Front Page Headlines
Sheikhs on the agenda
Following the recent emergence of a video showing Prime Minister Ersin Tatar visiting a dervish lodge in the walled city of Nicosia, this time a video showing Labour and Social Security Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu kissing the hand of a sheikh was leaked on social media. The video reignited the debate on secularism. Sucuoğlu, whose video showing him kissing the hand of Mehmet Kıbrısi, the son of the late Sheikh Nazım Kıbrısi circulated on social media, denied “kissing” Kıbrısi’s hand. In a statement, Sucuoğlu said, “I have never kissed anyone’s hand except for two people, my mother and my late father. This is my principle. Everyone is well aware of my devotion to Atatürk’s principles.”
Millions forgotten at the banks
According to figures released by the TRNC Central Bank, 4937 bank accounts went dormant between 2010 and 2020. The money in these inactive accounts was transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance and Financial Stability Fund at the Central Bank. A total of ₺7.541m (€842,772) $591,000, £1.1m and €271,000 was transferred to the fund.
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I would never do that
Labour Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu denied a video on social media showing him kissing the hand of the son of Sheik Nazım, Mehmet Kıbrısi, who is head of the Nakshibendi Cult. The view which was posted on social media showing Kıbrısi and his followers at the Selimiye Mosque in Nicosia along with Sucuoğlu was evaluated differently. Sucuoğlu who spoke to Diyalog said that he has never kissed the hand of anyone except for his mother and late father. Sucuoğlu said that the video dated back to April 14, 2018, during a Mevlit (prayer recital for the deceased.
Kiss the sheikh’s hand
2018/Faiz Sucuoğlu (National Unity Party-UBP) at the Selimiye Mosque…(Photo). A video posted on social media yesterday (Saturday) caused reactions. The video shot at a ceremony at the Selimiye Mosque in Nicosia held by the Nakshibendi Cult showed Labour and Social Security Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu kissing the hand of Sheikh Nazım (cult’s late leader) son Mehmet Kıbrısi Efendi. Sucuoğlu said the video was taken two years ago and that he had not kissed anyone’s hand. In 2010, the former leader of the Republican Turkish Party Mehmet Ali Talat and his wife Oya Talat had visited Sheikh Nazım at his Ottoman Dervish Lodge in Lefke (Lefka). He had kissed his hand and asked for his blessing.
Main News
Akıncı hits back at Çavuşoğlu, expresses commitment to a federal settlement
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
President Mustafa Akıncı hit back at Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu’s remarks made late on Friday, reiterating his commitment to reaching a federal settlement in Cyprus.
“I realised and saw very clearly that if we do not work towards a federal solution with determination, the Turkish Cypriot community will gradually disappear under the conditions of partition and the absence of a solution,” Akıncı said in a statement posted on social media on Saturday.
He explained the reasons why he had said right after Crans Montana that all hopes for a federal solution had been exhausted.
“I was only natural for me to express the disappointment and sadness I had experienced after the process had ended without success in Crans Montana.
Akıncı recalled even the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) had said a historical opportunity was missed following the five-party conference.
He, however, refused to admit that any solution outside the UN parameters as possible.
“I have never believed that the Greek Cypriot side would accept a solution based on two sovereign states or the confederal model,” Akıncı noted, adding that he had shared this viewpoint with the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu after Crans Montana.
“As a result of our determination, the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, in one of our later meetings, had suggested the decentralised federation model, which the Turkish Cypriot side has in principle not rejected,” Akıncı said.
He added that the Cyprus talks process will continue from where things left off not from Crans Montana but Berlin, where a consensus has been reached on holding an informal five-party conference in view of Ankara’s proposal.
“It is necessary to clarify and finalise the political equality issue during the five-party conference,” Akıncı stressed and added the road forward from that point onwards is clear.
“The alternatives are well known to all. We will either live in equality, freedom and security and be part of international law under a federal structure based on two politically equal constituent states or we will be condemned to permanent partition, existing within a structure perceived as Turkey’s sub-administration,” Akıncı stressed.
He added that the confederation model based on two separate sovereign states is not even an option.
“It cannot be our job or responsibility to chase after something that does not even exist as an option,” Akıncı concluded.
Echoing Akıncı’s viewpoint, Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit said the October 11 elections will also tell the world the kind of future the Turkish Cypriots want on the island.
In a written statement issued from the TDP, Özyiğit said, “the only possible, logical and realistic solution model on the island is a federal one.”
The TDP leader noted and reminded that a federal settlement is based on UN parameters.
He also asked everyone to respect the outcome of the elections.
“It is not feasible to venture into new adventures with a two-state solution as claimed by the Turkish Foreign Minister,” Özyiğit said, adding that past processes have proven over and over again that a federation is the only realistic option on the island.
Özyiğit also stressed the basis for the negotiations process and the solution model had been reaffirmed during the Berlin trilateral on November 25 2019.
“All relevant sides must agree on the federation model, which will be achieved through a close-ended negotiations process, otherwise everyone will lose in the long run,” Özyiğit concluded.
Not missing out on any opportunity to criticise Akıncı, National Unity Party (UBP) leader and Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar claimed: “Akıncı’s policies had collapsed.”
Speaking on Turkish broadcaster Halk TV, Tatar reiterated his known accusations towards the Greek Cypriot side and arguing that Greek Cypriots were unwilling to form a new partnership with the Turkish Cypriot side.
“We are not against any negotiations but we also do not want to lose any more time in endless processes. If the Greek Cypriot side does not want to establish a federal state with us, the world must grant the Turkish Cypriots the opportunity to live side by side with the Greek Cypriots in their sovereign state,” Tatar said.
He also argued that the Greek Cypriot side in the latest process did not agree to a federal solution despite the concessions made by Akıncı.
“Therefore the Cyprus problem could be solved with two sovereign states side by side,” Tatar said.
He also stressed that the Turkish Cypriot people will not make any concessions on Turkey’s guarantees.
Tatar, touching on the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region, said the north, acting in full harmony with Turkey, has gained strength in the region which the Greek Cypriot side and Greece want to dominate.
“The TRNC with its steps taken together with Turkey has hindered the Greek Cypriot side’s and Greece’s goals in the region,” Tatar said.
Independent presidential candidate and Turkish Cypriot Foreign Kudret Özersay also joined in the choir criticizing Akıncı.
“The president-elect must be able to make the Greek Cypriots sit at the negotiations table to discuss sharing of natural gas first to ensure Turkish Cypriots getting what’s their right,” Özersay said.
Speaking during a campaign visit in north Nicosia, Özersay pointed out that there is an increasing struggle to share the natural gas in the region.
“It is, for this reason, the president-elect should know the details of the issue, shoud share and discuss the Turkish Cypriot side’s righteous position with the international organisations and energy companies,” he noted.
“It is vital for the Turkish Cypriot community to find a way for equitable sharing of the natural gas,” Özersay concluded.
“Voting for Mustafa Akıncı means voting for the continuation of the status quo and the non-solution of the Cyprus Problem,” Ahmet Yönlüer, deputy leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) said on Saturday.
Speaking during a TV programme on Kanal T, Yönlüer argued that not even the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades has given any support to Akıncı.
Yönlüer concluded by noting that it is not possible to solve the Cyprus problem by creating rifts between the north and Turkey.
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> TC community will gradually disappear under the conditions of partition & absence of solution If efforts to reach a federal settlement is abandoned.
>> Views expressed after Crans Montana were the result of disappointment.
>> There can be no solution outside the UN parameters.
>> The GC side will never accept a solution based on two sovereign states or a confederal model.
>> TC side in principle has not rejected decentralised federation model suggested by GC side.
>> The Cyprus talks process will continue from where it left off in Berlin.
>> Necessary to clarify & finalise the political equality issue during the five-party conference.
>> The alternatives are well known to all.
>> TCs will either live in equality, freedom & security & be part of int’l law under a federal structure based on the politically equal two constituent states or will be doomed to partition in a structure perceived as Turkey’s sub-administration.
>> The confederation model based on two separate sovereign states is not even an option.
>> It cannot be our job or responsibility to chase after something that does not even exist as an option.
Özyiğit (TDP)
>> The only possible, logical & realistic solution model on the island is a federation.
>> Federal settlement is one of known UN parameters.
>> Not feasible to venture into new adventures with a two-state solution as claimed by Çavuşoğlu.
>> The basis for the negotiations process & the solution model had been reaffirmed during the Berlin trilateral on Nov. 25, 2019.
>> All relevant sides must agree on the federation model, which will be achieved through a close-ended negotiations process, otherwise, everyone will lose on the long run.
Tatar (UBP)
>> Akıncı’s policies have collapsed.
>> The GS side does not want to form a new partnership with the TC side.
>> The TC side is not against any negotiations but does not want to lose more time in endless processes.
>> If the GC side does not want to establish a federal state with TC side, the world must grant the TCs the opportunity to live side by side with the GCs in their sovereign state.
>> The GC side in the latest process did not agree to a federal solution despite the concessions made by Akıncı.
>> The Cyprob could be solved with two sovereign states side by side.
>> The TCs will not make any concessions on Turkey’s guarantees.
>> The TCs with its steps taken together with Turkey has hindered the GC side’s & Greece’s goals in the East Med. region.
Özersay (HP)
>> The president-elect must be able to make the GCs sit at the negotiations table to discuss sharing of natural gas first to ensure TCs getting what’s their right.
>> The president-elect should know the details of issue & share & discuss the TC side’s righteous position with the int’l organisations & petrol companies in addition to the other states.
>> Vital for the TC community to find a way for equitable sharing of the natural gas.
Yönlüer (YDP)
>> Voting for Mustafa Akıncı means voting for the continuation of the status quo and non-solution.
>> Not even the GC leader Anastasiades has given any support to Akıncı.
>> Not possible to solve the Cyprob by creating rifts between the north & Turkey.