TCC Press Review 11 Mar 2021

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Struck by electricity

Claim no 1: Corrupt practices in the purchase of equipment and fuel. Claim no 2: KIBTEK (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) Director provided his son with an advantage. KIBTEK was sold sub-industry equipment through a firm named SETAŞ. The electric supplies and equipment listed under 24 headings were procured from China. The supplies were purchased for $33USD per item in China and sold to KIBTEK for $124USD. Bar-Er LTD which is owned by KIBTEK Director Gürcan Erdoğan’s son participated in the tender for the construction of a transformer station in 2017 worth ₺4m (€449,000). It is claimed that Erdoğan used his influence to gain an advantage for his son’s firm.

Kıbrıs

Millions of Liras in damages

The ongoing police investigation on the company that won the tender to supply KIBTEK with electrical supplies and equipment was broadened. The company in question supplied and sold KIBTEK equipment much higher than the market prices on grounds that equipment was produced in Turkey. The Court of Auditors’ report however revealed the equipment was not produced in Turkey but China. As a result of the police investigation, six employees have been transferred to other units within KIBTEK.

  • Tourism professionals want “relaxation” (of measures), health professionals want “scientific data”Tourism professionals demand that tourists visiting the island for periods shorter than three days be exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirement so that they can start operating. While the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers’ Association said the proposal will be difficult to control if implemented, the Doctors’ Association wants a risk analysis on infection rates if there is to be any relaxation in the measures for the tourism sector.

Havadis

Starvation threshold: ₺3,906 (€434)

There are tens of thousands of people who have either been laid off or living on the brink of starvation as a result of the economic crisis created by the pandemic. KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot Public Servants’ Union) took the monthly nutritional requirements for a family of four published by the Health Ministry and compared it with the retail prices listed by the Statistics Department. The result is that a family of four needs ₺3,906 (€434) not to starve to death.

  • The virus ran through us – The TRNC has been struggling with the coronavirus for a year. All the sectors that drive the economy have been negatively affected in the country just like other parts of the world.
  • Nuclear threat besides us – The foundation laying ceremony for the third nuclear reactor at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant was held with the participation of (Turkish President) Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link.

Diyalog

Property worth $3bn is waiting for buyers

Head of the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Union (KTIMB) Cafer Gürcafer says that there are 25,000 vacant homes that haven’t been sold. He said that tourism needed to be revived to sell the homes.

  • “Properties will gain value”Neofytou reacted to those who claimed the Greek Cypriot economy will collapse if a solution takes place.

Avrupa

We don’t love you!

“Love” storm in the occupied parts of Cyprus. In response to the “Love Erdoğan” slogans, the only group that was brave enough to come up with the slogan “We don’t love you” was the Left Movement. AKP (Justice and Development Party) Famagusta Youth branch also wrote “Love Erdoğan” in Greek. Social Democratic Party (TDP) youth branch said “Love Cyprus, our love is in our country,” whereas the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) youth branch only wrote “Love Cyprus.”

  • 22 locally transmitted 34 positive cases of coronavirus in the north, 415 cases and two deaths in the south…

Main News

Akıncı says Tatar is contradicting himself & unlikely to win int’l support

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı on Wednesday slammed his successor Ersin Tatar for being inconsistent in his arguments on the Cyprus problem.

In a post on social media, Akıncı pointed out that advocating for a two-state solution with separate sovereign structures while demanding for the continuation of the system guarantees contradicted each other. He described this as nothing but “cheap heroism” .

Akıncı recalled the guarantee mechanism, which was established for the 1960 Republic, included both the UK and Greece in addition to Turkey. He added it is not possible to justify demands for a separate and internationally recognized state whilst asking for the guarantees system to continue at the same time.

Akıncı also stressed such inconsistent policies will in no way find any international support. “The end result for the Turkish Cypriot community will be nothing but alienation whilst the Greek Cypriot side will have more breathing space politically,” Akıncı concluded.


Olgun sticks to his guns on a two-state solution

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar’s Special Representative Ergün Olgun on Wednesday stuck to his guns on a two-state solution.

Speaking on a programme on Bayrak, Olgun said the informal five-plus one meeting will provide the Turkish Cypriot side with the opportunity to table its vision for a two-state solution in Cyprus.

He stressed the five-way conference was only intended to determine whether common ground existed between the two sides to hold a new round of talks. Anything else is not on the table, he warned. Olgun repeated Tatar’s well-known position opposing talks for a federal settlement, stating that negotiations based on a federation were unsuitable for Cyprus.

He also reiterated the Turkish Cypriot leadership’s argument that the Greek Cypriot side intended to establish its hegemony over the north and absorb Turkish Cypriots into the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) as a minority.

Asked what a two-state solution model entailed, Olgun said such a settlement would be built on a model of cooperation between two sovereign states, as was the current reality on the island. “Even though the two states on the island do not recognize each other, both have been governing their own institutions in their own respective territories. We can neither ignore nor change this. The existence of two states in Cyprus is a reality,” he added.

Olgun pointed out that despite the opposing views of the two sides, a settlement on the island could only be reached through a mutually acceptable agreement. “Neither side can impose a settlement on the other. This is a UN parameter,” Olgun noted.

The special representative also denied reports in the Greek Cypriot press that Tatar had rejected a proposal by the UN special envoy to bring together the two leaders ahead of the informal summit. He said no such initiative or proposal was made to Tatar.

Meanwhile, Tatar on Wednesday met with a group of academics as part of preparations for the five-plus-one meeting. According to a press statement issued by Tatar’s office, discussions at the meeting focused on evaluating the Turkish Cypriot side’s strategy in favour of a two-state solution based on sovereign equality and equal international status.

Prof Dr Okan Veli Şafaklı, Assist Prof Dr Mehmet Nesip Öğün, Assist Prof Dr Emete Gözügüzelli and Assist Prof Dr Muharrem Özdemir attended the meeting.

KEY ACTORS
Olgun (Tatar)
>> 5+1 will provide the TC side with the opportunity to table two-state vision.
>> No negotiations to be held at 5+1 meeting.
>> Federation is not suitable for Cyprus.
>> Solution will be built on a model of cooperation between two sovereign states.
>> Neither side can impose a settlement on the other.


Kızılyürek to launch information sessions for TC producers

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
EU Matters

OVERVIEW

Akel MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek announced on Wednesday that information sessions for Turkish Cypriot Hellim (Halloumi) producers will be held at his representation office in the north.

Speaking on Kanal Sim Kızılyürek added he has had the impression from his meetings in Brussels that the EU commission is willing and ready to provide technical and financial support to the Turkish Cypriot producers.

Reiterating that Hellim (Halloumi) producers are faced with a historic opportunity to enter the EU market, Kızılyürek said entering and competing in the European market will not only benefit the Turkish Cypriot community socially and economically but will bring Turkish Cypriots closer to the bloc. “It is vital to keep the window of opportunity open,” Kızılyürek concluded.

The Akel MEP announced earlier this week that the commission is near finalizing the necessary amendments in the Green Line Trade regulation (GLR) in favour of the Turkish Cypriot producers but warned that they are faced with the risk of losing out due to the Turkish Cypriot leadership’s latest rhetoric on two separate states and sovereignty.


Özyiğit: A new mining adventure is too much for Lefke (Lefka)


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

The leader of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Cemal Özyiğit on Wednesday said his party will stand in support of local civil society organisations (CSOs) in their fight against government plans to revive mining activities in the Lefke (Lefka) area. “A new mining adventure is too much for Lefke (Lefka),” Özyiğit said, adding that tourism and education should be the area’s main focus for economic development.  

Speaking during a meeting with Aziz Kaya, Mayor of Lefke (Lefka) as well as with representatives of local CSOs from the area, Özyiğit underlined the need to clean up the area of mining waste left by the CMC (Cyprus Mining Company). He also urged the government to act in collaboration and consultation with the stakeholders in the area, namely the Municipality, the European University of Lefke (Lefka) and local CSOs.

CSOs are up in arms following reports of plans to revive the area’s mines. The organisations warned the authorities over such moves and urged the government to solve the area’s chronic problems rather than create new ones.

In a joint statement, the CSOs had expressed their opposition to the plans, despite claims that the operations would be environmentally friendly, noting that the Lefke (Lefka) Municipality, the European University of Lefke (Lefka) and the Platform for Lefke (Lefka) CSOs must give their consent before implementing any project in the area.


EU launched the scholarship programme for TCs


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
EU Matters

OVERVIEW

The EU Scholarship programme was launched on Wednesday for a 14th consecutive year creating an opportunity for 140 Turkish Cypriot students, graduates or professionals to be awarded education scholarships.

1600 individuals have already benefited from the programme since 2007. All interested applicants are invited to apply online through the EU Scholarships application portal https://apply.abburs.eu

In this round, the scholarship priorities have been revised and the Covid-19 related subjects have also been included, allowing applicants in these areas to receive additional points during the evaluation process. The deadline to submit applications has been set as April 29, 2021. The EU Scholarship Programme is fully funded by the EU and is implemented by the British Council.


Blue Homeland naval exercise completed


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
External Security

OVERVIEW

The effectiveness and deterrence of the Turkish Armed Forces were once again observed, the Turkish Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday, announcing the completion of the Blue Homeland-2021 naval exercise.

In a social media post, the Defence Ministry said the objectives of the exercise was completed with success. 82 warships, 17 naval aviation assets, amphibious marine forces, Turkish Air Force units, and special operations teams participated in the large-scale naval exercise.


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