Front Page Headlines
He violated his very own rule
Irresponsible acts during the pandemic. The Council of Minister’s and High Electoral Council’s authority has been shaken. The decisions taken by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases were violated by Prime Minister Ersin Tatar who did not abide by the ban on mass gatherings. What’s more, the Prime Minister while violating the rules called the Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on the phone, speaking with him with the speaker on.
The citrus orchards are all drying up due to lack of water
EL-SEN (KIBTEK – Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority Workers’ Union) has cut off the power supply to water-pumps in Akçay (Argaki) leaving 1500 dönüms (dunams) of citrus orchards without water. More than 100 citrus producers are suffering. The producers will be protesting EL-SEN today (Thursday).
- Eastern Mediterranean diplomacy continues – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with the President of the EU Commission, NATO Secretary-General and the French President.
- The highest number of local cases identified in Kyrenia and Nicosia – Turkish Cypriot health minister Ali Pilli announced. 36 new coronavirus cases identified in the south and 14 in the north.
- ₺382 (€42.5) fine to those who do not comply with the social distancing and face-mask rules – The amendments to the Law on Infectious Diseases are in force now.
This is what is really on people’s agenda
Even though the politicians are only concerned with the elections, the people are suffering economically and struggling to make ends meet. The increase in the value of foreign currencies, which the retail price of a majority of the goods is pegged to, makes life in the north even more difficult.
- Green Line is the gateway to hope – It is reported that the efforts of the Economic Organisations’ Platform at the EU level, have yielded results and it is announced the limitations on crossings have been lifted.
- 17 days left to the election – Independent candidate Serdar Dentaş counts on his experience. Republican Turkish Party (CTP) candidate Tufan Erhürman says a federation is the only solution model. National Unity Party (UBP) candidate Ersin Tatar insists on the two-state solution model.
Oh be careful
Those flouting quarantine rules can now be fined to five times the minimum wage or face a one-year prison sentence. The amendments made to the Infectious Diseases Law came into force as of yesterday (Wednesday). According to the law, those who fail to abide by quarantine regulations will be fined up to five times the minimum wage. Considering that the gross minimum wage is ₺3,820 (€420) that would amount to ₺19,100 (€2,126). Those who flout the rules may also face a prison sentence instead of being fined. Those who violate the face mask or social distancing rules will be fined one-tenth of the minimum wage which is ₺382 (€42.5). Those who fail to pay their fines within 30 days will face legal prosecution.
Includes imprisonment
Here are the quarantine penalties. The amendments to the law on infectious diseases are in force now. Those who do not comply with the social distancing rule or do not wear a mask can be fined up to ten per cent of the minimum wage. Those who do not comply with the quarantine rules will be fined up to five times the minimum wage or face a one-year prison sentence.
- 14 cases in the north, 36 in the south – 1323 tests were carried out in the north and 3317 in the south. 18 of the positive cases in the south are from the Etniko Ahna football team.
- The limitations in the Green Line crossings have been lifted.
- Health Ministry revised the list of countries according to risk groups – Turkey remained in category B.
Main News
Turkey steps up diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions in East Med
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
EU Matters, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey’s efforts to de-escalate the tension continued on Wednesday with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan calling French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
The telephone call between the Turkish and French leaders was the first since tensions flared over hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“The reason behind the tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean is that the other actors ignore the legitimate rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots,” Erdoğan said during the telephone conversation.
He added Ankara had always been in favour of dialogue and cooperation to overcome the disputes.
“Turkey does not have an eye on other countries’ rights but will not allow anyone to ignore its rights either,” Erdoğan reiterated.
The Turkish President also relayed his expectation from France to play “a responsible and constructive role in the region” and to keep the “channels of communication open between the two countries.”
For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country was always ready for dialogue and attached importance to a solid relationship between the EU and Turkey.
In a statement issued from the Elysee Palace, Macron also welcomed the launch of the exploratory talks between Turkey and Greece, which will start soon.
During the meeting via a video link, Erdoğan and von der Leyen discussed issues ranging from the problems in the Eastern Mediterranean to migration, visa exemption and the customs union.
“Greece’s and the Greek Cypriot side’s maximalist claims and their disregard of the Turkish Cypriot and Turkey’s rights lie at the very core of the problems in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Erdoğan stressed during the meeting.
Erdoğan conveyed to von der Leyen that Turkey, which has been advocating for dialogue since the start of the tensions, is ready for exploratory talks with Greece.
“We hope the chance for diplomacy will not be wasted by Greece once again,” Erdoğan said.
President von der Leyen, following the video meeting, said she had a “very useful” exchange with the Turkish President on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“I welcome the planned launch of talks with Greece, which are essential for stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and a constructive relationship with the EU,” von der Leyen wrote in a Tweet.
The last telephone call Erdoğan held was with Stoltenberg on Wednesday.
Reiterating his earlier messages, Erdoğan said Turkey is in favour of de-escalating tension in the region through dialogue and has so far shown its goodwill through actions.
“Turkey has not abandoned its responsible position, despite provocative actions by the Greek side,” Erdoğan said and added the future of the recently launched mutual talks depends on Athens’ sincere steps.
In another development, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said Turkey will decrease its foreign dependency on petrol with the discoveries both in the Black Sea and in the Mediterranean.
Speaking to Turkish state-owned Anatolian News Agency, Dönmez added that gas prices in Turkey will be more economical after the Black Sea discovery.
Ankara has previously announced the discovery of 320 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas reserves at the Tuna-1 well in the Sakarya Gas Field, located around 170km offshore in the Black Sea.
Reopening of Maraş (Varosha) not a dream
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
“The interlocutors for the project to re-open Maraş (Varosha) are the members of the Greek Cypriot community, not the Greek Cypriot leadership,” Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister and independent presidential candidate Kudret Özersay said on Wednesday.
Speaking during a programme on Diyalog TV, Özersay also noted that the project was nearing its final phase.
“The reopening of the fenced-off city is not a dream,” he stressed and argued that it is not possible to re-open Maraş (Varosha) through negotiations with the Greek Cypriot leadership.
“A Maraş (Varosha) project carried out through negotiations with the Greek Cypriot leadership would not be realistic,” Özersay concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> Interlocutors for re-opening Maraş (Varosha) are the members of the GC & not the GC leadership.
>> The project is nearing its final phase.
>> The re-opening of the fenced-off city is not a dream.
>> Not possible to re-open Maraş (Varosha) through negotiations with the GC leadership.
>> A Maraş (Varosha) project that is carried out through negotiations with the GC leadership would not be realistic.
Entry rules revised, new Covid-19 penalties come into force
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Health Ministry revised the list of countries according to risk groups in light of the efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the dailies report on Thursday.
In this regard, people from the category A list of countries, crossing from south to north, will be allowed to enter the north without having to enter mandatory quarantine provided they present a negative PCR test result obtained within the last 72 hours.
Those residing in the south permanently are required to show their negative PCR test for the first crossing only.
This category of people includes the staff members of the diplomatic missions, UN peacekeepers as well as the Turkish Cypriots residing in Pile (Pyla).
People from category B list of countries with a negative PCR test obtained within the last 120 hours of their journey, continue to be subjected to mandatory seven-day quarantine at state-run facilities.
The university students arriving in the north to continue with their higher education will have to undergo mandatory quarantine at a facility identified by the respective university for seven days.
The people arriving from category C list of countries are required to spend 14 days in quarantine at the quarantine centres before being allowed to enter the north.
Meanwhile, the amendments made to the Infectious Diseases Law came into force on Wednesday after being signed by President Mustafa Akıncı and published in the official gazette.
The Turkish Cypriot parliament had approved the amendments at an extraordinary session last week.
The amendments foresee stricter sanctions for those who do not comply with coronavirus measures.
In this regard, those who do not comply with the social distancing rule or face-mask requirement can be fined up to ten per cent of the minimum wage, which amounts to ₺382 (€43).
Those who fail to pay the fine within 30 days will be subject to legal prosecution.
Those who do not comply with the self-isolation or quarantine requirements can be fined up to five times the amount of the minimum wage, which amounts to ₺19,100 (€2,126) and/or can face a one-year prison sentence.
In the case of the businesses not complying with the measures in place, the authorities can book the premises with one minimum wage, which amounts to ₺3,820 (€430) as well as shut down the establishment for 24 hours.
If the fined establishment does not comply with the closure decision, the authorities then can issue a fine up to five times the amount of the minimum wage.
In another development, a platform of Turkish Cypriot business and economic organisations on Wednesday welcomed the lifting of restrictions imposed at crossing points by the Greek Cypriot authorities due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A statement issued by the Economic Organisations Platform on Wednesday said that officials from the EU Commission had informed the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce officials on the lifting of the restrictions.
The Greek Cypriot side had imposed restrictions on the crossings, preventing EU citizens from crossing to the north following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic on the island in February 2020.
The organisations along with representatives of the political parties in the Turkish Cypriot parliament had penned a request to EU officials, asking for the lifting of the restrictions.