Front Page Headlines
‘There is a report but what of those responsible?’
Grieving families of those killed in the Ciklos (Kyklos) disaster spoke on the anniversary: ‘The state has abandoned us.’ The families of the four children who died in the Ciklos (Kyklos) traffic accident two years ago joined forces in taking legal action. The families are suing the state for ‘opening an incomplete road’ to traffic. The families who are seeking compensation in the case filed against the District Office, the Department of Road Works, and the Police General Directorate complain about how slow the process is moving forward.
Procedures halted due to the absence of a government
The new statute for procedures for driving license examinations and renewal of existing licenses is ready but is being kept on hold because the necessary infrastructure is not ready. The necessary decisions cannot be adopted because the Council of Ministers is not meeting. The driving schools are unable to do business, the driving licenses are not being renewed and driving license exams are not being held.
- Quarantine requirement imposed for those coming to our country for three days or less – Health Ministry’s Higher Board of Infectious Diseases announced its new Covid-19 measures.
- Waiting for the President’s decision – After Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman handed back the mandate to form the government, President Ersin Tatar met with the leaders of the National Unity Party (UBP), CTP, and the People’s Party (HP) yesterday (Friday) as part of efforts to form the next government. He will meet with the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (TDP), Democratic Party (DP) and the Rebirth Party (YDP) today (Saturday).
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Who said there was a crisis?
The Paşaköy (Asha) Municipality paid its 31 employees their 13th salaries a month early. The municipality took the first step in paying 13th salaries while the rest of the country is wrestling with a government and economic crisis. Paşaköy (Asha) Mayor Halil Tülücü announced that his municipality has paid ₺250,000 (€26,436) to his 31 employees.
- ‘His style is unfitting’ – President Ersin Tatar reacts to warning made by former President Mehmet Ali Talat on his earlier remarks that he will not negotiate a federation.
- 193 lives lost (Turkey) – Six in the north, 289 in the south, 32,736 cases in Turkey.)
- 48,000 in the first shipment – Vaccines ordered by South Cyprus to arrive at the beginning of January.
- Tourism is over – Health Ministry announces seven-day quarantine requirement for those arriving for less than three days in light of rising case numbers.
Alarm bells ringing for the pandemic
The health minister has suspended the quarantine requirement for those visiting for three days or less for 14 days. The seven-day mandatory quarantine requirement will remain intact…The ministry’s decisions regarding the new year period have not been identified yet.
- Serhat İncirli appointed as Communications Coordinator – Journalist and writer Serhat İncirli appointed as the Communications Coordinator at the Office of the President.
- Saner: We want to establish the government, we will not refrain from an early election!
Main News
Tatar hits back at Talat’s comments, defends a two-state solution
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar lashed out at former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on Friday for his earlier comments warning Tatar that he shouldn’t be too insistent on a two-state solution as conditions may force him to sit at the negotiating table for a federal settlement.
Tatar, in a written statement, slammed Talat, stating that his remarks were unfitting for a former leader.
“If it was possible to find a federal solution with the Greek Cypriots, why did Mr Talat fail to achieve it during his five-year term in office?” Tatar asked.
He added the reality was that there are two separates states on the island.
Tatar said he did not intend to engage in meaningless debates with anyone but could not remain quiet against what he claimed were baseless allegations.
He recalled that even his predecessor, Mustafa Akıncı had openly admitted, following the collapse of the talks in Crans Montana, that the process had failed as a result of the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigence.
Tatar also recalled that Akıncı had stated after the conference that it had been his generation’s last attempt at a federal solution.
He also argued that he was elected into office to advocate for a solution based on sovereign equality.
Tatar insisted that he will remain committed to his election promise, and in addition to advocating for a two-state solution, will push ahead with plans to reopen the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha).
He added that the Turkish Cypriot side will also continue to defend its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“We discussed the matter with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in detail and agreed to push for a two-state solution because we believe this is what is in the best interest of the Turkish Cypriot community,” Tatar stressed.
He added Talat’s claims that Turkey will force him to negotiate for a federal settlement should the political conjuncture dictate it, were absurd.
“We can live freely with Turkey’s continued determination to protect the Turkish Cypriots despite the UN resolutions, which Mr Talat deemed so important,” Tatar concluded.
Meanwhile, during another meeting on Friday with Talip Atalay, head of the religious affairs office in the north, Tatar said he has relayed his position on the solution of the Cyprus problem to the Greek Cypriot side as well as to the international community.
“We see the future of Cyprus lies in two states, based on sovereign equality that co-exist side-by-side,” Tatar said. He argued that coupled with developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, it will be possible for all sides to win.
Tatar also noted that the two sides can start collaborating from today based on mutual respect, even though the Greek Cypriot side is concerned about political recognition of the north.
In the meantime, Tatar received Elizabeth Spehar, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus and Anders Hagelberg, Ambassador of Sweden in Cyprus in separate meetings on Friday.
No statements were issued after the meeting.
Quarantine exemptions suspended until December 23
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases announced on Friday that it was temporarily suspending the exemption from mandatory quarantine for those visiting the north for three days or less until December 23, the dailies report on Saturday.
The committee’s decision, which was adopted given the increase in the number of local transmission cases in the Kyrenia area, will come into force on Tuesday, December 8.
The committee’s decision came as doctors and health associations warned of the danger posed by individuals exempt from quarantine, particularly those arriving from Turkey where there is a high number of daily cases.
The dailies reported last week that the rise in the number of locally transmitted cases in the north had caused panic within the Turkish Cypriot community.
Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli on Wednesday told reporters that six locally transmitted cases had been detected in Kyrenia.
Health experts, following Pilli’s announcement, urged the committee to revise its decision to grant exemption from quarantine for passengers arriving for 72 hours or less.
Since then, three patients have been admitted to the ICU in Kyrenia, two nurses and five doctors have been quarantined.
Three of the six cases in Kyrenia were identified among the workers at the “Elexus Hotel” in Kyrenia. The dailies also report that another four locally transmitted cases had been identified on Friday, however without disclosing in which areas the cases had been detected.
Dr Özlem Gürkut, head of the Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association, also urged the authorities to review their decision on allowing tourists to enter the north without being subjected to mandatory quarantine should they stay for three days or less.
The committee also announced new rules for venues which will serve customers on New Year’s Eve.
The rules include limitations to the maximum number of people allowed indoors depending on the size of the restaurants and dining halls.
The committee will reconvene on December 11 to decide on new limitations and charter flights to be organized for the new year period.