Front Page Headlines
The Prime Minister, democracy and political will all flew away
Just hours before a televised debate among the six presidential candidates, Ersin Tatar left for Ankara. His departure raised eyebrows. Erhürman: “The political will is in Nicosia. Turkish Cypriots are the actors. Dialogue with everyone involved with Cyprus is important.” Akıncı: “Turkey is interfering in an attempt to prevent me from winning the election.” Denktaş: “An incompetent candidate is not with us today.”
- Special contribution to the elections from (Turkish Vice President) Fuat Oktay: ₺117m (€13m) – Prime Minister Ersin Tatar met with Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay in Ankara. While the other candidates were debating about the country’s future, Tatar held a joint press conference with Oktay. Oktay announced the release of ₺117m (€13m).
- Schools are reopening – Nursery schools and 1st-2nd year primary school pupils to return to classes on October 1. 3rd, 4th and 5th-year pupils on October 5. Lower and upper secondary school pupils on October 12. Private teaching institutes on October 12.
₺117m (€13m) from Turkey to the TRNC
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar discussed the economic developments, the pandemic and the on-going repairs in the water supply project with Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay.
- Gradual opening, rotational education – In-class education which was suspended on March 10 as part of Covid-19 measures will resume as of October 1.
Tatar fled from the ‘Er Maydanı’ TV programme
Six presidential candidates, who are supported by the political parties in the Turkish Cypriot parliament, shared their vision for the elections during a live programme on Genç TV. However, the National Unity Party’s (UBP) candidate Ersin Tatar announced he will be flying to Ankara to meet with Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay.
- Face-to-face contact to resume tomorrow (Thursday) – National Education and Culture Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu said the schools will resume in-class education from October 1 onwards. KTÖS (Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Union) warned the schools should only be opened after health and security measures are in place.
Money in the account
The Prime Minister returned from his ‘lightening’ visit to Ankara with ₺117m (€13m) in financial support. Prime Minister Tatar had been waiting for the appointment for some time. He flew to Ankara on Oktay’s jet. Speaking in Ankara, Tatar said that the TRNC’s financial problems would be solved with Turkey’s financial assistance. The Turkish Vice President for his part said that work on repairing the water pipeline has been delayed due to rough weather conditions at sea. “We are counting the days,” he said.
Tatar fled
They are in Nicosia, Tatar in Ankara. The debate on Genç TV where the six candidates shared their vision for the presidential office was held with only five because Ersin Tatar did not take part. The supporters of the candidates who were not invited to the programme staged a protest outside the Genç TV studios. Independent candidate Arif Salih Kırdağ fainted during the protest. Tatar instead of taking part in the live debate, flew to Ankara to hold a meeting with Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay. Speaking after the meeting, Oktay said Ankara will transfer ₺117m (€13m) to the north today (Wednesday). This is Turkey’s boost for Tatar’s election campaign.
- ₺1.6m (€178,000) losses incurred daily – EL-SEN (KIBTEK –Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority Workers’ Union) staged a protest. Kubilay Özkıraç, head of EL-SEN said KIBTEK loses ₺1.6m (€178,000) daily because the authorities do not carry out routine maintenance on the power plant or purchase the much needed spare parts.
- In-class education to resume on October 1.
Main News
Tatar skips debate to fly to Ankara, Oktay pledges ₺117m (€13m)
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, Economy, Governance & Power Sharing, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
“Ankara will not make any concessions on protecting the sovereign rights of the TRNC,” Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Tuesday during a joint press conference in Ankara with Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar.
Tatar, in a surprise move, flew to Ankara on Tuesday afternoon to meet with Oktay ditching a televised debate with five of his rivals.
He was mocked by other candidates who attended a live debate on Genç TV, the first held in the process leading to the presidential elections in the north on October 11.
In a statement later on Tuesday afternoon, Tatar tried to deflect the criticisms, stating that he had been waiting for an appointment from Ankara for some time.
He said that his duties as prime minister continued and that there were urgent matters he needed to discuss with the Turkish vice president.
Many perceived Tatar’s visit to Turkey as an act of cowardness as well as part of Ankara’s direct intervention in the elections in the north.
Meanwhile, speaking at a late-night press conference in Ankara, Oktay said he had found the opportunity to discuss the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as the domestic issues in the north with Tatar.
Among other things, Oktay announced that Ankara will be transferring ₺117m (€13m) to the north on Wednesday as part of the economic protocol currently in force.
Regarding repair work on the pipeline supplying water to the north from Turkey, Oktay said that the work had reached its final stage but that the repair crews had been hit by rough conditions at sea.
He added that work will resume as soon as the weather calms down later this week.
On the Eastern Mediterranean, Oktay said it is very important for Ankara to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.
“We will not make any concessions on the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and protection of those rights,” Oktay concluded.
Also speaking, Tatar expressed gratitude to Turkey’s support to the north.
He explained that the financial assistance being provided by Turkey will help the north’s economy under strain due to the pandemic.
Regarding a settlement in Cyprus, Tatar said he favoured an agreement based on sovereign equality.
“Negotiations to reach a federal solution based on political equality had been attempted and failed. Thus we want an agreement based on sovereign equality,” Tatar said.
He added that the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean reiterate the need for that solution.
Tatar argued that there is a dispute over sovereignty on the island.
“Turkish Cypriots will be an actor in the fight for sovereignty in the region with Turkey’s determination displayed in the region in protecting the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots,” Tatar concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Oktay (Turkey)
>> Ankara will not make any concessions on protecting the sovereign rights of the TRNC.
>> Important for Ankara to protect the rights of the TCs.
>> Ankara will not make any concessions on the rights of the TCs & protection of those rights.
Tatar (UBP)
>> Negotiations to reach a federal solution based on political equality had been attempted & failed.
>> We want an agreement based on sovereign equality.
>> The developments in the East Med. reiterate the need for that solution.
>> TCs will be an actor in the fight for sovereignty in the region with Turkey’s determination displayed in the region in protecting the rights & interests of the TCs.
Erdoğan discusses East Med with Johnson
Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed the tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean among other issues during a telephone conversation with the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the dailies report on Wednesday.
In a statement issued from the Communications Directorate at the office of the president, Erdoğan urged Johnson to adopt a “balanced and objective” approach to the Eastern Mediterranean.
The dispute over maritime territory between Athens and Ankara over the latter’s energy exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean has resulted in escalating tensions in the region.
Several diplomacy initiatives have been launched since then, primarily by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and NATO.
In the meantime, NATO-led technical military talks between Turkey and Greece can help resolve the underlying problems between the two allies, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.
Responding to questions following an online event, Stoltenberg said NATO was concerned about the rising tensions between the two NATO members, adding that the alliance had taken initiatives “to bring together two highly valued allies, Greece and Turkey, to let them sit together and see how we can develop what we call military deconfliction mechanisms.”
Recalling that Ankara and Athens have decided to launch exploratory talks, Stoltenberg said his recent talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan led to the start of “technical military talks.”
He concluded by stating that the NATO initiative will support the German-led efforts to resolve the main underlying problem.
Schools to re-open on Oct. 1, quarantine requirement extended until Nov. 1
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases on Tuesday announced it will be easing various restrictions in place as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Turkish Cypriot Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu, speaking on the issue said the in-class education will be planned in accordance with the Covid-19 compliance guideline produced by the education and health authorities.
The committee also extended the mandatory quarantine period for entry into the north until November 1.
While the committee also decided to keep the ban on close contact sports in place until November 1, it has allowed low-risk sports to resume from October 1 onwards and sports competitions without spectators to start from October 15 onwards.
It said that PCR tests will need to be carried out periodically.
The committee also decided to re-open children’s playgrounds on October 1, and entertainment facilities and other businesses from October 17 onwards provided that the PCR tests for staff members are done in advance of re-opening.