Front Page Headlines
5,000 businesses have shut down, 50,000 unemployed
The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans (KTEZO) reveals the true extent of the economic crisis shopkeepers are going through due to the pandemic. According to the chamber, over 5,000 businesses have shut down since March last year leaving 50,000 people unemployed.
- “New funds amounting to ₺2.5bn (€281m), 20,000 more vaccine doses” –The 2021 Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement has been signed. However, the action plan which makes up the annexes of the agreement has not been announced.
Significant contributions to the TRNC economy
Prime Minister Ersan Saner and Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay signed the Turkey-TRNC 2021 Financial and Economic Collaboration Protocol agreement yesterday in Ankara. Turkey will be channelling ₺2.5bn (€281m) to the TRNC. The total amount will reach ₺3.25bn (€365.1m) with last year’s balance carried over.
- 1,135 businesses reopening, 4,000 employees going back to work – Health Ministry and KTEZO signed a letter of undertaking for the opening of the beauty and hairstyling sector. The businesses will operate from 8am to 7pm and anyone violating the rules will be fined up to ₺22,000 (€2,471) or face a prison sentence of up to a year.
- 20,000 doses of (Sinovac) vaccines to be sent from Turkey – The total number of vaccines delivered to date reach 100,000.
- Flames soared from the castle – The cafe located at the middle section of the St. Hilarion Castle was engulfed in flames last night. The fire, believed to have been caused by a lightning strike, spread swiftly with the wind to areas difficult to reach.
The goal of the agreement: Transformation
Turkey-TRNC 2021 Financial and Economic Collaboration Protocol agreement signed. The details of the agreement, which envisages the allocation of ₺2.5bn (€281m) to the TRNC, was announced during the press conference.
- Total 24 fatalities – One more person passed away due to Covid-19.
- Cultural heritage site burnt – A fire broke out at a cafe located in the middle section of the St. Hilarion Castle, the cause of which is unknown. Firefighters, police and soldiers from a nearby camp tried to put out the fire under difficult conditions.
- Bilateral meetings ahead of the five-party – DISY, which is the biggest political party in the south, crossed to the north to hold a meeting with the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP). The agenda was dense.
- Agreed to continue meeting – DISY held a meeting with the People’s Party (HP). They agreed to continue with their meetings.
What else could we want?
₺2.5bn (€281m) Turkish Lira and 20,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines to the TRNC from Turkey. Turkey will be providing financial assistance to the TRNC worth ₺2.5bn (€281m) as part of the 2021 Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement. ₺800m of the money will be used for the budget deficit. Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay announced Turkey would be donating 20,000 more doses of the Sinovac vaccine, adding that the TRNC was among the countries with the highest number of vaccines administered per population.
- Preparation for Geneva – DISY leader Averof Neophytou crossed over to the TRNC to meet separately with CTP leader Tufan Erhürman and HP leader Kudret Özersay.
- He attacked Satan – Archbishop Chrysostomos declares war on the song to be sung by Eleni Tsagrinou at the Eurovision contest.
- Firefighters had a difficult time – A fire which broke out at the St Hilarion castle due to a lightning strike was put out in three hours.
Stop Erdoğan
An ad on an illuminated billboard (photograph published) is put up at one of the busiest avenues in New York. The ad put up by “Turkish Orphans” has become the centre of attention… US President Joe Biden is facing pressure from the US public and media to put pressure on Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for human rights violations in Turkey. The EU has also abandoned the political prisoners in Turkey… When questioned, EU officials, say that this is an internal matter which does not concern them.
- ₺2.5bn (€281m) from Turkey to the TRNC – The financial protocol agreement signed. Turkey has promised to give ₺2.5bn (€281m) in the form of grants to the TRNC.
- Fire at St. Hilarion – The fire destroyed many historical artefacts, archives, photographs on the walls and letters from visitors.
- 20,500 people must be vaccinated for face-to-face education – (Education Minister Olgun) Amcaoğlu said it is not possible to start in-class education without the vaccination.
- 323 positive cases of coronavirus in the south, 27 cases and one more death in the north…
Main News
Ankara says it won’t budge from position favouring two-state solution
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay on Wednesday said that Ankara will not budge from its position in favour of a two-state solution in Cyprus. Oktay was speaking during a joint press conference with Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner shortly after signing the ‘2021 Economic and Finance Cooperation’ protocol in the Turkish capital Ankara.
Addressing reporters, the Turkish vice president said that Turkey’s position regarding the upcoming five-plus-one meeting was clear, that the only way for a solution in Cyprus was a two-state model based on sovereign equality.
Also touching upon the issue of Maraş (Varosha), Oktay said that there was no going back on plans to reopen the fenced-off town as the area was clearly within the north’s territory.
Oktay drew attention to the EU’s attempts to attend the talks as an observer, saying it was not possible to accept this. “There is very little or nothing the EU, which is responsible for further complicating the Cyprus Problem, can bring to the table,” he said, adding that they were in full agreement with the Turkish Cypriot leadership on this issue.
On Maraş (Varosha), he said that the Greek Cypriots had squandered all previous efforts made in goodwill by the Turkish side. “The area from now on will be used for the welfare and benefit of the TRNC, its youth and future generations,” Oktay said.
The Turkish Vice President also drew attention to the embargoes imposed on the north, stating that Turkish Cypriots could no longer be made to suffer under unjust international embargoes and isolations. He said that Turkey, as a guarantor country, will continue to support Turkish Cypriots and defend their rights in the international arena.
On the economy, Oktay announced that Turkey will be channelling ₺2.5bn (€281m) to the north as part of the cooperation protocol to be used to upgrade the country’s infrastructure, aide the private sector affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the implementation of new projects such as e-governance.
A total of 322km of roads will also be built or completed by Turkey in 2021 and 2022 as part of the protocol. Together with the carry-over balance from last year (2020), the financial support to be provided to the north will reach ₺3.25bn (€365.1m).
The Turkish vice president also boasted about the large shipments of Covid-19 vaccines donated to the north. Oktay said that the fourth shipment of 20,000 doses of China’s CoronaVac vaccine to the north would be delivered this week.
He pointed out that Turkey had donated 100,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines placing the north among the top ten countries in the world with the highest number of administered vaccines.
Oktay took the opportunity to criticize the EU, stating that the bloc had only delivered a comical number of Covid-19 vaccines to the Turkish Cypriot community not even worth mentioning. He added that despite its failure to deliver its promises, it was attempting to create the false impression that it was doing an excellent job in vaccinating the Turkish Cypriot community.
For his part, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner expressed his gratitude to Ankara, adding that the ₺2.5bn (€281m) was an important contribution that will help close the north’s budget deficit and help its ailing sectors. “Countries around the world have the IMF. Our IMF is motherland Turkey,” he said.
On the Cyprus Issue, Saner said that Turkey’s and the Turkish Cypriot side’s goal was a two-state solution and that the Turkish Cypriot community had expressed its political will by electing Ersin Tatar as its leader.
Regarding Maraş (Varosha), Saner said that the move taken by the government to reopen the fenced-off town for civilian use had broken the mould. He added the town will be opened in respect of decisions adopted by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
On the issue of vaccines, Saner said that the 100,000 doses delivered to the north were an impressive figure when compared with South Cyprus.
KEY ACTORS
Oktay (Turkey)
>> Turkey will not abandon the two-state policy in Cyprus.
>> Not possible to accept EU’s participation in 5+1 meeting. There is nothing the EU can bring to the table.
>> No going back on reopening Maraş (Varosha) as the area is TC territory.
>> Area will be used for benefit of TCs after GCs rejected all proposals.
>> EU failed TC community on vaccines & is creating the false impression it is vaccinating TCs.
Saner (UBP)
>> Turkey’s & TCs’ goal is to achieve a two-state solution in Cyprus.
>> TCs demonstrated their will for a two-state solution by electing Tatar.
>> TC government broke the mould by reopening Maraş (Varosha) & the town will be opened by respecting ECHR decisions.
Ertuğruloğlu: No need for EU vaccines via south Cyprus
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu on Wednesday extended his position in favour of a two-state solution model to the issue of vaccines too.
In a radio interview with CRI Türk FM, Ertuğruoğlu said there was no need for Covid-19 vaccines earmarked by the EU for the Turkish Cypriot community to be delivered via the south as the delivery undermined the principle of two sovereign states.
“It is a humanitarian issue but as long as our motherland (Turkey) sends us the vaccines, we do not need more vaccines via the south side,” he said, claiming that the number of vaccines sent so far was laughable. Ertuğruloğlu also pointed out that the EU, in line with the existing policies of the Greek Cypriot side, was treating the Turkish Cypriots as a minority when it came to the issue of vaccines.
Also touching upon the negotiations, Ertuğruloğlu repeated his view that negotiations could only yield a positive outcome if carried out between equal entities. He argued that any new partnership to be reached on the island needed to be based on stronger foundations than the one established in 1960.
“We do not want to make the same mistakes we did,” Ertuğruloğlu said, adding that if there is going to be political equality, it will be based on sovereign equality. “This is what a confederal solution is called,” he added.
Responding to a question on the EU’s participation in the five-plus-one conference, Ertuğruloğlu said the bloc is a biased organisation in favour of the Greek Cypriot side.
Criticizing the EU for allowing the Greek Cypriot side to join the bloc before a solution was reached on the Cyprus Problem, Ertuğruloğlu said the Turkish Cypriot side, like Ankara, will not allow the bloc to sit at the table during the informal summit in Geneva. He added EU officials could very well hold bilateral meetings with the parties on the sidelines of the conference.
KEY ACTORS
Ertuğruoğlu (UBP)
>> Delivery of EU’s Covid-19 vaccines via GC side undermined principle of two states.
>> TC side does not need vaccines from the EU as long as Turkey supplies north.
>> EU treating TCs as a minority on the issue of vaccines.
>> Negotiations will yield positive results only if carried out between equal entities.
>> Need stronger foundation than 1960. Political equality should be based on sovereign equality, i.e. a confederal solution.
>> EU cannot participate in the 5+1 conference because it is biased in favour of the GC side.
DISY leader holds meetings in north ahead of 5+1 meeting
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Contacts between political parties across the divide picked up on Wednesday ahead of the five-plus-one meeting in Geneva next month.
DISY leader Averof Neophytou on Wednesday held separate meetings with former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, head of main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman and leader of the People’s Party (HP) Kudret Özersay to discuss the latest developments on the Cyprus problem.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Erhürman said he discussed the upcoming five-plus-one meeting as well as issues such as the product of designated origin (PDO) registration of Hellim (Halloumi), olive oil exports via the Green Line trade regulation, the decision to ban British tourists from crossing to the north, and the EU vaccines earmarked for the Turkish Cypriot community.
On the Cyprus issue, Erhürman reiterated his party’s position in support of a bicommunal, bizonal federal (BBF) solution based on political equality. He added that any agreement, even in the case of a decentralised federation, must include rotational presidency and the one positive vote principle (in decision-making processes).
Reiterating his view on the PDO registration of Hellim (Halloumi), Erhürman highlighted the importance of taking joint initiatives to solve the Hellim (Halloumi) issue in line with Protocol 10 (of the Republic of Cyprus’ EU Accession Treaty). Among other things, he sought Neophytou’s support to launch an initiative to lift the obstacles for exporting olive and olive oil via the Green Line Regulation (GLR). Erhürman also asked the DISY leader to help lift the Greek Cypriot side’s ban imposed on the British tourists crossing over to the north.
In a statement after he met with Neophytou, HP leader Özersay said the two parties exchanged views on the solution of the Cyprus problem and discussed possible confidence-building measures (CBMs).
Turkish Cypriot dailies, citing Greek Cypriot media, report that Neophytou conveyed DISY’s position for a BBF solution based on political equality in line with the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. “The solution of the Cyprus problem is in the best interest of all the Cypriots,” Neophytou said on Wednesday following his meetings in the north.
Neophytou said he would also try to secure a meeting with the National Unity Party (UBP), noting that even though he was against the party’s stance, it was important to also meet with UBP to convey his positions on political equality and the need to reunify the island.
In the meantime, Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit and the party’s general secretary Halil Hızal held a meeting with the British High Commissioner Stephen Lillie on Wednesday. A brief statement was issued following the meeting stating Özyiğit and Lillie exchanged views on the upcoming five-plus-one meeting on the Cyprus problem as well as the pandemic process.
KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> CTP supports a BBF solution based on political equality.
>> A (decentralised) federal solution must include a rotational presidency, one positive vote principle (in decision-making processes).
>> Important to take joint initiatives on PDO registration of Hellim (Halloumi), in line with protocol 10.
>> Obstacles on olive & olive oil exports through GLR should be lifted.
>> Ban on British tourists crossing over to north must be lifted.
Neophytou (DISY)
>> DISY supports a BBF solution based on political equality in line with UNSC resolutions.
>> The solution of the Cyprob is in the best interest of all the Cypriots.
5+1 meeting is a chance to prove federation is unattainable, says Tatar
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Wednesday said the informal five-plus-one meeting will be an opportunity to prove that prospects of reaching a federal settlement are exhausted.
He added that his team will explain to the attending parties why a two-state solution based on sovereign equality and cooperation between two states is the only way a fair and permanent solution can be reached on the island.
In an interview with the TAK news agency, Tatar said the Turkish Cypriot side has nothing to lose if no outcome is achieved at the 5+1 summit as Turkey will always continue to support the north in every field. The Turkish Cypriot leader said the north was neither without alternatives nor desperate enough to accept an imposed solution.
“The UN is well aware that our argument that a federation is not attainable is true. All failed UN attempts in the past are proof of this,” he said, adding that both sides have a very different understanding of how a federal settlement should be.
Tatar also said that there was no room for the EU at the upcoming summit as it was not possible for the bloc to remain impartial after Greece and the Greek Cypriot side became members. “We respect the EU but unfortunately the bloc cannot be an impartial party in this dispute,” he said.
Tatar recalled that even his predecessor Mustafa Akıncı had admitted after the collapse of the previous process in Crans Montana that it was his generation’s last attempt at a federal solution. He argued that any new process will be very different from previous processes.
Tatar said that the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres had also told him that despite the UNSC resolutions he was open to listening to new ideas. Defending his view in favour of a two-state solution, he reminded that Turkish Cypriots have been governing themselves since 1974 and that the north has commercial and social ties with over 100 countries.
He repeated his argument that the dynamics in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean have changed with the discovery of hydrocarbons in the region. “The dynamics have shifted in our favour and with Turkey’s support, our position has become even more important. We are experiencing an upgrade of the TRNC’s status with our policy moves which are in harmony with Turkish foreign policy,” he said.
The Turkish Cypriot leader explained that he will be meeting with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on Friday and the UNSG’s special envoy Jane Holl Lute on Monday.
He also said that he will be informing parliament before he leaves for Geneva. Tatar ruled out the possibility of meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades in Cyprus before heading off to Geneva.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> 5+1 meeting will be an opportunity to explain why a federation is unattainable.
>> TC side has nothing to lose if 5+1 meeting fails to achieve an outcome.
>> North is not without alternatives nor desperate to accept imposed settlement.
>> UN is well aware a federation is unattainable. All previous failed attempts proof of this.
>> UNSG open to new ideas despite UNSC resolutions.
>> EU cannot be at 5+1 because it cannot be impartial following Greece’s & GC side’s membership to the bloc.
>> Dynamics in Cyprus shifted in favour of the TC side following the discovery of hydrocarbons.
>> North’s status is experiencing an upgrade following strategies developed in line with Turkish foreign policy.
Turkey could sign a maritime deal with Egypt
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy
OVERVIEW
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Wednesday said Ankara could sign an agreement with Egypt after negotiating maritime jurisdictions.
Speaking in a joint news conference with his Georgian counterpart Davit Zalkaliani in Ankara, Çavuşoğlu welcomed Egypt’s decision to respect Turkey’s continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean, recalling the fact Cairo had also acted in the same way when signing an agreement with Greece.
“Egypt continues carrying out its activities like seismic exploration and licensing within its continental shelf. In doing so, it continues to respect our continental shelf. We welcome this positively,” he stressed.
In the meantime, Çavuşoğlu spoke to his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias after a strong earthquake rocked the country. The Turkish foreign minister said Turkey was ready to help Greece in case of need, expressing solidarity with it neighbour.
A 6-magnitude earthquake hit the northwest of the Greek city of Larissa just before 12.16pm local time (10:16 GMT) on Wednesday. The quake’s epicentre was northwest of Larissa, Greece’s fifth-most populous city, according to the Institute of Geodynamics in the capital Athens.
Tatar to launch initiatives to export fresh produce to UK
Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Economy
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar said he will launch initiatives to export locally grown potatoes to the post-Brexit UK on Wednesday.
In a statement issued from his office, during a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot Potato Growers’ Association, Tatar expressed his disappointment over the farmers inability to export their produce through the Green Line Regulation (GLR) due to the coronavirus pandemic, adding that he will take up the matter during his meeting with European Commission (EC) Vice President Josep Borrell this Friday.
Head of the Association Engin Halkseven informed Tatar that the potato exports could not be realised during the pandemic period as the phytosanitary expert from the EC could not come to the island to inspect the fields.
He added that the potato growers are ready to do whatever is necessary to carry out “contactless trade” via the Green Line and will apply to the relevant institutions for their financial losses to be compensated.
Fire breaks out at St Hilarion castle
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
A fire at Saint Hilarion castle on the Five Finger (Pentadaktylos) mountain range has damaged a centuries’ old building which was being used as a cafeteria, Turkish Cypriot media reported on Wednesday.
Reports said the fire was put under control at around 8pm, about three hours after it broke out.
The cause was not yet known but it is suspected the blaze could have been caused by a lightning strike since the cafeteria, which is housed in part of the original structure, has been closed due to Covid restrictions.
The owner of the cafeteria, Mustafa Gürsel, told reporters that the power at the cafe had been shut since May last year as the site was closed off to tourists due to the pandemic.