Front Page Headlines
Fault at laboratory poses obstacle to export
Local producers complain that they are unable to obtain a health certificate to export their produce to other countries because the state laboratory fails to carry out analysis to assess the quality of food products. They claim that this is the biggest obstacle to exporting their produce.
- New decisions concerning crossings – Crossings to the south: One-off PCR test. Workers and students: PCR tests every 15 days. Flights from the UK: Flights to begin July 16, two PCR tests and seven days in quarantine.
Ceased Print/Online Only
Investigation launched into KIBET slaughterhouse
New evidence surfaced following the arrest of several individuals who tried to slaughter sheep illegally. Agriculture Minister Dursun Oğuz said the suspects had also forged documents. He added the veterinarian in charge had examined the eight sheep to be slaughtered but on Sunday the suspects were caught red-handed while trying to slaughter another 35 heads of sheep. While the police are investigating whether the sheep had been smuggled illegally from the south, they also found out that the official veterinarian’s report was tampered with and the figures had been changed from eight to 35.
- One test for crossings to the south, seven days of quarantine for passengers arriving from the UK – The Contagious Diseases Committee announced new rules for entry into the north.
- Fuel oil prices increased.
- There are six cases in the north now – Health Minister Ali Pilli announced.
Üstel could not accept it
Ünal Üstel, who paid the price for the private jet crisis by being removed from the cabinet, accused Kudret Özersay during a Havadis web TV programme of trying to divide the National Unity Party (UBP).
- We do not have a pandemic hospital but the new prison is almost completed – Interior Ministry announced the new prison will soon be in service.
- Steep price hike in fuel oil prices
- Forced comment – The Greek Cypriot foreign minister said Turkey’s insistence on equitable sharing of the natural gas revenues between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities is an indirect rejection of the desired solution plan.
- Two new excavations will commence today (Thursday) – The Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus continues with its excavations at five different locations.
- The latest situation: North 114 cases, four deaths; South 1008 cases, 26 deaths; Turkey 208,938 cases, 5,282 deaths.
‘Private jet’ crisis
The bickering between former Tourism Minister Ünal Üstel and Mayor of Lapta (Lapithos) Mustafa Aktuğ over the private jet crisis reignites. The incident involving the recent visit to the island by the chairman of Anex Tour Neşet Koçkar and his executives returned to the spotlight once again. While Koçkar who is a well-known tourism investor had announced that he had changed his mind about investing in the Lapta (Lapithos) Marina and Hotel project, the Mayor of Lapta (Lapithos) Mustafa Aktuğ announced that a new tender will be launched. Former Ünal Üstel who holds Aktuğ responsible for his removal from the cabinet says he has nothing that he cannot answer for. Aktuğ who responded to Üstel’s accusations said he was ready to discuss the matter face-to-face in a public debate.
Only one test for the south
One PCR test will be sufficient for citizens who cross to the south or return from the south provided that they have not travelled abroad in the past 14 days. These people will be subjected to “random PCR testing.”
- One more positive case – The total number of active cases in the north reached six. 778 tests were carried out in the north. Three new cases identified in the south following 1691 tests.
- Three ICU experts for 30 people – Head of the Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association Dr Özlem Gürkut said there are not enough nurses with intensive care training.
- Fuel oil prices increased.
Main News
Diplomatic efforts underway for crossings, changes made yet again
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The United Nations officials will relay the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposals to the Greek Cypriot side to harmonize the crossing procedures across the island, the dailies reported on Thursday.
In a statement issued, it is noted that the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Güneş Onar held a meeting with a delegation led by United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Senior Advisor Aderemi Adekoya on Wednesday.
During the meeting the problems experienced by both Greek and Turkish Cypriots at crossing points due to the Covid-19 measures and the proposed solutions to make life easier for the people were discussed in detail.
Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Elizabeth Spehar and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay held a telephone conversation on Tuesday and they had agreed to continue the conservation on the crossing procedures and the current implementations.
Meanwhile, later Wednesday night, the Turkish Cypriot Health Ministry’s Contagious Diseases Committee announced that it had revised some of its decisions regarding crossings.
According to the latest decision, individuals wishing to cross across the divide will only be required to carry out a one-off PCR test.
Individuals will then be tested randomly at certain periods.
Turkish Cypriots who work, study or receive treatment in the south, however, will be required to conduct a PCR test every 15 days.
This will apply on the condition that the person has not left the island for 14 continuous days. If the person has travelled abroad, he or she will be subject to conditions that apply for the category in which the country they travelled to and from is listed.
Turkish Cypriot residents of Pile (Pyla) will be able to cross to the north on the condition they carry out a PCR test the first time they cross.
The north will also be allowing arrivals from the UK as of July 16 on the condition that the downward trend in case numbers continue.
Individuals arriving from the UK will be required to present a negative PCR test carried out 72 hours before their arrival and will have to have a second PCR test done upon arrival. They will then be required to quarantine for seven days and will be allowed to leave quarantine following a third negative PCR test result.
All diplomatic, United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), British Bases Area (SBA) staff as well as members of international organisations will only be required to present a negative PCR test the first time they cross over to the north. However, Turkish Cypriots working in the UN buffer zone and local UN or SBA staff will be required to re-test for COVID-19 every 15 days.
Akıncı and Ankara express unhappiness over US military training
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security, CBMs, External Security
OVERVIEW
President Mustafa Akıncı on Wednesday reacted to the announcement by the US embassy in Nicosia of Washington’s intention to provide International Military Education and Training (IMET) to the Greek Cypriot National Guard.
Akıncı, in a written statement, said the US Ambassador to Cyprus Judith Gail Garber had called his Special Representative Erhan Erçin to convey the matter.
Erçin for his part had expressed the Turkish Cypriot side’s concerns and sensitivities on the matter.
“Despite the fact the UN State Department has stated that the training programme is part of the Eastern Mediterranean Strategy aimed at developing regional stability, it is difficult to understand how such bilateral activities and programmes between the US and South Cyprus will contribute to regional stability rather than a comprehensive dialogue that includes all stakeholders given the rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean”, Akıncı said in his statement.
He added that failure to act in a manner that acknowledged and addressed the rights and interests of all stakeholders on issues pertaining to the management of Cyprus’ natural resources will hurt regional stability.
Akıncı also said that the US could only contribute to peace and stability in the region, not through military support and cooperation, but by pursuing a balanced approach to both sides and encouraging constructive dialogue and cooperation between regional actors.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry also criticized Washington on Wednesday over its intention to provide military education and training to Greek Cypriot forces.
The US is not contributing to the island’s reunification, the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement.
“As we have repeatedly stressed, these and other similar steps do not contribute in the efforts to find a solution of the Cyprus problem,” Aksoy added.
“On the contrary, the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigent stance is strengthened.”
He said any steps that ignore the balance between the two sides on the island do not contribute towards creating an atmosphere of trust, nor do they ensure peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“We would like to remind our allies, the US, that equal treatment of the two sides of the island is the UN’s principle.”
The principle of equitable sharing must be adopted in Cyprus
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
We urge all relevant parties both in the Eastern Mediterranean and in Cyprus to adopt the principle of equitable sharing,” Turkish Presidential Spokesman İbrahim Kalın said on Wednesday.
In an interview with the Anatolian News Agency, Kalın added it will only be possible then for everyone to benefit from the natural resources.
Kalın recalled the maritime jurisdiction agreement signed with Libya and said Ankara is now working on developing relations with Libya further.
Highlighting that Turkey wants the Eastern Mediterranean to be a basin of peace, Kalın said Ankara will develop a win-win relationship with Libya and when the political conditions are conducive; Turkey will start drilling for hydrocarbons as well for the revenues to be shared between the two nations.
He pointed out that Greece and Italy had signed a continental shelf delineation agreement recently, which Ankara welcomed as it was not an issue that concerned Turkey.
“Nonetheless, it is not possible to establish a new energy map in the Eastern Mediterranean by disregarding Turkey, which has the longest coastline in the region,” Kalın stressed and added even the energy experts said the EastMed pipeline project was too costly and economically unfeasible.
Kalın noted that the economically most feasible option would be to transfer the natural resources to the European markets via Turkey.
“Attempting to bypass Turkey with political reasoning and working on pipeline projects are futile efforts,” Kalın said.
He added that it will not be possible for the other countries to try to contain Turkey to the Antalya Bay area.
Kalın said it will be in the best interest of all to discuss the natural resources issue with Turkey and make plans with Ankara instead of chasing after projects that are doomed to fail.
“We urge the countries in the region to adopt the principle of equitable sharing for all to benefit from the resources. This is possible however it is not by disregarding Turkey,” Kalın concluded.
The CMP refutes claims work in the north has halted
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
“Both the excavations and the identification efforts at the anthropology lab have resumed as of July 1 as announced previously,” Gülden Plümer Küçük, the Turkish Cypriot member of the Committee of Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus said.
Küçük was responding to the claims made by the Chairwoman of the House Standing Committee on Refugees-Enclaved-Missing-Adversely Affected Persons, AKEL MP Skevi Koukouma that CMP’s operations in the north had halted as a result of the latest measures adopted by the Turkish Cypriot health ministry.
Speaking to Turkish Cypriot news agency, TAK, Küçük, who rejected the claims made by Koukouma, added there are now five excavation teams in the field with two more to start work in the coming days.
“The five teams are in Famagusta, Düzova (Exo Metochi), Nicosia, Zeytinlik (Templos) and in Strovolos. The two teams will soon start their work. One of them will investigate a second site in Zeytinlik (Templos) and the other one will be in Pedra (Taşköy),” Küçük said.
She noted that the employees of the CMP including the anthropologists, have been crossing between the south and the north since June 22 and the archaeologists have resumed their work as of July 2.
“All the employees have done their PCR tests. The personnel strictly adheres to the local and international Covid-19 measures and directives as well. The work is also being planned in accordance including the number of persons in one vehicle and more,” Küçük stressed.
She concluded by noting that the CMP staff will continue to get their PCR tests done in line with the latest measures adopted by the authorities.