Front Page Headlines
Operation complete
The National Unity Party (UBP), Democratic Party (DP) and Rebirth Party (YDP) minority government was ‘officially’ announced. The new cabinet is expected to be presented to the president today (Wednesday). The government’s protocol includes early elections in October 2021, acquiring the Covid-19 vaccine, creating an Economic Advisory Council, a new protocol with Turkey, equal opportunities in hiring to the public service, amending the election law, work on the citizenship law, work on the Famagusta, İskele (Trikomo), Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) Master Plan, the fenced-off town of Maraş (Varosha) and a two-state solution.
- Signs for 8000 citizenships – (YDP leader) Erhan Arıklı speaking on a TV programme said that up to 8,000 people were waiting for citizenship. “We shall be addressing this issue,” he said.
- (People’s Party MP) Kudret Özersay: “An operation was carried out for the government”
Protocol (agreement) done, next is the cabinet
UBP acting leader Ersan Saner, YDP leader Erhan Arıklı and DP leader Fikri Ataoğlu signed the government protocol agreement for the three-party coalition. The coalition, which will have two ministries for DP, one for YDP and seven for UBP plus the prime ministry, aims to hold an early parliamentary election in October 2021.
- Hidden in the container – Police spotted a rental vehicle during a routine patrol, detained three people in the car and found ten foreign nationals hidden in the container with their suitcases.
- Sixth death from coronavirus in the TRNC – 83-year-old Zekiye Dögen, who was suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, passed away after receiving treatment for coronavirus in the ICU at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu hospital.
- 419 new cases and five deaths in the south in one day – Despite increasing the Covid-19 measures in South Cyprus, the increase in the number of cases and deaths cause concern.
New Prime Minister is (Ersan) Saner
The UBP-DP-YDP minority government was officially established following resignations of MPs Hasan Topal, Hasan Büyükoğlu and Mesut Genç from HP, and their declared support to reach a ‘quorum’ in the parliament. The protocol agreement to establish the minority government coalition was signed with a ceremony. According to the agreement, UBP will hold the prime ministry, and foreign, interior, finance, education, health, public works and agriculture ministries. DP will hold the tourism and labour ministries while YDP will hold the title of deputy prime minister and will have the economy ministry.
- A scandal over a tender at the Evkaf Administration – The Nicosia Turkish Municipality (LTB) and the Evkaf Administration of Cyprus are going to the courts over an investment tender launched by the Evkaf for a plot of land next to the open-air bazaar in Küçük Kaymaklı (Kaimakli).
- This is not an innocent resignation – HP acting leader Yenal Senin likened the resignation of the three MPs from the party to the shenanigans that took place when a coalition deal had been struck with CTP and the Freedom and Reform Party (ÖRP) in 2006. (The party had lasted for one coalition government). He criticized Erhan Arıklı and Serdar Denktaş.
- Sixth death from coronavirus – 83-year-old Zekiye Dögen who was being treated for coronavirus passed away.
8,000 applications
Pending citizenship applications are among the priorities of the government which will remain in office for ten months. The issues which UBP, DP and YDP will focus on during their ten-month term until early elections in October 2021 have become clear. The government will work to acquire the Covid-19 vaccine, put into operation the pandemic hospital and ensure that public sector hiring or appointments are done through proper procedures. YDP leader and new Deputy Prime Minister-Economy Minister Erhan Arıklı spoke to Diyalog saying they will process pending citizenship applications. He said that there were 3,000 people out of a total of 8,000 applications waiting for citizenship due to marriage.
- It’s my right –Speaking to Diyalog, Zorlu Töre said he was expecting to be made parliamentary speaker.
- Sincere confession – Kudret Özersay: “We’ve made our share of mistakes due to our inexperience in politics.”
- ‘I contributed’ – Serdar Denkaş: “The worst government is better than no government. I wish the new government success.”
Next are 8,000 citizenships
The protocol for the UBP-DP-YDP coalition government has been signed. Erhan Arıklı, who will become the deputy prime minister and the economy-energy minister in the next government, said during a TV programme that there were 8,000 pending applications for citizenship, adding that they will process these.
- This is an operation – Kudret Özersay said the resignation of the three MPs from the party is an operation carried out to establish the government. He said: “We have not thrown in the towel…”
- 419 cases of coronavirus and five deaths in the south, 13 cases in the north.
Main News
Protocol agreement signed for the three-party coalition
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The National Unity Party (UBP) formed a minority government coalition in the north on Tuesday with plans to hold early elections in October 2021.
The leaders of UBP, the Democratic Party (DP) and the Rebirth Party (YDP) announced they agreed to form a minority government after Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar gave the acting UBP leader Ersan Saner, for the second time, the mandate to form one.
The three parties signed a protocol for the establishment of the UBP-DP-YDP coalition government on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking briefly at the signing ceremony, both Saner and DP leader Fikri Ataoğlu drew attention to the economic and political difficulties faced by the country due to the absence of a cabinet.
Echoing the same message, YDP leader Erhan Arıklı went a step further and asked for the opposition parties to support the government.
“The only way for us to save ourselves from the difficulties we are in is to unite our strength. As can be seen, the protocol agreement does contain the seven principles proposed by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP). Let us all implement the protocol together,” Arıklı said.
The three-party coalition first and foremost agreed to hold an early election in October 2021. The coalition also stressed that the election law will also be amended before the early elections.
The coalition also vowed to pass the 2021 state budget immediately after receiving a vote of confidence from parliament and to establish ‘an economy advisory board’ to produce remedies for the economic strife in the north.
The political parties also agreed to launch the economic protocol negotiations with Ankara as soon as possible.
The new coalition also pledged to “provide equal opportunity for all” for public sector employment while working on increasing the effectiveness of the public through amendments in relevant laws.
Among the new government’s priorities also include a promise to conclude the development masterplan for Famagusta-Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) and İskele (Trikomo) by ensuring public participation in the process.
The coalition also touched on the “citizenship issue” in the protocol agreement and vowed to implement a “structure which will meet the expectations of the people residing in the north on work permits.”
In the meantime, during a Diyalog TV programme, YDP leader Erhan Arıklı commented on the citizenship issue, claiming there were 8,000 pending applications for “TRNC citizenship.”
“8,000 people are waiting in line and we will process their applications,” Arıklı said.
The coalition also touched on the Cyprus problem and the hydrocarbons issue.
“Among the government’s priorities, the coalition will work in full harmony with the Office of the President and with Turkey to protect the Turkish Cypriots’ rights, to complete the reopening process for Maraş (Varosha) and to conclude the Cyprus problem with a two-state solution,” the protocol agreement read.
The coalition stressed that it will focus on realizing the two-state solution because it has been proven repeatedly that it is not possible to reach a federal solution due to the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigence.
On the issue of Maraş (Varosha), the coalition vowed to continue with the ongoing efforts to reopen the fenced-off town, highlighting that the efforts will comply with international law.
Meanwhile, the former leader of the People’s Party (HP) Kudret Özersay and the leader of the main opposition CTP Tufan Erhürman both criticized the new coalition government, arguing that the government was formed as the result of an operation carried out by Ankara.
While Erhürman said that the latest developments showed how right he was when he had said that efforts to forge a coalition had failed because of the lack of confidence between the parties.
Özersay on the other hand argued that the new government had been formed as a result of Ankara’s plans.
He, however, admitted that he and his party had made several mistakes due to political inexperience.
Özersay also criticized the three MPs who resigned from the party and who are believed to be collaborating with the minority government.
HP acting leader Yenal Senin likened the resignation of the three MPs to the shenanigans that took place when a coalition had been struck between CTP and the Freedom and Reform Party (ÖRP) in 2006.
The ÖRP which had been practically established overnight following resignations from UBP had been designed to keep CTP in power.
CTP drew strong criticism, as rival parties had described the move as unethical and unfitting.
The ÖRP lasted for one coalition and was dissolved before the next general elections.
KEY ACTORS
UBP-DP-YDP
>> Government will work in full harmony with Turkey & Tatar’s office on the Cyprus Issue.
>> Government will support efforts for a two-state solution, protecting rights of TCs in East Med as well as steps taken to open fenced-off town of Maraş (Varosha).
>> Coalition will work on finalizing master development plan for Famagusta, İskele (Trikomo) and Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios).
Evkaf archives shed light on Maraş (Varosha) properties, Tatar says
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar on Tuesday said that the validity of the Evkaf administration’s arguments regarding property ownership in the fenced-off town of Maraş (Varosha) had been proven as a result of documents found in the foundation’s archives.
Tatar, who received members of the Evkaf Administration’s Board of Directors, said that the Evkaf archives shed important light on the validity of title deeds of properties located within the fenced-off town.
He pointed out that property cases in the area will be dealt with through the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in line with international law without bringing any detriment to the rights of the Evkaf.
Ankara expects the EU to act strategically based on facts
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
EU Matters, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
“Turkey is expecting the EU to act strategically based on the facts as Greece continues provocations”, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Tuesday.
Speaking during a joint press conference in Ankara with the Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, Çavuşoğlu pointed to the EU leaders’ summit on December 10 and the possibility of imposing sanctions on Turkey.
“Turkey wants to improve ties with the EU based on full membership, but the problems between them can only be solved if the bloc acts with common sense at a summit this week and beyond,” Çavuşoğlu said, adding that Ankara expects the EU to act strategically.
He expressed his wish that the EU summit will contribute to the solutions of the problems in the region as well as with member states.
“The EU, however, needs to play the role of an honest mediator,” Çavuşoğlu stressed.
He noted that despite Ankara’s repeated calls for dialogue, Greece continued provocative steps in the region.
The Turkish foreign minister also said Greece has stopped participating in the NATO meetings while issuing 11 Navtex and 12 NOTAMs.
“They also took provocative steps to violate the status of the demilitarized islands,” Çavuşoğlu said and warned that Ankara maintains its calm despite Greece’s behaviour.
He also recalled that Greece had laid out the withdrawal of the Oruç Reis seismic research vessel from the Mediterranean for the exploratory talks to resume but added that Greece continues to accuse Ankara of being the provocative side even though Oruç Reis had returned to the port of Antalya.
“This attitude of Greece should be realized by the EU as well,” Çavuşoğlu concluded.
In the meantime, the bloc wants to follow a positive course with membership candidate Turkey in light of its actions, EU Commission spokesman Peter Stano said on Tuesday.
During his daily press briefing, Stano said the EU leaders will make their decisions by taking into account the huge complexity of the bloc’s relation with Turkey.
“And without doubt, the EU’s interest to still stay on the positive course, of having constructive cooperation and dialogue with Turkey, if it is possible based on Turkish behaviour,” Stano added, noting that anything is on the table.
“The leaders will be deciding which direction we go, which decision will be taken, or which measures will be then enforced or decided on,” he noted.
“Relations with Turkey are also multi-faceted, considering the country is also a NATO member,” Stano concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> Turkey is expecting the EU to act strategically based on the facts as Greece continues provocations.
>> Turkey wants to improve ties with the EU based on full membership, but the problems between them can only be solved if the bloc acts with common sense.
>> EU summit will contribute to the solutions of the problems in the region as well as with member states.
>> The EU, however, needs to play the role of an honest mediator.
10 undocumented migrants found hidden in a container
Kıbrıs
Human Rights, Citizenship & Migration
OVERVIEW
Police discovered and detained ten foreign nationals hidden in a freight container in Balıkesir (Palaikythro) on Tuesday.
The undocumented migrants from Pakistan, Guinea, Cameroon, the Congo and Nigeria were discovered after a routine police patrol stopped to question three individuals waiting suspiciously in a rental car parked next to the container.
When police opened the container, they found the migrants huddled with their suitcases and belongings in their hands.
The three individuals in the rented car, all Pakistani nationals were arrested on the spot.
All 13 suspects are to remain in police custody until an investigation into the incident is completed.