TCC Press Review 18 June 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

‘They didn’t stay at the quarantine hotel’

Following the special permission scandal, police launched an extensive investigation at the Merit Hotel. The first details emerged. It was revealed that the group of individuals who arrived in the north from Turkey via a private jet belonging to ADA Air did not stay at a quarantined hotel as stated. It emerged the group stayed at the Merit Premium Hotel instead of the Merit Royal Hotel. It also emerged that three members of the group visited Kyrenia while another member visited Famagusta. The Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu confirmed that the government did not have any contract with Merit Premium Hotel to be used as a quarantined hotel. It was also revealed that the health ministry is sending special individuals to Merit Hotel for quarantine which does not have any agreement. The group did not enter from the fire door as claimed and police could not find any evidence that members of the group visited the investment site.

  • Politis “The reopening of the crossings at knife’s edge”
  • Akıncı brings elections back to the agenda: Let’s do it on August 16.

Kıbrıs Postası

Ceased Print/Online Only

Kıbrıs

New ‘corruption’ claims worth ₺79,000 (€10,260) at Akdoğan (Lysi) Municipality

It is revealed that the Akdoğan (Lysi) Municipality has started to collect donations on behalf of the Akıncılar (Louroujina) sports club without informing the club.

  • The prime minister gives the signal of a cabinet reshuffle – The crisis caused between the coalition members as well as within the National Unity Party (UBP), was discussed during the party’s Central Executive Committee (MYK) meeting. Speaking after the nearly four-hour-long meeting, Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said: “We have our responsibilities and everyone must respect the decision we will take.”
  • Accused of being a senior FETÖ (Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organisation) member – The specially formed FETÖ investigation unit detained Caner Şahmaran for links to the terrorist organisation. Police found money and other evidence at his residence.
  • The fuel oil prices have gone up.

Havadis

Cracks form in the government

Tensions between coalition partners are on the rise. One group within the UBP wants to withdraw from the coalition with the People’s Party (HP) to form a new coalition with the Democratic Party (DP) and the Rebirth Party (YDP). The fact that the legal procedures against UBP MP Hüseyin Özgürgün have come to a halt, works in favour of this group.

  • What will be given to the sectors? Here is the packageHavadis got a hold of the second economic relief package, which was prepared by the cabinet to silence the disgruntled private sector. The package includes unconditional loans for small businesses for up to ₺50,000 (€6,493) with a 36-month payment term. The interest rate will be a minimum of three per cent lower than the regular loans.
  • Trade unions have lost their patience – Platform of Unions staged a protest outside the Labour Ministry and called on the government to resign. The Unions argued the government produced unlawful decisions that lacked economic logic.
  • Sharing of information will continue – Bicommunal Technical Committee on Health held a videoconference meeting to evaluate the current situation.
  • Fuel oil prices go up by ₺0.44 (€0.005).
  • The latest situation: North 108 cases, four deaths; South 985 cases, 25 deaths; Turkey 182,727 cases, 4,861 deaths.

Diyalog

Crisis at the door

While Prime Minister Ersin Tatar discussed the issue of removing Tourism and Environment Minister Ünal Üstel from the cabinet during yesterday’s party executive committee meeting, a group from the UBP’s Kyrenia branch rushed to Nicosia. All evidence after the meeting points out that Üstel will be replaced in the cabinet. Üstel, on the other hand, said neither he nor members of the party could accept him being removed from the cabinet. He argued that a large investment opportunity had been wasted because of power struggles within the party and that there were attempts to influence the outcome of the presidential elections through this issue.

  • The meeting is tomorrow (Friday) – President Mustafa Akıncı will be proposing to the party leaders to move the elections forward to August 16.

Afrika

Waiting for the police report

President Mustafa Akıncı said the public is waiting for a plausible and satisfactory explanation regarding the group of individuals that arrived in the north without entering quarantine. Akıncı said the government which had told Turkish Cypriots working in the south to stay there even though the pandemic was under control in the south, then turned around and allowed a group of people from Turkey, where the number of cases is on the rise, to enter the north without having to enter quarantine. He added he will not comment any further before seeing the police report on the issue. Akıncı and Tatar discussed the special permission issue.

  • The platform of Unions demanded the government resign – The government’s decisions are not only unlawful but they also lack economic logic.
  • We are filing a case – The ugly smear campaign launched on social media against the ‘monkey’ in the newspaper’s (Afrika) logo will be taken to the court.
  • A cabinet reshuffle is possible – Ersin Tatar asked everyone to respect his decisions.
  • A sharp increase in fuel prices.

Main News

Majority of Turks believe north should be integrated with Turkey

Kıbrıs Postası
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

The majority of people in Turkey believe the solution of the Cyprus Problem lies with integrating the north with Turkey, a survey on public perceptions of Turkish Foreign Policy conducted by the Kadir Has University in Turkey has revealed.

According to the results of the survey published by Kıbrıs Postası, 39.5 per cent of Turks believe that that the Cyprus Problem can only be solved by integrating the island’s north with Turkey while 29 per cent believe that there should be a settlement based two independent states.

A similar survey conducted last year had shown that 41.7 per cent believed that the Cyprus Problem could only be solved by integration of the north with Turkey.

30.1 per cent had said a settlement in Cyprus should be based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation (BFF).  

The survey also revealed that the majority of Turks, 55.3 per cent to be exact, believe that Cyprus is the biggest problem for relations between Turkey and Greece. 

This perception has not changed over the past year, the study reported.


Akıncı raises the possibility of bringing forward election date

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Governance & Power Sharing

OVERVIEW

President Mustafa Akıncı on Wednesday raised the possibility of bringing forward the date of the elections in the north to August instead of October as currently scheduled.

During statements on Bayrak, Akıncı said that it had been 61 days without any new coronavirus cases in the north and he would propose to parties on Friday to bring forward the election date.

The presidential elections in the north were initially to take place last April but were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He said the first round of elections could take place on August 16 and the second one on August 23.

Akıncı added that because there was a possibility of a new wave of infections in the autumn it would be better to hold the elections in the summer.

He reminded that the proposal to postpone the elections had been brought to him and decided at a joint meeting of the political parties in parliament.

On the issue of the crossing points, Akıncı said he did not agree with the government’s decision to link the opening of the crossings with allowing arrivals from Turkey, both on July 1.

He said the number of coronavirus cases in the south was zero on Wednesday whereas numbers continued to increase in Turkey.

Pointing out that communication with Turkey was very important, Akıncı said public health was the most important thing.

He urged the cabinet to reassess the decision to open the airports on July 1 if the number of cases in Turkey continues to rise.


The bicommunal committee on health discusses Covid-19

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, CBMs

OVERVIEW

The bicommunal Technical Committee on Health that convened via teleconference on Wednesday, with the participation of epidemiologists of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot side, discussed the situation on both sides of the divide concerning the way the COVID-19 pandemic is addressed.

According to a statement issued by Akıncı’s office, both sides renewed their understanding that the crossings points could be opened through a gradual and coordinated effort.

The statement also said that the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health will continue to play an important role in any arrangements to be made on the issue and to follow the process closely, taking joint steps based on scientific data. 

The General Coordinator for the Technical Committees in the north Meltem Onurkan Samani underlined the importance of members of the committee to continue sharing information and to remain in contact to produce new decisions.

She said that an understanding had been reached to meet again soon to evaluate the developments.


Villagers in Akıncılar (Louroujina) demand new crossing point

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, CBMs

OVERVIEW

Residents of Akıncılar (Louroujina) are demanding a new crossing point to be opened at their village, allowing them access to the south and ending their 57 years of imprisonment,” Yenidüzen reported on Thursday.

The residents of the village, located in a pocket also known as the “Louroujina pocket,” held a meeting June 15 to discuss a way forward “The day the Limnia (Kiracıköy) crossing point is opened, it will be remembered as the World Louroujina Day,” Mayor of the village Hasan Barbaros said.

Speaking to Yenidüzen, Barbaros also noted the villagers have established a seven-member committee to carry out meetings and lobby for the opening of a new crossing point.

“The actual distance from the north to the south is approximately 500 metres, however, the Turkish Cypriots working in the south are forced to use either the Metehan (Agios Dometios) or the Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing points to get to work,” Barbaros noted.

Barbaros concluded by reiterating that the committee established to lobby for the crossing point will be launching a series of meeting with the authorities in the north soon.


Akıncı & Tatar discuss second economic relief package

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Governance and Power Sharing

OVERVIEW

President Mustafa Akıncı on Wednesday reiterated his warning to the cabinet to base any decisions on the reopening process on July 1 on recommendations to be made by health experts and scientific boards.

Akıncı’s remarks came after his routine weekly meeting with Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar.

In a statement after the meeting, Akıncı said he was briefed about the current developments by Tatar.

Also speaking, Tatar said the main item discussed at the meeting was the second economic relief package as well as other domestic issues.

He reminded that a new process towards normalisation would begin on July 1 when ports of entry into the north will be opened.

Tatar, however, warned that the pandemic was not over yet and urged the public to continue to adhere to personal hygiene rules and social distancing.

In the meantime, Turkish Cypriot Energy and Economy Minister Hasan Taçoy on Wednesday praised the government’s second economic relief package, claiming it was the best package prepare so far by his administration.

During a meeting on Wednesday with the board members of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO), Taçoy argued the second package will be one of the most effective economic interventions of all times.

Refraining from announcing the details of the package, Taçoy assured the KTTO board members that the focus of the package will be the private sector.

Chairman of KTTO Turgay Deniz for his part pointed out the north was experiencing a serious economic recession in all sectors due to the pandemic despite having resumed activity on May 4.

He added the chamber will share with Taçoy what the KTTO believes should be included in the second economic relief package.

“The provisions of the second package on ensuring the cash flow into the market while preventing unemployment in the north will be vital for the business community,” Deniz stressed.

In another development, the Platform of Unions on Wednesday placed a black wreath outside the Labour Ministry in protest of the cabinet.

“The government made the workers pay a heavy price for the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic,” the Platform said as it called on the government to resign.

Reading the Platform’s statement, Güven Bengihan (head of KTAMS – Turkish Cypriot Public Servants’ Union), recalled the government’s first move had been to cut the salaries of the public servants and pensioners.

He argued the salary cuts had cut flow of money into the mark resulting in an economic recession.

“The decisions adopted in the pandemic process were unlawful, unfair and they lacked any economic logic,” Bengihan stressed.

He gave the example of the government’s decision to lower unemployment benefits paid to the workers, pointing out that three per cent of their premiums deposited to the Social Security Department was deducted to create a fund to make the unemployment benefit.

“Nonetheless, even though it was their right, the workers’ unemployment benefit was lowered from ₺2,674 (€347) to ₺1,500 (€194) and they were subjected to serious economic hardships,” Bengihan said.

He also noted that the cabinet had failed to make any financial contributions for Turkish Cypriots working in the south but instead had allowed individuals from Turkey to enter the north without having to quarantine.

Bengihan argued the government’s measures had increased unemployment in the north and forced small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to take out loans to keep afloat during the crisis.

“The National Unity Party (UBP) and the People’s Party (HP) coalition did not ask the wealthy to make sacrifices during the economic crisis while the lower-income earners both in the private and in the public sector were made to suffer from pay cuts,” Bengihan said.

Also speaking during the protest, president of the Turkish Cypriot Federation of Labour unions (Türk-Sen), Arslan Bıçaklı said the cabinet not only made the workers suffer but also cut 25 per cent from the state contributions to the local administrations leaving them strapped for cash at a very critical period.

“If there are going to be sacrifices made in the country, everyone has to make sacrifices. It is not acceptable to defer taxes from the wealthy and impose pay cuts on the workers,” Bıçaklı concluded.


Üstel denies responsibility, points the finger of blame on other ministers

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Governance and Power Sharing

OVERVIEW

The scandal caused by the arrival of a group of ‘investors’ to the north from Turkey via a private jet last Friday without complying with quarantine rules, continued to occupy the north’s agenda on Wednesday.

Turkish Cypriot Tourism Minister Ünal Üstel, which has been held responsible for the incident, rejected all accusations during a HaberKıbrıs web TV programme.

“I cannot be held responsible for the bureaucratic mistakes made in organizing the visit of a tourism investor to the north,” Üstel said, adding that none of the investors in the group had asked to be exempted from quarantine rule in place.

“Once I was informed about the request put forward by the company, which placed a bid for the marina project in Lapta (Lapithos), I relayed the message to the Council of Ministers. Implementing the necessary health measures and ensuring the implementation of immigration procedures are the responsibilities of the relevant ministries,” Üstel said, pointing the finger of blame at others in the cabinet.

He said he would not object to any investigation to ascertain the reasons as to why the Turkish group was exempted from the health and immigration rules.

Yenidüzen on Thursday reported that the ‘investors’ had not been placed at the Merit Royal Hotel in Alsancak (Karavas) being used as a quarantine facility as claimed by the authorities.

A police investigation also revealed that some members of the group had left the hotel to go to Kyrenia and Famagusta.

“If the site-visit and the necessary meetings had been cut-off halfway, the ministries, who did not perform the necessary health and immigration procedures should be held responsible because the tourism ministry’s responsibility is to bring tourism investors to the north,” Üstel concluded.

In the meantime, the National Unity Party’s Central Executive Committee (MYK) held a four-hour-long meeting on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments, including Üstel’s replacement in the cabinet.

In a brief statement to the media, Tatar refrained from announcing whether or not he was planning a cabinet reshuffle.

Coalition partners, the People’s Party’s (HP) has been demanding that Üstel be relieved from the cabinet and an investigation be launched into the allegations.

A group of Üstel supporters gathered outside the UBP headquarters in Nicosia while the meeting continued expressing support to Üstel.


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