Front Page Headlines
They hold ‘ceremonies’ but no money for infrastructure
Children of 345 martyrs have been waiting for years for the authorities to address the problems regarding their plots. Not an inch of work has been carried out in Kermiya (Agios Domethios), Nicosia where the plots are located, since 2012. The plot owners are now waiting for a tender to be launched so that the infrastructure work can be completed.
- Doctors: “Holding a gala event is dangerous in terms of public health”
The “corruption” at KIBTEK is knee-deep
The Court of Auditors in its latest report on KIBTEK (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) uncovered new irregularities in addition to an earlier one where management, in violation of the terms set in a tender dossier had purchased parts from China instead of Turkey.
- The cost-of-living increment is frozen for four months – The Council of Ministers adopted a decree and published it in the official gazette.
- British pound marching to ₺12 – The increasing pressure on bond interests speeds up the devaluation of the Turkish Lira against foreign currencies.
- Fuat Oktay coming to the TRNC today – Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay will carry out a working trip to the TRNC. He will also visit the site for the third phase of the Güvercinlik (Acheritou) Industrial Area and hold a series of meetings.
Debts have grown during the pandemic
The money owed by people and companies to the banks increased to ₺5,262.417.186 (€537m) from the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 to February 2021.
- “Cancel the event for health reasons” – 24 civil society organisations including culture and art associations demanded the premiere screening of the “Once upon a time Cyprus” drama series to be cancelled. The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Famagusta branch also staged a protest.
‘We are struggling’
Restaurants that have started operating under strict guidelines are not happy with the situation. Restaurant owners who point out there are no tourists or students say that business is extremely slow as the public’s purchasing power continues to fall. Many restaurant owners in the walled city of Nicosia say they are finding it difficult to make rent or to deposit their social insurance premiums. They say they want to see tourists on the streets.
- It isn’t asking for PCR tests either –The Greek Cypriot administration as of today will allow entry into the country for anyone with proof of vaccination.
Breaking news: Ankara decides to annex the north (April fools’ day)
According to information obtained from credible sources, the Turkish Parliament in Ankara adopted a decision to annex North Cyprus …The decision states “North Cyprus will become Turkey’s 83rd district until a solution is found in Cyprus.” Thousands of Turkish Cypriots are getting ready to cross to the south to settle there. According to information leaked from the south, some areas in Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos are being vacated to accommodate Turkish Cypriots.
- The premiere screening must be cancelled – 24 civil society organisations demanded the cancellation of the premiere screening of the “Once upon a time Cyprus” drama series. Fuat Oktay will attend the event!
- A serious threat to public health – The Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association (KTTB) who drew attention to the surge in coronavirus cases in Turkey said that holding a gala poses a serious threat to public health.
- The cost-of-living increment is frozen for four months – Council of Ministers adopts a decree suspending the cost-of-living increment for the public sector from March 1 to June 30.
Main News
Ertuğruloğlu & Arıklı dismiss ‘positives’ of Hellim (Halloumi) PDO
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Economy
OVERVIEW
Even though the news of the registration by the EU of Hellim (Halloumi) as a protected designation of origin (PDO) was welcomed in the north by a majority of the politicians and sector representatives, the same could not be said of two members of the cabinet.
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu and Economy and Energy Minister (Deputy Prime Minister) Erhan Arıklı, both known for their strong nationalistic political viewpoints, dismissed the development, claimed that the Turkish Cypriot community had been tricked and that the move was a fait accompli.
Speaking to an online news portal, Ertuğruloğlu, argued that the EU with the PDO registration process has once again demoted the Turkish Cypriots to that of community within the Greek Cypriot state.
“At a time when we were advocating a policy based on sovereign equality and two states which we will be tabling in Geneva, the EU’s move has downgraded the status of Turkish Cypriots, he said. Ertuğruloğlu also criticized Turkish Cypriot politicians who applauded the development.
He argued that it was unacceptable for Turkish Cypriot Hellim (Halloumi) producers to be inspected by persons appointed by the Greek Cypriot administration.
Arguing that it would have been possible to export Hellim (Halloumi) to the UK even without the PDO registration, Ertuğruloğlu said the EU has tricked the Turkish Cypriots into accepting new restrictions into their productions for export markets.
Echoing a similar message, Arıklı argued that the EU’s registration of Hellim (Halloumi) was a fait accompli and not a gesture. Speaking during a programme on Bayrak, Arıklı added that the EU had made a political manoeuvre.
“It is not right to accept being subjected to the mercy of the Greek Cypriots with the promises of exporting to the EU without knowing if we will ever be allowed to export to the bloc,” Arıklı stressed, pointing out that Turkish Cypriot Hellim (Halloumi) producers have already entered and established a strong foothold within the Middle Eastern market.
“However, following the PDO registration, the Turkish Cypriots will not be able to sell their products to the Middle East without the Greek Cypriots’ permission,” Arıklı concluded.
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Fikri Toros in response to these arguments slammed Ertuğruloğlu. In a social media post, Toros said both the PDO registration and amendments made to the Green Line Regulation (GLR) were historic developments that will allow Turkish Cypriots to achieve sustainable economic development.
Toros pointed out that thousands of Turkish Cypriots made a living from the dairy sector, which constitutes 38 per cent of the north’s exports. “The registration has opened the opportunity for the sector to reach its full potential opening a market of 500 million people,” Toros said, stressing that Ertuğruloğlu’s statements were detached from reality.
“Instead of putting personal interests before the public’s” Toros urged Ertuğruloğlu to focus on seizing the potential and transforming it to economic gains.
Erdoğan says TCs should be included in the Turkic Council
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday said that Turkish Cypriots were an integral part of the Turkish world, and the members of the Turkish Council states must display solidarity with them.
Addressing the meeting of the Turkic Council via video link, Erdoğan expressed the view that Turkish Cypriots should also be allowed to join the council. He also expressed the belief that the members of the council will extend the necessary assistance to lift the injustices and embargoes the Turkish Cypriots have been subjected to for years.
“The participation of the Turkish Cypriot people in the activities of the Turkic Council such as culture, education, science, and sports will help to disburden the effects of the isolation,” Erdoğan stressed.
The Turkic Council, or the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States, was established in 2009 as an intergovernmental organization, with an overarching aim of promoting comprehensive cooperation among Turkic-speaking states. The council consists of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan as member countries and Hungary as an observer state.
KEY ACTORS
Erdoğan (Turkey)
>> TCs are part of the Turkic world & should be allowed to join the council.
>> Members should help ease the isolation of TCs.
North plays a significant role for Turkey’s ‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Wednesday said the ‘TRNC’ played a significant role in setting a Turkish-Greek balance for Turkey’s ‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine.
Speaking with the representatives of the Turkish Cypriot Blue Homeland Association, Tatar added “The TRNC is also a Turkish state.” He argued that the Greek Cypriot side as opposed to the north’s sovereignty as this would only strengthen Turkey’s doctrine on the Eastern Mediterranean.
Tatar reminded that the Turkish Cypriot side would table its position in favour of a two-state solution model based on sovereign equality at the upcoming five-plus-one conference in Geneva. “Diplomatic recognition of the TRNC will eventually happen one day,” Tatar stressed, claiming that the entire world is aware of the realities on the island.
Also, on Wednesday, Tatar visited the Turkish Cypriot office of the Committee of Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus. Tatar expressed his gratitude for the work carried out by the CMP to date, noting that the committee brought much-needed closure to family members of missing persons.
Also, Tatar issued a statement on Wednesday directed at the anniversary of the establishment of the Greek Cypriot organisation EOKA, stating that the Turkish Cypriots can live in peace and security today as a result of Turkey’s intervention in 1974.
Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot people will never accept returning to pre-1974 days, Tatar reiterated his position in favour of a two-state model based on sovereign equality.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> North plays a significant role in setting Turkish-Greek balance for Turkey’s Blue Homeland doctrine.
>> TC side will table two-state solution at 5+1 meeting.
>> Diplomatic recognition of the north will happen one day.
>> CMP plays an important role in bringing closure to families of missing persons.
Organisations call for cancellation of the gala event for TV drama series
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Famagusta Initiative and 24 civil society organisations (CSOs) on Wednesday called on the government to cancel a gala event for the “Once upon a time Cyprus” TV drama series to be held at a conference hall in Famagusta, citing Covid-19 restrictions as a reason.
Issuing a joint statement, the CSOs stressed the north had been battling with economic problems in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and the Turkish Cypriots will not be able to endure yet another lockdown.
The organisations argued that premiere screening, which has turned into a political spectacle with more than 150 invitees arriving from Turkey without being subject to any Covid-19 measures, threatens the public’s health. The organisations said that holding such an event in violation of the current restrictions, especially when many sectors were forced to operate under strict guidelines which hampered business, was unacceptable.
The group also protested the event, claiming that the drama series, filmed for Turkish state TV TRT, was part of attempts to assimilate the Turkish Cypriots’ political will, culture and history.
A similar protest was staged in front of the conference hall by members of the CTP’s Famagusta branch.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Ünal Üstel assured the public that strict coronavirus measures will be observed during the screening, which the Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay would be attending. He said that only 250 people will be allowed to enter the venue which has a capacity of 900 people.
9,480 doses of vaccines from the EU delivered to the north
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs
OVERVIEW
4,680 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and 4.800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines were handed over to the Turkish Cypriot health officials at the Metehan (Agios Domethios) crossing point on Wednesday. The delivery of the vaccines, which were allocated by the EU for the Turkish Cypriot community, was facilitated through the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health.
Cenk Soydan, the co-chair of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health, said the EU has so far made six shipments to the north. He added that another 40,000 doses of vaccines were expected from Turkey on Thursday as well.