TCC Press Review 24 Aug 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Weight of debts grows heavier

More and more shopkeepers are applying for loans. According to figures obtained from the Development Bank and the Shopkeepers and Artisans Credit Centre a total of ₺73,6m (€8.4m) was handed out to businesses between April and July. Most of the Development Bank loans have been given out to small businesses and enterprises.

Kıbrıs

The bills never end!

To own a car is no longer worth it! Whether its driving licences, road tax, inspection fees or insurance, owners end up more money on fees than the actual worth of the car. Since road tax is paid according to the weight of the vehicle, the owner of an ordinary car ends up paying the road tax as the owner of a luxury car.

Havadis

We will vote for Serdar (Denktaş)!

The political balances have started to shift ever since Serdar Denktaş announced that he will be running for president. The family of former National Unity Party (UBP) and former president Derviş Erdoğan have mobilised to gather support for Serdar Denktaş. They have been contacting high-level UBP officials and bureaucrats who are now retired asking them to work in favour of Denktaş. It has been reported that wife of Derviş Eroğlu, Meral Eroğlu has voiced her opposition to current UBP candidate Ersin Tatar running for president, stating that he should have waited for another term before running for office.

Diyalog

‘We are worried’

Heads of parents and teachers associations do not believe that schools are ready to open on September 14. Many of the families are unhappy with the education ministry’s decision to start the new school year on September 1 with remote education only to be followed two weeks later by normal schooling on September 14. The representatives of the associations do not believe the education ministry has taken adequate COVID-19 measures at schools.

  • Military build-up on the island –The Greek Cypriot Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides, “We have reached a joint decision to step up French naval presence and other allied forces in the region.”

Avrupa

Most of them will return

Greek Cypriots who own property in the closed city of Maraş (Varosha) are waiting for the fenced-off town to be reopened and for the Turkish Cypriot side to invite them back. Influential Greek Cypriot writer Makarios Drusiotis wrote that the majority of Greek Cypriots from Maraş (Varosha) are ready to return to the town under Turkish administration. Drousiotis is holding the Greek Cypriot leadership in the south responsible.  He claims that the public has lost its confidence in the leadership. Drusiotis: “It’s evident was it being planned. Greek Cypriots will be invited to apply to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC). Most of them will do so. They will accept returning to their properties under Turkish Cypriot administration.”

  • Mustafa Akıncı: “Maraş (Varosha) cannot be used a campaign material”

Main News

Candidates in north step up their campaigns as the election draw closer

Yenidüzen, Havadis, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing, Energy, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

As the date for the postponed presidential elections in the north draws closer, candidates have stepped up their campaigns.

Incumbent Turkish Cypriot President and presidential candidate Mustafa Akıncı on Sunday said that any moves to be taken regarding the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha) should serve a solution to the Cyprus Problem, not create further obstacles.

Akıncı, speaking during a campaign tour of the villages of Gönendere (Knodara), Serdarlı (Tziaos), Akdoğan (Lysi), Vadili (Vatili) and İnönü (Sinta) said the two coalition partners were in a race on who will open the ghost town.

“One (PM Ersin Tatar) is saying he will transform Maraş (Varosha) into Las Vegas, the other (Deputy PM Kudret Özersay) is saying he will be one to open the fenced-off city,” Akıncı said, pointing out that both were using the issue as campaign material.

Also commenting on escalating tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, Akıncı said that the only way to deescalate tensions in the region was to solve the Cyprus Problem.

“The opportunity to solve the Cyprus Problem will present itself in the period ahead. A solution is beneficial not only for the two sides on the island but for all stakeholders,” he said.

Akıncı pointed out that the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) will be launching an initiative for an informal five-party meeting once the elections were held in the north.

“Turkey had announced earlier it was ready to take part in such a meeting,” he added.

Akıncı, however, said that such a meeting would also very much depend on how the COVID-19 pandemic will continue.

“Either the two sides will find common ground based on a realistic option acceptable for all or the island’s division will become permanent,” he warned.

Akıncı added that the permanent division of the island would not be beneficial for anyone.

Turkish Cypriot Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay who is also running as an independent candidate in the election said the October elections will be a breaking point.

“The elections will be held in the backdrop of political party leaders with strong ideological views and negotiations methods which have been exhausted,” he said.

According to a press release from Özersay’s campaign office, the newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader will need to be someone who will unite the Turkish Cypriot community.

“I believe I am the one who can achieve that,” he said.

Özersay also vowed not to imprison the Turkish Cypriot community in endless and fruitless negotiations.

“If we have been negotiating a federation for the past 52 years but we are also seeing that the Greek Cypriot leadership has no intention of sharing power or wealth with u then to negotiate the same things over and over again means imprisoning ourselves in the negotiations process,” he said.

Özersay said that a different model based on collaboration could be followed in Cyprus.

He added that Greek Cypriots will not be persuaded to share anything with Turkish Cypriots as long as the conditions on the island do not change, as long as the Greek Cypriot side remains the only recognized government on the island, as long as it remains an EU member and as long as the international community allows them to manage the island’s hydrocarbons on their own.

Özersay claimed that the hydrocarbons proposal tabled by Akıncı had been prepared by his foreign ministry.

He said the Turkish Cypriot leader to be elected should be someone who will work for the fair sharing of the island’s hydrocarbon resources.  

“This needs to be done before a comprehensive settlement is reached,” Özersay added.

He argued that Turkish Cypriots could be playmakers in the region and could convince Greek Cypriots to share these resources.

“Akıncı failed to pursue proactive diplomacy in pursuit of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s rights. He has failed to follow up on the developments,” Özersay said. The leader of the Rebirth Party (HP) and presidential candidate Erhan Arıklı speaking during a party gathering at Alayköy (Gerolakkos) on Saturday said that the Turkish Cypriot community was fed up of 46 years of fairy tales of a federal settlement.

KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>>
Any moves on Maraş (Varosha) should serve a solution to the Cyprob, not create further obstacles.
>> Solving Cyprob only way to de-escalate tensions in the East Med.
>> The opportunity to solve the Cyprob will present itself in the period ahead.
>> A solution is beneficial not only for the two sides on the island but for all stakeholders.

Özersay (HP)
>>
October elections will be a breaking point.
>> The elections will be held in the backdrop of political party leaders with strong ideological views & exhausted negotiations methods.
>> Newly elected TC leader will need to be someone who will unite the TC community.
>> TC community will not be imprisoned in endless & fruitless negotiations.
>> Decades of federation talks have revealed GC leadership has no intention of sharing power or wealth with TCs.
>> To negotiate the same things over & over again means imprisoning ourselves in the negotiations process.
>> A different model based on collaboration could be followed in Cyprus.
>> GCs will not be persuaded to share anything with TCs as long as the conditions on the island do not change.
>> TC leader to be elected should be someone who will work for the fair sharing of the island’s hydrocarbon resources.  
>> Hydrocarbons issue needs to be addressed before a comprehensive settlement is reached.
>> TCs can become playmakers in the region & could convince GCs to share these resources.

Arıklı (YDP)
>>
TC community fed up of fairy tales on a federal settlement.


TC side sends letter to UNSC critisizing French support to S. Cyprus

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
External Security, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

It was reported on Monday that Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay sent letters to head of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and foreign ministers of the countries currently serving on the council regarding what it said was France’s military support to South Cyprus.

Özersay’s letter came in response to a recent defence pact signed between France and South Cyprus.

Two Rafale fighter aircraft of the French Air Force had flown over Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone earlier this month in a show of support for South as tensions rise in the region.

Özersay expressed the Turkish Cypriot side’s objections to France’s support to the Greek Cypriot side’s hostile actions which he said was raising tensions on the island and the region.

He said France’s actions were in contradiction with the founding principles of the United Nations (UN).

Özersay explained that French military presence in Cyprus and planning of joint military exercises was unacceptable as was a permanent member of the UNSC to be a party to such provocative actions.

He added that the council needed to warn France’s behaviour.

“The Turkish Cypriot side’s proposal to settle all issues on the island, including the issue of hydrocarbons through diplomacy and dialogue is still on the table. However, we can’t remain silent over the Greek Cypriot side’s aggressive actions,” he said.

KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>>
France’s actions are in contradiction with the founding principles of the UN.
>> French military presence in Cyprus & planning of joint military exercises is unacceptable.
>> It is unacceptable for a permanent member of the UNSC to be a party to such provocative actions.
>> UNSC should warn France’s behaviour.
>>The TC side’s proposal to settle all issues on the island, including the issue of hydrocarbons through diplomacy & dialogue is still on the table.
>> It is not possible for TC side to remain silent over the Greek Cypriot side’s aggressive actions.


Agia Marina chapel in a crumbling state

Havadis
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

The Agia Marina chapel in Lapta (Lapthios) which dates back to the medieval ages is crumbling, researcher Mete Hatay said in a social media post on Sunday.

He said that the chapel was currently used as a storage building and little remained of the frescos which once decorated its walls.

“This building which was once listed as a cultural heritage site but was emptied in the 1940s and used by the villagers of Katsouris is in urgent need to repair and attention. The attention of Ali Tuncay,” the post read.


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