Front Page Headlines
[No headline – just a photograph dating back to one of the mass pro-solution rallies during the 2004 Annan Plan period]
Pleasing picture in dairy products
The export figures in dairy products are higher than the import figures, according to data obtained from the Trade Department for the 2001-2020 period.
- People will head to the ballots to elect the president – National Unity Party (UBP) candidate and independent candidate Mustafa Akıncı will be competing in the second round of the presidential elections. There are 199,029 registered voters. The voting process will commence at 8am and end at 6pm. The Supreme Electorate Board (YSK) will announce the election result at 8pm.
- Corona claims the fifth life in the north – 79-year old Aziz Çavlin passed away due to coronavirus yesterday (Saturday).
- 202 cases of coronavirus in the south.
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All hopes left for 2021
More than 150 weddings were cancelled in three wedding halls alone this summer. The restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to social life in North Cyprus. Despite the low number of cases in the country more than 150 weddings were cancelled in three wedding halls alone. Wedding venue owners and establishments offering wedding services said that all hope now was on 2021.
- Health alarm – Daily number of cases in South Cyprus reached 202.
- The EU is spoiling them – Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis demanded an arms embargo against Turkey.
- What was feared did not happen – Hundreds of motorcyclists from all across South Cyprus found TRNC citizens waiting from them at the Derinya (Dheryeia) crossing point where they gathered for a protest.
- Day of destiny – Either Mustafa Akıncı or Ersin Tatar will be elected as the TRNC’s president today.
Decision day for political will
The presidential elections, which will open the way for a new era, will be held today (Sunday). The second round of the elections will be held today (Sunday). The voting for the election, in which Mustafa Akıncı is competing against Ersin Tatar, will start at 8am and will end at 6pm. The Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) prohibited radio and television channels from providing any commentary on the results of the election until 7pm.
- A new record in the south: 202 cases – Seven cases were identified in the north and one person passed away due to coronavirus.
- A Nigerian was found dead in his home
Main News
TC & GC leaders call for restraint in Derinya (Dheryneia) protests
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Hundreds of people gathered on Saturday evening on both sides of the Derinya (Dheryneia) crossing point, which has been closed since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
The protest in the south was organised in memory of Isaak and Solomou, who were killed in 1996 whereas the protest in the north was organised to protest the “Greek Cypriot fanatics”, referring to the October 11 protest staged by ELAM.
Both leaders, Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı called for restraint in the protests across the divide.
In a statement issued from his office on Saturday, Akıncı urged the participants to remain calm to “prevent the provocations from reaching their goals.”
“The office of the President has raised the protest to be staged by fanatical Greek Cypriots at the Derinya (Dheryneia) crossing point with the UN and with the Greek Cypriot leadership,” Akıncı said, adding, “It was explained to both that such acts do not contribute to peace in Cyprus and have the risk of escalating tension further.”
Akıncı also expressed the need for the UN and the Greek Cypriot side to implement the necessary measures for the protestors not to enter the buffer zone and “to violate the Turkish Cypriot borders.”
“While it is necessary to refrain from all provocative actions, it is vital for all to maintain calm and restraint to prevent the provocations from reaching their goals,” Akıncı concluded.
“I believe I belong to Maraş (Varosha)”, says former resident
Yenidüzen
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
“The day I had to leave Maraş (Varosha) 46 years ago and when I was 19 years old was the worst day in my life,” a former resident of the fenced-off town Pavlos Iacovou said.
Speaking in an interview with Yenidüzen, Iacovou said, “I believe I belong to Maraş (Varosha). We left the town for two days and I could only return 46 years later.”
Now 65-years-old Iacovou, who is also the leader of the “Famagusta Our Town Initiative,” following the opening of the coastal section of Maraş (Varosha), returned to visit the “Florida Hotel,” which was built by his grandfather.
Asked whether there will be a solution in Cyprus, Iacovou said he does not have any hopes in general.
“Deep down in my heart I believe in a solution but when faced with the realities, I lose my hope. I saw new roads are being built on Kennedy Avenue and I realise that they are implementing their plans,” Iacovou stressed.
He added that everyone who visited the opened parts left the area in great disappointment.
Iacovou noted that he had believed that Maraş (Varosha) would one day be taken under the UN administration but there is a severe uncertainty over the town now.
“We had always believed that Maraş (Varosha) would one day be returned to the UN or the Greek Cypriot side but now there is uncertainty. When we look at the steps taken, we just do not have any idea what will happen!” Iacovou said.
Asked whether he would return to Maraş (Varosha) under the Turkish Cypriot administration, Iacovou highlighted that the financing issues and the security issues must also be solved before any one of the Greek Cypriots would return to the area.
He recalled that he had applied to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) to be compensated for his hotel and for his property to be returned but the IPC did not even respond.
In response to a question on who he sees as responsible for the current status of Maraş (Varosha), Iacovou said he holds both sides responsible.
“I hold both sides responsible for the current situation. The talks have stopped for three years now. They have opened the Derinya (Dhernyeia) beach for civilian use. We had warned then but the Greek Cypriot authorities did not listen to us. They could have done a lot but did not even move an inch!” Iacovou said.
“Our island is too beautiful to be divided. I only want to see Cypriots living in Cyprus and a united Cyprus but I have concerns that the chauvinist groups from both sides are not going to allow that,” Iacovou concluded.