Front Page Headlines
Make it, break it
This is how the UBP’s (National Unity Party) process to form a new government and hold a new party congress is being conducted. October 18, 2020: Prime Minister Ersin Tatar elected as president. He did not appoint a temporary replacement. October 31, 2020: UBP holds its congress. Faiz Sucuoğlu and Hasan Taçoy make it to the second round. November 5, 2020: Faiz Sucuoğlu and Hasan Taçoy withdraw from the race. November 6, 2020: Sucuoğlu says he was forced to approve the cancellation of the congress. November 7, 2020: President Ersin Tatar handed the mandate of forming a new government to acting UBP leader Ersan Saner. November 9, 2020: Saner met with all party representatives but failed to achieve a result. Sucuoğlu announced he was running again. November 10, 2020: UBP’s Central Executive Committee (MYK) fails to reach an agreement on a date for the next congress. Saner announces he is a candidate. November 11, 2020: Saner who failed to form a government did not hand the mandate back.
- Municipalities Union sends letter to EU on Maraş (Varosha) “Maraş’s (Varosha) status will be changed. Greek Cypriots and foreigners’ property rights will be reinstated.
Winter arrives with a downpour
Torrential rains in north Nicosia flooded roads and businesses. The torrential rain which hit north Nicosia around noon disrupted life and traffic. Many of the roads were left submerged following a downpour which lasted for almost an hour. People were caught off-guard and had difficulties coping. The water remained after manholes were clogged with rubbish and litter. Teams from the Nicosia Turkish Municipality (LTB) worked all day long to unclog the drainage system. The Meteorology Department announced that torrential rains will continue today (Thursday).
Fear of death
The fact that Covid-19 case numbers in the south remain in three-digits and there have been several consecutive deaths as a result of the virus has triggered fear and concern in the South. According to Greek Cypriot Health Ministry, seven people passed away due to Covid-19 in the last three days. Even though most of those who died were elderly people with underlying illnesses, the death of a 62-year-old woman without any known health problems, has raised the fear of death among the public.
- The fait accompli did not work this time – The statue of a bull placed by the Near East University on a small roundabout near the Kyrenia Gate without acquiring permits from the Higher Board of Monuments and the LTB was removed last night (Wednesday) following a warning.
- The Greek Cypriots have launched preparations for Lute – The Council of Greek Cypriot party leaders convened in a meeting under the chairmanship of the Greek Cypriot leader (Nicos) Anastasiades to discuss (Jane Holl) Lute’s arrival and the possibility of a five-party conference.
- Four died, one missing from the fishing boat – A Greek flagged tanker collided with a Turkish fishing boat. The boat capsized.
World record
760 people are working for the bodies and administrations of the nine political parties. It’s been said this figure is a world record in terms of the country’s population ratio. The Rebirth Party (YDP) has the highest number of staff with 175 in total. YDP is followed by UBP with 118 staff members, the Democratic Party (DP) with 75, the People’s Party (HP) and Social Democratic Party (TDP) with 60 each.
- No quarantine – New measures adopted by the Greek Cypriot Administration. Lyceums in Limassol and Paphos closed and night-time curfew stating at 8pm introduced.
- Greek Cypriots’ situation bad –165 new cases in the south, four deaths. Six cases in the north.
- It hosted Churchill – The ‘Ghost Hotel’ located in Troodos, constructed in 1931, has been sold for €2m.
A picnic basket for Erdoğan
The Baraka Cultural Centre will give Tayyip Erdoğan a ‘picnic basket’ as a gift for the picnic he will have in Maraş (Varosha). Baraka will issue a press statement outside the Office of the President at 1pm tomorrow (Friday) and will leave the ‘picnic basket’ for Ersin Tatar to give to Tayyip Erdoğan. Baraka said: “We will ‘basket’ those who do not respect our political will and are enemies of freedom and democracy, from our country.”
- Bull Statue from the NEU at the Kyrenia Gate – Both the shopkeepers in the area and the LTB were disturbed by the statue of a bull erected within the small roundabout next to the Kyrenia Gate by the NEU. LTB Mayor Mehmet Harmancı gave the NEU 24 hours to remove the statue and said: “If they do not remove it, we will.” The statue was removed afterwards.
- Four deaths, 165 new coronavirus cases in the south in the last 24 hours, six cases in the north.
Main News
TC Municipalities’ Union responds to Maraş (Varosha) claims
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Property, Territory, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
“The project to reopen Maraş (Varosha) respects the property rights of its former residents and entails the return of the properties to lawful owners,” Mahmut Özçınar, head of the Turkish Cypriot Municipalities’ Union said on Wednesday.
Özçınar, in his letter, addressed to Anders Knape, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, said the Turkish Cypriot authorities’ decision to reopen the beachfront in the fenced-off town complied with international law and with the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
Özçınar responded to an October 14, 2020, dated letter sent by Mr Andreas Vryas, who is the Mayor of Larnaca, the head of the Association of Municipalities for the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) and a sitting representative of RoC in the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at the Council of Europe.
Mr Vryas argued in his letter that Turkey being the occupying force on the island had violated the rights of the property owners in the fenced-off town by disregarding the relevant UNSC resolutions.
In his letter, Özçınar, who is also Mayor of Güzelyurt (Morphou) argued that the Greek Cypriot Mayor in his letter had “distorted the historic facts of the island.”
Özçınar recalled that the Turkish Cypriot cabinet has tasked the Maraş (Varosha) inventory commission to carry out a survey in the fenced-off town to assess the condition of the moveable and immovable properties and the environmental risks.
“Following the completion of the report by the commission, the area’s military status will be lifted allowing lawful and former property owners to claim their property rights,” Özçınar said.
He pointed out that the Immovable Property Commission (IPC), which is recognized by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as a domestic remedy, will then be able to look into the property applications made by Greek Cypriots.
“Contrary to the claims made by Mr Vryas in his letter, the Turkish Cypriot cabinet respects the property rights of the former inhabitants. Advocating the opposite, which is to keep Maraş (Varosha) behind fences would mean to prolong the status quo and that will be a blatant violation of the existing UN resolutions,” Özçınar argued.
Arguing that the Greek Cypriot authorities were trying to prevent steps to be taken on the fenced-off town, Özçınar said the Greek Cypriot side wanted to protect the status quo on the island as it has become its “comfort zone.”
“The Greek Cypriot side by depicting the Turkish Cypriot side as the party damaging the peace process on the island refuses to be forthcoming in sharing power or wealth with the Turkish Cypriot side as a result,” Özçınar argued.
Özçınar also recalled in his letter that the Greek Cypriot side has rejected all the proposals made on Maraş (Varosha) from 1994 to 2014.
“It must not be forgotten that the current Greek Cypriot leader Mr Nicos Anastasiades was the last leader to reject a proposal on the fenced-off town in 2014,” he stressed.
“The only way forward for Maraş (Varosha), as it is clearly stated in the UNSC resolutions, is to return the properties to former inhabitants to put an end to ongoing human rights violations,” Özçınar stressed.
He also pointed out that the former inhabitants of the town have expressed “excitement and joy” over the prospects of being able to return to their properties since access to the beachfront had been granted.
Özçınar added that 39,965 people have visited the beachfront in the fenced-off town as of October 25.
“We strongly believe that the reopening of Maraş (Varosha) will allow both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots to collaborate and to build the much-needed trust between the two communities,” Özçınar said, adding that it will also help the ongoing negotiations process for a comprehensive settlement.
“The Greek Cypriot administration is insincere in its approach and only wants to prolong the unacceptable status quo on the entire island and not only in Maraş (Varosha),” Özçınar concluded.
Tatar congratulates Biden
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar on Wednesday sent a message to the newly elected US President Joe Biden, congratulating him on his election.
According to a statement from the Office of the President, Tatar reminded that Biden, who had visited the island while serving as US Vice President, was well-informed on the Cyprus Issue and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He expressed hope that the US president will respect the Turkish Cypriot people’s equal status on the island which was vital for sustainable stability and collaboration on the island as well as the region.
Tatar in his message also wished the people of the United States health, peace and prosperity in the future.
New navtex for Oruç Reis until November 23
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey has issued another navigational telex, or Navtex, extending the mission for the Oruç Reis seismic research vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean until November 23, the dailies report on Thursday.
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 Navtex is a maritime communications system that allows ships to inform other vessels about their presence in an area as well as other information.
Meanwhile, Turkey late on Wednesday dismissed as “null and void” a recent statement by Greece on the Oruç Reis.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy released a statement responding to the Greek Foreign Ministry’s claim that the recently announced activity of the Oruç Reis research vessel “is in violation of international law and undermines peace and stability in the region.”
“These statements are based on Greece’s maximalist maritime boundary claims that are contrary to international law and customs, and it is null and void for us [Turkey],” Aksoy asserted.
Underlining Turkey’s determination to protect the legitimate rights and interests of both itself and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Aksoy called on Athens to take up Turkey on its call for dialogue without preconditions.
“If Greece is sincere with its statements calling for a solution in the region, then it should respond positively to our calls for dialogue without preconditions instead of making statements that would increase tensions, carrying out military activities or misleading and provoking third parties against Turkey,” Aksoy concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Aksoy (Turkey)
>> Greece’s claims that Oruç Reis research vessel is in violation of international law & undermines peace & stability in the region is null & void for Turkey.
>> Turkey determined to protect its legitimate rights & interests of both itself & TC side.
>> Athens should take up Turkey on its call for dialogue without preconditions.
Women suffered the most as a result of the pandemic
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
“Women suffered the most during the darkest points the world is experiencing during the coronavirus pandemic,” the Women’s Education Collective said on Wednesday.
In a statement, the group highlighted the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on women, especially during the lockdown period.
“Not only violence against women increased, but women also became poorer as a result of the economic recession, which came as a consequence of the pandemic,” the collective said.
It added that together with violence against women, assault, abuse, rape and sexual abuse cases towards children also increased during the lock-down periods.
“The government has not implemented any measures to curb the increasing trend. What is worse is that the authorities have turned a blind eye to incidents of violence against women,” the group said.
It also argued that the authorities have become an accomplice by keeping silent on increasing incidents.
“The government’s remorseless attitude can be seen in forcing our sex slave sisters to work even under the conditions of a pandemic,” the statement read, adding that the women employed in the night clubs were forced to work under inhumane conditions.
The Collective also invited everyone to attend the meeting to be held to organise a march on November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
A glimpse of a minority government on the horizon
Kıbrıs
Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The acting leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) Ersan Saner resumed his efforts on Wednesday for the formation of a new government.
Saner, who was turned down by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and People’s Party (HP) both of which hold the bulk of seats in the Turkish Cypriot parliament, turned his attention to the smaller parties, the Democratic Party (DP) and Rebirth Party (YDP).
The Social Democratic Party (TDP) which also holds just three seats had made its intention clear, that it would not enter a coalition with the UBP.
“Ersan Saner is likely to call for the second meeting with the YDP and DP,” YDP leader Erhan Arıklı said on Wednesday.
Speaking during a programme on Kıbrıs TV, Arıklı said he believed a meeting with his party was possible on Thursday.
He pointed out that CTP and HP’s positions are known.
“The only option left is to form a minority government,” Arıklı said, adding that the biggest problem of creating such an administration would be that it could force an untimely early election.
He recalled that the YDP supported and demanded an early election but that it was important to hold the elections at a “reasonable time.”
“The minority government cannot be perceived as a normal one because there will be problems in the parliamentary sub-committees, there will be issues over finding the quorum and we will need the opposition’s help in passing certain laws. Therefore, we want an early election at a reasonable time,” Arıklı said.
Arıklı said DP on the other hand, opposed the idea of an early election whereas UBP was not concerned about this.
“The issue of an early election is no doubt a problem among the parties and we will see whether it will be possible to overcome this difference during the committee level meeting,” Arıklı concluded.