Front Page Headlines
Just as a quarantine for arrivals from Turkey was being discussed conditions to cross south were made harder
The Health Ministry, granted full authority by the Council of Ministers, issued a statement in the early hours of the morning. Turkey has been placed in Category B and the ministry has decided to continue with its double PCR practice allowing passengers to enter without quarantine. The only changes made concern those who cross over to the south for work or study. As from now on, they will have to retest for the virus every 15 days. Others wishing to cross will have to carry out tests for ₺300 (€39) and will have to carry out a second PCR test upon entry if they exceed 72 hours in the south.
- ‘Many decisions, no rules’, Parliament’s agenda was occupied by the management of the pandemic again – Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman described the pandemic period as a period of lawlessness. Prime Minister Ersin Tatar, on the other hand, said the country was going through extraordinary times.
Ceased Print/Online Only
The rules have changed again
The Turkish Cypriot health ministry has changed the rules on crossings and entry into the north. It has intensified the level of measures on crossings to the south. Turkish Cypriots working, studying or receiving medical treatment in the south are now required to renew their PCR tests every 15 days. Passengers in the A category list of countries, who fail to present a negative PCR test result upon entry will be asked to pay both for their test and for their short-term quarantine. The double-PCR requirement continues for category B list of countries, which includes Turkey. The passengers will have to self-isolate until their PCR test results come out and they will be monitored. On the other hand, the health ministry has intensified its efforts on constructing a pandemic hospital, stating that it will finalise its decision within three days.
- A public referendum on constitutional amendments will be held simultaneously with the elections – The amendment to the constitution to increase the number of judges at the Supreme Court was approved by parliament. The referendum on the constitutional amendment will be held on October 11, the same day as the presidential elections.
- “We need time for a pandemic hospital” – Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said.
- “The necessary regulations will be prepared” – Health Minister Ali Pilli said.
There is a concern but no lawsuit
The Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association (KTTB) withdrew the case filed at the Supreme Court after the cabinet granted the health ministry full authority on COVID-19. The Association is now focused on the measures adopted by the health ministry. Dr Özlem Gürkut, head of the Association said the health ministry has convened the Higher Committee on Communicable Diseases to reinstate the same decisions adopted earlier by the council of ministers. “Our colleagues did not approve and did not sign the decision. Therefore, the Higher Committee decision relayed to the Association does not have any legitimacy. We still maintain our concerns,” Gürkut said.
- Villagers from Akıncılar (Louroujina) insist on a crossing point – The villagers have decided to continue with their efforts to free the village from its current status of being a dead-end street and to open a crossing point with the south. The villagers supported by people from the neighbouring villages held their first mass meeting on Sunday. They have elected a 30-member committee to intensify their campaign and lobbying efforts.
- The latest situation: North 113 cases, four deaths; South 1004 cases, 26 deaths; Turkey 206,844 cases, 5,241 deaths.
This is not right
Turkish Cypriot organisations based in the UK have objected to the 14-day quarantine requirement for those wishing to visit the TRNC. The health ministry’s decision to place the UK in Category C list of countries disappointed Turkish Cypriots living in the UK. Turkish Cypriot organisations who found the double PCR requirement and 14-day quarantine f harsh warned that thousands of Turkish Cypriots will choose to spend their holidays elsewhere this summer unless the decision is revised. The organisations pointed out that Turkish Cypriots living in the UK contributed greatly to the economy by visiting the island during the summer months. They pointed out that South Cyprus has lifted the quarantine requirement for the UK as of August 1 and demanded the TRNC government take similar steps.
- He wanted honesty – (Turkish Foreign Minister) Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu who met with EU High Representative Josep Borrell in Ankara said that the EU could contribute to mediating efforts on Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Greek Cypriots’ hope UK tourists – South Cyprus says hotel reservations for August are low.
New punishment for those crossing to the south
The government, which opened its ports of entry to coronavirus, in an unexpected move has hit two birds with one stone! While it managed to save itself from the case filed at the Supreme Court by placing all responsibility on Ali Pilli it also succeeded in punishing those, who must cross to the south and come back. Loyalty to Turkey overshadowed public health. Turkish Cypriots working, studying or receiving medical treatment in the south will have to get retested every 15 days. The double-PCR requirement remains in place for the B category list of countries which includes Turkey.
- The Doctors’ Association withdrew its case – The Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association (KTTB) withdrew its case from the Supreme Court following the cabinet authorizing the health ministry.
- The proposal on the constitutional amendments approved by the parliament.
Main News
The government comes under a barrage of criticism from opposition
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The government on Monday came under a barrage of criticism from the opposition regarding its decision to classify Covid-19 as a dangerous and contagious disease, annulling all previous travel instructions for entry and granting the health ministry full authority on the issue.
The move was aimed at pushing the Supreme Court to dismiss a case filed by the Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association (KTTB) to revoke the decision to allow entries into the north without quarantine.
The KTTB had welcomed the cabinet’s statement on Sunday night stating that it had delivered the demands made by KTTB with the decision.
However, on Monday, the association held a press conference to explain its position on the efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
“The cabinet’s decision on Sunday has placed the fight against coronavirus a legal and lawful foundation,” head of the Association Dr Özlem Gürkut said on Monday.
Gürkut added they expected the health ministry, which has been fully authorised, to start implementing new entry procedures and measures in light of scientific data and on the basis of recommendations made by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union (EU).
She, however, expressed disappointment that the committee dealing with contagious diseases failed to revise its earlier rule to allow arrivals from Turkey without quarantine.
This she said contradicted WHO and EU recommendations.
Gürkut added that KTTB from the very beginning has supported the reopening of the north after adopting the necessary measures on the basis of scientific data and recommendations by health experts.
“Our demands are clear. We demand that the health system is improved and upgrade to a level where it can cope with a surge in patients. Our second demand is to allow entries into the north only after implementing the necessary measures,” she concluded.
Main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman on Monday accused the government of going around in circles and failing to keep its promises.
Erhürman, speaking in parliament, said the decisions which had been adopted by the cabinet were unlawful.
“Why did the cabinet take such a decision all of a sudden? The response we got was that they felt the need to annul the decisions before an injunction could be filed at the Supreme Court. What they have been doing all this time was illegal,” he added.
The CTP leader slammed the government for ignoring the legal views expressed by the ombudsperson.
“One Sunday evening you noticed that all your decisions were illegal. What kind of governance is this? The constitution stipulates that abiding by the law is one of the fundamental rules of governance,” Erhürman said.
He added that there was uncertainty at the points of entry into the country.
Erhürman also the construction of a pandemic hospital had become an endless story.
“Just two days ago the finance minister told us the government was going to purchase the Kolan Private Hospital. Today, the prime minister said the price was too steep and that purchasing the hospital was out of the question,” he said.
Democratic Party (DP) MP Serdar Denktaş said the government should stand by its decisions, at least once.
He accused the government of subjecting the public to uncertainty.
Social Democratic Party (TDP) Cemal Özyiğit said the government panicked due to the case filed by KTTB.
“They annulled all the decisions not to lose the case. We’re back to the drawing board. Good morning. The decision which needed to be adopted four months ago was taken yesterday (Sunday),” he said.
The leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) Erhan Arıklı in his address in parliament criticized the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
“You first offended the health board and politicized health. You’ve been sugar coating everything for the past 45-50 days,” he said.
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar for his part defended the government’s decision, stating that they had taken the decision after gaining the impression they could lose the case.
“That is why we made such a move,” he said, adding that extraordinary times required extraordinary measures.
“Let everyone be assured all decisions at the time had been taken through consultations with the health minister.”
Tatar also questioned the motive behind the case filed by the doctors.
“There was no such hesitation or action when the government adopted decisions in favour of reopening the crossings. What prompted the Doctors’ Association to take this matter to the court after July 1?” he asked.
Tatar also pointed out that the south was preparing to allow arrivals from the UK soon without quarantine.
“As a result, we could see a rise in cases in the south. We need to evaluate everything accordingly,” he said.
In an earlier statement issued by the prime ministry, Ersin Tatar reiterated the government’s priority is the public’s health and argued that the government has planned entry procedures into the north in light of scientific data by keeping the risk at the lowest levels possible.
He also said 1,500 people from the south and 500 people from Turkey enter the north daily.
Also speaking in parliament, Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli said that the prices of PCR tests were to drop soon.
Pilli responding to claims that the north was running short on PCR tests, said, “We currently have 2500 kit sets and we’ll have 4000 more on our hands later this evening.”
He explained that they were sending PCR tests to private labs so as to speed up the process.
Regarding criticisms on the pandemic hospital, Pilli said it was true the government failed to build such a facility but instead had upgraded its ICU capacity.
He reassured that the hospital was more than equipped to cope with a rise in cases.
In the meantime, the Turkish Cypriot health ministry provided clarifications on the decisions it adopted on Sunday evening.
The ministry in this regard categorised the countries according to risk groups.
Countries in category A will need to show a negative test no more than 72 hours old to enter, and they will be able to stay in the north without quarantine.
However, if they fail to produce one, they will have to pay ₺300 (€39) for the cost of the PCR test and €45 for the short-term quarantine cost.
Turkish Cypriots working, studying or living in the Republic and Maronites and Greek Cypriots living in the north need to show a negative coronavirus certificate no more than 72 hours old.
These groups of people will have to retest for the virus every 15 days and tests will be accepted either from the north or the south, the ministry said.
Others wishing to enter the north from the south will need to state they have not left Cyprus for 14 continuous days and present a negative PCR test for the virus no more than 72 hours old, every time they cross.
Countries in category B will have to furnish a negative test no more than 72 hours old on their arrival and will be given a second test on their arrival in the north, where they will remain quarantined at a hotel until the test results are announced.
Hotels will be responsible for monitoring guests and making sure they follow the rules in place.
Those failing to comply with the rules will face legal prosecution.
Countries in category C will have to show a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours old and remain in quarantine at their own expense for 14 days.
Arrivals from category C countries will have to present a negative coronavirus test carried out in the last 72 hours upon arrival but will still be required to enter quarantine at a state-monitored facility for 14 days.
All costs will be covered by the passengers themselves.
Çavuşoğlu: Turkey ready for dialogue on East Med & Cyprob
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, EU Matters, Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey proved France’s claims of possible harassment against its ships in the Eastern Mediterranean false, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said in a press conference with European Union (EU) Minister for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell on Monday, calling on the country to apologize to Turkey.
“The EU should side with the solution, not the conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he added.
France recently claimed that the Turkish Navy had harassed one of France’s warships taking part in a NATO mission in the Mediterranean.
Already strained ties between NATO allies France and Turkey have worsened in recent days following the claim, as the two sides exchanged accusations over the Libya conflict and activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
” Criticizing the EU for imposing political roadblocks in front of Turkey’s accession process to the 27 member-bloc, Çavuşoğlu singled out France and the Greek Cypriot side for blocking reconciliation efforts in Ankara-Brussels ties.
“Don’t allow these two countries to take the EU hostage. This is not good for the EU, either,” Çavuşoğlu told Borrell.
France is attacking Turkey because it has lost ground in the Libyan conflict, while Greek Cyprus denies the existence of Turkish Cypriots and their rights to hydrocarbon reserves, the Turkish foreign minister said, suggesting that the EU should act as an honest broker in resolving the conflict.
“The EU ought to be part of the solution and not part of the problem,” Çavuşoğlu said, adding that Turkey would follow a more flexible stance in the event that Turkish Cypriots felt their rights were being protected.
He emphasized that Turkey was not responsible for the “deadlock” in the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus.
“The EU failed Turkey in the refugee crisis, now, you (Borrell) claim that you’ll do whatever it takes to solve the crisis but also say that you need to take Greek Cypriots’ concerns into consideration as well. What do Greek Cypriots have to do with the refugee crisis?” Çavuşoğlu asked.
“If you keep pushing Greek Cypriots forward on every other subject regarding bilateral ties, then we will also come up with new conditions to meet your requests,” he continued.
Çavuşoğlu further added that although he believes in the EU’s good intentions toward Turkey, some of the union’s members should be restrained for bilateral ties to improve.
In another development, Turkish Cypriot Labour and Social Security Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu, who is in Ankara for a series of meetings, was received by Mustafa Şentop, speaker of the Turkish Parliament on Monday.
Şentop, during the meeting, touched on the hydrocarbons issue and other regional problems.
“We are ready to discuss any solution model which will safeguard and ensure the Turkish Cypriot side’s security and political equality,” Şentop said.
He argued that the Greek Cypriot side’s irreconcilable attitude is the main reason for the absence of a solution on the island.
“As long as the Greek Cypriot side refuses to share the natural resources with the Turkish Cypriot side, Turkey will continue to take determined steps towards protecting the interests and the rights of the Turkish Cypriots,” Şentop concluded.
Akıncılar (Louroujina) residents hold mass meeting
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The residents of the village of Akıncılar (Louroujina) and nearby settlements held their first mass meeting on Sunday evening to elect a 30-member committee, who will carry out lobbying for the opening of crossing linking the village with a neighbouring village in the south.
Speaking during the meeting, Akıncılar (Louroujina) Mayor Hasan Barbaros said that the villagers were determined to pursue their goal for an access point to be opened.
“We will continue with our efforts until we achieve results because we no longer want the village to be a dead-end street and we do not want our fellow villagers to be forced to move from the village just because it is too difficult to access their jobs,” Barbaros stressed.
He noted the actual distance from the north to the south is approximately 500 metres, but that Turkish Cypriots working in the south were forced to drive either to Nicosia or Beyarmudu (Pergamos) to cross over to the south to get to their jobs.
Mukhtar of the village Mustafa Eğmez also expressed the villagers’ determination in their efforts until a crossing point is opened in the village.
“We will do whatever is necessary for a crossing point even if that includes boycotting the upcoming presidential elections,” Eğmez said.
He added that the Turkish Cypriots from Akıncılar (Louroujina) living in the United Kingdom (UK) supported the on-going campaign.
As part of their lobbying activities Akıncılar (Louroujina) Mayor Hasan Barbaros together with a delegation from the village, had met with President Mustafa Akıncı on June 3, 2020, and with Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar on July 1, 2020.