TCC Press Review 29 June 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Development plan in quarantine

The extension for the development plan for the Famagusta, Iskele (Trikomo) and Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) expires on July 15. The development plan which has been a serious source of disagreement between the two coalition partners had been prevented by Prime Minister Ersin Tatar from being published in the official gazette. It’s been six months and time is running out. The municipalities are uncomfortable and want the process to be completed.

Kıbrıs Postası

Ceased Print/Online Only

Kıbrıs

They have carved up the mountain!

The quarries, which operate using ‘violent’ methods in the north, continue to erode the Five Finger Mountains (Beşparmak/Pentadactylos). The damage caused is extensive. The consequence of having too many quarries in the north has caused an irreversible environmental catastrophe. Ayşe Özhür, Director of the Geology and Mining Department, said 20 of the 56 quarries are operational in the north. Operating licenses for eight of them had been revoked. 28 licenses were not renewed by the companies themselves.

  • Those convicted of IT crimes can be sentenced to imprisonment and/or monetary fines – The IT law will be debated during the plenary on Monday.

Havadis

57 years of internment

Residents of the Akıncılar (Louroujina) village have launched a campaign to reopen a road in the village leading to the south which had been closed 57 years ago. The villagers demand a crossing point be opened between Akıncılar (Louroujina) and Limnia (Kiracıköy). The younger generation in the village, who leads the social media campaign said that the road needs to be opened so that the village can stop being a dead-end alley.  

  • IT law in its final phase – The parliament is expected to debate the IT law today (Monday).
  • “Health measures are a priority” – Turgay Deniz, President of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) urged the government to establish an action plan by taking the viewpoints of all the stakeholders in order to reinstate the confidence that the people had in the government at the initial phase of the pandemic.  
  • The latest situation: North 108 cases, four deaths; South 994 cases, 26 deaths; Turkey 197,239 cases, 5,097 deaths.

Diyalog

Wells in operation for the first time in five years

According to TRNC Agriculture and Forestry Minister Dursun Oğuz, there is enough water in the Geçitköy (Panagra) Dam to last until the end of August. Concerns are growing about possible water shortages after the pipeline from Turkey supplying fresh water to Cyprus was damaged in January this year. Minister Oğuz who spoke to Diyalog said that repairs on the pipeline would begin in July. “We shall put into operation more wells in a bid to prevent water shortages,” he said.

Avrupa

Brakes on Facebook, Twitter and the internet…

The parliament will debate the IT Law, which was approved by the relevant parliamentary sub-committee. The bill is expected to be enacted by a unanimous vote. Once the bill is passed violators will be liable to face prison terms up to three to five years or monetary fines ranging between ten and 20 times the minimum wage. According to the bill, the court can order to limit or restrict access to any online publication aimed at physically or mentally attacking a person or posted with the intention of causing harm. In exceptional cases, the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTHK) can restrict access to publications without a court order.

  • The parliament will convene for the last time today (Monday) and will give a break for the summer.

Main News

Turkey’s 7th drill to be carried out west of Cyprus

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

“Turkey will carry out its seventh drill to the west of the island of Cyprus,” Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said.

Speaking during a programme on Turkish TV Kanal 7, Dönmez added Turkey has carried out six drills to date.

Dönmez said his ministries’ strategic goal is to reduce the foreign dependency on energy. “Turkey is an energy-dependent nation,” Dönmez noted, adding that his ministry has intensified its efforts for onshore and offshore drilling.

He said the ministry first started its efforts with the Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa seismic research vessel the purchased the Fatih drillship, then Yavuz and the final purchase was the Kanuni drillship.

“When we were faced with some obstacles, we have decided to nationalise the hydrocarbon exploration activities. We have done six drills to date and the seventh one is currently underway to the west of the island of Cyprus,” Dönmez said.

He said there are three stages to the hydrocarbon activities. The first one is the seismic research phase followed by drilling and the third and the final phase is the production phase.

“We are in the second phase at the moment and are continuing with our drillings. We are planning on intensifying our research in the north of the Eastern Mediterranean region,” Dönmez said.

Responding to a question on the developments in Libya, Dönmez recalled the two agreements signed with Libya.

He said one of these agreements was about offshore drilling and the other one on security. Dönmez said the talks are underway on how Ankara can increase its collaboration with Libya. He recalled the past petrol activities of Turkey in Libya until 2011 when the war started.

“We are now carrying out these explorations with the Libyan companies because those resources are for the welfare of the Libyan people. We are not colonialists. On the contrary, we are establishing partnerships on the basis of win-win for everyone,” Dönmez noted.

The Energy Minister also noted the Fatih drillship is currently in the Black Sea preparing for drilling at the Trabzon port.

Asked to respond to a question on the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, Dönmez said even though the efforts had ceased due to the coronavirus pandemic, the construction work on the power plant has resumed at full capacity.

“The power plant will have four power units. The foundation for the second unit will be laid in the coming days. The first power unit will be operational by 2023,” Dönmez concluded.

KEY ACTORS
Dönmez (Turkey)
>> Turkey will carry out its seventh drill to the west of the island of Cyprus.
>> Energy Ministries’ strategic goal is to reduce foreign dependency on energy.
>> There are plans to intensify the hydrocarbon research in the north of the East. Med. region.
>> The talks are underway on how Ankara can increase its collaboration with Libya.
>> Ankara is carrying out explorations with the Libyan companies because those resources are for the welfare of the Libyan people.
>> Ankara establishing partnerships on the basis of win-win for everyone.


Independence Alliance criticizes Borell’s proposal

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Avrupa
EU Matters, Energy, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

The Independence Alliance on Sunday reacted to the EU High-Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell’s latest proposal to bring together Turkey and the Greek Cypriots together to discuss the maritime delimitation between their relevant coasts.  

The Alliance said that Borell’s proposal proved the EU’s biased and unfair stance which ignored the legitimate rights of the Turkish Cypriot people over Cyprus. 

The written statement issued by the Alliance noted that this stance was ending the hopes for reaching an agreement with the Greek Cypriots in Cyprus.

The statement also called on the sides to recognize the TRNC and asked the world to respect the independence and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot people.


Translate »