached by the two sides, the Joint Declaration of the two leaders and the Guterres Framework, as outlined on the UN statement following the informal meeting in Berlin on November 25, 2019.
They added that the ultimate goal must be to reach a strategic political agreement on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution with political equality, in full line with all related UN resolutions and parameters.
“Our parties and organizations remain committed to supporting such efforts focused on the resumption of negotiations, followed by the provision of objective information on the contents of the agreement together with all its associated benefits. Within this framework, we shall work to strengthen our cooperation, mutual understanding and rapprochement of the two communities at all levels,” the statement concluded.
Government focuses on second relief package amid criticisms
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
“The second economic relief package will be more intense and will provide remedies to the economic problems,” Turkish Cypriot Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said on Saturday
Speaking during a programme on Bayrak, Amcaoğlu said the details of of the second relief package will be completed next week and will be presented to the cabinet for further discussion.
“We have to adopt a balanced approach in the second package. While providing remedies for the 47,000 public sector workers, we also have to think of the 113,000 private-sector workers,” Amcaoğlu said.
He also promised the second relief package will be more intense in its measures and support schemes which will span over the next six months.
“We have to ensure the continuation of the private sector. We have to carefully plan the funds to be allocated to the private sector as a result of the signed economic protocol agreement with Turkey,” Amcaoğlu said warning that failure to do so will leave the private sector in deep water.
Also on Saturday, Prime Minister Ersin Tatar announced that public sector workers would not only receive full salaries at the end of June but would also receive the amount cut from their salaries during the lockdown in three instalments.
The government had introduced pay cuts to all public sectors workers for the exception of those working in essential services, ranging from 25 to 56 per cent.
The cuts had been made on the condition they would be paid back.
“Not only the public sector will receive their salaries in full, but the amounts deducted from their salaries will also be paid back in three instalments, in June, July and August,” Tatar stressed.
Speaking during a National Unity Party (UBP) meeting in Güzelyurt (Morphou) later in the day, Tatar said the government was also working on finding ways to pump cash in the private sector.
“We will continue to provide salary support to the private sector workers. The social security premium payments for the private sector will be subsidized by the government until September. Three per cent of the interest amount on loans taken by the businesses will also be covered by the state. We will also provide incentives for exporting companies especially to those exporting potatoes and hellim (halloumi),” Tatar said.
He noted the second economic relief package will be shared with the political parties represented in the parliament on Monday and with the public on Tuesday.
Conservation work at the Sourp Magar Monastery resumes
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage has resumed its conservation work at the Sourp Magar Armenian Monastery, the dailies reported on Sunday.
The 10th-century monument, which is located on the northern slopes of the Kyrenia mountain range, is regarded as one of the most important sites for the Armenian community in Cyprus.
In a statement issued by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on social media, the conservation work is expected to be concluded by December.
The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage in Cyprus, supported by UNDP, and the conservation work is financed by the European Union (EU).
Turkish military conducts air & sea drills in the Med.
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The Turkish armed forces conducted an eight-hour-long air and navy exercise in the Mediterranean in an area covering 2,000 square kilometres, it was reported on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by the Turkish Defence Ministry, the drill was meant to test and develop Turkey’s ability to command and execute long-distance operations. 17 warplanes, based in the central Turkish airbase of Eskişehir in Turkey, and eight frigates and corvettes took part in Thursday’s “High Seas Exercises.”
“During the eight-hour mission extending nearly 2,000 kilometres away from the Turkish territorial waters, command and control procedures were practised, exercises that included in-flight refuelling, joint naval-air operations were conducted and the maritime and air picture was built and shared,” the statement said.