Front Page Headlines
The reality about the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) “There are applications but no money for payments”
‘200 applications are waiting for compensation payments’ but… They put aside 100m in 2009, 100m in 2020 but did not pay.” All eyes have turned to the IPC after President Ersin Tatar called on Maraş’ (Varosha) Greek Cypriot residents to apply to the Commission. The halt in payments by the Commission once again came to the agenda. Speaking to Yenidüzen, IPC President Ayfer Said Erkmen said they were not provided with funds and that 200 applications were pending at the Commission.
- Greenlight from HP (People’s Party) for a four-party coalition – The acting leader of HP Yenal Senin was granted permission to proceed with efforts to form an election government with CTP (Republican Turkish Party), TDP (Social Democratic Party) and DP (Democratic Party) under the leadership of Tufan Erhürman.
Heading towards a four-party election government
HP gave the green light to establishing a four-party election government under the leadership of CTP leader Tufan Erhürman.
- 18 months of imprisonment for driver in fatal pedestrian accident.
HP’s “leftist side” weighs in
The HP party assembly evaluated the “coalition proposal based on principles” submitted by CTP. HP leader Yenal Senin was given the go-ahead to carry on meetings to form a four-party coalition with the goal of an early election.
- Oruç Reis manoeuvre before the summit – The Oruç Reis seismic research vessel returned to the port of Antalya. German Chancellor Angela Merkel considered the move before the EU summit as a positive sign.
- Sent to prison for 18 months – Taxi driver Fırat Demir, responsible for the death of Greek Cypriot Andreas Alexandrou as he was trying to cross the road near the Ercan (Tymbou) airport junction, was given an 18-month prison sentence.
- No tolerance for drugs – Sanad Ali Blgasem Salem and Ahmed Mohammad Mohammad have been sentenced to 30 months in prison for trying to cross into the north through the Metehan (Ayios Dhometios) crossing point with 189gr of drugs hidden in their car.
God give me patience
No definite decision was taken on Erhürman’s proposal during last night’s (Monday) HP meeting. No outcome was produced by the HP party assembly on ending the government despite the hours-long meeting. Acting party leader Yenal Senin said that their talks will continue. CTP leader Tufan Erhürman had given until Monday evening for all parties to make a final decision. However, the HP could not come up with a final decision. There are different views within the party.
Forced by the EU’s threat of sanctions
Turkey ends its natural gas exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. The determination to impose sanctions on Turkey during the EU leaders’ summit to be held on December 10-11 forced Tayyip Erdoğan to take a step back in the Eastern Mediterranean… The Oruç Reis seismic research vessel which was exploring for natural gas returned to the port of Antalya.
- HP gives green light to an election government – The HP party assembly following its meeting last night (Monday) gave the green light to an “election government.”
- The coup d’état at the Committee on Missing Persons dominated the agenda – The decision not to renew the contracts of the Turkish Cypriot members of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) was discussed in parliament yesterday (Monday).
- Five positive coronavirus cases in the north,182 cases and one death in the south.
Main News
Tatar: “Most feasible model for Cyprus is a two-state solution”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“There are two separate states on the island. The entire world knows this reality,” Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar said on Monday while receiving a delegation from the Turkish Cypriot Retired Military Officers’ Association.
The world’s recognition of the south as the only legitimate government on the island was unfair on Turkish Cypriots, added Tatar.
“The Greek Cypriot side continues to take advantage of the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution number 186 (1964) and it now continues to do so with full EU membership. This is unfair on the Turkish Cypriots,” Tatar stressed.
Tatar noted that he has been raising this “unfair situation” with every foreign diplomat he meets.
“As long as the international community disregards this unfair situation, it is not possible to find a fair, lasting and sustainable agreement on the island,” Tatar argued.
He added that the Turkish Cypriots see themselves as a separate community with a unique identity, traditions and expectations.
Tatar recalled that the federal talks had collapsed in 2017 in Crans Montana and his predecessor had publicly admitted that it had been his generation’s last attempt to reach a federal settlement on the island.
“Therefore, the most feasible model for Cyprus is a two-state solution in which the two states will co-exist side-by-side,” Tatar said, noting that this position was supported by Ankara and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
In a separate meeting on Monday, Tatar touched on the issue of sports embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriots.
“Preventing the participation of Turkish Cypriot athletes in international sports competitions is a clear violation of human rights,” Tatar said.
He added: “It is very unfortunate that the international organisations such as FIFA, have to abide with the Greek Cypriot side’s veto. As a result, the Turkish Cypriot teams cannot even play friendlies with teams in Turkey.”
Tatar said this was unfair on Turkish Cypriots.
Expressing hope that the injustice on Turkish Cypriot sportspeople will eventually be lifted, Tatar argued that the world has seen the reality on the island.
“In the meantime, we will continue to carry out our legal struggle at the international platforms to end the sports embargoes,” Tatar concluded.
Meanwhile, the bicommunal Peace Initiative – United Cyprus on Monday argued in an open letter sent to the UN Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute that the most feasible and only available option for a peaceful future on the island is to reunify the island with a bicommunal, bizonal federal solution (BBF) based on the political equality of the two communities.
The initiative also argued that the six-point proposal made by UN Secretary-General (UNSG) in Crans Montana is “the only pragmatic option for immediate development in the negotiations process.”
“Respecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriots for effective participation at all levels of decision making and adopting a new security arrangement as proposed by the UNSG is essential for an agreement to be reached,” the Initiative said while calling for a moratorium on hydrocarbon exploration activities.
Touching on the Maraş (Varosha) issue, the initiative called on the UNSG to take practical steps to implement the UNSC resolutions on the fenced-off town, providing proposals for a bicommunal technical committee of experts and representatives to plan and develop the town.
It also called for returning the properties in the fenced-off town to lawful owners.
The demand for the immediate opening of all crossing points with necessary coronavirus measures in place was also raised by the initiative.
It pointed out that the bicommunal technical committee on health needed to increase its collaboration and to collectively fight to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
The Initiative also drew attention to the fact that the overwhelming number of Cypriots demanded a BBF solution.
“The public opinion polls show that both sides demonstrate that growing numbers and percentages of Cypriots consider that the BBF is the most desirable solution for the Cyprus problem and would support such a settlement if they were to vote in a forthcoming referendum, as long as the issue of political equality for the Turkish Cypriots and the security issue for the Greek Cypriots is satisfactorily dealt with for both sides,” the Initiative concluded.
Also on Monday, the Platform of Unions, Peace Association, United Cyprus Party (BKP) and the New Cyprus Party (YKP) demanded from the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to intensify his efforts for a solution on the island.
In a joint statement issued on Monday, the organisations pointed to the framework identified by Guterres in Berlin to be the basis for the new round of talks.
“Guterres should ask the two leaders for their commitment to the framework identified during the Berlin trilateral and resume the new round of talks by respecting the existing convergences,” the joint statement read.
The organisations also noted that they have been “waging the necessary struggle to reach a federal solution in Cyprus.”
The organisations also pointed out the BBF solution based on political equality with a single sovereignty, single international personality and single citizenship is the most feasible option in Cyprus.
“The solution of the Cyprus problem and reunification of the island under the federal roof will also bring peace, stability to all the countries in the region as well as Cyprus and open the ways for collaboration among them,” the joint statement read.
The organisations urged Guterres to intensify his efforts in order so that a solution can be found on the island.
“We want Mr Guterres to adopt a more realist approach to conclude the process positively. We want the sides to be sincere and their sincerity to bring the solution to the island. We expect the same sincerity from SG Guterres,” the joint statement concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> World’s recognition of the south as the only legitimate government in Cyprus island unfair on TCs.
>> As long as the international community disregards this unfair situation, it is not possible to find a fair, lasting and viable solution.
>> The most feasible model for Cyprus is a two-state solution in which the two-states will co-exist side-by-side.
>> Sports embargoes imposed on TC athletes unacceptable & violation of human rights.
United Cyprus Peace Initiative
>> Most feasible & only available option for a peaceful future on the island is reunification through a BBF based on political equality.
>> Six-point Guterres framework is “the only pragmatic option for immediate development in the negotiations process.”
>> Respecting the rights of the TCs for effective participation at all levels of decision making & adopting a new security arrangement is essential for an agreement to be reached.
>> A moratorium is needed on hydrocarbon exploration.
>> UNSG needs to take practical steps to implement the UNSC resolutions on Maraş (Varosha), providing proposals for a bi-communal technical committee of experts & representatives to plan & develop the town.
>> Properties in Maraş (Varosha) must be returned to its lawful owners.
>> All crossing points must be opened immediately with necessary coronavirus measures in place.
>> The bicommunal technical committee on health needs to increase its collaboration & collectively fight to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
IPC’s financial constraints raised following Tatar’s remarks
Yenidüzen
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
All eyes have turned to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) following the recent call made by Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar to former Greek Cypriot residents of Maraş (Varosha) to apply to the commission for their properties in the fenced-off city.
The IPC which has been unable to function properly over the past few years due to shortages of funds is once again brought to the limelight following Tatar’s remarks.
IPC president Ayfer Said Erkmen, speaking to Yenidüzen, complained that none of the promised funds earmarked for the commission had been delivered.
He said there were currently 200 applications waiting for the payment of compensation.
“Last year ₺100m (10.6m) had been earmarked but the funds were not made available. The same amount was promised for this year but the funds were not made available.
Erkmen also drew attention to the new measures adopted by the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) authorities regarding Greek Cypriot properties in the north.
“Previously a Greek Cypriot in the south could not show his/her property in the north as surety for a loan. But the government in the south changed this.,” he said.
The IPC president explained that an expert from the south examines the property in the north, determining its value before deeming the property as a suitable asset to present as surety.
Erkmen also said that Greek Cypriots in the south were now able to sell their properties to other Greek Cypriots.
“It has been almost two years since this practice came into force,” he added.
Also commenting on the issue, former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said that Greek Cypriots who are unable to receive payment from the commission or receive a satisfactory solution are taking the matter to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
This, he argued could put the future of the IPC as an effective domestic remedy at risk.
Talat pointed out that the IPC’s budget was weak and to make matters worse, Turkey’s financial contributions to the north had dropped significantly over the years.
“Nevertheless, the IPC continues to function. The problem is not that the IPC is not producing results but that it is not able to implement them, particularly when it comes to paying compensation to applicants,” he said.
The former Turkish Cypriot leader also criticized Tatar, stating that a president should be more careful when making statements on such matters.
“How is the IPC expected to address property claims on Maraş (Varosha) when it is unable to pay compensation for property outside of the fenced-off city due to a shortage of funds? I don’t think Mr Tatar’s remarks are of any substance. It’s like he is just repeating what Ankara is telling him,” he said.
Talat also said that claims that Turkish investors will be investing in Maraş (Varosha) is a fantasy as the properties in the area have owners.
Lawyer Murat Metin Hakkı, also asked to comment, said that it was highly unlikely for the IPC, which is experiencing cash shortages, from opting for the compensation alternative concerning properties in Maraş (Varosha).
He argued that the Turkish Cypriot authorities were more likely to opt for the alternatives of restitution or exchange of properties.
Hakkı said that restitution or exchange may not seem like the fairest of solutions but added that including Maraş (Varosha) in the Famagusta Development Plan could be an option.
He argued that allowing Maraş (Varosha) property owners to further expand their properties, such as building higher buildings could offer some form of compensation for the loss of value of users.
Hakkı’s colleague, Achilleas Demetriades told Yenidüzen that it was highly unlikely for the IPC to find much-needed funds any time soon.
He said that the majority of Greek Cypriot property owners in Maraş (Varosha) were prepared to return to their properties under Turkish Cypriot administration.
“Tatar must begin the process of returning properties as soon as possible because there are currently 3,000 pending applications.
CMP’s institutional structure being compromised, says opposition MP
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
“The good work and achievements of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) have been compromised with the firing of experienced and senior Turkish Cypriot members by Tatar’s administration,” Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Fazilet Özdenefe said.
Özdenefe, addressing Monday’s plenary, pointed out that the CMP had carried out very important work since its establishment during former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat’s term in office.
She said the institutional structure at the CMP is being threatened with the recent decisions.
“Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar’s decision not to extend the contracts of Gülden Plümer Küçük and Mine Balman is the result of bias and prejudice. The CMP, since its establishments, had carried out its work with dedication, free of politicisation and has earned a respectable reputation,” Özdenefe said.
She also noted four or five other archaeologists had also been made redundant at the CMP in addition to Küçük and Balman.
Özdenefe stressed that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) also recognises the CMP as a domestic remedy therefore no new lawsuits against Turkey were filed on the issue of missing persons.
“Reducing the CMP to a level where it can no longer function, will have serious international repercussions for the Turkish Cypriot community,” Özdenefe warned.
Responding to Özdenefe’s remarks, the National Unity Party (UBP) MP Hasan Taçoy said that Gülden Plümer Küçük’s predecessor had experienced the same thing when Talat had assumed office.
“Following his election to office, Talat’s first move was to replace Rüstem Tatar with Küçük, whom he thought he could work better with,” Taçoy said.
He added that Turkey has been the biggest donor to the CMP since its establishment.
Bringing the issue to the Cyprus negotiations process, Taçoy urged everyone not to forget the fact that the Greek Cypriot leadership had abandoned all the negotiations processes to date.
“The latest attempt in Crans Montana also failed when the Greek Cypriots ended the talks using the guarantees chapter as a pretext,” he argued.
On the issue of Maraş (Varosha), Taçoy reiterated that the fenced-off town is located within the jurisdiction of the north.
“The properties in Maraş (Varosha) will be returned to the lawful owners, nonetheless there is a state here. The state will take the necessary decisions and will implement them,” he stressed.
Noting that the Turkish Cypriot leadership is working on setting new conditions to the Cyprus negotiations processes, Taçoy reiterated that it is the Greek Cypriot side that does not want a solution on the island.
“It is necessary to take steps forward with this fact in our minds,” Taçoy concluded.
Turkish MoD: “Medusa 2020 proof of those running from dialogue“
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“The Medusa 2020 military exercise once again revealed the sides that shy away from peace and dialogue and thrive on tension,” the Turkish National Defence Ministry said on Monday.
Major Pınar Kara, Public Information Officer at the Turkish Ministry of National Defence, during her weekly press briefing said that both Greece and the Greek Cypriot side have yet again displayed their true intentions of escalating tension in the Eastern Mediterranean region in a united front against Turkey with the participation of Egypt, France and the United Arab Emirates.
“The Turkish Armed Forces will continue to be the assurance of peace and security on the island of Cyprus in line with the Treaties of Guarantees and Alliance; and will continue to protect the rights and interests of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean”, Kara stressed.
Kara also noted that Greece continues with its provocative acts and violations in the Aegean.
“Greece in addition to maintaining its irreconcilable approach by appealing to the third parties to escalate tension in the region, refuses to enter into a dialogue to resolve the issues,” the Major noted.
Kara recalled that Greece, contrary to the provisions of international law, continued to arm the demilitarised islands in the Aegean and to issue navigational telex (or Navtex) for areas overlapping with Turkish Navtex.
“Ankara is in favour of resolving outstanding problems in the region through international law, good neighbourly relations, dialogue and negotiations,” Kara concluded.
The multinational aeronautical training exercise Medusa 2020 began on Monday, running until December 6.
The exercise will take place in three phases that will deal with search and rescue, cyberwar, surface drills and marine formations.
The aeronautical exercise has been held since 2017, in the framework of the trilateral cooperation of Cyprus, Greece and Egypt. This year this cooperation will be enhanced with the participation of forces from France and the United Arab Emirates.
Oruç Reis returns to Antalya port ahead of EU summit
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The Oruç Reis seismic vessel returned to the southern port of Antalya from the Mediterranean waters after having completed its research activities, the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said.
In a tweet on Monday, the Ministry noted the Oruç Reis has collected 10,995 square km (6,832 miles) of 2D seismic data.
The vessel has returned to the port less than two weeks before a European Union summit where the bloc will discuss the ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
EU leaders are scheduled to meet on December 10-11 to discuss possible sanctions against Turkey.
The European Parliament also adopted a non-binding resolution on November 27 asking the EU to impose sanctions.
In the meantime, Peter Stano, spokesperson of EU High Representative Josep Borrell, responded to a question on Ankara’s decision to withdraw its seismic research vessel from contested waters.
“Turkish-EU ties will not be reviewed based on one action, but on actions over some time,” Stano said on Monday.
“The leaders of the EU and the EU member states will get together during the next European Council in December and they will review whether Turkey delivered on their expectations,” he concluded.
In the meantime, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel also touched on the issue of tension in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“The return of the Oruç Reis seismic research is a good signal ahead of the EU leaders’ summit,” Merkel said on Monday, however expressing regret for not being able to achieve much progress in recent months in decreasing tensions or resolving the disputes.
Speaking during a Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) meeting, Merkel also noted that “a great deal of effort had been put into EU’s relations with Turkey.”
“Nonetheless, there are many different obstacles and difficulties that reoccur again and again,” she stressed, adding, “We have not made as much progress on the EU-Turkey relationship as we wanted.”
Pointing to the upcoming summit, Merkel noted that the EU leaders will address the Eastern Mediterranean issue and will decide on how to react to the whole situation.
During the October 2020 summit, the EU leaders had reiterated the bloc’s solidarity with EU members Greece and the RoC and called on Ankara to take steps to de-escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
They had agreed to re-energize EU-Turkey relations by launching a “positive agenda” with specific emphasis on modernizing the EU-Turkey customs union, enhancing trade and economic ties, cooperation on migration and other issues of common interest.
The EU’s current term president Germany and the majority of EU members have been reluctant so far to take such action against Turkey.
Turkish leaders have repeatedly stressed that Ankara is in favour of resolving all outstanding problems in the region through international law, good neighbourly relations, dialogue, and negotiations.
HP gives green light to proceed on talks for a four-party coalition
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The People’s Party (HP) party assembly convened on Monday night to discuss a proposal from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman to form an election government in the north, giving its acting leader Yenal Senin the green light to proceed with coalition talks.
Senin told reporters after the meeting, that his party wanted to conclude talks on a four-party coalition with CTP, the Democratic Party (DP) and Social Democratic Party (TDP) as soon as possible.
He said that his party will make its sensitivities known to the CTP leader when sitting at the table.
“We also have some additions we would like to make to the set of principles put forward by Mr Erhürman. We shall continue to consult with our relevant bodies and make the details public as we advance our talks with the other parties,” Senin said.
The HP leader also said that the possibility of a coalition with the National Unity Party (UBP) had not come up during the meeting.
“We only focused on the proposal made at the dinner the other night,” he added.
Asked about a possible date for early elections, Senin said that the majority within his party were thinking about September 2021 before the start of talks on the annual budget.
“We believe the newly-elected government should be able to determine its budget. Since we will have local elections in 2022, September 2021 would be the ideal date for early elections,” he said.
Senin said that holding elections earlier or later than September would mean tying the country’s hands due to election bans.
The north has been without a government since early October when HP withdrew from a coalition with UBP just days before the presidential election after being left in the dark on the move to re-open a section of Maraş (Varosha).
The task of forming a new government was handed to Erhürman after UBP acting leader Ersan Saner’s efforts to form a government had failed.
TC driver responsible for the death of GC receives 18-month sentence
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Fırat Demir, responsible for the death of Greek Cypriot Andreas Alexandrou in an accident in 2017, was sentenced to 18-months in prison on Monday.
The Nicosia Heavy Crimes court announced the verdict on Demir on Monday.
The accident took place at the Ercan (Tymbou) airport junction on May 28, 2017.
Demir had hit Alexandrou, who was trying to cross the road, with his car.
The court in its verdict noted that Demir was driving over the speed limit at the time of the accident.
In another development, Sanad Ali Blgasem Salem and Ahmed Mohammad Mohammad were sentenced to 30 months in prison for trying smuggle 189gr of drugs through the Metehan (Ayios Dometios) crossing point.
The suspects, who had been studying in South Cyprus, were arrested by police on January 2, 2020, when they were trying to cross to the north.
Testifying before the court, the two confessed that they had intended to sell the smuggled drugs as they were experiencing financial problems.
The Nicosia Heavy Crimes court announced the verdict on Monday, sentencing the suspects to 30-months in prison.