Front Page Headlines
‘A dark stain’
Speaking to Yenidüzen, the head of KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot Public Sector Employees’ Union) Güven Bengihan slammed President Ersin Tatar. He said that the reason why there was no government today was Mr Tatar. Bengihan, “He approved the hiring of 16 people. Tatar violated and disrespected the TRNC state and its constitution. He acted with the notion that everything is permissible, all so that he could win the election. They [UBP] acted as if they were servants of Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He dared to complain to Erdoğan about the institutions and people of this country on the issues of Maraş (Varosha) and the pandemic hospital. The People’s Party (HP) became a crutch for the National Unity Party (UBP), remaining silent over all the illegal actions of its coalition partner. HP is just as guilty as UBP for remaining silent.”
- All eyes on the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) –The CTP’s party assembly is convening tonight (Monday). CTP leader Tufan Erhürman: “I will launch efforts on Tuesday once I’m granted the authority by the party assembly.”
- “A move against tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean – We asked experts what Turkey’s intentions on Maraş (Varosha) are.
Like a stray bullet
There are nearly 300 car rental companies with 6,000 rental cars in the TRNC. What is worse is that these vehicles are rented to anyone with a driving license without any restrictions, allowing them to wander around in traffic like stray bullets.
- Lute to arrive in Cyprus on November 30 – Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Jane Holl Lute will be in Cyprus to meet with the leaders next week. According to information obtained by Kıbrıs from credible sources, Lute will meet with TRNC President Ersin Tatar on December 1 and the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades on December 2.
- CTP Party assembly to convene tonight (Monday) – CTP’s Tufan Erhürman was given the mandate to form a government the other day (Saturday) by President Ersin Tatar and has launched his efforts.
Reconciliatory government
Tufan Erhürman, who was given the mandate to form a government, will convene the CTP party assembly to seek the party’s support and be granted authority to launch efforts. CTP will focus on different government models. In addition to the possibility of setting up a “four-party government” formation after UBP failed to reach an agreement on an alternative coalition set-up, CTP will also focus on a ‘reconciliatory government’ formation that will embrace all segments of society. Those in favour say that such a government is what the country needs right now considering the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.
These are hard days
Shopkeepers in Güzelyurt (Morphou) are on the brink of ruin due to the drop in student numbers. Businesses in Güzelyurt, (Morphou) famous for its citrus production but also referred to as the first place to be given away as part of territorial concessions in the event of a settlement, are complaining that they are unable to sell anything. The shopkeepers say that the number of customers has drastically dropped after students returned to Turkey due to the pandemic.
- A present from Konya – Turkish Ambassador Ali Murat Başçeri toured Maraş (Varosha) by bicycle.
Tatar asked for the palace himself
Justice and Development Party (AKP) MP Bülent Turan talked about building a new (presidential) palace for Ersin Tatar. Turan, in response to questions from the opposition during a session of parliament, said the request for the construction of a new palace came from Ersin Tatar… According to Turan, the current presidential palace is only big enough for small meetings and that the building, a hundred years old is outdated and insufficient to meet modern needs.
- Kennedy Street becomes Semih Sancar Street – The famous Kennedy Street in Maraş (Varosha) has been renamed. It has become Semih Sancar Street.
- An election government must be established – TKP-YG (Communal Liberation Party-New Forces) leader Mehmet Çakıcı highlighted that the country is faced with serious problems, adding that the government must be established without delay so that an early election can be held.
- Tufan Erhürman to launch his efforts tomorrow (Tuesday) – Erhürman will first be authorised by the CTP party assembly.
Main News
Erdoğan ‘willing’ to resolve East Med issues through dialogue
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
External Security, EU Matters, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey has always been “patient and calm” on the Eastern Mediterranean issue despite “provocations by Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration”, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a video message to the 12th International Halifax Security Conference.
He said Turkey would continue with the same determination “our efforts to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and the fair distribution of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean. On the other hand, we have never closed the door to dialogue and we will not close it.”
The participation of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots in a conference to resolve the issues was proof of this, he added.
“Turkey has always taken a constructive stance to overcome the problems in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Meanwhile, the Turkish National Defence Ministry on Sunday said that Turkey’s seismic vessels in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, are accompanied by the Turkish Armed Forces for their security.
In a written statement, it also said the Oruç Reis seismic research vessel would continue activities until November 29.
“As the country with the longest coastline in the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey and the TRNC are in favour of the equitable sharing of natural resources in the region.”
“The Turkish Armed Forces will continue to protect the rights and interests of our country and the TRNC in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, and be the guarantor of peace and security in the island of Cyprus,” it added.
Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso) residents to be tested for Covid
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The residents of Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso) will be tested on Monday for Covid-19 after the total number of villagers tested positive for the virus, all Greek Cypriots, reached eight on Sunday.
The town’s mayor Suphi Çoşkun urged everyone in the village to get tested on Monday.
In a social media post on Sunday, Çoşkun pointed out that 120 tests have been carried out so far.
He noted that all the positive cases in the town were Greek Cypriot residents.
Six of the villagers are being treated in the south upon their request while two are in the north.
One of the cases is an 11-year-old child while the other an 11-month-old infant.
Çoşkun said the Turkish Cypriot Health Ministry will carry out 500 PCR tests in Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso).
Noting that his coronavirus test came back negative, Çoşkun said he would consider re-opening the coffee shops in the village if the tests come back negative.
Kennedy Street renamed after a Turkish general
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
One of the landmark streets in Maraş (Varosha), Kennedy Street has been renamed, the dailies report on Monday.
The street was renamed ‘Semih Sancar Street.’
Sancar was the Chief of General Staff of Turkey from 1973 to 1978.
He had served as the “Commander in Chief” during the 1974 military operation in Cyprus.
In the meantime, the 600 bicycles donated by the Konya Municipality in Turkey were put into use on Sunday.
Visitors can pick one up at the entrance of the fenced-off town to use to tour the section of Maraş (Varosha) recently opened.
Speaking to media, Famagusta Mayor İsmail Arter expressed his happiness with the interest displayed by people visiting the opened section of Maraş (Varosha).
He hoped that the reopening of the town would have a “positive impact at the negotiations table.”
In another development, Turkish Ambassador to the north, Ali Murat Başçeri was among the people who toured the fenced-off town on a bicycle.
Meanwhile, Yenidüzen sought the views of international relations experts on what Turkey’s intentions are regarding Maraş (Varosha).
The head of the Department for Political Science and International Relations at the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Ahmet Sözen said he believed that the move on Maraş (Varosha) was intended to strengthen the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey’s hand at the negotiating table in the event the talks were to resume.
Sözen said that the move was also intended to relieve Turkey from possible cases filed at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) after the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) failed to conclude applications.
He pointed out, however, that Maraş’s (Varosha) status as a military area had not been lifted so that the IPC could start processing the pending applications.
“I believe this will be the next stage,” he said.
Assistant Professor Dr Umut Bozkurt from the Department for Political Science and International Relations at EMU warned that Turkey’s insistence on a two-state solution and reopening Maraş (Varosha) under Turkish Cypriot administration could further raise tensions as neither was acceptable for Greek Cypriots and the international community.
“This is why the UN has expressed concern,” she said.
Bozkurt added the latest moves were part of Turkey’s hardening stance in its foreign policy.
She also pointed to the deteriorating relations between Ankara and its neighbours.
“We are at a stage where the international community needs to take on a diplomatic initiative,” Bozkurt said, arguing that a solution in Cyprus will no doubt contribute to settling disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean.
She expressed the view that Turkey needs to be approached by the EU and the UN through diplomacy and dialogue, especially because Turkey was steadily moving away from the west.
Bozkurt warned that a strategy by the international community based on sanctions against Turkey could backfire.
Political scientist Associate Professor Dr Şevki Kıralp said that a change in UN parameters could only be possible if it were to be approved and documented in the presence of the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) and the Greek Cypriot leader.
“Just because you say that a federal settlement is exhausted and you will only negotiate a two-state solution does not mean the UN parameters have changed,” he said, referring to Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar’s position regarding the Cyprus negotiations process.
Regarding Maraş (Varosha) and property claims put forward by the Evkaf administration, he pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot side has failed to prove that the properties in the area belonged to the Evkaf during previous hearings at the ECHR.
He reminded that the ECHR ruled in 2006 in the Arestis case that the property in question was not Evkaf property but belonged to the Greek Cypriot applicant.
Kıralp added that while the Turkish Cypriot side’s current approach, calling on Greek Cypriots to return to their properties could earn it points with the ECHR, attempts to convince the UN or ECHR to open Maraş (Varosha) to Turkish Cypriot and Turkish investors on grounds that the properties were constructed on Evkaf land would not be an easy feat to accomplish.