Front Page Headlines
Support for workers becomes a lie
It was first said that overdue support payments from 2020 for workers (affected by the pandemic) were to be paid on December 30. However, the date for payments was later pushed to February 5 but never realised. What has been announced in the new package on the other hand is not clear.
- There are bans in place but… – There are many people on the streets even though local cases continue to rise. 349 persons violated the restrictions. 11 businesses were fined.
Claims of sexual abuse emerge in ‘adze’ murder investigation
It emerged that S.C., who was arrested as a suspect in the murder of her fiancé Halil İbrahim Mengi, had a cut on her ear. Her aunt C.O. claimed that the victim had sexually abused her.
- We will be vaccinated in three phases – Health Minister Ali Pilli announced the three-phase Covid-19 vaccination plan in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations.
- 32 locally transmitted, 50 new cases – Health Minister Ali Pilli said one of the identified cases came via air travel, 11 cases were identified in Nicosia, 26 in Kyrenia, three in Famagusta, six in Güzelyurt (Morphou) and three in İskele (Trikomo).
- Fuat Oktay and his team will be arriving in the TRNC today – A high-level delegation from Turkey will be carrying out a two-day working visit.
- We are officially bankrupt – Public transport came to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic. There are neither tourists nor students. Head of KAR-İŞ (Public Transport Companies Union) Fuat Topaloğlu expressed his frustration.
Doctors have run out of patience
The Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association, the Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Union, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Doctors and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Dentists have expressed outrage over a decision to keep Covid-19 patients in the same quarantine facility with those who have come into contact with positive cases. The four organisations, in a joint statement, claimed that Health Minister Ali Pilli and his ministry were only able to provide short-term solutions and failed to come up with a general plan on addressing the issues.
- 100 not enough, make it 200 – KAMU-SEN (TC Public Workers’ Union), the Turkish Cypriot Union for Nurses and Midwives and KTAMS (TC Public Servants’ Union) staged a protest outside the pandemic hospital, arguing that hiring 100 nurses will not be enough.
- A two-state solution is the only solution – President (Ersin) Tatar evaluated the statements made by Greek Prime Minister (Kyriacos) Mitsotakis and Greek Cypriot leader (Nicos) Anastasiades on the 5+1 informal meeting and the Cyprus problem.
- “We won’t even discuss a two-state (model)” – Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis came together to identify their joint position at the 5+1 meeting.
- No changes in the cabinet – Prime Minister Ersan Saner, speaking to Havadis, denied rumours that Health Minister Ali Pilli had been removed from his post and replaced by Public works minister Ünal Üstel.
He’s become a trouble
TRNC security forces carried out an operation on land and in the air to catch the Russian fugitive. SWAT teams and a large police force searched for Alexandr Satlaev for hours in the Kyrenia foothills. The Russian national, an ex-police detective who escaped from prison is thought to be hiding somewhere between Dikmen (Dikomo) and Çiklos (Kyklos). A helicopter was also called in to aid with the search for the fugitive who is a wanted serial rapist in Russia.
Doctors: The lockdown must continue
The Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association said detection of the mutated version of the Sars Cov-2 virus in the country was an expected development, noting that the UK variant caused a higher infection rate… The restrictions must remain in force, vaccination drive must continue. Four doctors’ organisations in their joint statement, expressed their concern for holding coronavirus positive patients in the same facility with those who were isolated for having come into contact with positive cases.
- One goes, another one comes – Fuat Oktay will be coming after Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. In the official statement issued for Oktay’s visit, it is stated the Turkey-TRNC financial collaboration protocol will be discussed.
- The Greek Cypriot side identified its red lines – They will not even open the two-state solution model, which was put forward by the Turkish side, for discussion.
- 156 more nurses needed – Three trade unions with members from the health sector staged a protest.
- 75,000 rapid tests – Pilli announced 75,000 rapid tests will be delivered from the EU.
Main News
TC leadership slams Mitsotakis for comments on Cyprob
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot leadership hit out on Tuesday over remarks made by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a visit to Nicosia the previous day.
Both Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and Prime Minister Ersan Saner criticized statements made after Mitsotakis met Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, where a reference was made to Turkey as an occupying force on the island.
Anastasiades said the island’s reunification must include termination of the anachronistic system of guarantees and withdrawal of Turkish troops. Mitsotakis, on the other hand, said that both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots “must be aware that a resumption of a substantial dialogue is possible only within the existing and binding margins,” ruling out the possibility of a two-state model.
Responding to the Greek premier’s remarks with a written statement on Tuesday, Tatar repeated his vision in favour of a two-state solution based on sovereign equality, safeguarded by Turkey’s guarantees. He also said that he will not back down from tabling it at the upcoming informal summit.
Tatar described Mitsotakis’ remarks as provocative, arguing that Greece and the Greek Cypriot side’s mindset, which manifested itself in the form of the rejection of all solution plans or proposals tabled so far, had not changed.
The Turkish Cypriot leader put forward his usual arguments that the Greek Cypriots neither accepted the political equality of Turkish Cypriots nor were willing to share power or wealth with them. He pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side’s insistence on zero troops and zero guarantees justified the Turkish Cypriot side’s position in favour of a two-state solution.
Also slamming Mitsotakis’s remarks, Saner said the Greek Prime Minister’s remarks were far from reflecting the realities on the island.
“If there is an occupying power in Cyprus, it is the Greek Cypriot side that ousted us by force of arms from the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) in 1963 and took alone the state of which we were partners of,” he said, adding that Greek Cypriots and Greece do not want a common agreement on the Cyprus issue.
“Their dream is to sever the ties of Turkish Cypriots with Turkey, to give us minority rights in the so-called RoC which has become a Greek state for the interests of the Greek nation,” he added. Saner said the views expressed during Mitsotakis’ visit were clear – that Greece and the Greek Cypriots still oppose the creation of a new partnership.
“They clearly say that they want the so-called RoC to continue its path and us being absorbed in the unitary state dominated by Greek Cypriots. They reject our sovereign equality and ostensibly claim that they want a functioning state structure. However, their intention is not to make us partners in the decisions.”
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> TC side will table two-state-solution at the informal meeting. Out of the question for the TC side to abandon this position.
>> GC side’s position opposing TCs’ political equality has not changed.
>> GC side’s insistence on zero troops & zero guarantees justification for TC side’s position in favour of a two-state solution.
Saner (UBP)
>> Greece & GC side opposes the creation of a new partnership or to include TCs as partners in decision-making processes.
Kızılyürek says PDO registration for Hellim (Halloumi) ready
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Akel MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek on Tuesday said the agreement on the product of designated origin (PDO) for Hellim (Halloumi) was ready. He added that the European Commission will amend the Green Line Regulation (GLR) making it possible for the Turkish Cypriot producers to be included in the process.
In a statement issued from his representation office in the north, Kızılyürek also noted the Commission will also provide support to Turkish Cypriot producers to increase the quality and standards of their products.
Kızılyürek said that following the PDO registration, the Cypriot cheese will only be produced in Cyprus under the name Hellim (Halloumi). This he added will create a unique opportunity for Turkish Cypriot producers.
“This is a historic opportunity for high-quality Hellim (Halloumi) produced by Turkish Cypriots to enter the EU market,” Kızılyürek said, noting that the scope could be broadened with other dairy produce and meat as well.
Kızılyürek also underlined that entry of the Turkish Cypriot products into the EU market will not only enable economic and social development but will also allow the Turkish Cypriot community to grow closer to the bloc.
He recalled the process had been launched in 2015 with a joint agreement reached by the then Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker with Cypriot leaders Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akıncı.
Pilli reveals north’s vaccination plan, puts brakes on private initiative
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli revealed the north’s vaccination plan on Tuesday putting an end to efforts launched by various businessmen and groups to raise money for the purchase of vaccines through private initiatives.
In a written statement, Pilli said the shipments of vaccines were regulated through protocol agreements made between states to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
He added that therefore there was no need for a fund-raising campaign to purchase vaccines from other sources. Pilli, however, acknowledged that the efforts launched by the various individuals or groups were well-intended.
Touching on the ongoing vaccination drive, the Turkish Cypriot health minister said 40,000 people have received the first dose of the vaccine. He added that 4,500 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines were delivered from the EU, in addition to the 40,000 Sinovac vaccines donated by Turkey.
Pilli pointed out the goal was to vaccinate 75 per cent of the population which would amount to 600,000 doses.
As announced on Tuesday, the north’s vaccination programme consists of three phases. The first group of people to be vaccinated include health professionals (public and private sectors), people above the age of 65 and those with chronic illnesses.
The second group will include teachers and education staff, essential services staff such as police, public transport drivers, firefighters, supermarket employees, lower-income groups and athletes. The third and final phase will include all remaining individuals aged between 18 and 50.
Pilli said the goal is to conclude the vaccination drive by the end of March.