Front Page Headlines
Caution over schools
Three teachers and one student infected in a week. The rising number of cases at schools has worried families. Speaking to Yenidüzen, Health Minister Ali Pilli reassured families that they have prevented the spread of the virus at schools by taking immediate measures. He also said that there was no need to panic. “We are already conducting random tests frequently. We will increase the number of such tests at schools as well as areas where positive cases emerge,” he said. Pilli also said that the absence of a government was a concern as they did not want to make mistakes during this time.
- “Internal peace receives heavy blow” – Sociologist and Political Affairs Expert Hakan Gündüz evaluated the impact of the presidential election and its reflections on society.
“I am deeply saddened by the claims that I won as a result of interference”
President Ersin Tatar noted that some circles are trying to create a different perception on his victory in the elections, which had been on the agenda for almost a year. “I was elected by the people who went to the polls,” Tatar said.
- President Tatar is going to Ankara today (Monday)
- Elected president when they were serving as prime ministers – Mehmet Ali Talat, Derviş Eroğlu and Ersin Tatar became presidential candidates and were elected when they were still serving as Prime Minister.
Tatar’s aim is two states
Ersin Tatar spoke to Turkish News Agency (TAK) and Anatolian News Agency (AA) after he took over the Office of President. He talked about the policies he will adopt. “It is necessary to table alternative solution models in line with our and Turkey’s viewpoints and expectations,” Tatar said and added that he will fight towards tabling a two-state solution model based on sovereign equality in which the two communities will live side by side.
- Oruç Reis enjoys being in the Mediterranean – Turkey issued yet another Navtex extending the duration for Oruç Reis in the Eastern Mediterranean until November 4.
- Tatar making his first trip abroad to Ankara
It can’t be ignored
Citizens who have learned about the importance of Vitamin D following the coronavirus pandemic are rushing to private labs. Despite living in a country where there is sunshine most of the year, one out of every two Cypriots suffers from vitamin D deficiency. Health experts say that vitamin D deficiency triggers illnesses such as cancer or heart disease as well as lowers immunity levels causing fatigue and tiredness. Citizens have been carrying out vitamin D and B12 tests since learning about its importance in fighting the coronavirus.
- We missed the first opportunity in 1978 – Former Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Rolandis criticised former Greek Cypriot administrations stating that “lost opportunities lead to lost homelands.”
If there is not a party that will protect the political will of the Turkish Cypriots then there will be no votes
Tacan Reynar called on the political parties and urged them “to open the way for a joint struggle.” Reynar: We will not look ahead. The election is over and problems are waiting for us. We shall first face this interference in the Turkish Cypriots’ political will. If we fail to do so no one will go to vote ever again. In short, if the political parties do not protect our will then there will be no votes!” “This community needs an umbrella structure under which the 49 per cent will unite,” Reynar stressed.
- “The state is the owner of Maraş (Varosha). We are not considering returning the town” – Ersin Tatar said.
Main News
Tatar says he is hurt by claims he won with Ankara’s assistance
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“Even those closest to me told me I didn’t have a chance… and that I couldn’t win,” said newly elected Turkish Cypriot president Ersin Tatar in his first official interview to the state-run TAK news agency.
Tatar who won the election under a shadow of speculation from his rivals that he owed his victory to Ankara’s interference, said he was deeply hurt by such claims.
“The people made their choice. No one was forced to vote for me. Everyone knows that. The 5,000 extra votes I received cannot be underestimated,” he said.
Admitting that his rival Mustafa Akıncı was a formidable opponent, Tatar said that his election victory against a veteran politician who had 45 years of experience in politics was no easy feat and that his success should not be underestimated.
“Mr Akıncı might have different political views but he was a serious opponent and he did receive a significant number of votes. That is why I see my victory as an important success. But instead, they claim I won by Ankara’s interference. I didn’t deserve this,” he said.
Tatar also said that he was relatively new in politics and thanked former National Unity Party (UBP) leader Derviş Eroğlu for holding his hand during his ten years in politics and fast ascent to the top.
Regarding his relations with Turkey, Tatar said that his election had brought relief to Ankara not only in terms of official relations between the two countries but in terms of the social and cultural ties.
Expressing similar views in an interview with the Anatolian News Agency (AA) on Sunday, Tatar said he attaches great importance to the issue of developing relations with Turkey further.
“Cyprus is a common cause for Turkey and the north and the Eastern Mediterranean issue is part of it,” Tatar said and added that “We should always move together with the Republic of Turkey, especially after the recent discovery of the hydrocarbon wealth [in the Eastern Mediterranean], on sharing it with the awareness of its importance for the two countries’ future.”
Tatar also underlined that both Turkey and the north will determine a joint policy in the negotiations process.
“We need to explain to the Greek Cypriot side our position at every opportunity we get. Rather than a partnership, we support a two-state solution based on sovereign equality,” he said, adding that the Greek Cypriot side’s goal was to control the whole island.
He expressed the view that a federal settlement in Cyprus will eventually lead Turkish Cypriots to be swallowed by the numerically larger Greek Cypriot community.
Tatar added that the freedom of movement and capital within the EU would soon render the jurisdiction rights of the Turkish Cypriot community ineffective.
“The ultimate goal of course is to remove Turkey from Cyprus, to scrap the system of guarantees. We shall not allow the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo from accomplishing its goals in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he said.
Tatar also said the dynamics in Cyprus have changed with the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Turkey’s claims are stronger than ever and the TRNC’s role has thus changed with this shift. We are very far from where we were 25-30 years ago when our only way out was a solution. We might still need a solution but we are not without alternatives because we have our state,” he said.
On the issue of hydrocarbons, the newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader said that there was a growing belief that new and large quantities of natural gas will be discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean. He reminded that a proposal put to the Greek Cypriot side to create a joint committee to co-manage the island’s resources had been rejected.
“Obviously this was rejected by the Greek Cypriots who have no intention of sharing the island’s wealth or political power with the Turkish Cypriots,” he noted.
That is why, Tatar said, the Turkish Cypriot side was opting for a joint strategy with Turkey in pursuit of obtaining what was rightfully its share.
Concerning the issue of the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha), Tatar said that the idea of returning the town to the Greek Cypriot side was over.
Tatar pointed out the return of the town had always been considered as part of a comprehensive solution in Cyprus but since this option was no longer attainable the understanding of returning the area was off the table.
He reminded that the return of Maraş (Varosha) had been offered on numerous occasions to the Greek Cypriot side within the framework of confidence-building measures (CBMs) but none had been accepted because of the Greek Cypriot leadership’s fear of upgrading the TRNC’s status.
“We are currently working on ways to reconnect the town’s electricity supply,” he added.
“The Maraş initiative is a project which was approved by Mr Kudret Özersay but which was struck by delays due to an inventory study. The inventory will be completed sooner or later but what we are currently focused on is rehabilitating the seafront, public spaces and some of the playgrounds. Some of these areas can already be accessed as the municipality is clearing and cleaning the streets,” he said.
Tatar repeated his view that Maraş (Varosha) is owned by the state and is located within the TRNC’s borders.
He added that the phrase ‘fenced-off’ or ‘closed’ Maraş (Varosha) will soon become something of the past.
“There are currently 300 pending Greek Cypriot applications at the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) including the Lordos family,” he said, adding that the issue will be solved through the commission without any detriment to the Evkaf’s rights.
Tatar said that the city’s infrastructure will be renewed by the Turkish Cypriot administration and Greek Cypriots will be allowed to return to their properties to do as they please.
“They will be running their businesses, live in their homes or selling their properties. It will be up to them. It is their right but no one should object to this,” he said.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> My election had brought relief to Ankara not only in terms of official relations between the two countries but in terms of the social & cultural ties.
>> Cyprus is a common cause for Turkey & north & the East Med issue is part of it.
>> The north & Turkey should always move together especially on the hydrocarbon wealth in the East Med.
>> Both Turkey & the north will determine a joint policy in the negotiations process.
>> It is importantto explain the TC side’s position to the GC side at every opportunity.
>> Rather than a partnership, TC side supports a two-state solution based on sovereign-equality.
>> A federal settlement in Cyprus will eventually lead TCs to be swallowed by the numerically larger GC community.
>> The freedom of movement & capital within the EU would soon render the jurisdiction rights of the TC community ineffective.
>> The ultimate goal of the GC side is to remove Turkey from Cyprus, to scrap the system of guarantees.
>> We shall not allow the Greek-GC duo from accomplishing its goals in the East Med.
>> Turkey’s claims are stronger than ever & the north’s role has thus changed with this shift.
>> A solution might still be needed but TCs are not without alternatives.
>> There was a growing belief that new & large quantities of natural gas will be discovered in the East Med.
>> The GCs have no intention of sharing the island’s wealth or political power with the TCs.
>> This is why the TC side is opting for a joint strategy with Turkey in pursuit of obtaining what was its rightful share.
>> The idea of returning the Maraş (Varosha) to the GC side is over.
>> The return of Maraş (Varosha) not an option as a comprehensive solution to Cyprob no longer attainable.
>> Currently working on ways to reconnect Maraş’s (Varosha) electricity supply, rehabilitate the seafront, public spaces & playgrounds.
>> Maraş (Varosha) is owned by the state & is located within the TRNC’s borders.
>> The phrase ‘fenced-off’ or ‘closed’ Maraş (Varosha) will soon become something of the past.
>> 300 pending GC applications to be solved through the IPC without any detriment to the Evkaf’s rights.
>> Maraş’s (Varosha) infrastructure will be renewed by the TC administration & GCs will be allowed to return to their properties to do as they please.
Turkish Defence Ministry reiterates Turkey’s position in the East Med
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“Greek claims that Turkey’s seismic research in the Eastern Mediterranean is “illegal” is baseless, as the Oruç Reis is carrying out activities in the Turkish continental shelf area in line with international law and the United Nations,” Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hami Aksoy said on Sunday.
Aksoy added that the vessel is carrying out its activities between October 25 and November 4, is located 130 kilometres off Turkey’s and 440 kilometres off the Greek coast.
“We expect Greece to give up creating artificial reasons and preconditions to avoid dialogue with our country,” Aksoy concluded.
Turkey had issued another a Navtex, as it prepares to conduct seismic research activities in the Eastern Mediterranean until November 4.
The Oruç Reis carry out seismic studies in the Eastern Mediterranean together with two other vessels, the Ataman and Cengiz Han.
In the meantime, Major Pınar Kara, Public Information Officer at the Turkish Ministry of National Defence said: “The attempts at sharing natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean by leaving Turkey and the TRNC out will not be accepted.”
During her weekly press briefing on Sunday, Major Kara shared Turkey’s position and its Eastern Mediterranean policies.
Kara pointed out that there are attempts to ostracise Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side from the energy equations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Turkey cannot be ostracised from the region because it has the longest coastline in the region among other countries,” Kara noted.
“Turkey insists that the sharing of the natural resources in the region must be done on an equitable basis and it must be defined by riparian states,” Kara stressed.
She concluded by reiterating that the hydrocarbon exploration activities carried out in the region are based on Turkey’s legitimate rights laid out in international law.