Front Page Headlines
Three cases in two days, real chaos
It was first said that passengers would only require a negative PCR test when entering the north without quarantine. Then it was decided that two PCR tests would be required. The self-isolation condition until test results were announced was introduced but people flouted the rule. A new decision was taken at midnight after one passenger tested positive for Covid-19. All arriving passengers will be placed in a quarantined hotel until local test results are announced. The next day some of the tourists were sent directly to their hotels. The government experienced a crisis within itself bringing the quarantine condition back onto the agenda. Two new cases were detected yesterday (Thursday). There are now three patients receiving treatment at the state hospital. Two of the cases are Turkish nationals while the third is from Kazakhstan.
Ceased Print/Online Only
Our fears have come true
Tests for three passengers came back ‘positive’ and some of the travellers instead of remaining isolated, decided to go out and about. As a result, the quarantine requirement became unavoidable. The experts’ warnings and their demand from the government to amend its decision to allow arrivals to the north without the need to quarantine were proven to be justified. Three travellers tested positive and were placed under quarantine. Other passengers who might have been in close contact with the three, were also identified and placed in quarantine. Following the flouting of the self-isolation rule, the Turkish Cypriot health ministry imposed a new decision stating that all arriving passengers will be placed at a quarantined hotel until their PCR test results are out.
- 150 stolen luxury cars were brought to the north – The Turkish Cypriot police brought down a car smuggling ring in collaboration with UK police. Turkish Cypriot police are now searching for the 150 vehicles brought to the north.
- They marched from Kyrenia to Nicosia – Shopkeepers, artisans and sector representatives marched nearly 25 kilometres to protest the government’s second economic relief package.
The crime will not go unpunished
Attacks on the individuals, companies or institutions through social media and/or other IT tools, has become a legally prosecutable crime under the newly enacted IT law. The law foresees serious sanctions for those committing such crimes. The law also allows immediate intervention in cases such as online betting, attempting to hack banks, child pornography and terrorism. The Director of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTHK) Kadri Bürüncük said the BTHK will establish the necessary IT labs to investigate online crimes for the police department.
- Where is the pandemic hospital now that the virus is on its way? – Health sector trade unions staged a protest outside the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu hospital.
- “Turn and face us” – Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans marched from Kyrenia to Nicosia for the government to hear their cry. The retailers protested the government regarding the second economic relief package.
- The latest situation: North: 111 cases, four deaths; South: 999 cases, 26 deaths; Turkey: 202,284 cases, 5,167 deaths.
We witnessed this as well
Representatives of shopkeepers from Kyrenia who started a march at 7 am walked to Nicosia under the sweltering heat for ten hours. They arrived at 5 pm. Members of the United Action Committee marched to the Prime Minister’s Office where they staged a demonstration. The shopkeepers say that they are on the brink of bankruptcy and ruin.
- Everything under control – 569 tests were carried out in the TRNC yesterday (Thursday). Two positive cases were detected.
- 32 flights a day – Arrivals pick up at Larnaca and Paphos airports in the south.
Three cases now
Second day and two new positive cases. Turkish Cypriot health minister Ali Pilli said 569 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours and two positive cases had been identified, bringing the total tally of cases to three. The two new cases are among passengers who arrived via flights. One is a Turkish national and the other one is from Kazakhstan. The government adopted a new measure and decided to keep all the arriving passengers under quarantine until their PCR test results come out. Pilli also said that individuals with whom the positive cases might have been in contact with have been identified and place under quarantine.
- Trade unions in the health sector stage a protest – The trade unions drew attention to the inadequate health infrastructure. “As a result of government’s irreconcilable and incomprehensible attitude the virus has returned to the north,” the trade unions said.
- The march which started in Kyrenia ended at the prime ministry building in Nicosia – The shopkeepers marched in protest of the government.
Main News
North struggles with virus at entry points as more arrivals test positive
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot authorities went into high gear on Thursday after two new coronavirus cases were announced by Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli raising the number to three in just 24 hours.
Following unconfirmed reports throughout the day, Pilli announced on Thursday afternoon that in total three news cases were detected since Wednesday.
This brings the total of cases in the north to 111.
Pilli said that of the two cases detected on Thursday, one was a Turkish national and the other from Kazakhstan.
Both arrived in the north by plane.
Late on Wednesday, the Turkish Cypriot side had announced that one positive coronavirus case was detected among tests given to people who arrived in the north by ferry.
These were the first cases reported after nearly three months of zero cases.
The people who tested positive were placed in quarantine at the Nicosia Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu State hospital while their contacts will be taken into quarantine hotels.
Wednesday was the first day the north allowed the arrival of passengers from abroad without them having to be quarantined after arrival.
After the new case was detected, and following an incident in which one traveller flouted the self-isolation rule, Pilli announced that as of Thursday everyone who arrives in the north by air or sea, including airports in the south, would be taken to quarantine hotels until their local coronavirus test results were ready.
On Thursday, Turkish Cypriot police announced that the traveller in question, in addition to a second, aged 35, who arrived by plane on Wednesday and did not self-isolate until his test results were out, were arrested and prosecuted.
Passengers arriving from countries in category A are required to present a negative coronavirus test certificate not older than 72 hours but since people arriving from these countries are usually travelling via Turkey they will be subject to the same rules that 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.
In the meantime, dailies reported that 200 more people arrived at Ercan (Tymbou) on Thursday afternoon.
The passengers were transported to a quarantine facility after testing positive to await the results of their PCR tests.
Turkey: East Med, Cyprob & Aegean issue poisoning relations with EU
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
“Issues like the Eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Cyprus problem poison our relations with the European Union (EU). We want to achieve progress on these issues in a more positive environment,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Thursday.
Speaking to media following his meeting with the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Çavuşoğlu said Ankara wants to develop its relations with the EU during Germany’s term presidency.
Noting that the two ministers have had the opportunity to discuss issues ranging from the customs union to migration, Çavuşoğlu said some issues poisoned relations with EU institutions.
“These are the Eastern Mediterranean issue, the Aegean and the Cyprus problem. Nonetheless, there were some mediation attempts and we welcomed those,” Çavuşoğlu said. He noted Ankara wants to be in dialogue with Athens as well.
“We do not deny anyone’s rights but no one should attempt to ostracize Turkey either. We want lasting peace and stability in the region as well as in Syria. There are important roles the EU can play in this process,” Çavuşoğlu concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (MFA Turkey)
>> Issues like the East Med., the Aegean & Cyprob poison Turkey’s relations with the EU.
>> Ankara wants to achieve progress on these issues in a more positive environment.
>> Ankara wants to develop its relations with the EU during Germany’s term presidency.
>> Ankara welcomes mediation attempts on thorny issues.
>> Ankara wants to be in dialogue with Athens.
>> Ankara does not deny anyone’s rights but no one should attempt to ostracize Turkey either.
>> Ankara wants lasting peace & stability in the region.
>> There are important roles the EU can play in this process.
Özersay says field survey on Maraş (Varosha) near completion
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Property, Territory, Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
“The field survey being carried out within the framework of a protocol agreement signed with the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) has reached its final phase,” Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said on Thursday.
Özersay, speaking during a visit to Famagusta Mayor İsmail Arter, said the inventory commission established for the reopening of the fenced-off town of Maraş (Varosha) under the Turkish Cypriot administration was carrying on with its work as planned.
Özersay also noted that the foreign ministry will continue to support the Famagusta Municipality’s projects financed by the European Union (EU) and the other projects through the department of antiquities which falls under the authority of the office of the deputy prime ministry and foreign ministry.
The Foreign Ministry had signed a protocol agreement with EMU on May 20, 2020, allowing the Faculty of Engineering to carry out a study of the structures in the fenced-off city.
The agreement concerns measuring how earthquake-resistant all buildings in Maraş (Varosha) are but also preparing reports on each building.
The faculty is tasked with preparing a report that will include an assessment on the condition of each building, whether the buildings are suitable to live in but also the number of floors, level of corrosion, topographic condition and similar conditions.
The details, such as the corrosion level of all the buildings, will also be recorded.
In the meantime, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP and former negotiator Özdil Nami welcomed Özersay’s remarks on the importance of international diplomacy for the Maraş (Varosha) initiative on Thursday.
In a post on social media, Nami argued Özersay finally saw the realities regarding the opening of the fenced-off town.
“It is still better late than never,” Nami said, arguing that Özersay had been advocating the opposite for months.
“You have been arguing the contrary for months. Moreover, you side-lined our only office capable of speaking with the world and continued with your show by confronting the United Nations,” Nami said.
“We have not forgotten it and we will not allow it to be forgotten either,” Nami concluded.
Özersay on Wednesday had highlighted the importance of diplomatic skills for the reopening of the fenced-off town.
He had argued that the international aspect of the reopening of Maraş (Varosha) was central to achieving success in the project.
Özersay had added that the elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot community needed to be able to talk and convince the UN, other nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the EU that the project was in accordance with international law.
Preparations for bicommunal poetry event completed
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs
OVERVIEW
It was reported on Thursday that preparations for the bicommunal video-poetry event have been finalised.
According to information given by the Turkish Cypriot Chair of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Culture on Thursday, the preparations were carried out in collaboration with the Turkish Cypriot Association for Artists and Writers.
Five Greek Cypriot and five Turkish Cypriot artists are featured in the event, which is organised by the bicommunal Technical Committee on Culture under the auspices of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
All the poets have recorded their poetry on video and the videos were compiled into one project by Turkish Cypriot Director Vasfi Çiftçioğlu.
The video, which is subtitled, will be featured on social media as part of an awareness campaign.
The Greek Cypriot poets taking part in the event are Vakis Loizides, Costas Patinios, Vasilka Hadjipapa, Anna Kouppanou and Alexandra Galanou.
The Turkish Cypriot poets are Emel Kaya, Mehmet Kansu, Hüseyin Bahca, Nafia Akdeniz and Tuğçe Tekhanlı.