Front Page Headlines
Families are nervous: “Both health and education are important”
Education to resume in September under the shadow of coronavirus. Families are concerned following a decision to resume education as of September 1 following the recent rise in the number of Covid19 cases in our country. Education is set to resume on September 1 with remote education and students will return to classrooms on September 14. Citizens speaking to Yenidüzen are highlighting the importance of implementing health measures at schools, stating that only once the measures are in place can schools start education.
- 39 cases in the South – 30 of the cases arrived from abroad. Six new cases were detected in the North.
The painful picture of the pandemic
The Minister of Labour and Social Security Faiz Sucuoğlu spoke to Kıbrıs about the deep wounds inflicted by the global coronavirus pandemic on the country. According to Sucuoğlu, 4,408 people have become unemployed in two months, 95 businesses shut down in the last six months and 7,656 businesses have temporarily shut down.
- UBP leader and presidential candidate-Prime Minister Tatar stresses once again: It is out of the question to return Maraş (Varosha) – The National Unity Party (UBP) leader and presidential candidate Ersin Tatar said it is out of the question to return Maraş due to security and strategic reasons. He said that there was no hope for reaching a solution after 46 years and that they will no longer keep the fenced-off city which had been claimed to be part of a comprehensive solution, closed. He said that the area will be opened by mainly returning the property to its original residents by taking into account Evkaf properties.
Universal (Bank) makes U-turn
The bank manager who testified in court on Friday, claiming that former Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer had left the bank with €186,000 in a bag told the court yesterday (Monday) that there were no unsettled debts. Important developments took place at yesterday’s hearing in the court case to lift a property injunction filed by Universal Bank for the home of former Health Minister Eşref Vaiz who was a voucher for a loan taken out by former Prime Minister Soyer 11 years ago. The bank officials changed their testimony and failed to provide the court with documents demanded by the judge.
- Tatar’s main election material, Maraş (Varosha) and natural gas – UBP leader and presidential candidate Ersin Tatar visited several villages in the İskele (Trikomo) and Karpaz (Karpas) areas. He also gave an interview to CNN Türk.
- Erhürman’s priority is a comprehensive solution –The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and presidential candidate Tufan Erhürman visited the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Architects and Engineers (KTMMOB).
If that’s the case this is how it will be
Pegasus Airlines’ representation office has directed passengers affected by the new limitations on flights to the TRNC Prime Minister’s office, the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Public Works and Communication. Pegasus Airlines which transports the largest number of passengers to and from the TRNC had given a different reaction to the government’s constantly changing decisions. A note posted on the front entrance of the Pegasus office in Nicosia directed passengers affected by the changes to take up their complaints with the Prime Minister’s office as well as the health and public works ministries. More than 400 passengers have been affected by the new limitation to a total of six flights per day.
- All under control – Six new Covid-19 cases in the North, 39 in the South.
- 25 per cent from the state – The Greek Cypriot Tourism Ministry has prepared a holiday package for local tourists to support the hotels.
Pegasus shuts office
A commotion broke out yesterday (Monday) after the government announced that it was limiting flights for Pegasus and Turkish Airlines to three per day. Passengers who bought tickets in advance rushed to the company. Pegasus which shut all of its offices in the TRNC posted a note in Turkish and English on its doors directing passengers with the Prime Minister’s office, the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Public Works and Communication. It said these were the offices where the passengers could take up their complaints. Pegasus also announced that it was forced to lay off 80 of its employees. Pegasus TRNC Director Zeki Ziya said, “They (the government) can boast all they want about the success they achieved. There is no success to speak about. They ruined the economy and could not prevent the spread of the virus. It’s game over in the TRNC.”
- 45 cases across the island – Cases spike in South Cyprus, 39 cases! 39 positive cases out of 3,176 testes carried out in South Cyprus were detected. As a result, the total number of cases in the South reached 1460. Six new cases were detected in the North in 1922 tests carried out.
Main News
Black sea gas discovery has strengthened Turkey’s position, says Tatar
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Negotiations Process, Property, Territory, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said on Monday that Turkey’s discovery of natural gas in the Black Sea will have reflections on the Eastern Mediterranean.
In an interview with Turkish news channel CNN Türk, Tatar said that Turkey had entered a very different phase following the agreements it signed been the North and Libya.
“Turkey is a regional leader. It is also a country which has the most rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. Its hand is growing stronger on the basis of international law,” he said.
Tatar also claimed that the Greek Cypriot side was jealous of Turkey’s growing power and influence.
“The Greek Cypriots don’t want Turkey to get stronger,” he said, arguing that the one-sided agreements made by the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo were hitting obstacles in terms of international law.
“Once again we see Turkey becoming a playmaker as a result of the discovery of the black sea natural gas. This has further strengthened its position in the region,” he said.
Also touching upon the issue of Maraş (Varosha), Tatar said that giving away the fenced-off town to the Greek Cypriot side as a territorial concession was out of the question for strategic and security purposes.
“The town of Maraş (Varosha) possesses one of the most beautiful beachfront in the world. It was a tourism hotspot before 1974,” he noted.
He said that keeping the town closed now that all hopes for reaching a solution had disappeared was senseless.
“Maraş (Varosha) remained fenced-off for decades as it was seen as part of a comprehensive solution. 46 years on, prospects for a solution are close to none. That is why the time has come to open the fenced-off city,” he said.
Tatar added that the plan would be to return the property to its original residents by taking into account Evkaf properties.
Tatar pointed out that it was also not possible to take such an important step without consulting Turkey.
“Turkey has done all it can for the development of the TRNC. Reopening the fenced-off town after 46 years will contribute greatly to the TRNC economy and tourism sector,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and presidential candidate Tufan Erhürman said on Monday that the issue of hydrocarbons can only be settled at the negotiating table as part of talks aimed at solving the Cyprus Problem.
Erhürman, speaking during a campaign visit to the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Architects and Engineers (KTMMOB), said that achieving a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus Problem remained his party’s top priority.
He said that would be working that end for the next five years if elected.
Erhürman added that the Cyprus Issue was not one between the two communities on the island but part of a bigger struggle by global powers.
The CTP leader said the issue of hydrocarbons had added a new dimension to the Cyprus Issue and that the only way to transform the Eastern Mediterranean into a basin of peace and stability was through achieving a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus Problem.
He added that the hydrocarbons issue could be used as an opportunity to reach a political settlement.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>> Turkey’s discovery of natural gas in the black sea will have reflections on the East Med.
>> Turkey has entered a very different phase following the agreements it signed with the TC side & Libya.
>> Turkey is a regional and global country which has the most rights over the East Med. Its hand is growing stronger on the basis of int’l law.
>> GC side jealous of Turkey’s growing power & influence.
>> Turkey has become a playmaker in the region.
>> Out of the question to give away Maraş (Varosha) as a territorial concession to GCs due to its strategic & security importance.
>> No logic in keeping Maraş (Varosha) closed as prospects of a solution are close to none.
>> Not possible to take steps on Maraş (Varosha) without consulting Turkey.
>> Reopening of the fenced-off city will contribute greatly to TC economy & tourism sector.
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Hydrocarbons issue can only be settled as part of talks for a comprehensive solution to Cyprob.
>> Achieving a comprehensive solution remains CTP’s top priority.
>> Cyprob not a problem between two communities but one of a struggle between global powers.
>> Hydrocarbons has added a new dimension to the Cyprob.
>> Only way to transform East Med into a basin of peace & security is through achieving a comprehensive settlement.
>> Hydrocarbon issue can be used as an opportunity to reach a political settlement.
Turkey extends Oruç Reis’ activities in East Med amid efforts for talks
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey has announced that it has extended the seismic surveys carried out by its research vessel, Oruç Reis, in the disputed areas of the eastern Mediterranean until August 27 as German top diplomat Heiko Maas will hold talks in Athens and Ankara on Tuesday in a bid to defuse the tension between the two neighbours.
According to a Navtex, an advisory to sailors, issued by Turkey on late Sunday, the Oruç Reis and the two accompanying research vessels will continue their surveys for another four days in the same area claimed by Turkey and Greece as their sovereign continental shelf.
The move came just a day before German Foreign Minister Maas will start to shuttle diplomacy between Athens and Ankara in a bid to reduce the tension and to pave the way for technical talks to resolve the disputes stemming from the Aegean and Mediterranean.
Germany is serving as the term president of the European Union until the end of this year.
“Heiko Maas, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, will pay an official visit to Turkey on Tuesday.
During the meetings between our minister and his German counterpart, which will take place in Ankara, bilateral relations, Turkey-EU relations, the eastern Mediterranean and regional issues will be discussed,” read a statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Monday.
Maas will first meet Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in Athens and will later fly to Ankara to meet Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.
Maas will hold press conferences after his talks with both Dendias and Çavuşoğlu.
In Greece, Maas will also meet Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Syriza party leader Alexis Tsipras.
Maas’ visit to Athens and Ankara comes only two days before the EU’s 27 foreign ministers will get convened in an informal meeting, dubbed the Gymnich meetings, where the tension in the eastern Mediterranean will also be discussed among other issues.
In the meantime, Turkish warships have been protecting the Oruç Reis in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Last month, after Athens objected to Ankara’s seismic survey in an area south of the island of Kastellorizo (Megisti-Meis), German diplomatic efforts helped defuse tensions between the two neighbours.
But Greece’s controversial move to sign a maritime delimitation agreement with Egypt, which Turkey says violates its continental shelf and maritime rights, has further sparked tensions between Athens and Ankara.
Ankara accuses Athens of pursuing maximalist policies in the Eastern Mediterranean and underlines that its maritime claims violate Turkey’s sovereign rights.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar on Monday slammed Greece for announcing that it will conduct a military exercise in the same area where the Oruç Reis research vessel is continuing its surveys.
Greece early on Monday issued its own Navtex, announcing it will be holding military drills in the area where the Oruç Reis is carrying out is surveys.
Akar, at a videoconference with the commanding officers on Monday, emphasized that the Turkish navy forces are continuing their routine activities in the Black, Aegean and Mediterranean seas.
He slammed the Greek decision to hold a military exercise in the area, stating it was a violation of good neighbourly relations, maritime principles and maritime security.
Greece was planning to hold an international exercise in the eastern Mediterranean with the participation of the armed forces of some countries, including the United Arab Emirates, whose ties with Turkey are strained.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday seconded Akar’s warning, stating that Turkey’s navy will not back down as Greece sows chaos in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
“The ones who throw Greece in front of the Turkish navy will not stand behind them,” Erdoğan said after a cabinet meeting.
He added Athens does not have the right to broadcast advisories known as a Navtex in areas claimed by Ankara, calling Greece’s Navtex alert a “spoiled act” that endangers coastal, navigational safety of all ships in the region.
“From now on, Greece will be responsible for all conflicts in the region, and will be at a disadvantage,” he said.
Erdoğan also said that Turkey’s discovery of natural gas reserves in off the Black Sea coast is a prelude to upcoming good news from the Mediterranean.
KEY ACTORS
Akar (Turkey)
>> Greece’s decision to hold military exercise in the same area where Oruç Reis operates is a violation of good neighbourly relations, maritime principles & maritime security.
Erdoğan (Turkey)
>> Turkish navy will not back down as Greece sows chaos in East Med.
>> Greece’s decision to issue counter Navtex is a spoiled act than endangers coastal & navigational safety of all ships in the region.
>> From now on Greece will be responsible for all conflicts in the region. It will be at a disadvantage.
>> Discovery of black sea natural gas a prelude to upcoming good news from the East Med.