Front Page Headlines
Capacity increased: from 175 to 705
Yenidüzen visits the newly built central prison. There are currently 570 inmates in the central prison which is built to house 175. Officials are waiting for a team of inspectors from the Turkish Justice Ministry is to give the green light to move to the new prison.
A 25 per cent drop in renewals for full insurance and 15 per cent for third-party insurance
The public’s purchasing power has dropped significantly due to the pandemic and the economic crisis, making it difficult for many to make ends meet. Some, who have cut down on spending to be able to pay their monthly bills, are not renewing their already expensive car insurance.
- “Don’t get involved in a woman’s job” – The nine female MPs in parliament drew attention to gender inequality in their March 8 International Women’s Day speeches by using sexist idioms against men.
- Cost of life drops by two-thousandth! – The Statistics Department announced a 0.02 per cent decrease in the consumer price index. The inflation rate for two months is calculated at 0.46 per cent and the annual inflation is 12.93 per cent.
“Two-state” obstacle for Hellim (Halloumi)
The EU is about to approve Hellim (Halloumi) exports to European markets but Turkish Cypriot producers are faced with a problem. Akel MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek warned the Turkish Cypriot producers could miss out on a historic opportunity to enter the 450 million-strong European market.
- State and sovereignty – President Ersin Tatar reiterated his strategy for Geneva after meeting with UN Secretary-General’s special envoy Jane Holl Lute.
- Anastasiades wants to continue the negotiations from where they left off – UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) special envoy Jane Holl Lute’s preparations for the informal five-plus-one started with the meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades.
- Federation is the only solution – Peace Association greeted UNSG’s special envoy Jane Holl Lute with banners.
- EU insists on Cyprus – Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said the Cyprus issue is an EU problem and expressed the desire to be included in the talks.
More to come
(Economy and Energy) Minister Erhan Arıklı announced that three top officials have been removed from duty as part of an ongoing investigation at the Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority (KIB-TEK). Speaking to Diyalog, Arıklı said that three more officials will be relieved of their duties before the weekend.
- We will not accept any imposition – President Tatar who met with Lute said they discussed the details of the five-way conference. He gave important messages.
- A win-win for all – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the phone underlined the importance of a two-state solution.
Cry for debts, interest and rent
Organisations: We will not accept bankruptcy as our fate! A group of civil society organisations laid out their demands from the government…The organisations before all, demand a new law to be made to regulate bank interest rates, which people have been suffering from. They demand all debts to the state and to the banks to be deferred for six months without any interest until the pandemic is over. The organisations also demand all lease agreements that regulate the rents and the relationship between the tenant and the property owner to be restructured.
- Federal greeting to Lute – UNSG’s special envoy Jane Holl Lute en route to her meeting with Ersin Tatar yesterday was greeted by the Turkish Cypriot Peace Association who put up ‘pro-federal solution’ banners.
- Night clubs must be closed – Mesarya (Mesaoria) Women’s Initiative demanded the night clubs be closed in their statement issued to mark March 8 International Women’s Day.
- “Love Erdoğan” response to “Stop Erdoğan”
- An 81-year-old German woman and her garbage house – 81-year-old German woman living in Esentepe (Agios Amvrosios) was taken to hospital following the German Consulate’s initiative by the Health Ministry and the municipality.
Main News
Tatar says he will attend 5+1 in goodwill but stands firm on two-state solution
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Monday said the Turkish Cypriot side will be attending the five-plus-one meeting in goodwill to achieve a fair and permanent solution to the Cyprus Problem. He however stood firm on his two-state position.
Speaking after he met with the UN Secretary General’s (UNSG) special envoy Jane Holl Lute on Monday, Tatar said the meeting had focused on the technical modalities of the upcoming informal meeting.
He pointed out Cyprus needed new approaches that will contribute to peace and stability in the region instead of insisting on failed processes. “We believe therefore the only possible model is a two-state solution based on sovereign equality and equal international status,” Tatar said, adding that it would be a win-win situation for all.
The Turkish Cypriot leader added the Turkish Cypriot state, its sovereignty and Turkey’s unilateral right of intervention should there be a problem in the future, must be at the core of any agreement to be found on the island. “We will not allow the Greek Cypriot authority to be extended to the north,” Tatar stressed, adding that the two states on the island can co-exist side by side and collaborate. We will continue to protect our state and our sovereignty,” Tatar concluded.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Cypriot Peace Association and FEMA – Turkish Cypriot Feminist Atelier – once again greeted Lute on her way to meeting Tatar with banners reading, “Federal solution is our will, United Federal Cyprus,” “Women want Peace” and “Neither partition nor secession but a federal solution.”
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> TC side will be attending 5+1 meeting in goodwill.
>> New approaches needed in Cyprus rather than insisting on failed processes.
>> The only possible model is a two-state solution based on sovereign equality & equal international status. This will be a win-win situation for all.
>> TC state, its sovereignty & Turkey’s unilateral right of intervention must be at the core of any agreement to be reached.
>> Two states on the island can co-exist side by side & collaborate.
Erdoğan: Two-state solution is a win-win model for all
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated Ankara’s position in favour of a two-state solution during a telephone conversation he had with the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Erdoğan during the conversation said Ankara welcomed the UK’s efforts on the Cyprus issue, adding that a two-state solution would result in a win-win situation not only for the two sides on the island but for everyone in terms of new opportunities for regional cooperation.
A separate statement issued from 10 Downing Street said the two leaders discussed the upcoming UN Cyprus talks in Geneva and that Mr Johnson “emphasised that the UK continues to be a strong supporter of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue, based on the internationally accepted model of a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF).”
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın on Monday said Turkey could turn a new page with Cairo and the Gulf countries, describing Egypt as the brain and heart of the Arab world. “We want to cooperate with Egypt in Eastern Mediterranean, Libya and the Palestine issue,” Kalın said, adding that the two could take bilateral constructive steps to stabilise the region from North Africa to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Kalın noted Ankara does not have insolvable problems with Egypt or with any other country in the Arab world, adding that dialogue is the first step to build relations.
KEY ACTORS
Erdoğan (Turkey)
>> Ankara welcomes the UK’s efforts on the Cyprus issue.
>> A two-state solution will be a win-win situation not only for the two sides but for everyone.
Johnson (UK)
>> UK continues to be a strong supporter of a comprehensive BBF solution in Cyprus.
Kalın (Turkey)
>> Turkey can turn a new page with Cairo & Gulf countries.
>> Turkey wants to cooperate with Egypt in East Med, Libya & the Palestine Issue.
>> Ankara does not have insolvable problems with Egypt or any other Arab country.
Kızılyürek warns TCs could lose EU market with two-state rhetoric
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Akel MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek on Monday said the preparations for Hellim (Halloumi) to enter the 450 million-strong European market are almost complete but that Turkish Cypriots are faced with the risk of losing out due to the Turkish Cypriot leadership’s latest rhetoric on two separate states and sovereignty.
In a statement issued from his representation office in the north, Kızılyürek stressed once the registration of Hellim (Halloumi) as a product of designated origin (PDO) will be completed within the coming two months, restricting the traditional cheese production to Cyprus. This, he said, poses an unprecedented opportunity for the Turkish Cypriot producers.
“Nonetheless, those who are ready to forego this opportunity by focusing on two-states and separate sovereignty, are being unfair on the Turkish Cypriots,” Kızılyürek said.
He added that the EU Commission will amend the Green Line Regulation (GLR) making it possible for the Turkish Cypriot producers, who can barely survive even with state subsidies, to start exporting Hellim (Halloumi) to the bloc for almost double the price.
Kızılyürek also mentioned that the Turkish Cypriot producers need to increase the quality and standards of their products to meet the bloc’s high quality and hygiene standards. He said the commission will provide the necessary support in this regard.
Trade unions demand a demilitarized & independent federation
Yenidüzen
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The women’s branches of eight trade unions which are members of the World Federation Trade Unions (WFTU) gave out a message of peace on Monday to mark March 8, International Women’s Day.
PEO (Pan-Cyprian Federation of Labour), DEV-İŞ (Turkish Cypriot Federation for Revolutionary workers’ Unions), BES (Turkish Cypriot Municipal workers’ union), KTÖS (Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union), KTOEÖS (Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers’ Union), KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot public servants’ union), KOOP-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Cooperative Workers’ Union), DAÜ-SEN (Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Academic staff Union) in a video message shared on social platforms demanded a demilitarized and independent federation in Cyprus.
Drawing attention to limited or restricted contact between the two communities due to the pandemic, the trade union representatives said they found the opportunity to send messages of solidarity with thousands of women whilst uniting in their struggle for peace, equality, and social justice on the island.
The representatives also raised their joint concern for the increasing inequalities, poverty, unemployment, social alienation, violence, sexual abuse and violation of worker rights as a result of the worsening pandemic conditions across the island.
The trade unions also expressed their joint concerns over the latest developments on the island and in the region. “We, therefore, reiterate our loyalty and determination for a BBF solution based on the political equality of the two communities and united Cyprus will have single sovereignty, single citizenship and single international personality,” the representatives said.
The trade unions asked the negotiations to resume from the point the process had been left off in Crans Montana in line with the Guterres framework. The union representatives asked the two Cypriot leaders to attend the upcoming five-plus-one meeting to reunite the island and unite the two communities.