Front Page Headlines
Vaccination hampered by lack of planning
The process could not be managed properly, there were long queues. There were not enough vaccines. There were reports of preferential treatment again. The process of vaccinating seniors above the age of 80 continued yesterday (Thursday). While more and more people showed up to get vaccinated social distancing rules were ignored at most vaccination centres resulting in unwanted scenes. Just like the day before, vaccines in Kyrenia ran out quickly and some returned home without getting vaccinated. At some centres, vaccinations were administered to those below the age of 80.
- Suspicious death after vaccination – A 68-year-old man from Akdeniz (Agia Irini) village died a sudden death at his home. The man who had a serious respiratory illness had received a Covid-19 vaccine the day before. The health ministry announced that the man had experienced no side effects after being administered the vaccine.
- We shook at a magnitude of 5.2
Absolute chaos
There was almost a stampede yesterday (Thursday) at the ‘Train Station’ polyclinic, one of five operational Covid-19 vaccination centres. People were forced to wait for hours to get vaccinated despite registering online due to staff shortages and planning. Those who went to Kyrenia Dr Akçiçek Hospital after making appointments had to turn back without getting vaccinated after they were told the hospital had run out of vaccines.
- Those suffering from chronic illnesses must be vaccinated – Internal diseases expert Dr Sibel Siber said scientific data shows that people over 65 and those with chronic illnesses must be vaccinated.
- Tax department staff member called to work from isolation, their test came back positive – KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot Public Servants’ Union) and KAMU-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Public Workers’ Union) claimed the employee, who tested positive, had been threatened by their boss to return to work even though they were under isolation.
Citizens concerned about education
While the debate on the injustices of online education and the reopening of schools rages, it emerged that people are just as worried about the loss of education their children are experiencing as they are of Covid-19. According to the findings of the METRON polling company, 92 per cent of the people in the TRNC are concerned about the coronavirus pandemic. The same percentage of people are also concerned about education. Only seven per cent do not feel concerned. The percentages reveal the extent of the problems in education.
- The chamber suggested a “regional lockdown” – Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) asked for urgent measures to be implemented to prevent a rise in the number of local cases.
- We will exist as long as we produce – Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KTSO) launched a new campaign to “PROTECT DOMESTIC PRODUCTION”
Vaccines ran out
Many seniors above the age of 80 who were driven to the hospitals were forced to go back home in despair. Today is the last day of vaccinations for those above the age of 80. However, since vaccines ran out yesterday (Thursday), many of those who went to the Akçiçek General Hospital in Kyrenia had to return home without getting vaccinated. The hospital’s chief physician Dr Ceyhun Birinci told Diyalog that they registered the names of 40 individuals who couldn’t be vaccinated yesterday (Thursday) and were given appointments for today (Friday). “We shall be vaccinating the 40 individuals and we will stop. We can’t say what will happen after that. The health ministry has ran out of vaccines,” he said.
- Big panic experienced – 5.2 magnitude quake shakes Cyprus.
We have not forgotten
Attacked by the mob under the protection of the police! Three years have passed since January 22, 2018, which is one of the darkest days in our history… Six people who were among the mob which attacked our paper with stones, were released early for “good behaviour,” while another nine, were never found by police. Tacan Reynar, who served as a senior judge for eight years, resigned and the police commander Ali Savaç Altan who prevented clashes between Cypriots and Turkish people, got into trouble.
- Earthquake – The entire island felt the 5.2 magnitude earthquake. It was announced that the centre of the quake was two kilometres south of Beyarmudu (Pergamos).
- Found dead following the vaccination – 68-year-old man living in Akdeniz (Agia Irini) returned home after getting vaccinated, only to be found dead the next day.
- 10 local, total 12 positive cases of coronavirus in the north, 164 cases and two deaths in the south…
Main News
Concrete steps needed for further improvement of Turkey-EU ties
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Concrete steps must be taken to maintain and make the positive trajectory of relations between Turkey and the EU sustainable, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Thursday.
Speaking at a joint press conference with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Police Josep Borell, Çavuşoğlu noted the EU Summit in December 2020 was a milestone in changing the negative trend towards a positive atmosphere.
Çavuşoğlu also touched on the regional conference to resolve the hydrocarbons issue in the Eastern Mediterranean, noting that he has travelled to Brussels with a detailed proposal on the matter.
For his part, Borell concurred with Çavuşoğlu, stressing “the intentions and announcements need to be translated into actions.”
He welcomed the positive steps taken by Ankara to lower tensions with Greece.
Borell said the EU is pleased with the resumption of exploratory talks with Greece, stressing the bloc’s desire to see “a sustainable de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Borell also reminded Çavuşoğlu that the EU is fully committed to supporting a speedy resumption of negotiations in Cyprus in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, expressing the bloc’s readiness to assist any process.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> Concrete steps must be taken to continue the positive trend in Turkey-EU relations.
Borell (EU)
>> Words need to be met with action.
>> Welcomed Ankara’s positive steps regarding tensions with Greece & resumption of exploratory talks.
>> EU wants to see sustainable de-escalation in the East Med.
>> EU fully committed to supporting speedy resumption of Cyprus talks in line with relevant UNSC resolutions & ready to assist in process.
TC workers to intensify their protests
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot workers employed in the south staged a protest at the Akyar (Strovilia) crossing point on Thursday, reiterating their demand to be allowed to cross over to their jobs and return only by presenting negative PCR tests carried out every 72 hours just like Turkish Cypriots working for the UN and the EU are allowed to do.
“We have been subjected to starvation,” the workers cried, asking for equal and fair treatment from the authorities.
The workers on Wednesday 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. 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.”
BASIN-SEN files defamation lawsuit against TC leader
Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
BASIN-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Press Workers’ Union) on Thursday announced that it has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar for insulting Turkish Cypriot journalist and UniteCyprusNow (UCN) activist Esra Aygın.
Tatar had called Aygın “cheap and undignified” and told her to keep quiet in a tweet after she had criticized him for his initial remarks that the EU, and not the Greek Cypriot administration, should deliver the Covid-19 vaccines to the north.
She had called on Tatar not to politically exploit an issue which concerned the public’s health and to act with the responsibility required of a leader and head of state.
Ali Kişmir, head of BASIN-SEN announced the union’s move on Thursday, stressing that BASIN-SEN will continue its struggle against any act or threat directed against the freedom of press and expression in the north. Kişmir underlined BASIN-SEN will always stand-by their colleague Aygın, adding that the public will be informed on the developments.
Following Tatar’s remarks, Aygın also received death threats and was subjected to insults on social media by Tatar supporters and nationalists.
BASIN-SEN had condemned Tatar for responding in such a way to Aygın.
“Tatar’s words against Aygın are not acceptable,” Kişmir had said, accusing him of committing a hate crime based on ethnic identity and putting the Turkish Cypriot community’s health at risk by rejecting the vaccines that will be delivered via the Greek Cypriot side.
TC teen nominated for Young European of the Year award
Yenidüzen, Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
A Turkish Cypriot teen, Özer Şahoğlu has been nominated for a Young European of the Year award for his exceptional activist work in human rights advocacy and efforts to remove sexism prevalent in schools.
Şahoğlu, who is 17, became the first underage Cypriot activist to receive EU funding for his project ‘Cypriot Youth Come Front In the Society’ (CYCFITS) in 2020, which was created with the support of another EU-supported programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, Grow Civic.
Şahoğlu started the project in July 2020 to address sexism and gender-based discrimination in the syllabus and governance of schools in the north. He documented his findings and even shared his reports and statistics with the Turkish Cypriot Education Ministry.
Şahoğlu spearheaded the formation of a youth activist organisation named CYCFITS and even staged a protest outside the ministry when the ministry did not respond to his query. He received a nomination for the European Parliament’s European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2021 for incorporating research and protest initiatives in his project.
Şahoğlu was also nominated for the “Young European of the Year” by the Schwarzkopf Foundation, becoming the youngest European to be nominated.