Front Page Headlines
Thousands of kilos of potatoes dumped
Potato crop in the village of Doğancı (Elye) rotted in the hands of farmers, 20,600 Kgs of potatoes were dumped in the fields. While the Soil Products Authority (TUK) has stated that storage facilities are full, the Agricultural Ministry has said that there is a surplus in the market due to the pandemic.
- Where was the coast guard? – Questions were raised about the incident involving shots fired at migrants. The police which defended its actions said the migrants would have disappeared had they not fired the shots.
- Akçay expresses support to cage protest –The Mukhtar of Akçay expressed support to the demonstration staged by the villagers of Luricina (Lourijina). He announced a decision to place similar cages placed in Luricina (Lourijina) in their own village.
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700 businesses shut down, 30,000 people have lost their jobs
Hürrem Tulga, General Coordinator of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans (KTEZO) revealed to Kıbrıs the ugly situation caused by the pandemic. A majority of businesses have been unable to weather the economic crisis caused by the lockdown. 700 businesses in Nicosia closed down their businesses in the last four months Tulga added nearly 40,000 civil servants were paid their salaries but that 10,000 private-sector workers did not receive any support. “Even though it was believed that the normalisation process would have had a positive impact on the economy, there is now a 60 per cent drop in business since restrictions were lifted and the reopening process,” Tulga stressed.
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Sales have stopped
The historic municipal bazaar (bandabuliya), a popular site among tourists is experiencing its worst times since 1932. Shopkeepers and stall owners who spoke to Diyalog said that business was at an all-time low following the pandemic lockdown. The shopkeepers are calling on the authorities to find a solution to their problem. They state that the fact that the Lokmacı (Ledra) crossing remains closed is hurting them economically. “There is no money in this country if we don’t have tourists,” the shopkeepers said.
- Controlled lifting of restrictions –The Greek Cypriot authorities have lifted restrictions on weddings as of August on the condition that the total number of guests does not exceed 250.
- Greek national arrested – More than 22kgs of drugs were seized in Larnaca.
Here is our freedom of the press
Today is 11 July Press Day. This day is dedicated to those who keep silent against sequestration, bullets, lynching and court cases and to those who celebrate.
- “We are marking the Press Day bitterly” – Sami Özuslu, head of the Turkish Cypriot Journalists’ Association said.
Main News
Akıncı welcomes Borell’s emphasis on dialogue
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Regional/International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
President Mustafa Akıncı on Friday said he agreed with EU High Representative Josep Borrell’s position that only through dialogue could solutions be found on issues concerning the Mediterranean.
He was commenting on Borrell’s statements on Thursday at the European Parliament (EP) plenary session on ‘Stability and Security in the Mediterranean and the negative role of Turkey’ where he made a call for the reversal of the current negative trend in EU-Turkey relations and stressed the need for dialogue to solve problems.
Akıncı said Borrell’s remarks on the need for dialogue were timely and correct and echoed his own during a telephone conversation he had with the EU top diplomat last week.
He noted Borrell’s reference to Turkey’s importance in the region and expressed his readiness “for any kind of cooperation with Mr Borrell, under the auspices of the UN and EU, either on the gas issue or on the Cyprus issue.”
“We wish to reiterate our readiness for any collaboration with Mr Borell on the basis of the United Nations (UN) and under the observation of the EU on natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean and the solution of the Cyprus problem,” Akıncı said.
He said he had been declaring for a long time that the energy balance in the Eastern Mediterranean could not be found if Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots were excluded.
Akıncı recalled the Turkish Cypriot side’s hydrocarbons proposal dated July 13 2019.
“The very basis of the proposal is dialogue and reconciliation on the natural gas issue and it still is at the table,” he noted.
“We have been emphasising for years that the sides will each take their path if there is no dialogue and reconciliation, which will lead to an escalation of tensions,” he warned.
“The way to stay away from tensions, confrontations and conflicts that will hurt everyone is to show the will to dialogue and solve problems,” Akıncı stressed and added that the Turkish Cypriot side has proved its willingness for dialogue and cooperation in every situation.
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> Dialogue is the basis for finding a solution to both the Cyprob & the East. Med.
>> It would be positive if Borell’s statement which emphasised Turkey’s importance in the region against the policies based on ostracizing would yield positive results.
>> TC side is ready for any collaboration with Mr Borell on the basis of the UN & under the observation of the EU on natural gas in the East Med. & the solution of the Cyprob.
>> Energy balance in the East Med. cannot be found if Turkey & TCs are excluded.
>> TC side’s hydrocarbons proposal dated July 13, 2019, is based on dialogue & reconciliation for the natural gas issue. The proposal is still on the table.
>> The sides will each take their path if there is no dialogue & reconciliation, which will lead to an escalation of tensions.
>> The way to stay away from tensions, confrontations & conflicts that will hurt everyone is to show the will to dialogue and solve problems.
>> The TC side has proved its willingness for dialogue & cooperation in every situation.
Residents of Akçay (Argaki) express support to Luricina’s (Lourijina) cause
Yenidüzen
CBMs, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The local authority of the village of Akçay (Argaki) on Friday expressed support to an ongoing demonstration staged by residents of the village of Luricina (Lourijina) for the opening of a crossing point in the area.
Akçay (Argaki) Mukhtar Uğur Dereliköylü said that cages similar to the one placed in Luricina (Lourijina) to symbolise the village’s isolation and enclosed location would be placed in his village.
“We are all from Luricina (Lourijina),” Dereliköylü told Yenidüzen, reminding that the residents of Luricina (Lourijina) had opened their homes to refugees from Arpalıklı (Agios Sozomenos), Dereliköy (Potamia), Dali (Dhali) and Koççat (Kotsiatis) before 1974.
“The opening of an access point to the south is extremely important for Luricina (Lourijina) which is the biggest Turkish Cypriot village in the area,” he said.
The Mayor of Luricina (Lourijina) Hasan Barbaros who also spoke to Yenidüzen, said that the residents of Akçay (Argaki) were there brothers and sisters.
“Many of them we placed in Akçay (Argaki) after 1974 from our village. We were expecting their support. I would like to thank them for their support,” he said.