Front Page Headlines
‘I have no strength left’
This was the last message sent by S.Ç who lost his life to Covid-19 at the age of 40. He had texted his family telling them to find someone to help him. His older brother M.Ç spoke to Yenidüzen.
- “Higher Committee be fair” – Workers working in the south stage protest.
- ‘Full lockdown’ proposal for Kyrenia and Nicosia – The Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases proposed a street curfew and full lockdown for Kyrenia and Nicosia between January 27-February 10. The committee also recommended that all entries and exits from the two cities be halted and for the current night-time curfew in place to be implemented in other areas but between 8pm and 5am. A proposal was also made to switch to online education at all primary and secondary schools.
“Full lockdown” recommended for Nicosia and Kyrenia
The Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases recommended a lockdown for Kyrenia and Nicosia until February 10 following a surge in cases in both areas. The committee also recommended switching to online education and to bring forward the night-time curfew to 8pm. The Council of Ministers evaluated the recommendations at a meeting with the committee members that lasted until midnight. Prime Minister Ersan Saner said the committee will convene today to produce final decisions.
The lockdown that came too late
The Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases produced radical decisions for Kyrenia and Nicosia due to a significant rise in cases as a result of people who tested positive hiding their contacts. The rise in the number of patients admitted to intensive care and the death toll also prompted the committee to produce more radical recommendations.
- Fighting for bread – Turkish Cypriot workers employed in the south were outraged with the ‘quarantine’ requirement imposed by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases. Those who could not go to their jobs due to the committee’s decisions gathered at the north of the Metehan (Agios Dhometios) checkpoint and those returning from work in the south staged a demonstration, preventing crossings from taking place.
- “You murdered my brother” – S.Ç’s sister K.K, expressed her outrage on social media.
- “Don’t leave the UN basis” – Republican Turkish Party (CTP) evaluated the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and made a call to the two leaders.
- Delivered in a refrigerated vehicle from the south – The second shipment of 1,170 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines sent by the EU were delivered.
Painful wait
The Higher Health Committee proposed shutting all businesses in Nicosia and Kyrenia until February 10. The Council of Ministers left the decision for today. Following a surge in cases yesterday, 17 in Nicosia and 14 in Kyrenia, the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases proposed that all businesses be shut down until February 10. The Council of Ministers met until midnight yesterday, announcing that a decision would be made today. Should the committee not amend its recommendations, all exits and entries to Nicosia and Kyrenia will stop. Only the Finance Ministry, Customs, the Fire Department and the Electricity Authority will remain open. Pharmacies, bakeries and supermarkets will also continue to operate.
- “We are not refugees’ – Workers working in the south who reacted to the quarantine rule staged a protest with their families.
You are all murderers
S.Ç, who died of coronavirus was disinfected and buried with a bulldozer… S.Ç’s family, who was only allowed to attend the funeral from a distance of 20 metres, was outraged. S.Ç’s sister K.K said, “My brother wasn’t even a smoker… You are all murderers!” She added her brother had entered the quarantine facility walking and was buried days later with a bulldozer in a sealed coffin as they helplessly watched from a distance.
- We are not refugees – The Turkish Cypriots working in the south staged a protest at Metehan (Agios Dhometios). Police seized the food and beverages sent to the protesting workers by their friends.
- 30 local, 32 positive cases – Two more admitted to the intensive care bringing the total to five currently being treated at ICU.
Main News
CTP urges two leaders to adhere to UN parameters
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) on Monday said that the current deadlock in efforts to solve the Cyprus Problem can only be overcome by remaining committed to UN parameters and preserving the basis of the talks.
In a statement, CTP reiterated its position that a bicommunal, bizonal federal (BBF) solution with a single sovereignty, single international personality and single citizenship, is the most realistic option for a solution on the island.
It added that the reunification of the island under a federal roof with political equality of the two sides will also contribute help reinstate stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and will improve Turkey’s relations with the EU.
CTP urged the two community leaders to adhere to the UN parameters in Cyprus to find a swift settlement to the Cyprus problem.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Monday held a half-hour-long videoconference with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as part of preparations for a 5+1 informal meeting. No statement was issued after the meeting.
KEY ACTORS
CTP
>> Deadlock on Cyprob can only be overcome if sides remain committed to BBF.
>> BBF with a single sovereignty, single international personality & citizenship is a more realistic option.
>> A solution will help reinstate stability to East Med & contribute to Turkish-EU relations.
2nd shipment of Pfizer vaccines delivered, TC side considering lockdown
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The second batch of 1,170 Pfizer vaccine doses was delivered to the Turkish Cypriot community on Monday, through the Metehan (Agios Dhometios) crossing point.
The delivery was arranged through the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health and concerns part of the vaccines reserved for Cyprus by the EU. Last week, the first batch of 1,080 doses was delivered.
Pfizer vaccines are being used in the north for people over the age of 65 or with various health conditions while the rest of the public is being administered China’s Sinovac vaccine donated by Turkey. Health Minister Ali Pilli on Monday said that vaccinations would resume on Tuesday at facilities announced earlier.
In the meantime, the north was gripped with fear and panic on Monday after another record number of cases were detected and more people died. Although schools re-opened on Monday, except for those between Çatalköy (Ayios Epiktitos) and Karşıyaka (Vasilia) where a larger number of cases have been detected recently, attendance was low.
As the day progressed, news of new cases popping up everywhere forced the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases to convene an emergency meeting. By late evening, the committee produced a new set of measures that included a two-week lockdown of Nicosia and Kyrenia.
In this regard, the committee recommended to shut all businesses and public offices in Nicosia and Kyrenia and ban people from going in or out of the two cities. Essential services, pharmacies, bakeries and supermarkets would continue to operate.
The cabinet, however, despite holding an emergency meeting which ended around midnight, did not adopt any of the recommended decisions.
Speaking at a press conference shortly after midnight, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner said that the cabinet had conveyed its sensitivities concerning a lockdown to the committee and had asked its members to review the recommendations. He said the committee will be announcing the final measures on Tuesday.
TCs working in the south continue their protests
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriots working in the south staged yet another protest on Monday demanding equal treatment and equal rights with Turkish Cypriots working for the UN, EU and organisations who are allowed to cross over for work.
The workers and their family members gathered at the north section of the Metehan (Agios Dhometios) crossing point while another group of workers, who had previously agreed to stay at state-monitored quarantine facilities upon their return gathered at the southern end to protest the decisions adopted by the Turkish Cypriot authorities.
“We want to be reunited with our families,” the workers cried out.
The workers reiterated their demand to be given equal rights as the other Turkish Cypriots working for the UN, the EU and at the British Bases.
The dailies report that even though the workers at the northern section of the checkpoint had dispersed due to the night-time curfew, the other workers remained in the buffer zone between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot checkpoints.
The protests are expected to continue on Tuesday as well.
Turkey-Greece exploratory talks end on a positive note
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The first round of the 61st exploratory talks between Turkey and Greece in nearly five years concluded on Monday with a positive note even though several divergences on key issues remain.
Turkish and Greek officials evaluated the issues from previous rounds – which ended in 2016 – as well as the current situation, recent developments and possible steps to be taken on issues that cause tension between the two neighbours.
Nonetheless, the Turkish dailies, citing diplomatic sources in Ankara, noted that the parties did not reach an agreement on the issues to be discussed.
While Ankara favoured discussing all issues of disagreement between the two, Greece demanded to limit the talks to only the demarcation of exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and the continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Among the topics that Turkey wanted to be brought to the table was the status of some the Greek islands in the Aegean as well as the issue of airspace.
Turkish Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın, who also attended the meeting alongside Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Önal, said in a tweet that a solution to all of the problems is possible and Turkey has the will for it, underlining the benefits of regional peace and stability.
In the meantime, the US welcomed the first round of talks between Greece and Turkey in nearly five years.
“We support all efforts to reduce tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Twitter.
The second meeting of the 61st session of exploratory talks is expected to be held in Athens.