Front Page Headlines
133 days have passed but no report in sight!
133 days have passed since the ‘Private Jet Scandal’ unveiled by Yenidüzen led to the removal of one minister. However, a report on a probe launched on the issue has yet to be published. Deputy Attorney General Ahmet Varol who spoke to Yenidüzen said that the case had been examined, the report completed and submitted to the police ten days ago.
- There are people within the 52 per cent who would vote ‘yes’ in a referendum” – Prof Dr Ahmet Sözen evaluated the election results. “The 48 per cent is made by a pure block of people who support a federation. Within the 52 per cent who voted the other way, some people could comfortably vote ‘yes’ in a referendum for a federal solution.
Maraş (Varosha) to be future of Cyprus and assurance for peace
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, following his visit to the pandemic hospital, went to Maraş (Varosha). He said keeping the fenced-off town closed for 46 years as a goodwill gesture had exceeded its time. Oktay gave the message to “bring life back to Maraş (Varosha) together.”
- Hasan Taçoy is also a candidate for UBP leadership – One week left to the National Unity Party (UBP) congress. There are now five candidates who have announced their candidacy for the top seat in the party.
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Oh, my dear Medet
He tricked three people wanting to grab state land for cheap into paying him ₺163,000 (€17,250) by promising them he had connections within UBP. The rise in those trying to swindle others is growing at an alarming rate as the economic crisis in North Cyprus grows. Medet Güler from Nicosia tricked Metin Şertyürek, Ali İhsan Kaya and Zeynep Demir into paying him ₺163,000 (€17,250) with the false promise of helping them acquire the land through backdoor channels.
- The economy is not doing well –The budget deficit in South Cyprus for the second quarter has reached €800m.
- 5G to arrive soon – A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between the US and South Cyprus on science and technology.
- Five private hospitals under examination –The names of 23 establishments in South Cyprus where Covid-19 cases have been detected have been announced.
Hopes for revenge revived
The lynching heroes are in delirium following Mustafa Akıncı’s defeat. Mehmet İpek, one of the leading figures in the attack on Avrupa (formerly Afrika) newspaper accompanied Fuat Oktay during his visit to Maraş (Varosha).
- Nine cases of coronavirus in the north and 130 in the south.
Main News
Sözen says support for federation is higher than perceived
Yenidüzen
Negotiations Process, Energy, Property, Territory, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Head of the Department of International Relations and Political Science at the Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta Prof Dr Ahmet Sözen has said that the latest election results did not truly reflect the number of those in the north who support a federal settlement in Cyprus.
In an interview published in Yenidüzen on Sunday, Sözen who evaluated the result of the elections argued that Ersin Tatar’s victory could not be interpreted as the end of support for a federal solution within the Turkish Cypriot community.
He said that there was a good number of people within the 52 per cent who voted for Tatar who would say yes to a federal settlement if a referendum was held.
Sözen said that the 48 per cent who voted for Mustafa Akıncı was a solid block of federation supporters but that there was a percentage within the Tatar supporters who would swing towards a federation if the conditions were right.
He recalled how in 2003, the total percentage of votes of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) and Solution and Europe Party (ÇAP) was just above 50 per cent but that the outcome of the referendum six months later was 65 per cent in support of a federal settlement.
Sözen also said that this was not the first time Ankara had interfered in the elections in the north.
“We witnessed Turkey’s interference and meddling in the elections back in the 70s and 60s, at different levels and ways. So, this is not new. The only difference is that interference this time was done more openly,” he said.
Sözen said that Turkey’s actions were not unique to Cyprus but were part of a growing shift in Ankara’s foreign policy which was more in favour of an aggressive, discourteous and nationalist stance with its neighbours and less in favour of diplomacy.
“I don’t believe this interference is related directly to the Cyprus issue,” Sözen said.
He reminded that despite all that was said and the accusations made, Akıncı had conducted the negotiations all the way to Crans Montana in coordination with Turkey.
“The real problem was his conflict with Erdoğan. Turkey’s political regime has zero tolerance for anyone who criticizes it,” Sözen added.
Sözen also pointed out that there was a pattern in the elections in the north.
“We see a rotation of leaders who are pro-federation and who are anti-federation. Every time a pro-solution leader is elected and solution efforts fail, the community expresses its disappointment and this is reflected in the election results but I don’t believe there has been a drastic drop in the overall number of those who support a federal settlement in Cyprus,” he said.
Sözen also said it was interesting to note that none of the political parties was able to attain the same votes they receive in the general elections in the presidential elections.
He also argued that whoever sits at the negotiating table will sooner or later have to negotiate a federal settlement as did the late Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktaş or former Turkish Cypriot leader Derviş Eroğlu.
“The key is in the hands of Turkey. If there is to be a five-party meeting which I believe there will be, then the federation model will emerge from that meeting. The Turkish side will table alternatives but I don’t believe the Greek Cypriot side will be open to discussing any of these proposals,” he said.
Sözen said that Turkey was looking at the bigger picture and that it will be using Cyprus as a bargaining chip in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He also said that none of the academic surveys carried out in the last 12-13 years have revealed any realistic solution model other than a federation.
“We have been constantly asking the public about alternative solution models. No mutually acceptable alternative model emerges. This is the reality. The Turkish Cypriot community’s first choice is a two-state solution followed by a federation. The Greek Cypriot community’s first choice is a unitary state followed by a federation. Since neither community will accept the other’s first choice, this leaves us with the only attainable solution which is a federation,” he said.
Asked about what Tatar’s election will mean for the Greek Cypriot side, Sözen said he did not see the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades take serious steps towards persuading his community in favour of a federal settlement.
“He could do this if a five-party conference will be successful in the coming months but what we have been seeing since he came to office is that he has been forming alliances with neighbouring countries such as Greece, Israel and Egypt as Turkey moves away from the EU and NATO,” he said.
That is why a Turkish Cypriot side moving away from UN parameters would be serving Anastasiades’ interest and goals, he argued.
Sözen said that such actions would be buttering Anastasiades’ bread, assisting his attempts to brand Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side as intransigent and opposed to a federal settlement.
“The only way to upset this approach is by clinging onto a federal settlement. I do understand Turkey’s weariness and disappointment of repeated failures to reach a federal settlement but to fall into a trap by proposing alternatives which the Greek Cypriot side will not accept, distancing itself from the UN and international community,” he stressed.
Asked about the possibility of the north being annexed by Turkey, Sözen ruled out the possibility but said it was not known what would happen in the next five to ten years if the nationalists remain in power.
Sözen nevertheless said that the Turkish Cypriot community strongly resisted this notion as surveys carried out over the years have revealed.
He warned that annexation of the north by Turkey would have strong political repercussions as secessionist movements were not welcomed by a majority of countries around the world.
Also touching upon the issue of Maraş (Varosha), Sözen said that the timing of the steps taken on the fenced-off city was thought-provoking.
“I had mentioned earlier that I believed Turkey was planning to take steps on Maraş (Varosha). The Immovable Property Commission (IPC) did not process any of the applications on Maraş (Varosha) because the area is outside the jurisdiction of the Commission. 300 cases are pending at the IPC and they are now being directed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). So, in short, Turkey was forced to take steps in a bid to prevent these cases from being opened against it,” he said.
Sözen pointed out that there were two alternatives, either reaching a comprehensive settlement and establishing a property regime which would solve the problem automatically or taking a step to end Maraş’s (Varosha) status as a military zone.
“The second option will earn Turkey time but the problem will not be solved because despite having settled numerous cases the IPC has still been unable to finalize many of them due to a lack of funds,” he said.
Sözen said that the IPC could solve the issue if funds were channelled but that failure to do so will force the ECHR to pursue the matter through its means.
“It may no longer recognize the IPC as an effective domestic remedy. The timing is not a coincidence but it should have been postponed to after the election through better planning. However, the Greek Cypriot side has been challenged and the move was most likely taken to increase leverage at the talks either for Cyprus or the Eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus will play an important role in solving the problem in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he concluded.
Oktay says plans on Maraş (Varosha) will go ahead
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Governance & Power Sharing, Negotiations Process, Territory, Property, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay on Saturday said that the decision to keep the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha) closed for 46 years as a goodwill gesture had exceeded its time.
Oktay, who arrived in the north on Friday to attend the swearing-in ceremony for Ersin Tatar, walked along the beachfront of Maraş (Varosha).
The Turkish vice president said that Maraş (Varosha) had been kept closed as a goodwill gesture to the Greek Cypriot side but added that keeping the area fenced-off any longer was like stealing from future generations.
Oktay also attended an open-air event organized at the seafront by the Mayor of Famagusta İsmail Arter which was observed by many as a PR stunt.
In the meantime, preparations to launch restoration efforts for the Bilal Ağa Masjid, which is owned by the namesake foundation, are underway.
Speaking to Kıbrıs, İbrahim Benter, Director-general of the Evkaf Foundation of Cyprus, said there is demand from “worshippers” to use the masjid, which is located in the section of Maraş (Varosha) recently opened to visitors.
“The masjid, which is currently located within a military zone, is a mosque and the Evkaf has jurisdiction over all mosques,” Benter noted.
He added that the Higher Board of Monuments and Buildings must also grant permission before any restoration can commence on site.
“The restoration project is ready and it will start the moment the necessary permits are obtained from the relevant departments and the armed forces,” Benter concluded.
Ankara extends Navtex for Oruç Reis until Nov 4
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey has issued another navigational telex, or Navtex, as it prepares to conduct seismic research activities in the Eastern Mediterranean until November 4, Turkish Cypriot dailies reported on Sunday.
The Oruç Reis will carry out seismic studies in the Eastern Mediterranean together with two other vessels, the Ataman and Cengiz Han.
It will conduct various geological, geophysical, hydrographic and oceanographic surveys, especially of the continental shelf, while also searching for natural resources.
A previous notice scheduled survey work in the area until Oct. 27.