Front Page Headlines
Topple, surrender (Handover)
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay who left his mark on the presidential elections with allegations of meddling attended the swearing-in ceremony held in parliament. He, however, did not take part in the handover ceremony held at the presidential palace. High-ranking officials from Turkey always attended ceremonies at the palace in the past. Ersin Tatar who won the election with a narrow two per cent margin with the support of Ankara’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government officially assumed the post of president following the ceremony in parliament. While the Social Democratic Party (TDP) MPs did not attend the ceremony in protest, only the leader and parliamentary group of MPs from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) attended the ceremony. Serdar Denktaş was also nowhere to be seen. Akıncı in his farewell speech at the handover ceremony noted that the process leading to the election and the election itself had witnessed much, all of which would not be forgotten by history. The Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay visited Tatar at his new office immediately after the ceremony. He said, “We shall continue to move forward on the issue of Maraş (Varosha).”
A new era commences at the presidency
The 5th president of the TRNC Ersin Tatar was sworn in at parliament and took over the office of the president with a ceremony from the fourth president Mustafa Akıncı. Speaking at the ceremony, Tatar gave a message to the UN and the international community and appealed to the Greek Cypriot side. “No one can punish us for fighting for our freedom, for protecting our sovereignty and for establishing our state,” Tatar stressed, adding that lifting the isolations and the embargoes imposed on the north will be among his top priorities. Tatar said he also welcomed Turkey’s proposal of holding a five-party conference to table the two-state solution based on sovereign equality and to see if it is possible to reach an agreement or not.
- “We will be in stronger and closer collaboration with the TRNC” – President Ersin Tatar received Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, who came to the north to attend his swearing-in ceremony in parliament. Oktay congratulated Tatar on behalf of the Turkish nation. The Vice President noted that it was a new era for the TRNC and that Ankara will continue to work on increasing the welfare of the Turkish Cypriots. “On the issue of Maraş (Varosha), we are also determined to continue with the project to the end,” Oktay stressed.
- “I am leaving with a clear conscience” – 4thpresident Mustafa Akıncı delivered his farewell speech at the handover ceremony.
- President Tatar to travel to Ankara on October 26 – President Ersin Tatar will make his first official trip to Ankara on Monday, October 26.
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The goal is a just solution
Tatar who officially assumed his duties as the 5th president said in his first message that he was ready for a five-party conference. “We are ready for a just and lasting solution,” said Tatar. According to the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides, the five-party conference will take place sometime in November. Akıncı, in his farewell speech, said that the highest post a politician could ever reach was in the hearts of the people. He added that even though his 45-year-long political career had come to an end, he would continue to focus on communal issues.
Thank you, my Pasha
(Accompanied with a photograph showing Tatar greeting Oktay) Ersin Tatar was first sworn in at a ceremony in parliament and then took over the Office of the President from Mustafa Akıncı at a ceremony held at the presidential palace. Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay also attended the ceremony held in parliament. Tatar will be flying to Turkey to meet with (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan. Speaking at the ceremony Mustafa Akıncı said: “Everyone knows how I came here, what I did during my term and how I am leaving. Every step of this period from start to end including the election process happened before people’s eyes and will be recorded in history.”
- People’s Party (HP) announced it spent ₺940,701 (€99,545) for the elections.
Main News
Tatar sworn in as new TC president
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Governance & Power Sharing, Negotiations Process, Territory, Property, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Newly elected President Ersin Tatar was officially sworn in on Friday, at a ceremony attended by outgoing President Mustafa Akıncı.
At a handing over ceremony, Akıncı said he was leaving with peace of mind that he had done his best to serve the interests of his people and that he had worked towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.
“I find it useful to remind again of the importance of avoiding steps that would give ‘an out’ to the Greek Cypriot side, which is reluctant to show the necessary will for a solution because they use it as an advantage to represent Cyprus alone by usurping our partnership rights,” Akıncı said.
Referring indirectly to Ankara’s interference in the elections, he pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot community had witnessed all that had happened, from start to finish, and that what had taken place would never be forgotten.
Tatar was sworn in at a session in the house plenum, which was attended by Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay officials of other parties, former presidents, and his family.
MPs from Akıncı’s former party, the Social Democratic Party (TDP) did not attend the ceremony in parliament in protest.
As for the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), only the party leader Tufan Erhürman as well as the parliament group heads Asım Akansoy and Fazilet Özdenefe attended the plenum.
Serdar Denktaş was also absent from the ceremony.
Following the ceremony in parliament, Tatar then placed flowers at the memorials of Atatürk, Fazıl Küçük, and Rauf Denktaş monuments.
Later, in his address at the handover ceremony at the presidential palace, Tatar said the Greek Cypriots failed to see the Turkish Cypriots as having equal rights on the island.
“Nobody can punish us for establishing our state. Lifting the embargoes [on the TRNC] will be our main goal,” he said.
On Turkey, he said the north and Ankara would act in harmony.
Commenting on the Cyprus problem, Tatar said two states were a necessity, and he would convey this message to the UN Secretary-General.
“I look at the five-party conference in terms of bringing the two-state issue to the table,” he added.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay who was present at the ceremony in parliament, however, did not attend the handover ceremony.
Following the ceremony, he visited Tatar in his new office.
Speaking during the visit, Oktay said that relations and cooperation between Ankara and the north will become stronger than ever.
Touching on the issue of Maraş (Varosha), the Turkish Vice President said that they will go ahead with plans to reopen the fenced-off city.
He expressed the view that opening the town will contribute greatly to the country’s economy and tourism sector.
“It would not be right to abandon the town to the rats,” he said. Meanwhile, Tatar, as part of a long-standing political tradition, will be carrying out his first official visit to Ankara on Monday, October 26.
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> Steps that could give ‘an out’ to the GC side should be avoided as this could be used by GCs as an advantage to represent Cyprus alone by usurping TCs’ partnership rights.
Tatar
>> GCs fail to see the TCs as having equal rights on the island.
>> Nobody can punish TCs for establishing our state. Lifting the embargoes on the TRNC will be our main goal.
>> The north and Ankara will act in harmony.
>> A two-state solution is a necessity and this will be conveyed to the UNSG.
>> I will be bringing the two-state issue to the table at a five-party conference.
Oktay (Turkey)
>> Relations & cooperation with the north will become stronger.
>> Plans to re-open Maraş (Varosha) will go ahead.
UCN salutes TCs’ determined stance for a federal solution
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Governance and Power Sharing, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The bicommunal activist group UniteCyprusNow (UCN) drew attention to the encouraging takeaways from the Turkish Cypriot elections despite deteriorating hopes for a solution, the dailies report on Saturday.
In a statement, UCN highlighted that “Cypriots are now entering another difficult period but we are truly encouraged by the honest and heroic struggle of our Turkish Cypriot compatriots.”
UCN stressed that despite the fact Ersin Tatar had been elected amid allegations of meddling by Ankara, the outcome has shown that one out of two Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of a candidate advocating for a federal solution.
“Despite this uneven and unfair campaign and alleged irregularities before the vote, one out of every two Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of a federalist candidate who refused to take direct instructions from the Turkish government and advocated equal relations with Turkey,” the UCN statement read.
UCN also noted that the lack of willingness of the two sides to cooperate following the Crans Montana process, and the negative climate created by nationalistic circles, the obstacles introduced at the crossing points, economic fears after the pandemic, and the increased economic dependency on Turkey, were all factors that led many Turkish Cypriots to cast their votes in favour of Tatar who propagates a divisionist agenda for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
UCN pointed out the need to analyse the Turkish Cypriots’ choice and their political, economic and social motivations further but the Turkish Cypriots’ dignified position needs to be acknowledged.
“This has been a very clear demonstration of a dignified position by our Turkish Cypriot compatriots who, despite heavy pressure and lack of solidarity from the Greek Cypriot leadership, have shown the courage to fight a campaign in favour of peace and a solution in Cyprus under difficult circumstances,” the statement read.
In addition to expressing gratitude to former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı for his dedicated efforts for a federal solution, UCN highlighted that it will continue its mission to connect Cypriots.
“We are more than ever motivated to increase our efforts in line with our mission which is to connect Cypriots by seeking the truth, building empathy, respecting diversity, reinforcing solidarity and promoting a joint future,” the UCN stressed.
Without disregarding the requirement of political commitment from the politicians on the peace process, UCN also highlighted the vitality of the involvement of civil society.
UCN noted that it will soon announce its new program to reach out to the young people of Cyprus.
“While we are always committed to supporting a political process for a solution that will be mutually acceptable by both communities, we will increase our efforts to reach out to people and groups living on this island,” the UCN statement concluded.