Front Page Headlines
There are passengers but no tourists
According to data obtained from the civil aviation and port authorities, a total of 4,442 people arrived between July 1-8 through air and ferry. Only 1000 of the arrivals were tourists!
- North has yet to present Covid-19 report: “An example of lack of serious and irresponsibility” – The Greek Cypriot presented comprehensive reports on Covid-19 three times, on May 28, June 4 and July 11.
- Pilli: Report ready for the July 14 meeting.
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Violence, battery, threats
The increasing incidents in the north that took place within several hours yesterday (Sunday) and the day before (Saturday) have caused concern among the community. In three incidents that were filled with rage, four people were seriously injured. The cases, which are now in the hands of courts, have led people to ask, “What is happening?”
- Travel agencies cannot even sell one ticket per day – Orhan Tolun, head of the Turkish Cypriot Travel Agencies’ Association (KITSAB) said there is no demand for domestic or international tourism.
Walked all over the constitution
As a result of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Turkey on July 9 2019, the Hala Sultan Theology School was permitted to create its private curriculum in violation of the constitution. The MoU needs to be approved by the parliament before it can be enacted. The relevant parliamentary sub-committee has started its deliberations on the MoU.
- Lokmacı (Ledra Street) shut, shops have no customers – The Nicosia old town (Arasta) retailers are going through some of the worst days of their time due to the ongoing closure of the Lokmacı (Ledra Street) crossing point. The retailers, who are economically suffering because the crossing has not opened, are getting ready to stage a protest and to demand the opening of the Lokmacı (Ledra Street) crossing point.
- The latest situation: North 115 cases, four deaths; South 1021 cases, 26 deaths; Turkey 212,993 cases, 5,363 deaths.
‘I will kill you’
Şenol Bayur who had a jealous fit kidnapped his girlfriend to access her phone records. He dragged her by her hair in a secluded location in the mountains before threatening to kill her with a gun.
- An opportunity for the region – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the issue of hydrocarbons in Cyprus said that Turkey is open to any offer that is based on cooperation and a fair share of resources.
- Alarm bells ringing – Tourism revenues in South Cyprus are expected to drop by 70 per cent.
Police must be made accountable
The police have yet to explain as to why it detained two Somali sisters and assaulted them during questioning at the police station. Moreover, those who are against racism and who are against violence against women have also remained quiet over the incident! The sisters were detained on Dereboyu (Shakespeare Avenue) in north Nicosia and were kept in detention for 24 hours. The petrified girls could only complain two weeks after the incident.
- No report was submitted to Akıncı yet – Akıncı said: “It is a sign of irresponsibility and lack of seriousness for the health ministry not to relay the detailed Covid-19 report to the Office of the President.” He urged the government and the health ministry to relay the report without any further delay.
Main News
Akıncı: Health Ministry shows a lack of responsibility
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
President Mustafa Akıncı blasted the Turkish Cypriot health ministry’ on Sunday for failing to prepare an epidemiological report on the coronavirus, a month and a half after it pledged it would.
The bicommunal committee on health is set to convene on Tuesday to discuss the epidemiological situation on each side of the divide for the third time since the pandemic began.
“It is a sign of irresponsibility and lack of seriousness for the health ministry not to relay the detailed Covid-19 report to the Office of the President since May 23 2020,” Akıncı said in a statement issued on Sunday.
In a statement, Akıncı said the bicommunal technical committee on health had been working towards developing collaboration and coordination between the two communities since its establishment nearly 12 years ago.
This not only reflects badly on Turkish Cypriot members of the technical committee on health but the entire Turkish Cypriot community, not only towards the Greek Cypriots but even before the eyes of the UN, Akıncı said.
Akıncı recalled that the committee had convened on February 3, 2020, with the participation of the two leaders and subsequently he had a telephone conversation with the Greek Cypriot leader on May 21 2020, agreeing to exchange the epidemiological data between the two sides.
“The bicommunal technical committee members had agreed to exchange the data during their meeting on June 1 2020 and since then the Greek Cypriot side had submitted to the Turkish Cypriot side three reports with up to date data. Unfortunately, the Turkish Cypriot side has not been able to do the same,” Akıncı said.
He added that the Turkish Cypriot committee members had to verbally present the coronavirus data in the north during their meeting on June 1 whilst the Greek Cypriot side had submitted its first report on May 28.
Akıncı also said that he had had a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar and Health Minister Ali Pilli on June 4, 2020, explaining the importance of the report.
“Nonetheless, on June 8 2020, the health ministry had relayed a two-and-a-half page long draft report to the Office of the President, but the Turkish Cypriot members of the bicommunal technical committee on health noted that this was not an adequate and detailed report to be submitted to the Greek Cypriot side,” Akıncı said.
“Even though the health minister had stated that he would be sharing the report with the committee as well as with the office of the president, he has not done so yet,” Akıncı stressed.
“I urge the health ministry and the government to remember their responsibilities and to relay the said report to the Turkish Cypriot members of the bicommunal technical committee on health without further delay,” Akıncı concluded.
Health Minister Ali Pilli responded to Akıncı’s criticisms later on Sunday with a written statement.
He said that the epidemiological report was ready and that they would have been more than happy to share it with Akıncı had he requested it.
“We are deeply disappointed at the attempts to discredit us and the work we have carried out successfully to date,” Pilli said.
He added that the report will be presented to Greek Cypriot members of the bicommunal health committee on Tuesday.
Pilli said that attempts to lash out through social media rather than through dialogue and proper government channels only harmed the country and state.
Erdoğan says Turkey not seeking ‘tension’ in East Med
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Sunday that some countries, including Turkey’s neighbours, were attempting to seize Ankara’s rights in the region.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Turkey’s Kriter Magazine, Erdoğan said “We have repeatedly stated that this is wrong and unlawful,” Erdoğan stated, adding that with the steps taken, Turkey has countered these false attempts and sent two drilling ships to the region.
“I say this loud and clear: We do not want any tension in the Mediterranean, which has been host to various civilizations throughout history,” the president said, indicating that the hydrocarbon resources in the region would be beneficial for the entire basin.
Erdoğan added that Turkey is open to any offer that is based on cooperation and a fair share of resources.
KEY ACTORS
Erdoğan (Turkey)
>> Attempts to seize Ankara’s rights in the region are wrong & unlawful.
>> Turkey does not desire tensions in the Med.
>> Hydrocarbon resources in the region could be beneficial for the entire basin.
>> Turkey is open to any offer that is based on cooperation & a fair share of resources.
1st phase of conservation of Nicosia’s Venetian walls completed
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The first phase of the conservation project of the section of Venetian walls in the northern part of Nicosia has been completed, the dailies report on Monday.
In a statement issued from Akıncı’s office, the bicommunal technical committee on cultural heritage, which had included the Venetian walls as a priority intervention site upon initiatives by Akıncı, has finalized its efforts on cleaning the shrubbery and vegetation.
As a result of the project, 5,000sq metres of surface area in an over 1 km long wall regained its prime look worthy of its historical value.
The restoration project for the Venetian walls of Nicosia, which was designed by experts, is being carried out by the bicommunal technical committee on cultural heritage with a Turkish Cypriot co-chair under the office of the president, and through tendering processes carried out in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).