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Premiums to be deposited by employees as of September 1
The practice on social security premiums has changed. While the 11 per cent contribution made by employers has been declared part of an incentive scheme, the nine per cent cut from employees’ salaries has been excluded. According to a previous government decree issued on July 22, the state was covering 15 per cent of the social security premiums. As a result, the employees’ nine per cent contribution were part of the incentives offered. However, this changed as of August 12. The new practice came into force on September 1.
- US decision to lift the arms embargo against Cyprus – “Tensions will rise, it will prevent peace.”
The prices have gone mad leaving citizens helpless
Kıbrıs has compared retail prices, of fresh vegetables, fruits and meat which have skyrocketed with the pandemic and the devaluation of the Turkish Lira in the past five months. 34 different products were taken as the basis of the research and the retail prices for 27 of them went up; three remained the same and four became less expensive. When one could purchase the 34 products for ₺528.40 (€60.38) in April, one must pay ₺598.55 (€68.40) now.
- Reactions poured from Turkey and the TRNC – The US decision to lift the arms embargo on South Cyprus is seen as a dire mistake for regional peace. Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said, “even though the decision is a result of the elections in the US if the Greek Cypriots had wanted the solution, they would not have invested in so many weapons.”
They’ve served the citizens as appetizers to the casinos
The casinos, which were reopened on July 1 following pressure from casino barons, are now filled with TRNC citizens. The casinos, in which the laws or rules are not recognized, do not adhere to pandemic measures either. The government is turning a blind eye to TRNC citizens gambling and the casinos, which are not inspected, are now filled with citizens. The casinos are also being exempted from the mask and social distancing rules outlined by the Higher Board of Contagious Diseases. Hundreds of people in closed environments contribute to the further spread of Covid-19.
- The parents do not trust the Education Ministry – A poll conducted by the Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS), with 2,453 participants, revealed that the significant majority of the parents believe that the National Education and Culture Ministry will not be successful in its distant education programme.
- The latest situation: North 344 cases, four deaths; South 1,495 cases, 27 deaths; Turkey 273,301 cases, 6,462 deaths.
Call for urgent measures
We have seen the bottom of the Geçitköy (Panagra) Dam. Some municipalities have warned of water cuts. While work is continuing to repair the pipeline which supplies fresh water from Anamur, Turkey to North Cyprus, the total amount of water remaining at the Geçitköy (Panagra) Dam is around one million cubic meters. Agriculture Minister Dursun Oğuz told Diyalog that the water was expected to flow in September. Some municipalities have warned of water cuts until the water starts flowing. The Mayor of İskele (Trikomo) Hasan Sadıkoğlu said that they had put into service six wells due to the water shortages. He added however that the wells could only meet half the demand even though they were pumping at full capacity.
- The money wanted from Turkey: €103m – The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe is to take up the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) judgment regarding compensation for Greek Cypriot victims and relatives of the missing today (Thursday).
He wants war
Blood-freezing claims from one of the biggest newspapers in Germany “Die Welt.” (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan ordered the sinking of a Greek ship but his commanders refused to obey… According to “Die Welt,” Erdoğan ordered his commanders to sink a Greek navy ship but they refused to obey his order. He then told them to down a Greek fighter jet but his general refused to accept these orders again.
- Mustafa Akıncı: Yes to healthy relations but no to submission…
Main News
US decision to lift the arms embargo continues to draw criticisms from Turkey and north
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
External Security, Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The partial lifting of the arms embargo, which will last for one year, continued to draw criticisms from both Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officials on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo informed Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, about the partial lifting of the arms embargo and discussed “deepening” their security relationship.
“If the Greek Cypriot side had been sincere about the solution, they would not have resorted to purchasing arms and building up their armaments,” Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said.
Speaking to Turkish broadcaster CNNTÜRK, Tatar argued that the lifting of the arms embargo by the US came on top of the Greek Cypriot administration’s continuing efforts to increase the capacity of their armed forces.
Tatar claimed the Greek Cypriot administration spends millions of Euros on armament annually.
“It shows that the Greek Cypriot administration’s true intention is to attack the Turkish Cypriots at a weak point because their arms stocks can no longer be justified with defence purposes,” Tatar claimed and added that the Turkish presence on the island is Turkish Cypriots’ assurance of security on the island.
“It is therefore vital that Turkey must continue to support and protect the Turkish Cypriots because both the Greek Cypriot side and Greece have not given up on their goal to take over the north as well,” Tatar concluded.
“The US decision to lift the arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot side will only harm the on-going efforts to find a lasting solution on the island,” Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman said on Wednesday.
In a social media post, Erhürman argued that the Turkish Cypriot community is being treated unfairly once again.
“The Turkish Cypriot community, which has displayed sincere efforts for lasting peace, solution, justice and equality on the island, is once again faced with insincerity and injustice,” he wrote.
Erhürman urged the United States administration, which is a permanent UN Security Council member, to revise and to revoke its decision.
He also stressed the Greek Cypriot leader’s “welcoming of the US decision” was unacceptable.
“The only way ahead and common sense tells us to reach out for peace,” Erhürman concluded.
Independent presidential candidate Serdar Denktaş on Wednesday said, “The lifting of the arms embargo is a big blow to the efforts in finding regional peace.”
In a written statement issued from his campaign office, Denktaş added the decision was wrong and argued that adopting such a decision on September 1 on World Peace Day was provocative.
Denktaş argued that the one-year validity term for the decision will make the Cyprus problem more complicated and urged the US administration to reconsider its decision.
In a series of Tweets, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side are aware of the games being played against them in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
“As a nation, we will foil these games and with determination and walk towards the future together,” Oktay stressed and likened the removal of the arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot administration to mistake the European Union (EU) had made in 2004.
“Turkey will take whatever steps are necessary to safeguard the security, peace and prosperity of the Turkish Cypriot people against any approaches that are aimed at increasing tensions in the region,” Oktay concluded.
In a separate statement from Ankara on Wednesday, Ömer Çelik spokesman for the Justice and Development (AK) Party said Turkey will not allow any injustice against the Turkish Cypriots.
He said the decision by the US to partially lift an arms embargo on Greek Cypriot side was a “completely wrong decision.”
“The Greek [Cypriot] administration is the party that produces instability and deadlock on the island. This decision encourages the unlawful demands of the Greek [Cypriot] administration,” Çelik said on Twitter.
“While we favoured negotiations on an equitable basis, Greece has damaged this ground with pirate agreements,” he said, adding that the Greek Cypriot administration would never be able to “usurp the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.”
Noting that Turkey, as a guarantor country, is capable of protecting the rights and interests of the TRNC, Çelik said Turkey rejected any impositions and compromises on its rights and interests.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>> GC side would not purchase so many weapons if they truly desired a solution.
>> GC side intends to attack TCs at their weak point.
>> Turkish presence on the island is TCs’ assurance of security.
>> Turkey must continue to support & protect the TCs because both the GC side & Greece have not given up on their goal to take over the north.
Erhürman (CTP)
>> US decision to lift the arms embargo on the GC side will only harm the on-going efforts to find a lasting solution to Cyprob.
>> TC community, which has displayed sincere efforts for lasting peace, solution, justice & equality on the island, is once again faced with insincerity & injustice.
>> US must revise & revoke its decision.
Denktaş (DP)
>> Lifting of the arms embargo is a big blow to the efforts in finding regional peace & a wrong move.
>> Adoption of such a decision on September 1, World Peace Day is provocative.
>> The move will further complicate the Cyprob.
>> US should reconsider & change its decision.
Oktay (Turkey)
>> Turkey & TC side are aware of the games being played against them in the East Med.
>> Turkey will foil these games with determination & walk towards the future together.
>> Turkey will take whatever steps are necessary to safeguard the security, peace & prosperity of TCs against any approaches that are aimed at increasing tensions in the region.
Çelik (AKP-Turkey)
>> Turkey will not allow any injustice against the TCs.
>> The decision by the US to partially lift an arms embargo on GC side is a “completely wrong decision.”
>> GC side produces instability & deadlock on the island.
>> The decision encourages the unlawful demands of the GC side.
>> Turkey favours negotiations on an equitable basis but Greece has damaged this ground with pirate agreements.
Incirli: “We want the Cyprob to be solved as soon as possible”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs
CBMs
OVERVIEW
“It is our responsibility to work together, collaborate and bring our communities closer at times when we fail to reach the desired solution on the island,” Sıla Usar İncirli, head of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Women’s Branch said on Tuesday.
During a visit to the Women’s Movement of POGO (Pancyprian Federation of Women’s Organisations), İncirli said Cypriots needed to intensify their efforts towards the goal of solving the Cyprus problem.
“The developments in the Eastern Mediterranean tell us the solution of the Cyprus problem is not only important for the island but also regional peace,” İncirli said.
Expressing gratitude to POGO for the face visor shields sent to the north, İncirli said the Covid-19 pandemic has further divided the island.
“We insist that the two sides must intensify their efforts in opening all the crossing points with the necessary health measures in place,” İncirli noted, adding that both POGO and the CTP need to work harder for the “new normal” not to divide the island further.
“The hiatus in the efforts for solution caused by the coronavirus pandemic is time stolen from the Turkish and Greek Cypriots’ future, therefore we desire to see the talks resume and reach a conclusion as soon as possible,” İncirli concluded.
KEY ACTORS
İncirli (CTP)
>> It is our responsibility to work together, collaborate & bring our communities closer at times when we fail to reach the desired solution on the island.
>> Cypriots need to intensify their efforts towards the goal of solving the Cyprob.
>> The developments in the East Med tell us the solution of the Cyprob is not only important for the island but also regional peace.
>> The Covid-19 pandemic has further divided the island.
>> The two sides must intensify their efforts in opening all the crossing points with the necessary health measures in place.