Front Page Headlines
Support scheme to the private sector only 2 per cent of total funds
(Republican Turkish Party leader) Tufan Erhürman who spoke to Yenidüzen said that only 2 per cent of the ₺3.25bn (€3.7m) funds allocated for the Turkish Cypriot economy in the recently signed cooperation protocol will be used for supporting the private sector. “We’re trying to walk in a dark room blindfolded. We keep on hitting a wall. Every time we take a step, more and more people are going bankrupt or losing their jobs.
- Here are the new decisions – 1: The night-time curfew between 9 pm and 5 am will continue. 2: The partial curfew on the weekends will continue. 3: Only pharmacies and bakeries will remain open on Sundays. 4: Movement among districts will be controlled by police. 5: Restaurants will be able to open outdoor seating areas on March 10. 6: Special needs education centres will open as of March 8. 7: Employees will be able to withdraw ₺2,000 (€222) from their provident fund savings in March and April. 8: The renewal period for expired driving licenses has been extended until March 31.
New relaxations on condition of PCR tests
The Council of Ministers adopted new decisions towards the gradual relaxation of restrictions. The night-time curfew from 9 pm to 5 am remains in force from March 8 onwards. The weekend measures also remain unchanged. Like today, all the businesses other than supermarkets, bakeries, butcheries, greengrocers, petrol stations, pharmacies, and suppliers to agriculture and livestock breeding sectors will remain shut. On Sundays, pharmacies, bakeries will be open and livestock breeding and agriculture activities are permitted. Travel in and out of Nicosia and Kyrenia will be restricted due to a higher rate of infections compared to the other districts and will remain under the control of the District Security Boards.
- Our goal is to export TRNC products to other countries without difficulties – Economy and Energy Minister Erhan Arıklı and Turkish Minister for Trade Ruhsar Pekcan held a meeting with representatives of the business community. Pekcan emphasized she wants to increase investments and bilateral trade relations.
- Tourism workers were on the streets – Tourism workers’ initiative organized a protest to make their voice heard by the government.
- 180 travel agents in difficulty – Travel agencies initiative asked the government for support.
All remains the same until March 15
The government, ignoring reactions from closed sectors, has extended the measures in place. The TRNC government, in line with recommendations made by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases, decided to continue to implement the measures in place. While all entertainment venues remain closed, restaurants will be allowed to serve sit-in customers outdoors. The night-time curfew between 9 pm and 5 am will continue. While only supermarkets, butchers, bakeries, grocery stores, pharmacies and essential sectors will remain open on Saturdays, Sundays will see a closure of all businesses except for pharmacies and bakeries (production only). Our newspaper will not be published tomorrow and on Sunday, March 14 because supermarkets will be closed on Sunday.
- No quarantine – Brits who have proof of vaccination will be able to visit South Cyprus as of May 1.
- No loss of life – 39 cases in the north and 273 new cases in the south.
Money to pour in for proponent media
The proponent media was not forgotten in the new (economic) package! The Turkey-TRNC financial collaboration protocol has also allocated financial support for the proponent media. In this regard, upon approval from the Turkish Embassy, ₺3m (€334,000) will be distributed to various media organisations.
- The protocol agreement is clear – Tahir Gökçebel, General Secretary of KTOEÖS (Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers’ Union) said the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s one-man rule, as well as Ankara’s plans for the north, are concealed with flowery words in the protocol agreement.
- The day time curfew is over – According to the latest decisions announced by the Council of Ministers, the weekday daytime curfew has been lifted…Many businesses are reopening.
- 3,570 doses of EU vaccines delivered – A total of 10,570 doses of vaccines of which 5,670 are Pfizer BioNTech and 4,900 AstraZeneca, have been sent by the EU to the Turkish Cypriots.
Main News
Tatar remains firm on two-state solution during his meeting with Borrell
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar of Friday reiterated his calls for a two-state solution and questioned the EU’s role in the peace process – saying that the Greek Cypriot side and Greece exert internal pressure on the bloc.
Speaking after he met with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borell, Tatar remained firm on his position, which as he puts it: “In Cyprus there can be a cooperation agreement between two states that will live side by side, based on sovereign equality.”
“Such an agreement will help create lasting peace across the island but also a safer and more secure region.” Borell who was in Cyprus for contacts ahead of the five-way conference met separately with the two leaders on Friday. Tatar laid out his expectations that the bloc approaches the Cyprus issue based on the realities on the island.
In a press conference after he met with Borell, Tatar said he will be tabling the Turkish Cypriot side’s new vision for a fair, realistic and sustainable solution at the summit.
Tatar said the “crucial aspect in the Turkish Cypriot side’s new vision is a collaboration between the two sides,” adding that in such a case, the unsustainable status quo would end, ensuring prosperity, stability and security both on the island and in the region. He also reiterated his objections to the EU attending the five-plus-one meeting, arguing that the EU cannot be impartial.
He added the EU could hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the conference but had no place at the table.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said he had also raised the issue of Hellim (Halloumi), Covid-19 vaccines, problems being experienced in trade through the Green Line Regulation (GLR) and restrictions introduced at crossing points during his meeting with Borell.
On the registration of Hellim (halloumi) as a PDO, Tatar conveyed the Turkish Cypriot side’s expectation for Hellim (Halloumi) bring produced in the north to be granted the same rules that apply for other goods exported through the GLR.
He said he had asked Borrell to convince the Greek Cypriot side to lift the obstacles on Hellim (Halloumi) exports via GLR regulation and had highlighted the importance of product-compliance inspectors to be either appointed by the EU or by the two community leaders.
“We hope this issued will be solved before the five-plus-one meeting,” Tatar said. He also asked Borrell to assist the Turkish Cypriot potato growers in exporting 2,000 tons of produce. Tatar pointed out that the potato crop couldn’t be inspected because the only phytosanitary inspector on the roster was unable to travel to the north during the planting season to carry out inspections due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
Regarding financial assistance from the EU, the Turkish Cypriot leader said that despite the €2.7b allocated for the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) under the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) programme, no increase had been made to the €240m in financial assistance to the Turkish Cypriot community over the last seven years.
Tatar added including the Turkish Cypriot side in the EUSF scheme would help the north alleviate the negative effects of the pandemic, as well as help, close the economic gap between the two sides.
On the issue of restrictions at crossing points, Tatar said he was willing to collaborate with the Greek Cypriot side on normalisation at crossing points. He however said that the EU needs to persuade the Greek Cypriot side to lift the ban imposed on EU citizens from crossing to the north.
Tatar pointed out both the north and south sides have suffered economically due to the pandemic, adding that tourism will assist both sides in overcoming the economic problems. He also complained about the slow delivery of EU vaccines earmarked for the Turkish Cypriot community, stating that the Turkish Cypriot side had only received only one-tenth of what was delivered to the Greek Cypriot.
He added the 75,000 rapid test kits promised for the Turkish Cypriot community have not been delivered either. On the issue of hydrocarbons, Tatar reiterated the Turkish Cypriot side’s readiness and willingness to participate in a regional conference as proposed by Turkey to resolve the issues in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, Borrell said on Friday that there is a “real opportunity” to seize a settlement on the Cyprus issue. “The UN work on the ground is essential for confidence building. Upcoming UN informal 5+1 talks provide an opportunity for an urgently needed resumption of talks. The EU is strongly committed to supporting these efforts,” Josep Borrell tweeted after meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades.
Following talks with Tatar, Borrell said on social media that he underlined the “importance of reaching agreement on settlement negotiations & of the relaunch of UN process,” in accordance with established parameters. “EU ready to provide full support to the benefit of all Cypriots,” he said.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> There can be a cooperation agreement in Cyprus between two states that will live side-by-side, based on sovereign equality.
>> Such a solution will create lasting peace across the island & region.
>> Hellim (Halloumi) exports through GLR should be subject to the same rules as other products.
>> Including the TC side in EUSF would help ease the impact of the pandemic on the TC economy & help close the economic gap with the south.
>> TC side ready to collaborate with GC side on reopening crossing points.
>> EU need to persuade GC side to lift restrictions on EU citizens crossing north. Tourism will help economic recovery on both sides.
>> TC side ready to attend a conference on settling the issue of hydrocarbons.
Borrell (EU)
>> EU is strongly committed to supporting efforts for the resumption of talks in accordance with established parameters.
New shipment of EU vaccines delivered to the north
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs
OVERVIEW
3,570 doses of EU vaccines earmarked for the Turkish Cypriot community were delivered to Turkish Cypriot health officials through the bicommunal technical committee on health on Friday morning.
The shipment, which was received at the Metehan (Agios Domethios) crossing, includes 1,170 Pfizer BioNTech and 2,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines.
With the latest shipments, the total number of EU vaccines delivered to the Turkish Cypriot community has reached 10,570. Among these, there are 5,670 Pfizer BioNTech vaccines and 4,900 AstraZeneca vaccines. Turkey, in the meantime, has sent 100 thousand doses of Sinovac vaccines to date.
In the meantime, main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman slammed Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu for his earlier statements rejecting vaccines sent by the EU on grounds that this was undermining the Turkish Cypriot side’s vision for a two-state solution.
Erhürman nonetheless said the 10,570 doses were still far below what was earmarked for the Turkish Cypriot community. In a post on social, Erhürman called on Ertuğruloğlu not to complain but to work on obtaining what’s allocated for the Turkish Cypriot community.
Varosha (Maraş) should be a place for all to benefit from
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
Akif Çağatay Kılıç,head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Parliament, said Ankara sees Varosha (Maraş) as a place from where everyone on the island can benefit from.
On Friday, Kılıç and an accompanying delegation from the Turkish parliament visited the recently opened beachfront at the fenced-off town. During the visit, Kılıç said the reopening had shown the world Ankara’s resolute stance on protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.
Kılıç expressed hope that the entire town will be reopened soon and be at the “service of all humanity.”