TCC Press Review 7 Mar 2021

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Men make up 46 per cent of the unemployed population, women 59.2 per cent

According to statistics, 46 per cent of the TRNC’s population is made up of women but many find it difficult to find jobs. The Statistics Department announced figures on the occasion of March 8 International Women’s Day. 41 per cent of unemployed women are housewives, 17.9 per cent students, 17 per cent retired and 7.5 per cent are unable to work. A majority of 90 per cent work in the service sector while 1.1 per cent work in construction.

  • Claims of barbed wire against “illegal crossings” – A new decision adopted by the south serving the division on the island.
  • March 8 event in the South – The March 8 Labourer Women march was held in the south of Cyprus.

Kıbrıs

The quarantine cost for students will not exceed ₺30m (€3.4m)

Education Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu pointed out that universities all around the world are calling students who need to take applied classes to graduate this semester back for in-class education. He said the state will not need to pay more than ₺30m (€3.4m) for the quarantine cost for these students.

  • The EU continues to disregard the realities on the island – Prime Minister Ersan Saner harshly criticised High Representative Josep Borrell’s remarks on the solution plan. Saner said the EU continues to treat the Turkish Cypriot side unfairly and has not kept its promises to them.
  • Five locally transmitted, a total of 14 positive coronavirus cases identified, 34 people discharged – 6,426 tests were carried out in the last 24 hours.

Diyalog

N/A due to lockdown

Avrupa

N/A due to lockdown

Main News

Saner: The EU should support tabling alternative solution models

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister and leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) Ersan Saner on Saturday called on the EU to support alternative solution models in Cyprus if it wants a solution on the island. He added the Turkish Cypriot side will not give up on its demand for a two-state solution based on sovereign equality.

Saner, in a statement issued on Saturday, criticised Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC for his remarks made during his meetings with Greek Cypriot officials.

Borrell following his meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades had reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment towards a bicommunal, bizonal federal (BBF) solution model, highlighting that the upcoming five-plus-one informal meeting provides an opportunity towards an urgently needed resumption of talks.

Saner, accusing the EU of disregarding the realities on the island, said the bloc was treating Turkish Cypriots unfairly and siding with the Greek Cypriot side. He said Crans Montana was the latest in a long line of processes since 1968 that had collapsed due to the Greek Cypriot side’s rejectionist attitude.

“Borrell, in support of the Greek Cypriot positions, cannot ask us to give up on our sovereignty, our state, or our security and to submit to the Greek Cypriot side,” Saner stressed, adding that the bloc due to its biased approach cannot sit at the table during the informal five-plus-one meeting in Geneva.

“There are two sovereign states in Cyprus and any solution on the island will have to take this fact into consideration,” Saner said, adding that Ankara is fully supportive of the Turkish Cypriot side’s stance as well.

KEY ACTORS
Saner (UBP)
>> EU treats TCs unfairly & biased in favour of GCs.
>> EU should support alternative solution models if it wants a settlement in Cyprus.
>> EU cannot ask TCs to abandon their state, sovereignty & security.


Erhürman: We need a solution urgently

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman highlighted the urgency of a solution in Cyprus following reports in the Greek Cypriot media of plans by Greek Cypriot authorities to erect a barbed wire fence from Astromeritis to the UNPA (United Nations Protected Area) or old international airport in an attempt to curb illegal crossings and irregular migrants.

In a social media post on Saturday, Erhürman also urged all relevant sides to realise the vitality of the solution “All relevant sides must realise we need an urged solution on the island, not inhumane acts,” Erhürman said.

Citing Greek Cypriot media, some Turkish Cypriot dailies reported that the Greek Cypriot side will be fencing the stretch from the Nicosia International Airport (NIA) to Astromeritis village to stop illegal crossings of irregular migrants.

KEY ACTOR
Erhürman (CTP)
>>
All sides need to realize the urgency of a solution, not inhumane acts.


Erdoğan: Turkey aims to protect its rights

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs
External Security

OVERVIEW

Turkey is only aiming to protect its rights and territories and does not have any other ulterior motives, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Saturday in his video link address of the Blue Homeland 2021 tactical exercise.

He said attempts have been made to usurp the rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean, but Ankara did not make any concessions on its resolute stance to protect its rights. “We have shown the world we will not allow any fait accompli in the region,” Erdoğan said, adding Ankara will continue to protect its hydrocarbon rights in the Eastern Mediterranean “at all costs.”

In the meantime, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, on Saturday, welcomed Egypt’s decision to respect Turkey’s continental shelf while carrying out seismic research in the Mediterranean.

“We expect this approach to continue,” Akar said, added it is very important that might lead to “different developments” soon. Akar and top military officials on Saturday joined the Blue Homeland 2021 tactical exercise on the Oruç Reis off the Aegean Sea.

KEY ACTORS
Erdoğan (Turkey)
>> Turkey only aims to protect its rights & territories & does not have any ulterior designs.
>> Turkey will not make any concessions from its rights.

Akar (Turkey)
>> Egypt’s decision to respect Turkey’s continental shelf welcoming.
>> We expect an improvement of ties between Turkey & Egypt to continue.


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