TCC Press Review 8 Jan 2021

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Four chapters on the table

Even if the “proposals” for a solution formula change, the main chapters are still on the table. President Ersin Tatar received Yenidüzen’s and Kanal Sim’s editors at the presidential palace. He shared his views regarding the Cyprus Problem. President Tatar said that they will be tabling a two-state formula based on equal international status and equal sovereignty at the 5+1 informal meeting to be organised by the UN. However, the four main chapters which make up the Cyprus Problem, the solution model, territory, property and security will be discussed and negotiated at the table. Tatar said that the informal meeting could take place in Switzerland in February. He added it was not right to name a two-state solution in advance.

Kıbrıs

No social distancing, no controls

Many people insist on not complying with the rules despite warnings made for a possible full lockdown for 21 days due to surge in coronavirus cases. People while waiting in line, particularly at public offices, do not comply with the social distancing and face mask rules even though experts continuously warn the public.

  • Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay is planning to visit the TRNC – Prime Minister Ersan Saner announced Oktay’s plans. He said the 2021 financial and economic programme and other planned activities will be tabled.
  • The road map on vaccinations is clear. Vaccines will be administered at nine centres – Health Minister Ali Pilli noted the only problem with the vaccines is not knowing when they will be delivered.
  • Contact tracing in Alsancak (Karavas) and Lapta (Lapithos) – Alsancak (Karavas) Mayor Fırat Ataser said there are six positive cases with nearly 40 contacts. Lapta (Lapithos) Mayor Mustafa Aktuğ said two British citizens who tested positive have been going to two bars regularly over the past week.

Havadis

The axle broke in two

The election for the post of the speaker of the parliament for the first time in TRNC’s history has turned into a crisis. The ruling party, which has failed to produce a solution, has asked the Attorney General for his opinion. While the chaos deepens, the opposition is outraged at the developments.

  • Tomorrow could be too late – Main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) urged the government to come up with an “emergency action plan” on the threats and consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Three-week lockdown – Greek Cypriot Council of Ministers will convene today (Friday) to decide on new measures to be adopted to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Diyalog

No other choice

Despite a decision in the past to ban wood-burning stoves or burners, many people in different parts of North Cyprus are now using them. The number of people using these environmentally unfriendly burners is growing. Particularly low-income families in the walled city of Nicosia say they have switched to wood burners because they are unable to cover the cost of electricity bills.

Avrupa

They were inspired by us

The entire world watched the coup rehearsal in the US in shock. The Capitol Hill siege reminded of the raid at the Turkish Cypriot parliament on January 22, 2018… Just like how Donald Trump had asked his supporters in Washington to go out on the streets, Tayyip Erdoğan had asked his supporters to do the same in Cyprus.

  • 427 positive coronavirus cases and two deaths in the south, 25 cases in the north…

Main News

Main chapters still on table despite shift to two-state policy

Yenidüzen
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar on Friday revealed that despite a shift in the Turkish Cypriot side’s policy in favour of a two-state solution, the classic chapters of territorial adjustment, property as well as security and guarantees are still the main items to be negotiated at the table.

Tatar, who gave an interview to Yenidüzen and Kanal Sim, said that the 5+1 informal meeting could be held in Switzerland in February.

He said that the Turkish Cypriot side will still be tabling its proposals concerning a two-state model whereby the two states will have equal international status and sovereignty.

Tatar, however, stated that the discussions will focus around the main chapters of territory, property and security, as in previous negotiations processes. He added that the issue of natural gas will also be included.

Tatar also argued that the “50-year-old UN parameters for a federal solution” must change; pointing out that the conjuncture in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean had changed with the discovery of the energy resources.

“Turkey did not tell us they will not negotiate for a federation, but this is our position – two-states based on sovereign equality,” Tatar stressed. He added that functionality will be the key to the solution model.

Tatar said the Turkish Cypriot community will not accept a solution that excludes Turkey. He rejected claims that he insists on political recognition but said that sovereign equality of the north, nonetheless, must be accepted to discuss the four chapters at the negotiating table.

“The UN must accept that there is a separate authority in the north in Cyprus,” Tatar stressed, adding that the ‘sovereign equality’ means demand for self-governance.

He noted the governance of the north must be left to the Turkish Cypriots with the rights to sign agreements with Turkey freely.

Responding to a question on the property chapter in the negotiations process, Tatar pointed out the issue could be addressed by the Immovable Property Commission (IPC).

In response to a question on vaccines putting an end to the pandemic, Tatar said the Turkish Cypriot side has asked for 400,000 doses of vaccines from the EU via the bicommunal technical committee on health.

“We will take our share of the vaccines from the EU,” Tatar stressed but complained that the EU had yet to give an exact date and amount for the delivery.

Tatar also said that he proposed to the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades last week to get vaccinated together.

He also added that the vaccination plan had been submitted to the EU officials, the storage facilities are ready, and the necessary training will also be given to Turkish Cypriot medical staff.

Meanwhile, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Asım Akansoy on Thursday urged Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar to brief the parliament ahead of the scheduled five plus UN informal conference on the Cyprus problem.

Stressing that the preparations for the conference are underway, Akansoy accused Tatar of not realizing the urgency of the matter.

“There are important developments in the Cyprus issue and one of which is the informal 5+1 conference,” Akansoy said, calling on Tatar to brief the Turkish Cypriot parliament on his strategies ahead of the meeting.

KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Chapters of territorial adjustment, property & security will be on the table despite a change in solution policy. Natural gas will be added to table.
>> TC side advocates for a two-state model in which the states will have equal international status & sovereignty.
>> Two-state solution not imposed by Turkey but TC side’s position.
>> Functionality will be the key to the solution model.
>> TC community will not accept a solution that excludes Turkey.
>> The UN must accept that there is a separate authority in the north in Cyprus.
>> The ‘sovereign equality’ means demand for self-governance & rights to sign agreements with Turkey freely.
>> IPC can address issues in property chapter.


Çavuşoğlu: “Negotiating a federation would be a waste of time”

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Thursday set the record straight concerning Ankara’s position on the resumption of negotiations to solve the Cyprus Problem.

His deputy Faruk Kaymakcı had stated a day earlier that Ankara desired a strong bicommunal and bizonal state in Cyprus that ensured the political equality of the two communities, creating confusion and raising questions as to whether or not Turkey had diverted from its current position in favour of a two-state solution.  

He said that negotiating a federal solution would be a waste of time.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Portuguese counterpart Augusto Sliva in Lisbon, Çavuşoğlu said that decades of talks for a federal settlement had failed to culminate in a settlement.

He said that contrary to Turkey, the Greek Cypriots had rejected all plans negotiated to date.

“A two-state solution is not just our idea. It was first proposed by the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades,” said Çavuşoğlu, stating that a five-plus informal meeting will be important in identifying what to negotiate.

“We shall see whether or not there is any ground for negotiations. Both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are ready for this meeting but we need to be realistic. Negotiating a federation will be a waste of time. We will certainly not reach a solution if we continue to negotiate a federation for another 52 years,” Çavuşoğlu said.

On the issue of hydrocarbons, the Turkish foreign minister said that Ankara supported the equal and fair distribution of the region’s resources.

He said that Turkey was working with the EU on organising a multilateral conference that would include all countries with coastlines along the Eastern Mediterranean and those currently exploring the area.

“The goal of this conference is to reach an agreement which will allow all parties to acquire an equal and fair share of the region’s resources,” Çavuşoğlu said.

He said that a window of opportunity existed for dialogue, particularly with Greece.

KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> Negotiating a federal solution will be a waste of time.
>> Anastasiades was first to propose a 2-state solution.
>> 5+1 informal meeting will be useful to identify what to negotiate & to see whether the necessary ground for new talks exists. 
>> Sides need to be realistic.
>> Ankara supports equal & fair distribution of East Med resources.
>> Ankara working with EU on multilateral conference aimed at an equal & fair distribution of resources.


Borell reiterates call for immediate resumption of talks

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The High Representative and Commissioner to the EU Josep Borell has stressed the need for the immediate resumption of settlement talks under the auspices of the UN in his response letter to seven MEPs on Turkey’s interference in the Turkish Cypriot leadership elections in October 2020.

“I share your concern given the latest developments on the island,” Borell said in his letter and added the goal should be to reach a solution in line with EU principles and respecting the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Borell reiterated his call to the Turkish Cypriot side to respect the UNSC resolutions on the fenced-off town and asked to reverse the steps taken on Maraş (Varosha).

Seven MEPs led by Akel MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek had sent a letter to Borell on November 18, 2020, and argued that Turkey “in an unprecedented manner” interfered in Turkish Cypriot affairs.

The MEPs had asked the EU to support the Turkish Cypriots in order for them to “continue their presence on the island.”

KEY ACTORS
Borell (EU)
>> Cyprus talks under UN auspices need to start as soon as possible with goal to reach solution in line with EU principles & UNSC resolutions.
>> TCC should respect UNSC resolutions on Maraş (Varosha) & reverse steps already taken.


Pilli says South Cyprus ‘dragging its feet’ on Covid-19 vaccines


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

Health Minister Ali Pilli on Thursday revealed the north’s vaccination plan.

Addressing MPs in parliament, Pilli said that vaccinations would be administered at nine different centres.

“The only problem is knowing when the vaccinations will be arriving,” he said.

Pilli also said the aim was to complete the process of vaccinations and bring the virus under control by April. He explained that the Chinese Sinovac vaccine from Turkey would most probably be available earlier than other vaccines.

“We’re planning to start vaccinations with Turkey simultaneously,” he noted.

Commenting on the vaccines to be received from the EU via South Cyprus, Pilli said that they had yet to be provided with information on the delivery date and quantity.

“They are dragging their feet,” he complained, adding that it would be too costly to access the vaccines through other sellers.


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