Front Page Headlines
“The protocols have become about handing over authority”
“The Turkish-TRNC Cultural Cooperation Protocol” occupied parliament’s agenda. The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman said that the latest protocols signed with Turkey were becoming less about cooperation and more about handing over authorities. “Parliament is never informed before or after these deals are signed. When it comes to matters of state or sovereignty you (government) talk big but in practice, this is what it comes down to,” he said.
Concerns over AstraZeneca
The use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been suspended temporarily in some countries out of fears it causes blood clots leading to vascular occlusion and pulmonary embolisms. The use of the vaccine has also been stopped in the TRNC and South Cyprus. Health Minister Ünal Üstel said the administration of AstraZeneca vaccines has also been suspended in the TRNC upon warnings from the EU. He said 1,500 people have so far received the AstraZeneca vaccine but no side effects have been reported. “We will act according to EU’s instructions on the vaccine,” Üstel said.
- The dirty face of the Industrial Zone – The empty plots located in the back of Nicosia’s Industrial Zone are being used as dumpsites by the workshops and factories in the area. The dump is growing bigger by the day as a result of the failure of the authorities to find solutions to the problem.
- The disputed appointment ended with his resignation – Okan Erdemsiz, following heated debates on the legality of his appointment, resigned from the Lefke European University’s Board of Trustees.
Park, not a palace
Nicosia Turkish Municipality’s Mayor Mehmet Harmancı said the wooded area where the construction of the new presidential palace is being planned was already designed as a city park during Mustafa Akıncı’s term in office. He added the plans for the city park have already been drawn. Harmancı said the project is ready and ₺14m (€1.6m) is needed to bring the park project to life.
- Common ground: Federation – A CTP delegation visited Akel. Both parties exchanged opinions on the upcoming five-plus-UN meeting to be held in Geneva.
- Ioannou adopted the decision, Üstel implemented – Even though the Health Minister Ünal Üstel said the problematic batch of AstraZeneca were not delivered to the north, when the Greek Cypriot Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou decided to suspend the use of the vaccine, the TRNC implemented the same decision.
- ELAM says OXI to Nicos – The Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades invited the heads of all the political parties to accompany him to the informal meeting in Geneva, but only ELAM rejected the invitation.
- Hellim (Halloumi) in the EU grill – EU Quality Committee will vote for Hellim (Halloumi) on March 26.
The old days have become a distant memory
Restaurants that began operating in Nicosia after a long time complain that business is not good. Many of the cafes and restaurants along Dereboyu (Shakespeare Avenue) were packed and full of life before the pandemic, but like all other sectors, the good old days are nothing more than a distant memory. Speaking to Diyalog, the restaurant owners said that the partial easing of restrictions is not enough to revive businesses.
- They met in the south – CTP and Akel agree that a settlement in Cyprus needs to be based on a federation.
- Very important –Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu who met with his Slovakian counterpart Ivan Korcok, touched upon the importance of the Cyprus conference to be held in Geneva.
This is not how he used his connections
Social media was rocked with this letter (photograph of the letter published) but mob leader Mehmet İpek denied writing it. He did not lodge a police complaint regarding the letter which he said, he did not write. İpek condemned whoever wrote the letter and left the matter in God’s hand. (The letter addressed to the Interior Ministry requests an individual be granted TRNC citizenship because İpek has approved his credentials. It is signed off by Mehmet İpek himself.)
- Erdemsiz resigned – Okan Erdemsiz upon harsh reactions to his appointment by the Rebirth Party (YDP) to the Lefke European University’s Board of Trustees, announced his resignation.
- The AstraZeneca vaccination is stopped in the TRNC – Health Minister Ünal Üstel said he received a call from the EU to stop using the AstraZeneca vaccines.
- The annulment case to start – The case filed at the Constitutional Court for the annulment of the IT law will start tomorrow.
Main News
CTP & Akel reaffirm commitment to a federal settlement
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Akel in the south and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) in the north reaffirmed their joint commitment to a bicommunal, bizonal federal (BBF) solution in Cyprus on Tuesday, stressing that this was the only feasible solution model for the island.
Delegations of the two parties headed by Akel General Secretary Andros Kyprianou and CTP leader Tufan Erhürman met at Akel’s headquarters in south Nicosia during which views were exchanged on the upcoming five-plus-one meeting to be held in Geneva at the end of April.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Erhürman underlined the need for pro-solution parties to intensify their meetings ahead of the informal meeting, adding that the Cyprus issue was at a critical juncture.
The CTP leader said a BBF solution based on the political equality of the two communities is the only basis for a comprehensive settlement on the island. “Even though there are some divergences between the two parties, both agree that federation is the only way forward,” Erhürman concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> BBF based on political equality only basis for a solution in Cyprus.
>> Pro-solution parties must intensify their meetings ahead of the Geneva summit.
Tatar says embargoes on TCs must be lifted to build trust between communities
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Tuesday said that the embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriots and the isolation of the north must be ended to allow trust and confidence to flourish between the two communities on the island. Tatar’s words came during a meeting with the Australian High Commissioner Samuel Beever.
According to a statement issued by his office, Tatar reiterated his vision for a two-state solution model based on sovereign equality, arguing that a two-state model was the only way to establish a realistic and sustainable settlement to the Cyprus Problem.
Touching on the hydrocarbons issue, Tatar urged the international community to respect the Turkish Cypriot side’s rights over the island’s natural resources.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, in an interview with Israeli state broadcaster KAN11, urged Tel-Aviv to treat the two sides in Cyprus equally.
Ertuğruloğlu argued that the past negotiations processes had failed to yield the desired outcome because the two sides were not treated as equals at the negotiating table. He said that while the Greek Cypriot side was accepted as the internationally recognised entity on the island, the Turkish Cypriots were treated under a different status.
Ertuğruloğlu recalled that two communities were equal partners of the 1960 Republic. He claimed that the Cyprus problem will remain unsolved as long as the international community continues to treat the two communities differently and approaches the Turkish Cypriots as a so-called secessionist ethnic group.
“The inequality between the former partners of the Republic is the main reason for the absence of solution on the island,” Ertuğruloğlu concluded.
KEY ACTOR
Tatar
>> Embargoes & isolation of TCs must end for trust & confidence to build between two communities.
>> Two-state solution only way to achieve a realistic & sustainable solution to Cyprob.
>> International community should respect TCs’ rights on the hydrocarbons issue.
Ertuğruloğlu (UBP)
>> Israel should adopt a balanced approach to the two sides in Cyprus.
>> Past talks failed because sides were not treated equally at negotiating table.
>> Inequality reason for non-solution of Cyprob.
Çavuşoğlu calls on the EU to act sincerely & strategically for progress in ties with Turkey
Diyalog
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The EU should “act sincerely and strategically and not repeat its previous mistakes” to make progress in EU-Turkey ties, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Tuesday.
“We have an important opportunity for progress,” the minister said at a joint press conference with his Slovakian counterpart, Ivan Korcok, and urged the EU to take concrete steps on the bilateral agenda and “not run down the clock” regarding the issues with Turkey.
Çavuşoğlu stated that a positive atmosphere was created after the EU leaders’ summit in December 2020, but the positive environment was not enough, and Ankara expects concrete developments.
“The positive atmosphere is good, but we have to take concrete steps to make this sustainable,” he stated, noting that a stable dialogue has been established recently and an “important opportunity” has emerged.
Turkey “has kept all the promises it has given and will keep in the future; also it is ready to meet all the criteria,” but the EU should not block the process with the “political obstacles,” Çavuşoğlu stated. The minister pointed at the fact that the negotiations between Turkey and the EU have been stalled due to political reasons.
Moreover, the EU has not responded to a proposal of Turkey to hold a conference on the Eastern Mediterranean either, he added. Citing the tensions between Turkey and the EU in 2020 with regards to the eastern Mediterranean, the minister said the union “acted completely against Turkey in the framework of solidarity at the expense of contradicting their own values.”
For his part, the Slovakian foreign minister hailed bilateral relations with Turkey, expressing a will to deepen relations further. “Turkey is an important ally at NATO. Not only a partnership, but there is a very important alliance [between Turkey and Slovakia],” Korcok said.
Also touching upon the Cyprus Issue, he said that the upcoming meeting in Geneva was very important and that his country was prepared to assist in any way possible.
“A settlement between the two communities on the island is not something that can be achieved easily but a solution can be found. We believe that the dialogue should continue, and this should be encouraged,” Korcok said, adding that the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) resolutions will be evaluated at the informal meeting.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> EU should act sincerely & strategically & not repeat its previous mistakes” to make progress in EU-Turkey ties.
>> There is an important opportunity for progress & the EU should not make use of this opportunity.
>> Ankara expects concrete steps from the EU to make dialogue sustainable.
>> Turkey has kept all promises & will continue to keep them but the EU should not block the process for political reasons.
Korcok (Slovakia)
>> Upcoming 5+1 meeting very important & Slovakia is ready to assist in any way possible.
>> Dialogue & talks between two sides should continue.
Exploratory talks between Greece & Turkey to continue in Istanbul
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy
OVERVIEW
Exploratory contacts between Greece and Turkey resumed on Tuesday in Athens ahead of the EU summit on March 25-26 during which Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will present a report on the state of political, economic and trade relations between the EU and Turkey.
Greece and Turkey concluded exploratory talks in Athens after nearly four hours and the two sides agreed late on Tuesday to hold another round in Istanbul. At the same time, a separate meeting between Greek and Turkish officials outside the exploratory framework will take place on Wednesday.
The two countries seek common ground on a long-standing maritime boundaries dispute before a European Union summit at the end of this month.
The NATO allies are at odds over issues such as competing claims over their respective continental shelves, maritime rights and air space in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated on Tuesday that Turkey’s position remains unchanged when it comes to the Eastern Mediterranean issue.
Speaking at a joint press conference with members of the Presidential Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Turkish capital Ankara, Erdoğan said Turkey is in a decision-making position in the Eastern Mediterranean and that the country’s “determined stance remains the same.” It will not be possible for Turkey to make concessions in the Eastern Mediterranean, he underlined.
Responding to a question on diplomatic contact between Ankara and Cairo, Erdoğan said the Egyptian people “do not contradict Turkey.”
KEY ACTOR
Erdoğan (Turkey)
>> Turkey is a decision-making country in East Med & Ankara’s determined stance remains the same.
>> It will not be possible for Turkey to make concessions on the East Med issue.
Turkey & the US to hold a joint military drill in East Med
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
External Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the U.S. military are expected to carry out some comprehensive training to increase interoperability in the Eastern Mediterranean on March 18.
As part of that plan, Turkish frigate Gemlik, affiliated with the Naval Forces Command, will meet up with an Aircraft Carrier Task Group, led by the USS Eisenhower, in the south of Rhodes, according to a statement issued by the Turkish Defence Ministry on Tuesday.
The Turkish frigate Gemlik will carry out various training in the Eastern Mediterranean with the USS Eisenhower Aircraft Carrier and with the participation of frigates from the Naval Forces Command.
H4C launches mini-documentary project on crossings
Yenidüzen, Havadis
CBMs
OVERVIEW
The Home for Cooperation (H4C) announced earlier this week the launch of a new mini-documentary project to voice the stories of those affected by the closure of the crossing points and to shed light on the connections it disrupted, from family relations to health, from education to work life.
A press released by H4C said that the majority of people have been unable to cross for over a year now due to coronavirus restrictions introduced by both sides. It said that very few people are being able to use the crossings as the rules introduced have made it extremely difficult.
The press release said that those interested in sharing their story and take part in the documentary, can do so by filling in a submission form, until the 21st of March 2021.
Only six TC students to sit English School entrance exam
Yenidüzen
CBMs
OVERVIEW
KTÖS (Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union) General Secretary Şener Elcil, who is also a board member at the English School of Nicosia, said only six Turkish Cypriot students will be sitting the school’s admittance examination to be held on March 20. Elcil, speaking to Yenidüzen on Tuesday, said the students will be allowed to cross south to sit their exam after undergoing PCR tests.
He also added that there used to be 60-70 applicants in the past but the number of applications has dropped due to the loss of the value of the Turkish lira against foreign currencies and the politicization of education across the divide. Elcil also noted that there are 118 Turkish Cypriot students currently studying at the school.