Front Page Headlines
They came with instructions
National Unity Party (UBP) MP Faiz Sucuoğlu speaks on the reasons for his withdrawal from the leadership race. “They told me Mr Faiz should not refuse us. I asked them if I did anything wrong. They told me they came with the purpose of conveying the message,” he said.
The pandemic wiped out 73 per cent of tourism
According to the reports of the Tourism Planning Department, the number of arrivals through air and seaports in the TRNC had fallen by 942,300 compared with last year’s figures between January-September.
- The artefacts worth ₺1m (€106.000) – The 39 pieces of historic artefacts, which were seized by the narcotics and anti-smuggling police unit in İskele (Trikomo), are 3000 years old.
- Problems over 13th salaries – Prime Minister Ersan Saner said the government needs to receive a vote of confidence to swiftly pass the 2021 budget in parliament and sit down with Turkey to sign a new financial protocol. The budget deficit stands at ₺400m (€42.5m).
‘White IDs’ pending
Ayşegül Baybars said there were 2,600 pending citizenship applications. “The total number of applications are over 8,000,” she said. Baybars who handed over the post of the interior minister to Kutlu Evren two days ago confirmed that more than 8,000 people were waiting in line to get TRNC citizenship. Speaking on TV2020, she said, “There are 2,600 applications which have been processed but the number of applications is over 8,000.” She also said that a new citizenship law which included the White ID regulation was also ready but that the coalition partners, whether it was during the four-party coalition or the coalition with UBP had postponed it on grounds that the timing was not right.
No good news regarding 13th salaries
The new Prime Minister Ersan Saner could not give good news to the public sector. Saner, who pointed out there were problems in paying 13th salaries this year, said: “I don’t mean to spread negative energy, but the government must receive the vote of confidence swiftly, to pass the 2021 state budget and sign a new protocol agreement with Turkey.”
- Doctors in quarantine – The rise in case numbers are worrying. Dr Cenk Soydan, Director at the Health Ministry, Dr Adil Özyılkan, Chief Physician at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital and his predecessor Dr Bülent Dizdarlı have self-isolated themselves after an employee at the hospital tested positive.
- The 24-hour crossings from the south cancelled – New measures announced. Turkish Cypriots studying, working or receiving medical treatment in the south are exempted. The short-term crossing for less than 24 hours will no longer be allowed.
Main News
Turkish & TC officials condemn EU sanctions
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, EU Matters, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Both Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot officials lambasted the outcome of the EU leaders’ summit held on December 10-11, the dailies report on Saturday.
“The fact that the EU does not even refer to and disregards the Turkish Cypriot people in these and similar decisions is unacceptable and incompatible with the realities on the island,” a statement issued by Turkish President Ersin Tatar’s office read.
Through a statement issued on Friday, Tatar said the EU couldn’t undertake a constructive and impartial role on the Cyprus Issue by ignoring the Turkish Cypriots on the island.
“The EU’s unconditional support for the Greek Cypriots and Greece by ignoring the rights of Turkish Cypriot people and the Republic of Turkey under the pretext of ‘membership solidarity’ sinks the opportunity of interdependence and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the statement read, adding that it was not possible for the EU, which has already lost a chance to become an impartial actor in solving the Cyprus issue, to undertake a constructive role with this stance.
“The decision taken on the Eastern Mediterranean at the summit will in no way affect our determination to continue to protect our legitimate rights and interests,” the statement added.
Noting that the Cyprus issue remains unresolved due to the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigence, it said: “The Turkish Cypriot side has repeatedly declared that the negotiations cannot be resumed from where they were left off while the Turkish Cypriot side has expressed its readiness for an agreement based on sovereign equality and two states that have equal sovereignty and are mutually recognized for a sustainable reconciliation.”
Echoing the same message, the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry claimed that “the bloc is nothing but an interest group that is unfair and unjust.”
In a statement issued, the ministry also argued that the bloc has misread the developments in the region.
“The EU has become an actor that fuels the crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean,” it argued.
Moreover, the ministry also pointed out that the bloc was in contradiction by accepting Turkish Cypriots as equal owners of the natural resources in the region while also being supportive of the unilateral steps taken by the Greek Cypriot side.
“It is vital not to disregard the Turkish Cypriots’ legitimate rights and interests in the region if the goal is to contribute to stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region,” the statement read, adding that the only way to resolve the disputes in the region is collaboration and dialogue among all the stakeholders in the region.
The ministry also stated that the bloc does not have any rights to dictate the type of solution to be negotiated on the island.
“The Turkish Cypriot people have reflected their political will towards a two-state solution based on sovereign equality during the October 18 elections,” the ministry concluded.
Evaluating the outcome of the summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Friday that “reasonable countries” in the bloc had thwarted efforts against Turkey.
“Turkey’s positive attitude towards all the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean let down some countries,” Erdoğan said, pointing to Greece and the Greek Cypriot side which wanted harsher sanctions imposed on Turkey.
“Our rights must be granted. European Union member states owe Turkey many rights,” the Turkish President concluded.
Also on Friday, Turkey’s presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın said, that EU leaders should comprehend the strategic importance of the bloc’s relations with Turkey and should not allow any initiative that would hinder ties.
Issuing a written statement, he said it was important that there was an emphasis on Turkey’s positive agenda during the talks and added that it will in the best interest of all parties to focus on the positive agenda.
Touching on the Cyprus issue, Kalın urged the bloc “to give up on its unfair attitude against Turkish Cypriots.”
“To produce a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem, the realities on the island should not be ignored,” the spokesman stressed.
He reiterated that while Turkey will maintain its constructive attitude to overcoming disputes in the region, it will continue to protect the legitimate rights of the Turkish Cypriots.
Recalling Ankara’s proposal on holding a regional conference to resolve the differences in the Eastern Mediterranean region, Kalın urged Greece to be forthcoming on dialogue.
“Ankara is ready for unconditional exploratory talks with Greece,” he stressed.
“Turkey and the EU countries must act with a common agenda to develop a real partnership, to resolve issues within the framework of a dialogue based on mutual respect and trust, and to imbue relations with a new impetus,” Kalın concluded.
“We reject the prejudiced stance in violation of the law that had to be inserted in the December 10 EU summit conclusions through the pressure of solidarity and vetoes on Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, as well as regional issues even though we know that a large part of the EU does not adopt these stances,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a separate statement on Friday.
The ministry further argued that the demands made by the member states and the EU’s stance under the pretext of membership solidarity had put Turkey-EU relations in a vicious cycle.
“This situation harms the common interests of Turkey and the EU as well as threatens peace, security and stability in the region,” the Ministry stressed.
It added that Ankara has always expressed its readiness to launch exploratory talks without any preconditions for regional stability, despite Greece’s continued provocations.
The ministry also pointed out that the EU in its conclusions has ignored the Turkish Cypriots, who are equal owners on the island.
“The EU now should abandon this attitude, preventing a just, lasting and sustainable settlement to the Cyprus issue based on the realities on the Island,” the ministry said, pointing out that the most feasible way is for the Greek Cypriots to come together with the Turkish Cypriots to start discussing the issue of hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean based on revenue sharing.
“The talks on hydrocarbons will also contribute to taking concrete steps towards a settlement on the island,” the ministry noted and added that the regional conference on the matter as proposed by Ankara, is an opportunity in this regard.
“Turkey will continue with determination to protect the legitimate rights of Turkey and the TRNC in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the ministry said and urged the EU to assume the role of an honest mediator and act with common sense in a principled and strategic manner.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> The fact that the EU does not even refer to & disregard the TCs in these decisions is unacceptable & incompatible with the realities on the island.
>> Not possible for the EU to undertake a constructive & impartial role on Cyprus by ignoring the TCs on the island.
>> EU’s unconditional support for the GCs & Greece under the pretext of ‘membership solidarity removes the opportunity of interdependence & cooperation in the East Med.
>> Not possible for the EU, which has already lost a chance to become an impartial actor in solving the Cyprob, to undertake a constructive role with this stance.
>> The decision taken on the East Med will in no way affect TC side’s determination to continue to protect its legitimate rights & interests.
>> The negotiations cannot be resumed from where they had been left off.
>> TC side is ready for an agreement based on sovereign equality & two-states that have equal sovereignty & mutually recognized for a sustainable reconciliation.
Ertuğruloğlu
>> The EU is nothing but an interest group that is unfair & unjust.
>> The bloc has misread the developments in the region.
>> The EU has become an actor that fuels the crisis in the East Med.
>> Vital not to disregard the TCs’ legitimate rights & interests in the region if the goal is to contribute to stability in the East Med.
>> The only way to resolve the disputes in the region is collaboration & dialogue among all the stakeholders in the region.
>> The bloc does not have any rights to dictate the type of solution to be negotiated on the island.
>> The TC people have reflected their political will towards a two-state solution based on sovereign equality in Oct 18 elections.
Erdoğan (Turkey)
>> Reasonable countries in the bloc had thwarted efforts against Turkey.
>> Turkey’s positive attitude towards all the developments in the East Med. let down some countries.
>> EU member states owe Turkey many rights.
Kalın (Turkey)
>> The EU leaders should comprehend the strategic importance of the bloc’s relations with Turkey & should not allow any initiative that would hinder ties.
>> Important that there was an emphasis on Turkey’s positive agenda during the talks as it will in the best interest of all parties to focus on it.
>> The bloc should give up on its unfair attitude against TCs.
>> The realities on the island should not be ignored to produce a fair & lasting solution to the Cyprob.
>> Turkey will maintain its constructive attitude to overcome disputes in the region.
>> Ankara will continue to protect the legitimate rights of the TCs.
>> Greece should be forthcoming for dialogue.
>> Ankara is ready for unconditional exploratory talks with Greece.
>> Turkey & the EU countries must act with a common agenda to develop a real partnership, to resolve issues within the framework of a dialogue based on mutual respect & trust, & to imbue relations with a new impetus.
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> Ankara rejects the prejudiced stance in violation of the law that had to be inserted in EU summit conclusions through the pressure of solidarity & vetoes on Cyprus, the East Med & the Aegean, as well as regional issues.
>> Ankara knows that a large part of the EU does not adopt these stances.
>> The demands made by the member states & EU’s stance under the pretext of membership solidarity has put Turkey-EU relations into a vicious cycle.
>> This situation harms the common interests of Turkey & the EU as well as threatens peace, security & stability in the region.
>> Ankara has always expressed its readiness to launch exploratory talks without any preconditions for regional stability, despite Greece’s continued provocations.
>> EU in its conclusions has ignored the TCs, who are equal owners on the island.
>> EU now should abandon this attitude, preventing a just, lasting & sustainable settlement to the Cyprob based on the realities on the Island.
>> The most feasible way is for the GCs to come together with the TCs to start discussing the issue of hydrocarbon reserves in the East Med based on revenue sharing.
>> The talks on hydrocarbons will also contribute to taking concrete steps towards a settlement on the island.
>> The regional conference on the matter as proposed by Ankara, is an opportunity in this regard.
>> Turkey will continue with determination to protect the legitimate rights of Turkey & the TCs in the East Med.
>> The EU to assume the role of an honest mediator & act with common sense in a principled & strategic manner.
TC side rejects RoC MFA’s statement on Human Rights Day
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned the statement issued by the Greek Cypriot leadership, attacking Turkey with “baseless accusations” on Human Rights Day.
“The Greek Cypriot side’s mentality that aims at isolating the Turkish Cypriots by violating universal human rights in every area will never achieve its goals,” the ministry said in a statement issued.
Moreover, it also argued that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to mislead the international community while violating the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.
It pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side, since embarking on its goal to unite the island with Greece in the 1950s had resorted to all methods of violence to achieve its target.
“The Greek Cypriot leadership is trying to achieve what it failed to achieve through the force-of-arms with its status as an internationally recognized government. The Greek Cypriot foreign ministry has made it its main principle to prevent our athletes and youth from taking part in international sporting competitions, cultural or social activities,” the statement read.
Accusing the Greek Cypriot side of blatant violations of Turkish Cypriots’ human rights, the ministry also argued that they continue to usurp the rights of the community on one hand and the other imprison the Turkish Cypriots to the negotiations table for more than 50 years.
“It must be known that the Turkish Cypriot side will not bow down to the demands or pressures of the Greek Cypriot leadership,” the statement stressed.
The Republic of Cyprus’s (RoC) foreign ministry on Thursday had said that it was “a regrettable fact that in the year 2020, the human rights of all Cypriots continue to be brutally violated, daily, as a result of the continued Turkish occupation since 1974.”
It added that “ending the illegal Turkish occupation” and the ongoing violations of all Cypriots’ human rights by Turkey remains the top priority of the RoC.
GCs prevented from crossing daily north due to surge in Covid cases
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Higher Committee of Infectious Diseases on Friday announced a further tightening of measures at the crossings points while extending the decision to halt entries into the north without quarantine requirement, the dailies report on Saturday.
In a statement issued, the committee said the measures were adopted given the spike in the numbers of cases in the south, in the north and Turkey.
According to the new rules, Greek Cypriots will no longer be allowed to cross to the north for daily visits even if they present a negative PCR test result obtained in the last 24 hours.
The measure will be effective at midnight as of December 13 but no announcement was made as to how long the new rules would remain in place.
Even though not clarified, it is understood that Greek Cypriots wishing to cross into the north will be subjected to a seven-day mandatory quarantine at a designated facility like all other persons wishing to cross to the north.
The new rule however does not include transit crossings through the Yeşilırmak (Limnitis) crossing as individuals who present authorities with a PCR test result obtained within the last 72 hours.
Turkish Cypriots working, studying or receiving medical treatment in the south will continue to be allowed to cross to the south provided that they carry out a PCR test every ten days as stipulated before.
The committee did not provide any details on the crossing of the diplomatic committee, UN or EU personnel.
Additionally, the committee has decided to extend its decision disallowing passengers to enter the north without having to quarantine on the condition they present two negative PCR tests until midnight on December 23.
The issue of short-term entries will be revisited during the committee’s next meeting on December 16, the statement read.