Front Page Headlines
All eyes now on the government
Ersin Tatar will now have to choose between being an MP or the president in the next three days and inform the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK). If there are no objections, the election results will be published in the official gazette on Thursday. The newly elected president will then be sworn into office the next day. A minister will serve as acting prime minister until a new government is formed so that cabinet continues to function. The National Unity Party (UBP) is aiming to hold an extraordinary congress before it launched efforts to form a new government. It’s not clear whether the new government will be an interim election government or a government that will remain in office to serve.
“I will develop our country”
President Ersin Tatar received the affidavit from the YSK confirming his election as the president. Speaking at the ceremony, Tatar praised the culture of democracy in the north and promised to develop the north further.
- “I got elected president with my unstained background” – President Ersin Tatar spoke to Kıbrıs after receiving his affidavit. Speaking to Hasan Hastürer, Tatar said, “Turkey approved my statements, which were clearer compared to my rivals. That is why they supported me.” He also noted that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades had called him suggesting a “social meeting.” He said: “I accepted to meet. I never said I would not meet with the Greek Cypriot side but when we meet, I will table what we want.”
Deep crisis
As the UBP MP-Prime Minister Ersin Tatar has been elected as the new president, uncertainty over a new coalition looms after the People’s Party’s (HP) quit the government days before the election.
- It will become official after the oath-taking ceremony – President-elect Ersin Tatar received his affidavit from the YSK confirming his victory in the elections.
- Relaxed totally the moment the election was over – New measures adopted by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases on the coronavirus pandemic.
- Our bill is growing – Since the completion of the water supply project, the north has received 236.4 million cubic metres of water.
Conditional easing of restrictions
The quarantine requirement for those arriving from category B countries for a period shorter than three days has been lifted. Attendance at weddings and funerals is now allowed. Health Minister Ali Pilli announced the new decisions adopted by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases. Those arriving from category B countries such as Turkey and the UK for a period shorter than three days will not have to remain in mandatory quarantine. These individuals will have to remain in isolation in hotels and facilities until the results of their PCR tests carried out upon arrival are announced.
- Come for coffee –Anastasiades congratulated Tatar over the phone and invited him for coffee.
- Disappointment –The election results in the TRNC made headlines in the Greek Cypriot press.
- The head of the YSK Narin Şefik handed president-elect Ersin Tatar his certificate of election.
The campaign headquarters receive full marks
The Turkish Embassy in Nicosia, which was operating as Ersin Tatar’s campaign headquarters, has returned to ‘normal’ operations following the completion of the elections.
- The world sees it (elections) as Erdoğan’s victory – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan helped Ersin Tatar win the elections.
- Nine cases in the north and 43 in the south…
Main News
Tatar: “Partnership with the GCs is not something the TCs will accept”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance and Power Sharing, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
“Turkish Cypriots will not accept establishing a partnership with the Greek Cypriots because the Turkish Cypriots have a state of their own,” newly elected president Ersin Tatar said.
Speaking to CNNTürk on his victory night, Tatar argued that the Turkish Cypriot people have shown to the world that they want to protect their right to self-governance and self-determination.
“We have shown to the world that if there is going to be an agreement on the island one day, it will not be possible to strip the Turkish Cypriots of their right to self-governance,” Tatar stressed.
He added that the Turkish Cypriots will also not make any concessions on demanding the continuation of Turkey’s guarantees.
“The Turkish Cypriot people have displayed their desire for a federal solution over the past processes. We have done everything for it but from this moment onwards, the Turkish Cypriot people have clearly stated that we want to see a solution on the basis of sovereignty,” Tatar said.
Arguing that Mustafa Akıncı’s “campaign strategy was focused on segregating people into those who were pro-Turkey and those who are not,” Tatar said it was not right to polarize the community.
“A partnership with the Greek Cypriots is not something the Turkish Cypriot people will accept because we have our own state. This was the main message in my election campaign. I asked the people to walk with me to a new future,” Tatar noted.
He added that the reopening of Maraş (Varosha) should also be perceived in the same light.
“With support from Ankara, we have opened Maraş (Varosha) and gave a strong message to the entire world and that message is that nothing will be the same anymore,” Tatar concluded.
In a separate interview with Kıbrıs newspaper’s Hasan Hasturer, Tatar said that Turkey had endorsed his candidacy because of his clear stance compared to his rivals.
Tatar argued that the other candidates were too vague in their statements.
“I spoke clearly and straight to the point. I did not speak as if I was delivering a key-note speech at a conference. This is the reason Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ankara supported me. This is why the Turkish Cypriot people supported me,” Tatar said.
Tatar also thanked the Turkish officials and the heads of the Turkish Cypriot political parties, who gave their support during the election process.
Tatar, responding to a question on the Cyprus negotiations process, said the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades had called him and asked for a “social gathering.”
“I accepted to meet with him. I never said I will not meet with the Greek Cypriot side but I said when we meet, I will table what we want,” Tatar said.
He said he remained committed to the promises he had made during the election period.
“I will be going to the meeting with Anastasiades with my principles in my mind. There are our colleagues who have been working on the solution of the Cyprus problem for a long time. I will explain to Mr Anastasiades what I mean by a two-state solution instead of a federal settlement,” Tatar said.
He added that he and his team will adopt a proactive stance and will not be submitting to the Greek Cypriot side’s policies.
Asked about his negotiations team, Tatar said he will make appointments in line with the society’s principles and values.
“Negotiations and struggle over the Cyprus problem is the main reason behind the National Unity Party’s (UBP) existence. Therefore, we have many highly qualified colleagues. We will not have any problems in identifying who will become a member of the negotiations team,” Tatar concluded.
In the meantime, the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades on Monday issued a message on Twitter congratulating Ersin Tatar as the new Turkish Cypriot leader.
Anastasiades said he fully respected the decision of the Turkish Cypriot community to select Tatar as its new leader.
The Greek Cypriot leader congratulated Tatar and said he looked forward to an introductory meeting.
“I want to assure him and my Turkish Cypriot compatriots of my readiness and decisiveness to immediately respond to the UN Secretary General’s declared intention to embark on a new initiative as soon as possible to resolve the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN resolutions and the principles of the EU. I would like to hope that Mr Tatar would display the same willingness,” Anastasiades said.
Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to Cyprus, Judith G. Garber called Tatar to congratulate him on his election as the Turkish Cypriot leader.
“The US looks forward to working with him and with the Turkish Cypriot community,” Ambassador Garber said during the telephone call.
She added she is looking forward to the settlement talks resuming soon.
Meanwhile, the EU said it expects from the new Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, to engage in a dialogue constructively and with a sense of urgency, for a Cyprus settlement and the reunification of the island.
The European Commission’s spokesperson Vivian Loonela, in a written statement, said, “the European Union notes that the electoral process in the Turkish Cypriot community has now concluded with Mr Tatar obtaining a majority of the votes cast. It is now crucial that the settlement talks are resumed. The EU expects Mr Tatar to engage in dialogue constructively and with a sense of urgency with a view to reaching a comprehensive settlement and reunification”.
Furthermore, “the European Union supports the speedy resumption of negotiations, under the auspices of the UN, and remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions, [including UNSC resolutions 550 and 789], and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded.”
Also on Tuesday, the UK said it stood ready to work with both leaders, Turkey and Greece to restart talks to reunify Cyprus in accordance with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
The statement was tweeted by the Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas Wendy Morton.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> TCs will not accept establishing a partnership with the GCs because the TCs have a state of their own.
>> The TC people have shown to the world that they want to protect the right to self-governance.
>> TCs have shown to the world that if there is going to be an agreement on the island one day, it will not be possible to strip the TCs of their right to self-governance.
>> TCs will also not make any concessions on demanding the continuation of Turkey’s guarantees.
>> The TC people have displayed their desire for a federal solution over the past processes but from this moment onwards, the TC people have clearly stated that we want to see a solution on the basis of sovereignty.
>> The reopening of Maraş (Varosha) should also be perceived as TCs marching to a new future in which nothing will be the same anymore.
>> I will table the TC side’s position when I meet with Anastasiades.
>> I will explain what my notion of a two-state solution is.
>> The TC side will adopt a proactive stance & will not submitting to the GC side’s policies.
>> Negotiating team will be appointed on the basis of society’s values and principles.
Congratulatory messages for Tatar flow in from Turkish officials
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis,Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance and Power Sharing, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and several ministers, congratulated Ersin Tatar on winning Sunday’s elections in the north.
“I congratulate Mr Ersin Tatar, who has been elected as the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, on behalf of myself and the Turkish nation,” Erdoğan said on Twitter.
“Turkey will continue to spend all efforts needed to protect the rights and law of the Turkish Cypriot nation,” he added.
Later on Sunday, the Turkish president called Tatar to congratulate him on his victory, as he invited him to visit Ankara for his first official trip abroad.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry also congratulated Tatar on Monday with a written statement, saying: “It is announced that Prime Minister Ersin Tatar won the (presidential) election according to the unofficial results. We congratulate Mr Tatar and wish him success in this supreme post he is elected.”
It added that the results reflect the free and sovereign will of the Turkish Cypriots.
“The strength of the Turkish Cypriots stems from their ability to maintain their unity and solidarity within the framework of social solidarity and democracy principles,” it said.
The ministry also voiced pleasure that the presidential runoff held on Sunday showcased the exemplary democracy of the country and the political maturity of its nation.
“We will continue to work in close coordination with all the institutions of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, to support the sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriots – the common owner of the island – and its legitimate rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean under all circumstances, and to fulfill our conventional and historical responsibilities with precision and determination,” it noted.
CHP Chairman Kılıçdaroğlu also congratulated Tatar on winning the elections.
“I would also like to extend my thanks to Mr Mustafa Akıncı for serving as the president,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, adding that he hopes the results will benefit the Turkish Cypriot people.
Praising the success of elections in the north, Vice President Fuat Oktay said the country was celebrating democracy after holding transparent elections, as he congratulated Tatar and the Turkish Cypriots.
Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, Education Minister Ziya Selçuk, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca and Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül also congratulated Tatar and Turkish Cypriots.
The spokesman for Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ömer Çelik also sent a message congratulating Tatar.
All highlighted the strong bond which existed between the two countries and stated that Turkey will continue to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot community and state.
Quarantine requirements eased day after the elections
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance and Power Sharing, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
It took less than 24 hours after Sunday’s election for the government to ease quarantine restrictions on individuals arriving in the north from abroad.
The move was believed to have been made to appease casino owners who have been complaining about the loss of business since the restrictions were reintroduced earlier in September.
Some critics of the government claimed on Tuesday that the decision to lift the seven-day mandatory quarantine requirement was a promise given by the National Unity Party (UBP) leader Ersin Tatar in exchange for support from the hotels and casinos during his election campaign.
Category B Passengers arriving in the north for three days or for a shorter period of time will no longer need to enter mandatory quarantine, the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases announced on Tuesday.
According to the revised measures announced by the committee, passengers from category B list of countries need to provide a negative PCR test result before embarking on their journey and will be retested upon arrival.
Additionally, in view of the spike in the positive coronavirus cases in the south, the committee also reverted back to the old requirement for individuals crossing north to present a negative PCR test carried out within the last 72 hours of their crossing.
Those who will be staying longer than three days in the north will be required to undergo mandatory seven-day quarantine.
This decision excludes the Turkish Cypriots who are required to cross to the south on a daily basis to work or to study or to benefit from health services.
The committee however did not make any clarifications on the diplomatic community, EU personnel or UN peacekeepers.
The health officials will continue to carry out random PCR tests at the crossing points.
The opening of cinemas, theatres and festivals, and celebratory activities remain suspended until November 1 whilst it is allowed to hold weddings and engagement ceremonies and funerals from October 19 onwards.