Front Page Headlines
37,000 registered students did not come
Yenidüzen is publishing official statistics regarding higher education. The total number of university students: 103,000. Actively registered students: 78,000. The number of students who returned to the island for education: 40,000. TRNC student numbers: 13,000. Turkish student numbers 35,000 (6,000 are on the island, 29,000 did not return. They are continuing with online education). Foreign student numbers: 30,000 (22,000 are on the island. 8,000 did not return and are continuing with online education.)
- The People’s Party (HP) will decide: A four-party coalition or a coalition with the National Unity Party (UBP)? – HP’s party assembly will convene on Monday evening and make its final decision.
Hail storms hit, rain flooded
Heavy rains which hit Famagusta also struck Bafra (Vokolida), flooding homes, roads, arable fields and orchards. Rescue teams rushed to help the public affected by the torrential rain and the damage it caused.
- It is our responsibility to form the government – Acting leader of UBP Ersan Saner emphasised that UBP knows best what the Turkish Cypriots want.
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We are ready if we are called to duty
Following HP MP Hasan Topal’s statement that he wants a ministerial position, similar bold statements were made by HP MP Hasan Büyükoğlu and UBP MP Aytaç Çaluda. Hasan Büyükoğlu commenting on Topal’s earlier remarks said, “Every MP could want such a position. I myself would not turn down an offer if asked.” UBP MP Aytaç Çaluda who expressed support for Topal’s request said that he was also interested in such a position. “Is there any MP who wouldn’t want to be a minister?” he asked.
- 248 positive cases – Greek Cypriot health ministry carries out 14,455 tests in one day.
10,000
The coronavirus numbers in the south have reached alarming levels. New measures were announced after the total number of positive cases to date exceeded 10,000. 14,455 tests were carried out in the last 24 hours, identifying 248 positive cases. (Republic of Cyprus) Health Ministry announced the total number of cases reached 10,231… A night-time curfew will be implemented from December 1 to December 13 however some relaxations are planned for Christmas.
- The situation is becoming worse in Turkey – Here are the mass coronavirus graves in Bursa (drone footage). 30,103 new cases were identified in one day and 182 passed away… Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said: “Our medical army is struggling under a heavy burden. We all have a responsibility to adhere to the measures.”
- The entire world is focused on “Maraş (Varosha)” – The Independent wrote.
Main News
Turkish parliamentary speaker slams EP resolution on Maraş (Varosha)
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Property, Territory, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Mustafa Şentop, speaker of the Turkish Parliament on Saturday slammed the European Parliament’s (EP) non-binding resolution concerning the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey, the dailies report on Sunday.
“The EP resolution is yet another step that damages the EU’s relations with Turkey as well as the constructive agenda,” Şentop said in a written statement issued from his office.
Şentop pointed out the resolution, hostile in wording, targeted Turkey with false accusations and continued to ignore the will of the Turkish Cypriot community.
“With its concrete mistakes, biases, and unjust claims, it is evident that the decision will not contribute to the current relations and a permanent solution of the Cyprus issue,” Şentop stressed.
He argued that the resolution was the product of Greece and the Greek Cypriot side’s attempts to occupy and dominate the EU’s agenda with matters serving their interests and goals.
“The EU, which claims to have been built on values such as democracy, human rights, and rule of law, should instead focus on constructively contributing to the settlement of the Cyprus dispute instead of abiding by the patronizing and uncompromising attitude of the Greek and Greek Cypriot duo,” Şentop said.
Also touching on the possibility of imposing sanctions on Turkey, Şentop said the EU is trying to come up with “new justifications to keep its distance from Turkey.”
Şentop recalled that both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side have displayed a supportive attitude towards achieving a permanent peace and solution on the island, referring primarily to the outcome of the Annan Plan referendum in 2004.
“Despite the Turkish Cypriots’ political will to achieve a solution, the EU simply rewarded a mindset that completely rejects all possible solutions, by accepting the Greek Cypriot side to the Union with a decision that clearly contradicts its legislation,” Şentop argued, adding that the EU has become one of the factors in delaying the settlement of the Cyprus issue.
Şentop argued that the EP’s stance on Maraş (Varosha) issue proves how detached the bloc is from the reality on the island.
“The considerations included in this resolution on the fenced-off town, have disclosed how the European politicians are far from the truth, and how much they are open to manipulation by the Greek Cypriot administration,” the parliamentary speaker said.
He reiterated the view that Maraş (Varosha) is within the Turkish Cypriot side’s territorial control thus giving the sole authority to the north to take actions regarding the fenced-off town.
“Furthermore, reviving, revitalizing, and opening the fenced-off town for tourism will be for the benefit of all the rights holders,” he argued.
Şentop stressed that the legitimate rights of Greek Cypriots will also be respected in Maraş (Varosha), noting that the reopening of the fenced-off town will help develop relations between the two communities on the island.
Şentop noted that the EP resolution also proves that Ankara’s calls for dialogue to resolve disputes have been ignored by the bloc.
“While Turkey is showing her intention and will to be a part of the European Union, the improper resolutions adopted by the European Parliament, unfortunately, overshadow the relations,” he argued.
Şentop said relations between Turkey and EU would be handled based on equity and Europe should act with common sense “without sacrificing the relations for some member states’ interests based on unfounded allegations and prejudices”.
“We finally would like to note that such resolutions cannot prevent Turkey and the TRNC from practicing their sovereign rights and the discourse of threats is not acceptable on our side,” he concluded.
CTP slams Tatar over his stance on a coalition government
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
“Tatar is the sole person responsible for the current situation in the country,” Erdoğan Sorakın, General Secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) said, responding to Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar’s statement on the need to form a coalition urgently for the state to function.
In a post on social media on Saturday, Sorakın said, as a result of Tatar’s decisions, the north has been left without a government thus hindering the much-needed work to be done on the state budget.
Sorakin also blasted Tatar for remarks that UBP should be included in any new coalition formation.
“I urge Mr Tatar to be respectful of the laws and cognizant of the procedures in place. Otherwise, Tatar is the one responsible for leaving the country without a budget or a government,” Sorakın concluded.
Meanwhile, Tatar told his supporters in Kyrenia on Saturday, he could not understand why the CTP leader decided to wait until Monday for the political parties to reassess the situation.
“If our elected members of the parliament are really thinking about the welfare of this country and if they regard serving the country as their top priority then the efforts to establish the coalition must not be prolonged any further,” Tatar said.
According to the laws in place in the north, CTP leader Tufan Erhürman, who was given the mandate to form a government, has 15 days to submit the new cabinet to the office of the president or return the mandate should he fail.
In the meantime, the People’s Party (HP) will be convening on Monday night to decide whether or not it will take part in a coalition with the other parties or form a coalition with UBP.