Front Page Headlines
Come on Grandma! Time to get the jab
Those 80 and over are being vaccinated. A total of 1,390 were vaccinated at five different centres. 940 people were administered Sinovac’s vaccine while 450 people received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Head of the Kyrenia Akçiçek General Hospital Ceyun Birinci: “We vaccinated 200 people and ran out of vaccines.” The head of the Pandemic Hospital in Nicosia Dr Duriye Deren Oygar: “Interest was high. I believe it’s going to increase.” Infectious Diseases expert Dr Emre Vudalı: “Both vaccines are safe. Get either one.”
Mobilized for vaccination
In line with the Covid-19 vaccination programme announced by the Health Ministry, the vaccination drive for people at the age of 65 and above continues, the vaccination for 80 and above started yesterday (Wednesday).
- Education will resume on January 25 but it will be decided later whether to have in-class or online education – National Education and Culture Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said: “All the schools must comply with the decision to extend the semester break.”
- Consult your doctor before getting vaccinated – Head of the cardiology ward at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital, Dr Gülgün Vaiz said.
- We are striving to open up not shut down – Health Minister Ali Pilli said he aims to conclude the vaccination programme by the end of March. The only problem is to get access to the vaccines.”
Fiasco in vaccination
The vaccination programme for people aged 80 and above started with problems. The exclusion of municipalities from the programme caused outrage. Many of the elderly could not get to the vaccination centres.
- Either in-class or online – Education Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said the schools will reopen on January 25 but added that the Higher Committee of Infectious Diseases will decide how education will resume.
- The target is June for vaccinations – The Greek Cypriot administration ordered 565,000 Covid-19 vaccines, securing 3m doses.
Hear their voice
While some were happy and others not on the first day of vaccinations for those above the age of 80, authorities are urged to find an urgent solution for those who cannot leave their homes. Vaccines in Kyrenia ran out early but those who went to the pandemic hospital or the ‘Train Station’ polyclinic in Nicosia were able to get vaccinated without any problems. Many who had arranged special transportation to travel from areas far from the Kyrenia city centre returned to their homes without getting vaccinated after supplies ran out quickly. Vaccination in Morphou on the other hand started two hours late. Many with health problems who could not wait in long queues were forced to return. Those in Famagusta complained to authorities that many seniors were unable to leave their homes to get vaccinated.
Commendation encouraging violence
Six organisations reacted to the commendation given a police officer, who shot and injured a migrant. Six civil society organisations (CSOs) issued a joint statement, stating that the absence of an investigation into the incident only served to reinforce the culture of vigilantism and open the way for similar incidents in the future.
- The fraudulent bingo cards collected – Following our headline “Profiteering and fraud in bingo cards,” the Directorate of Lotteries collected the bingo cards from the market. It has not been revealed who profited from this scheme yet.
- “Courage and success commendation” – Police also issued a statement… The police officer is regarded as courageous for shooting and hitting his target. The Department of Legal Affairs, when consulted, said the police officer’s actions were justified and within the rules of engagement.
- Both Pfizer and Sinovac are equally good – Dr Emre Vudalı said he was vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine and added he applied for the Pfizer vaccine for his mother, who falls in a high-risk group.
- Education resumes on January 25 – It will be decided on Friday whether it will be in-class or online education.
- 27 positive coronavirus cases in the north, 178 cases in the south…
Main News
UNSG says movement restrictions hurting bicommunal relations
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The two communities on the island have become more estranged with very few face-to-face intercommunal activities as a result of movement restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday.
The biannual reports for the two UN missions on the island – namely UN Peacekeeping Mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and the Good Offices Mission in Cyprus – were circulated to the UN Security Council (UNSC) members as official documents on Tuesday.
The coronavirus pandemic and its consequences dominated the UNFICYP report whilst Guterres complained about the uncoordinated responses given by the two sides to the pandemic despite the UNSG’s calls for collaboration.
On his efforts to resume the talks for a comprehensive settlement, Guterres said he will invite the relevant parties on the Cyprus problem to an informal meeting as soon as possible.
“The clock was working against a mutually acceptable solution in Cyprus,” Guterres warned and highlighted irreversible consequences if the two communities on the island did not devote themselves to solving their differences through a peaceful, dignified and determined approach.
He also added that the meeting to be held between the two sides and the guarantor powers will help clarify the “true extent” of a common vision and in determining the framework of the necessary steps needed for progress.
He also noted the relevant parties to the Cyprus problem have expressed a willingness to attend the 5+1 informal meeting.
“The purpose of the meeting will be to determine whether a common ground exists for the parties to negotiate a sustainable, lasting solution to the Cyprus problem within a foreseeable horizon,” Guterres said, stressing that “this time [the process] must be different.”
Moreover, UN Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar briefed the members of the Security Council on the biannual reports of the two missions in a videoconference call on Tuesday.
The UNSG’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, speaking to media following Spehar’s briefing to the Security Council, said the UNFICYP chief briefed the Security Council on the developments on the island in line with her mandate.
Dujarric noted a date has not been identified yet for the 5+1 conference, however, he expressed Guterres’ resolute stance on the Cyprus problem.
“The Secretary-General has been very clear in his efforts to find a resolution to the current situation regarding Cyprus,” Dujarric concluded.
The UNFICYP report is expected to be adopted on January 28, extending the mission’s term by another six months.
KEY ACTOR
Guterres (UN)
>> Restrictions imposed on crossings have negatively impacted intercommunal activity.
>> Two sides did not heed call to collaborate/coordinate on pandemic response.
>> Time working against a mutually acceptable solution in Cyprus.
>> There will be irreversible consequences if the two communities do not solve their differences through a peaceful, dignified & determined approach.
>> Purpose of 5+1 meeting will be to determine whether a common ground exists to negotiate a sustainable, lasting solution to the Cyprob within foreseeable horizon.
>> The process must be different this time.
TC workers employed in south start losing their jobs
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot workers employed in the south warned that they have started to lose their jobs after not being able to go to work since December 16 due to restrictions on crossings.
A group of workers staged yet another protest outside the prime minister’s office on Wednesday, demanding that they be allowed to go back and forth to their jobs with negative PCR tests carried out every 72 hours just like Turkish Cypriots working for the UN and EU. The workers stressed that many have already lost their jobs or will do so in the coming days.
“We will not only lose our jobs but also will be deprived of our social rights,” the workers stressed, demanding the authorities to “hear their cry.”
Doctors reassure public on safety of Sinovac & Pfizer vaccines
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Doctors have rushed in to reassure the public on the safety of both Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines currently being administered in the north as part of the vaccination drive against Covid-19.
The doctors’ outreach campaign began after rumours of preferential treatment circulated on social media. Claims were made that certain individuals were allowed to pick which vaccine to receive with most choosing Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines over the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine deemed less reliable.
Infectious diseases expert Dr Emre Vudalı, on Wednesday, said the Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine is as good as the Pfizer-BionTech vaccine. Vudalı explained that the CoronaVac vaccine was more suitable for individuals with no underlying health conditions whereas Pfizer vaccines were administered for those in vulnerable groups.
“Both vaccines are equally good,” Vudalı concluded.
Head of the cardiology ward at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital, Dr Gülgün Vaiz, recommended that all cardiology patients, after consulting with their doctors, should get vaccinated.
In a social media post, Vaiz also listed the medical conditions that might pose a risk to patients getting vaccinated and recommended that they be given the vaccine after consulting with their physicians first.
Former Chief Doctor of the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital, Dr Bülent Dizdarlı, also joined in the campaign with a post on social media.
“Face masks, social distancing, hygiene + the vaccine… We will win this fight,” Dizdarlı wrote, recommending everyone to get vaccinated with whichever type of vaccine is available.
Dizdarlı also criticised some of the rumours on the storage conditions of the Pfizer vaccine and the availability of other vaccines in the north.
Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Pilli stressed the only problem faced in the north regarding the vaccination drive was getting hold of the vaccines. Speaking during a programme on Bayrak, Pilli said the vaccination drive is being implemented as planned, currently focusing on people aged 65 and above.
“Our goal is to conclude to the vaccination by the end of March,” Pilli said, noting that the timeline on new shipments of vaccines will be cleared within a week. Pilli noted that 5,400 CoronaVac vaccines and 200 Pfizer vaccines have been administered to date, adding that the Pfizer vaccines require specially trained personnel.
NGOs condemn commendation given to officer for shooting migrant
Yenidüzen, Avrupa
Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
Six NGOs in the north on Wednesday criticised the Police Department for awarding an officer, who shot and injured an undocumented migrant, with a citation without the need to carry out an investigation into the incident.
Issuing a joint statement, the NGOs argued the absence of an investigation only helped serve to reinforce a culture of vigilantism and set a bad example for similar situations in the future.
The NGOs harshly criticised the police officer’s arbitrary and excessive use of force. They also condemned the police force for commending the officer for an issue which deeply touched the public’s conscience.
The joint statement was signed by the Turkish Cypriot Bar Association’s Human Rights’ Committee, Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation, Queer Cyprus Association, Refugee Rights Association, Civil Society Initiative and Third Community Forum.
Turkish Cypriot daily Avrupa reported on Wednesday that Sadi Sancak, who shot and injured an undocumented migrant attempting to enter the north illegally in Yayla (Syrianochori) on July 9, 2020, had received a commendation from Police Commissioner Ahmet Soyalan.