Front Page Headlines
“Nothing is clear”
When will the Covid-19 vaccine arrive? While preparations around the globe to distribute and administer Covid-19 vaccines are continuing, all eyes have turned to preparations in the country. Health Minister Ali Pilli said, “We are waiting. Nothing is clear.” Health experts on the other hand are warning that there is no time to lose.
- The first probe for 5+1 conference – The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ Special Envoy to Cyprus Jane Holl Lute met with the two leaders, Nicos Anastasiades and Ersin Tatar, yesterday (Tuesday). She tested the waters for a “5+1 conference.”
Textile (sector) is also finished!
There were dozens of textile factories in our country years ago. The majority of these companies, which used to export their products, have shut down over the years. The ready-made garments exports in 2001 were $11m but dropped to $1m in 2019 and $249,000 in the first eight months of 2020.
- We will not go to a five-plus-one conference to discuss a federation – Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar relayed his views to UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute, who was appointed by Guterres, during the meeting yesterday (Tuesday).
- Silence in the efforts to form a government – The leaders of CTP (Republican Turkish Party), HP (People’s Party), TDP (Social Democratic Party) and DP (Democratic Party) held a secret meeting yesterday (Tuesday) but no official statements were issued.
- The country, left without a budget, is in urgent need of a government – UBP (National Unity Party) acting leader Ersan Saner said: “If Mr Erhürman were to return the mandate (of forming a coalition), and UBP is tasked again, we will take on the responsibility.”
Deadlock over the Finance Ministry
Negotiations to form a government have begun. The leaders of CTP, HP, TDP and DP met at CTP headquarters to discuss the main principles and the distribution of ministerial seats in the early election government to be established. Experts from four parties will meet to table the financial situation today (Wednesday).
- The only condition is a two-state solution – President Ersin Tatar told UN special envoy (Jane Holl) Lute the Turkish Cypriot side will attend the five-plus-one informal conference on the Cyprus issue.
It failed again
Talks for a four-party coalition entered a deadlock over the distribution of ministries and land leased to Denktaş. The four parties which met yesterday (Tuesday) following a call made by CTP leader Tufan Erhürman failed to reach an agreement. According to information obtained by Diyalog, CTP and HP are insisting on a cabinet made up of technocrats while DP leader Fikri Ataoğlu insists that party leaders should be present in the cabinet. TDP leader Cemal Özyiğit wanted to consult with his party on the issue. While the conditions of a coalition were being discussed, HP’s acting leader Yenal Senin brought up the issue of state land which was leased to Serdar Denktaş’ son, insisting that the lease contracts be cancelled. However, no clear decision was taken on the matter. It has been learned that Denktaş had been leased not 60 but 110 dönüms (dunams) of land and the Finance Ministry’s Audit Commission had prepared a 200-page report on the matter.
- They met for over two hours – President Ersin Tatar met with UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute, saying he will not take part in a five-party conference to discuss a federation.
First official step for the two-state (model).
Tatar for the first time officially voiced a two-state solution and placed it before UN special envoy (Jane Holl) Lute. Ersin Tatar, who had his first official meeting with Lute yesterday (Tuesday), said: “We gave the message to Lute that the Turkish Cypriot side will not attend the five-plus-UN conference to discuss a federation.”
- He faced death just because of one Facebook post – The court set new conditions for Erdal Eryener’s bail requirements so that he will be allowed to cross to the south to resume his treatment.
- 318 positive coronavirus cases in the south and 21 in the north.
Main News
Tatar tells Lute of ‘sovereign equality’ approach to Cyprus Problem
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar told reporters on Tuesday that during his meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) special envoy Jane Holl Lute he was firm on his position regarding the need for a different approach to the Cyprus Problem.
Speaking to the press after meeting with Lute for nearly three hours, Tatar said he requested that the UN special envoy assists in setting up an informal conference on the Cyprus Problem that would see the participation of the two sides, the guarantor powers and the UN, and stood in favour of the launching of a new initiative to resolve the decades-long issue.
But Tatar said he stood firm on his position that the new process would require a new basis, stating that circumstances have changed, both locally and abroad, something that he said Lute recognised.
Tatar argued that Cyprus today was in a very different position due to the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He also referred to his idea of a two-state solution, but also the idea of sovereign equality.
Tatar said he had referred to this direction as a “win-win” situation.
“We need to start discussing the two-state model based on sovereign equality. There is a growing need for this model,” Tatar said, repeating his view that it was not possible to reach an agreement on a federal solution.
“I have told the UN special envoy that Turkish Cypriots deserve a new process to be launched because they are the real victims of the problem on the island. It is Turkish Cypriots who are suffering under economic, political and cultural embargoes,” Tatar said.
The Turkish Cypriot leader also made it clear that he did not intend to discuss a federal settlement at a five-party conference.
“It is important to have the opportunity to talk about the realities of the island. It is important to introduce a new basis for the future negotiations process which is why we must have an international conference,” Tatar said.
He expressed the view that such a conference would be essential to create the environment in which the Turkish Cypriots will maintain their right to self-determination and that they will not be dominated by the other side.
He also said the issue of Maraş (Varosha) did not come up during his meeting with Lute.
Tatar concluded by noting that Lute will be meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Mr Nicos Anastasiades and will hold another round of talks with him, should she see the need for it.
Tatar in response to a question on Lute’s meetings in Ankara said she will eventually go to Turkey, however there are problems with flights at the moment due to the pandemic.
“Lute is expected to travel to Turkey after New York. She asked for an appointment from Ankara,” Tatar said.
In the meantime, Lute was greeted by a group of pro-solution demonstrators as she crossed over to the north through the Ledra Palace crossing point.
The demonstrators from the Turkish Cypriot Peace Association held banners and signs which read ‘Step by Step to a United Cyprus’, ‘United Federal Cyprus’ and ‘Peace cannot be prevented in Cyprus’.
Turkish Cypriot dailies also reported that Tatar, following his meeting with Lute, held a telephone conversation with the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.
Citing diplomatic sources, the dailies claimed the two exchanged views on the latest developments and Tatar’s meeting with the UN special envoy.
Meanwhile, the leader of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) İzzet İzcan on Tuesday highlighted the significance of Lute’s efforts to convene an international conference on the Cyprus issue.
Issuing a statement, İzcan pointed out that negotiations must resume from the point they had been left.
“The resumption of the talks to reach a federal solution, under the auspices of the UN, is the only option before the Cypriots,” İzcan said, highlighting that the Guterres framework, submitted by the UNSG during the Crans Montana process, will constitute the basis of the new process.
Also critical of Turkey’s foreign policy, İzcan highlighted that, “No one has the right to derail the Cyprus negotiation process, forcing the Turkish Cypriots to embark on new adventures.”
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> New negotiations process will require a new basis as circumstances have changed, both locally & abroad.
>> Cyprus today is in a very different position due to the developments in the East Med.
>> A two-state solution based on sovereign equality needs to be discussed at a possible five-party conference.
>> I will not be discussing a federal settlement at a five-party conference.
>> It is important to have the opportunity to talk about the realities of the island & introduce a new basis for the future negotiations process which is why an international conference must be held.
>> Such a conference would be essential to create the environment in which the TCs will maintain their right to self-determination.
İzcan (BKP)
>> Lute’s efforts to convene an international conference on the Cyprob important.
>> Negotiations must resume from the point it had been left off.
>> The resumption of the talks to reach a federal solution, under the auspices of the UN, is the only option before the Cypriots.
>> Guterres framework should constitute the basis of the new process.
>> Turkey has no right to derail the Cyprus negotiation process forcing the TCs to embark on new adventures.
Turkey ready to launch exploratory talks with Greece
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, Regional/International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
“Ankara is ready for dialogue with Athens without any preconditions”, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said, adding that setting a date for exploratory talks between the two sides is now possible since the Oruç Reis research vessel has returned to Antalya port.
In a statement issued by the Ministry on Tuesday, Aksoy recalled that Greece had been reluctant in agreeing for a date to launch the exploratory talks due to Oruç Reis being in the field.
“Ankara will maintain its stance on the exploratory talks and will be ready and willing for dialogue,” Aksoy reiterated.
The Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez also confirmed on Monday that the Oruç Reis seismic vessel had returned to the southern port of Antalya after having completed its research activities.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that the return of Oruç Reis to port contributed to reducing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean between the two NATO members, Turkey and Greece.
“The move will make it easier to make progress also on the military de-confliction mechanisms between the two as well,” Stoltenberg said in a press conference at the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting which began on Monday.
He noted that he had put forward proposals on how to strengthen the de-confliction mechanism and how to reduce further risks for incidents and accidents.
“But of course, we have to find ways that are working for both Greece and Turkey,” Stoltenberg said.
He also emphasized the importance of NATO’s role in addressing differences and finding “positive steps in the right direction” when there are disagreements between the member states, namely Turkey and Greece.
“I also hope that military de-confliction at NATO, where we’ve seen some important steps in the right direction can help to pave the way into negotiations,” he said.
Stoltenberg concluded by noting that NATO is also supporting the efforts made by other countries, mainly Germany.
All 154 PCR tests at Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso) negative
Yenidüzen
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Mayor of Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso) Suphi Çoşkun on Tuesday said that no new cases of coronavirus were detected in the area following the testing of villagers.
Çoşkun, in a post on social media, said that all 154 PCR tests carried out in the village had come back negative and that there was no need for any concern.
“Thank god we have overcome this issue. We have no new positive cases,” he said, adding that it was important to continue adhering to health and safety measures.
Nine cases of Covid-19 had been detected in the village last week, all of whom were Greek Cypriot residents.