TCC Press Review 22 Nov 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Tornadoes, storms and rains leave a trail of destruction

The effect of poor planning, uncontrolled urbanisation and climate change has been disastrous. Çatalköy (Agios Epiktitos), Ozanköy (Kazafani), Lapta (Lapithos) and Karşıyaka (Vasileia) are waiting for support to recover from the damage. Damage in Çatalköy (Agios Epiktitos) is extensive: 44 homes, 17 businesses were damaged. 28 of them extensively. Nine of 18 vehicles are beyond repair. Three dogs have died.

  • UBP hands back mandate, the task is Erhürman’s

Kıbrıs

The damage is great and there is much to do

The efforts to assess damage and recovery are underway in Kyrenia and Karpaz (Karpasia), which were hit by heavy rains, storm and mini-tornadoes.

  • The responsibility to form a government is given to Erhürman – The National Unity Party (UBP) acting leader Ersan Saner handed back the mandate to form a government. President Tatar then assigned the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), which has the second-highest number of seats in parliament, to form a government.
  • Those coming from the south and staying less than 24 hours are required to show a negative PCR test but exempted from quarantine.

Havadis

N/A

Diyalog

Damage is great

Repairs have started at Çatalköy’s (Agios Epiktitos) light industrial zone and homes near the Teknecik power plant which was hit by a tornado. The areas resemble war zones.

  • First, the party has to decide – Saner handed back the duty of forming a government after using every last minute until the deadline. This time Erhürman was tasked with forming the government.

Avrupa

It is CTP’s turn after UBP returned (the mandate)

UBP acting leader Ersan Saner worked until the very last minute but on failing, he returned the mandate to form a new government. As a result, Ersin Tatar tasked CTP leader Tufan Erhürman.

  • 30,000 PCR kits – Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Dr Ali Pilli said 30,000 PRC testing kits have been delivered to our country and thanked (Turkish President) Tayyip Erdoğan.
  • 70 per cent drop in crossings – Coronavirus hits crossings hard… It is reported that there is a 70 per cent drop in the number of crossings after the lockdown period in March and April due to fear of infection. 371,193 Greek Cypriots have crossed to the north from January 1 to September 20 in 2020. However, in the same period last year (2019) the number was 776,343.
  • 17 coronavirus cases in the north and 245 in the south

Main News

Turkey to continue carrying out its responsibilities as a guarantor

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
External Security, Regional/International Relations, Energy, EU Matters

OVERVIEW

“Turkey will continue to carry out its responsibilities as a guarantor state in Cyprus,” Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar said on Saturday during a visit to the Turkish engine manufacturer TÜSAŞ premises in the Turkish capital Ankara.

He added that the international community must give the Turkish Cypriots, who have been living on the island for centuries, their rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. 

Akar also pointed out that the Turkish seismic research vessels continue their exploration in the region.

“Attempting to present the exploration activities as a provocation and as a means to escalate tension in the region is unacceptable,” Akar stressed, adding that Greece was currently arming the Greek islands in the Aegean contrary to international law.

“The international community disregards the activities carried out by Greece while the Turkish scientific efforts are seen as a provocation. This is wrong. This is not good neighbourly relations,” Akar argued.

He added that Ankara has displayed its goodwill at every given opportunity.

“We are in favour of diplomacy and dialogue,” Akar concluded.

In the meantime, Turkey has issued another navigational telex, or Navtex, for the area in the Eastern Mediterranean where Oruç Reis seismic research vessel will conduct seismic research activities until November 29.

The previous Navtex was until November 20.

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.

Oruç Reis will collect seismic data along 2,806km.

Also on Sunday, Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hami Aksoy responded to the Greek Foreign Ministry statement on Turkey’s new Navtex, extending the mission for Oruç Reis by nine days.

“Greece should respond positively to Ankara’s calls for dialogue instead of issuing a statement for every Navtex,” Aksoy said.

He noted that Ankara has responded to six statements issued by Athens since July 2020.

“Turkey is determined to protect its rights as well as the rights of the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Aksoy concluded.

In the meantime, Turkey’s Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın visited Brussels ahead of the EU Leaders’ summit, scheduled to be held on December 10 and 11.

During the visit, he separately met with Maryem Van den Heuvel, chief foreign policy advisor to EU Council President Charles Michel, Bjoern Seibert, head of cabinet of President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and Helga Schmid, secretary-general of the EU’s external action service.

Among the topics of discussion were Turkey-EU relations, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya, Syria, and Karabakh.

Kalın also underlined the need for new ideas for a fair and permanent solution of the Cyprus issue, noting that Turkey is ready to start exploratory talks with Greece.

He added that Turkey will continue its constructive approach to protect peace and stability in the region.

Kalın said the bloc should carry out its responsibilities on regional issues, adding that dialogue and cooperation to resolve regional issues are in all sides’ favour.


New Covid-19 rules at crossings

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

People crossing to the north for up to 24 hours will be required to show a negative PCR coronavirus test done in the past 24 hours as of Monday, but will not be required to self-isolate, the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases announced late on Saturday.

Regulations already in place mean that anyone passing into the north to stay for over three days must quarantine for a week on arrival.

All have to present a PCR test not more than 72 hours old.

The decision was made after seven Greek Cypriots infected with the virus were detected in Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso).

According to the health ministry, seven of the 120 Greek Cypriots living in Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso) and seven Maronites living in Koruçam (Kormakitis) tested positive for coronavirus.

Five Greek Cypriots from Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso) are being treated in South Cyprus and two in the north.

There are also two children, an 11-year-old and an 11-month-old infant among the patients.

In another development, it was reported that 30,000 PCR testing kits donated by Turkey were delivered to the north on Friday.


Fresh efforts to form a government in the north

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance and Power Sharing

OVERVIEW

A fresh effort was launched on Saturday to form a government in the north after Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar handed the mandate to the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman.

Earlier on Saturday National Unity Party (UBP) acting leader Ersan Saner, who had failed to form the government by the end of a 15-day deadline, handed back the mandate following a short visit.

Several hours later, Tatar invited Erhürman to the palace where he tasked him with the duty of forming a new coalition.

CTP holds the second-highest number of seats in the Turkish Cypriot parliament after UBP with 12.

“There are many coalition options. The CTP party assembly will evaluate all the possibilities,” Erhürman said on Saturday after receiving the task of forming a new coalition.

Speaking to the media as he was leaving Tatar’s office, Erhürman pointed to several factors that the CTP will take into consideration when forming the next coalition.

“We are faced with a serious economic crisis. We will have to consider many issues when evaluating the options before us… There are many options available but the key is to be able to come up with a structure that can find solutions to problems,” Erhürman said.

Erhürman concluded by noting that CTP will act swiftly and expressed the belief that the efforts to find a coalition will be completed soon. 


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