Front Page Headlines
We opened up with ‘fear’
Arrivals via flights and ferries, many without quarantine, have started. Yenidüzen followed the opening process step by step. Only 434 of the 803 coronavirus tests carried out in the last 24 hours have been completed. The test results of 369 passengers who arrived by plane have yet to be announced. One positive case was confirmed among passengers who arrived by ferry. The patient has been admitted to the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital in Nicosia.
- A total of 558 people arrived from abroad
- Erhürman asked: “What is the penalty for violating the signed declaration for remaining in self-isolation until second results are announced?”
- From the plane to the barber! –He waited neither for the test results nor did he comply with the signed declaration. A man who arrived at Ercan (Tymbou) airport went straight to the barber without waiting for the results of his second PCR test. He was asked to leave the shop.
- Two ships dock at Kyrenia port –Two ferries docked at Kyrenia port yesterday (Wednesday) as arrivals without quarantine on the system of two PCR tests were put into practice. A total of 150 civilians and 31 military personnel arrived on the two ferries.
Ceased Print/Online Only
No control!
The passengers arriving in the north on the system of double-PCR tests were supposed to self-isolate until their second test results were out. However, it emerged that one of the passengers did not comply with the declaration signed and went out and about. Turkish Cypriot health minister Ali Pilli, late in the evening on Wednesday confirmed that one of the passengers who arrived by ferry had tested positive. Pilli said the patient has been taken under quarantine at the Nicosia Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital and the others whom the patient had been in contact with have also been identified. 400 passengers arrived by plane and 150 by ferry in the north yesterday (Wednesday). The passengers arriving from Turkey presented officials with their negative PCR results obtained within the last 72 hours. They then underwent a second PCR. The passengers were asked to sign a declaration stating they will self isolate until the results are out however when one passenger flouted the rule, the public naturally questioned how authorities were ensuring that the individuals followed the rules. Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit referring to the CCTV footage of a passenger out and about in north Nicosia asked: “Didn’t the government know it could not control the people in isolation?”
- Akıncılar (Louroujina) wants a crossing point – Akıncılar (Louroujina) Mayor Hasan Barbaros reiterated the villagers’ demand to open a crossing point in the village during a meeting with Prime Minister Ersin Tatar.
PCR tests at Ercan (Tymbou) is a risk
The scheduled flights, which had been suspended as part of Covid-19 measures, resumed again. A total of 391 passengers entered the north without the quarantine requirement. The way the PCR tests were conducted at the Ercan (Tymbou) airport revealed the severity of the risk. The way the nasal samples were taken for PCR testing at the airport was irking! Many of the airports in the world and Turkey have placed special cabins for sampling purposes but the nurses at Ercan (Tymbou) were asked to take the samples in one room, where there were five to six people are allowed in at once.
- One positive case on the first day – Turkish Cypriot health minister Ali Pilli said one of the 803 tests done on Wednesday evening came back positive. He added all the passengers from now on will be held under quarantine until the test results are out.
- Either a crossing point or a boycott – Akıncılar (Louroujina) Mayor Hasan Barbaros reiterated the villagers’ demand to open a crossing point in the village during a meeting with Prime Minister Ersin Tatar. “We are determined in our campaign, otherwise we will boycott the elections,” Barbaros said. Tatar promised he will take up the matter with the relevant office.
- Hearing postponed to July 3 – The case filed by the Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association to annul the government’s decision on entries without quarantine requirement, was postponed to 3 July to give time for the prosecutor to file objections.
- The latest situation: North 109 cases, four deaths; South 999 cases, 26 deaths; Turkey 201,098 cases, 5,150 deaths.
The longing ended
Those who were able to return to the island with the resumption of flights after being away for months were happy. Those who reside permanently in the north or who had booked holiday reservations started to arrive on the island yesterday (Wednesday) by carrying out double PCR tests. Passengers who spoke to Diyalog at Ercan (Tymbou) airport said they were happy to have been returning to the island after such a long time. The passengers told the daily they were pleased to see the health precautions in place at the airport, stating that the decision to allow arrivals through double PCR testing was the right call. “Both we and the public will be at ease due to this system,” the passengers said. Many relatives and families lined up outside the airport to greet their family and friends.
- He will make it up – Borell who called Akıncı on the phone said he was sorry they couldn’t meet.
- Pilli announces last-minute measures –All passengers arriving in the TRNC as of today (Thursday) will be placed in a quarantine facility until their second PCR tests are announced.
- Free to go –TRNC citizens wishing to travel to Turkey can do so without any test requirement.
Fall on the first hurdle
Here they are…Get to know the cabinet members that threw our community into the fire! One of the passengers who arrived in the north by ferry tested positive for coronavirus. The same passenger informed the authorities that his/her test in Turkey was negative. Well-known Turkish Fashion designer Barbaros Şansal who was among those who arrived on Thursday said that no one asked them in Turkey whether they had PCR tests when boarding the plane. In the meantime, Turkish Cypriot health minister Ali Pilli confirmed that one of the passengers had tested positive and added the patient is now under quarantine at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital.
- Car theft and smuggling from the UK to the north worth £5m
Main News
Akıncı conveys TC side’s frustration to Borrell over the phone
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
EU Matters, Energy, Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
President Mustafa Akıncı on Wednesday told the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Joseph Borrell how his refusal to meet with him had created great frustration within the Turkish Cypriot community.
According to a statement issued by Akıncı’s office, the two talked over the phone for half an hour focusing mainly on the issue of hydrocarbons.
Akıncı explained to Borell how he had met with his predecessor Federica Mogherini and other top EU officials on numerous occasions both in Brussels and at his office in the north.
He also reminded the EU official that Turkish Cypriots were one of the stakeholders on the issue of hydrocarbons and informed him that the Turkish Cypriot side’s July 13, 2019 proposal aimed at reducing tensions on the issue, was still on the table.
Akıncı explained that the proposed joint committee to be formed under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) and the observation of the EU could create a platform for dialogue on the issue of hydrocarbons.
The Turkish Cypriot leader also reiterated the Turkish Cypriot side’s readiness to work with the EU at every level for the solution of the Cyprus Problem.
According to the statement, Borell expressed his apologies for having upset the Turkish Cypriot side and promised to meet with Akıncı at the soonest possible time.
The top EU official said that the EU always supported dialogue and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Tatar lashs out at GC leader for lobbying the EU against Turkey
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“Wake up from your dreams of usurping the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean by using the European Union (EU),” Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said in response to the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades’ televised interview on Wednesday.
In a written statement, Tatar instead, called on the Greek Cypriot leader to cooperate with the Turkish Cypriot side to resolve the disputes on the island and in the hydrocarbons issue.
He reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side has refrained from giving a positive response to the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposal on the hydrocarbons issue.
Tatar said Anastasiades claimed that Turkey has adopted an aggressive stance in the region and he asked the EU to intervene while on the other hand provoking France against Turkey.
He argued the contrary and said the real aggressors in the region are Greece and the Greek Cypriot side.
“While Turkey is trying to protect both its and the Turkish Cypriots’ rights deriving from international law in the region, the Greek Cypriot side and Greece have formed malicious alliances against it in the Eastern Mediterranean region,” Tatar said.
He added that neither France nor the EU could stop Turkey or the Turkish Cypriots from defending their rights.
Tatar stressed there are two separate states with equal sovereign rights and with two distinct communities. Arguing that the north is as legitimate as the Greek Cypriot administration, he also added the Turkish Cypriots have as much rights in the natural resources as the Greek Cypriots.
“As long as the EU continues to spoil the Greek Cypriot side, none of the Greek Cypriot leaders will move closer to a solution,” Tatar argued and urged the EU to make the Greek Cypriot side to see the realities on the island.
“The only way to reach peace and stability in the region, which would be in the best interest of all the relevant sides, is to accept the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Tatar concluded.
Additionally, Turkish Cypriot side’s ambassador to Ankara, Kemal Köprülü echoed the same views, urging the Greek Cypriot side to abandon unilateral steps, which threaten the regional stability and peace on Wednesday.
Speaking during the panel discussion entitled “Post-Pandemic International System,” organized by the Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE) and the Azerbaijani Embassy; Köprülü urged the Greek Cypriot side to collaborate with the Turkish Cypriot side, which he argued was its sole interlocutor on the island.
“The biggest obstacle before a comprehensive settlement on the island is the Greek Cypriot side’s continuous insistence not to accept the Turkish Cypriot as an equal partner on the island,” Köprülü stressed.
Urging the Greek Cypriot side to grasp the realities on the island, he noted the coronavirus pandemic has shown the importance of collaboration and dialogue once again to all on the island and in the international community.
“It is vital for the international community to convince the Greek Cypriot side for equitable sharing and co-management of the natural resources for hydrocarbons issue to be resolved,” Köprülü concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>> The GC side should stop trying to usurp the rights of the TCs & Turkey by using the EU.
>> The GC leader should cooperate with the TC side to resolve the disputes on the island & the hydrocarbons issue.
>> The GC side provokes France against Turkey.
>> While Turkey is trying to protect both its & the TCs’ rights deriving from int’l law in the region, the GC side & Greece have formed malicious alliances against it in the East. Med.
>> Neither France nor the EU can stop Turkey or the TCs from defending their rights.
>> There are two separate states with equal sovereign rights & with two distinct communities.
>> The north is as legitimate as the GC side.
>> The TCs have as much rights in the natural resources as the GCs.
>> As long as the EU continues to spoil the GC side, none of the GC leaders will work towards a solution.
>> EU should make the GC side to see the realities on the island.
>> The only way to reach peace & stability in the region, which would be in the best interest of all the relevant sides, is to accept the rights of the TCs &Turkey in the East. Med.
Köprülü (TC MFA)
>> The GC side must abandon unilateral steps, which threaten regional stability & peace.
>> The GC side must collaborate with the TC side, which is its sole interlocutor on the island.
>> The biggest obstacle before the comprehensive settlement on the island is the GC side’s continuous insistence on not accepting the TCs as an equal partner on the island.
>> The coronavirus pandemic has shown the importance of collaboration & dialogue once again.
>> The int’l community needs to convince the GC side for equitable sharing & co-management of the natural resources to resolve the hydrocarbons issue.
Reopening Maraş (Varosha) requires international diplomacy
Kıbrıs Postası
Property, Territory, Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
“The international aspect of the reopening of Maraş (Varosha) is central to achieving success in the project,” Kudret Özersay said on Wednesday.
Speaking during a programme on Kıbrıs Postası web TV, Özersay added the initiative to reopen the fenced-off town cannot simply be used as an election slogan by repeating several memorised sentences.
“The elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot community has to be able to talk and convince the UN, other nations, the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) and the EU that the project is in accordance with international law. He or she has to provide a timeline and a roadmap concerning its demilitarisation process. Moreover, you have to know how and which steps to take to prevent the world from rejecting the proposal,” Özersay stressed.
“Nonetheless, returning Maraş (Varosha) to its former residents and allowing them to utilise their immovable properties is no joke! It is a complicated process which cannot be carried out by uttering empty election promises,” Özersay said.
Recalling that he had talked about the project in detail five years ago, Özersay expressed the belief that he has sufficient diplomatic and international experience to carry out the project.
“If elected, I am confident that I have the diplomatic experience to implement the initiative to reopen Maraş (Varosha),” Özersay concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> The int’l aspect of the reopening of Maraş (Varosha) central to achieving success in the project.
>> The project to reopen the fenced-off town shouldn’t be used an election slogan.
>> The elected TC leader should be able to convince the UN, other nations, the OIC and EU during meetings that the project is in accordance with the int’l law.
>> The TC leader needs to have a timeline and roadmap for the process.
>> Returning Maraş (Varosha) to its former residents & allowing them to utilise their immovable properties a complicated process & cannot be done through empty promises.
>> If elected, I am confident that I have the diplomatic experience to implement the initiative to reopen Maraş (Varosha).
We are determined to open the crossing point, says Barbaros
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Akıncılar (Louroujina) Mayor Hasan Barbaros on Wednesday said that they were determined to continue to push for the opening crossing point in the village.
Barbaros’s remarks came during a visit to Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar during which the written request to open a crossing point at the village was handed to him by the Akıncılar (Louroujina) Crossing Point Committee.
He said that the villagers were determined to pursue their goal for an access point to be opened to the south through the village.
“We shall be pursuing all options including boycotting the upcoming presidential elections,” he said.
Also, speaking Tatar said that his office will be evaluating the situation.
Akıncılar (Louroujina) is currently located in a pocket accessed through a winding road that runs parallel to a military area next to Ercan (Tymbou).
A new road completed several years ago has made access to the village easier but many young residents have left the village because of the difficulty in commuting to work.
The Akıncılar (Louroujina) Crossing Point Committee has launched a campaign on social media and through visits for a crossing point to be opened to the south.
Flights resume while first Covid case in 75 days arrives by ferry
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The first two flights from Turkey arrived in the north on Wednesday morning while 11 passengers from countries not on the list of safe countries have been placed in quarantine.
It was the first time in three-and-half months that commercial flights landed at Ercan (Tymbou) airport.
Later on Wednesday, one case of coronavirus was reported in the north, the first in 75 days.
An individual who arrived from Turkey via ferry tested positive for the virus.
The individual’s first PCR test carried out in Turkey was negative, reports said.
With the latest case, the total number of coronavirus cases in the north has reached 109.
After hours of unverified reports, Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli announced the news in a late-night statement.
Pilli added that a total of 803 tests had been carried out on Wednesday on passengers arriving from Turkey as well as on Turkish Cypriots wishing to cross south.
He explained that 434 of the tests had been completed and that the remaining 369 would be announced early on Thursday.
According to reports in the north, a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul arrived at 2.30 am and the other, a Pegasus Airlines flight from Istanbul at 8 am, transferring 380 passengers.
Eleven of the passengers on board the first flight have been placed in quarantine since they arrived from the US, Brazil, Russia, Iran and the UK, that are not on categories A and B which include countries safer than the rest as regards the coronavirus outlook.
Reports also said that a Turkish Cypriot who arrived from Germany but without a coronavirus test certificate was also placed in quarantine pending their test results.
The report raised further questions about an earlier assurance provided by both Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officials that passengers without a negative PCR test would not be allowed to board planes or ferries designated for the north.
Yenidüzen reported that a passenger who was on the second plane and found to be from one of the risky countries in Group C would be sent back after refusing to be quarantined for 14 days.
A well-known Turkish personality Barbaros Şansal was among those who arrived on Wednesday. He tweeted that no one had checked whether or not they had PCR certificates when boarding the plane.
Passengers arriving from countries in category A will be required to present a negative coronavirus test certificate not older than 72 hours but people arriving from these countries via Turkey will be subject to the same rules which apply for arrivals from countries under category B.
Passengers from category B countries, have to present a negative coronavirus test and take a second test upon arrival. They also need to sign a declaration stating that until the second test results are ready, they will remain at their residence or hotel.
The test results of passengers are expected to be ready within four hours.
Yenidüzen reported that two ferries with around 180 passengers also arrived at the Kyrenia port from Mersin, Turkey.
Meanwhile, social media was rocked by reports that one of the passengers who arrived in the north had violated the self-isolation rule until his second PCR test result was announced.
Concerns were raised on Wednesday after the first two flights from Turkey arrived in the north when a passenger rushed to get a haircut straight out of the airport instead of self-isolating.
According to reports, the man, who arrived in the north onboard one of the two flights, went to a barbershop downtown Nicosia for a haircut right after leaving the airport.
The daily quotes an employee of the barbershop saying they refused to serve the man after realising he had just arrived from abroad.
He said the man got angry and offered to show them his negative coronavirus test certificate, but the barbershop staff said that according to what they heard, passengers ought to self-isolate for a few days after arrival.
CCTV footage of the incident which circulated on social media caused an uproar as people once again slammed the government’s decision to allow arrivals from Turkey without quarantine.
It’s not known whether or not the authorities took any action against the individual.
Later in the afternoon, more reports of flouting of the self-isolation rule emerged on social media as people shared stories, none of which could be verified.
Following the public’s reactions, Health Minister Ali Pilli announced late Wednesday that all arriving passengers would be placed in quarantine centres until the results of their second PCR tests came out.
Main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman questioned what the punishment for breaking the self-isolation rule was.
“What kind of legal action is envisaged? What will be the punishment for breaking this rule?” Erhürman asked in a post on social media.
He said that the paper individuals were made to sign upon arrival that they would self-isolate until their second test results were announced, did not state what the penalty for violating the rule was.
Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit in a statement on Wednesday blasted the government for failing to take necessary precautionary measures.
He said that the government should have known that people could not be trusted to self-isolate on their own.
“Did the government not know that it would be impossible to track what people would be doing? Is not insisting on a method proven to be a failure risking the public’s health?” Özyiğit asked.
He accused the government of putting the public’s health at risk, questioning how logical it had been to give the initiative of self-isolating to individuals.
Özyiğit also questioned how it was possible to determine as to whether or not people were infected on the flights they were on.
“It doesn’t matter from which country they are travelling from. In the end, they all get on one flight to come to the island. How do the authorities know that someone has not been infected on the plane?” he asked.
Özyiğit recalled that the EU had excluded Turkey from the list of countries it was opening up its borders to.
The TDP leader asked the same question as Erhürman as to what the penalty for flouting the self-isolation rule was.
He pointed out that he was not against the idea of opening ports to arrivals but added that any action needed to be based on scientific data and no other factors.
In another development, the hearing of the case filed by the Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association for the annulment of the government’s decision to allow entry into the north of passengers from high-risk countries from July 1 without quarantine was postponed to Friday.
Doctors in the north have been expressing their concerns over the decision to allow passengers to arrive without being quarantined after Turkish Cypriot authorities included Turkey where Covid-19 figures remain high.
People’s Party (HP) MP and Molecular Genetics expert Jale Refik Rogers on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the decision to lift the quarantine requirement for arrivals from Turkey.
She warned that the risk of infection was high, advising individuals over 65 or those with underlying held conditions to protect themselves and avoid crowded spaces.
She said that everyone should show attention to personal hygiene, wear masks in public and practice social distancing.
In the meantime, CTP leader Erhürman continued to criticize the government over what he said was its lack of seriousness and responsibility on managing the coronavirus pandemic.
He said that the authorities had done nothing to prepare the general public for the current situation and despite warnings from health experts, they went ahead with opening ports to arrivals from abroad without the need to quarantine.
Erhürman called on the public to exercise the responsibility which the government has failed to do.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Pilli on Wednesday dismissed claims by the opposition and doctors that the situation was not under control.
Speaking to Bayrak, Pilli argued that the north had to allow arrivals sooner or later as the current situation was unsustainable.
He, however, assured the public that all necessary precautions had been taken and that as long as everyone followed the rules there was nothing to worry about.
Pilli recalled that the number of arrivals at present was limited due to the north’s limited testing capacity.
He said that work was underway in collaboration with Turkey to set up a temporary DNA lab at Ercan (Tymbou) Airport to carry out a higher number of PCR tests.
Pilli also explained that the north’s present health infrastructure was far more equipped and ready to deal with a new outbreak of cases than it was three-and-a-half months ago.
Also on Wednesday, the case filed by the Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association to annul the government’s decision on entries without quarantine requirement was postponed to 3 July to give time for the prosecutor to file objections.
CMP resumes operations
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus resumes full operations with the reopening of crossing points on July 2, the dailies report on Thursday.
In a statement issued, the CMP reminded that the regular operations of the Anthropological Laboratory had resumed as of June 22.
“All CMP staff members have taken the Covid-19 PCR diagnostic test while all work modalities have been brought in line with international and local Covid-19 guidelines,” the statement read. It also noted that the safety of its bicommunal teams remains a top priority.
The statement concluded by noting that during the lockdown period, the CMP members as well as the CMP team have had regular meetings via video conferences and have used the period to analyse and complete hundreds of pending cases.