Front Page Headlines
The latest situation regarding vaccines
Health Ministry Undersecretary Dr Düriye Deren Oygar spoke to Yenidüzen concerning the vaccination drive. Oygar: “There are two thousand applications for over 65s. 20-25,000 people have applied to get vaccinated. Vaccines expected from Turkey are to be delivered this week. We have spoken with the firm in charge of electronic bracelets. They will be assigning people at the crossing points to assist people crossing from the south. We are scared to fully ease restrictions while there are so many cases. The second doses of the latest Pfizer/BioNtech vaccines delivered will be administered in three weeks. We are reserving half of the doses for second jabs just in case there are delays in the delivery.”
- They waited for hours, could not find any official to file their complaints – A six-hour strike was staged at Ercan (Tymbou) airport, flights were delayed and passengers were outraged. Three trade unions staged a strike yesterday to protest the government’s decision to freeze the cost-of-living increment payment to public servants for four months. Four flights were delayed as a result of the strike.
Passengers were all miserable
Three trade unions with members employed at Ercan (Tymbou) airport, went on strike yesterday to protest the government’s decision to freeze the cost-of-living increment. As a result, two inbound flights from Turkey could not land and one outbound flight to Turkey could not depart until lunchtime. Dozens of people had to wait around the passenger lounge, sleeping on the benches.
- Waiting for 40,000 doses of vaccines from Turkey – Prime Minister Ersan Saner said there is delivery date for the vaccines, which he does not want to announce in case of any delays.
- 64 locally transmitted, 70 positive cases in the TRNC – 8385 tests were carried out in the last 24 hours.
- Tourism professionals want their jobs back – The tourism professionals initiative staged a protest outside the prime ministry. Workers explained the suffering they have to endure due to keeping the tourism closed. Workers said “Enough, we are starving” and added they only received salaries for three months in 2020 and not 13.
“Partisanship even on the issue of vaccines”
The number of positive cases in Geçitkale (Lefkoniko) has gone up to four. There are many contacts and some are already in quarantine. Mayor of Geçitkale (Lefkoniko) Hasan Öztaş spoke to Havadis and made shocking claims. He said there is a political aspect to the coronavirus pandemic, arguing that municipalities that do not belong to the ruling party (National Unity Party) receive fewer vaccines. “We have a fully equipped health centre but they (the government) did not give us the vaccines first. We had to fight for it. Then they gave too few. We could not vaccinate everyone. We prioritized people based on age,” Öztaş said.
- “Deceiving and being double-faced” – Former President Mustafa Akıncı during a programme on Havadis web TV, evaluated the “two-state rhetoric.” He said “There is a big deception there,” and added, “While on one hand, you will claim your state is independent and sovereign but on the other hand, you will intervene in the people’s will and the elections five months before the elections, and then ask the entire world to accept TRNC’s sovereignty.” Akıncı added: “Even (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan does not recognize the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriots.”
Everyone must comply with the rules
Health Minister Ünal Üstel said that the home-isolation practice has started under certain rules. He said there were currently 200 people in home isolation who had signed consent forms. Üstel added that those who violate home-isolation rules will be subject to legal prosecution.
“He was an atheist. Good ridden”
Insults directed at Dr Fazıl Küçük, who was left of the TV drama series, by aTurkish writer. Here is yet another article full of insults directed at the Turkish Cypriots. Turkish writer Orhan Baylan, who is also known for insulting Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, said ‘Küçük was an atheist and he kicked the bucket…’ We are publishing the entire article for your evaluation.
- The number of coronavirus cases on the rise – Health Minister Ünal Üstel: ‘There is nothing to be concerned about.’
- 565 positive cases of coronavirus and one death in the south, 70 cases in the north.
Main News
EU must provide financial aid for TC farmers in PDO compliance
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Economy
OVERVIEW
AKEL MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek on Monday reiterated his view that the registration of Hellim (Halloumi) by the EU as a protected designation of origin (PDO) product poses a historic opportunity for Turkish Cypriot dairy producers and livestock breeders.
Kızılyürek who came together with members of the Turkish Cypriot Livestock Breeders Association headed by Mustafa Naimoğulları said that the amendments made to the Green Line Regulation (GLR) regulation, which he added was just as important as the PDO registration, will come into force in October.
He added the producers who meet production standards by then will be able to sell and export their cheese along with Greek Cypriot producers to the European market.
Kızılyürek pointed out that the European market is big enough for all the dairy producers on the island, suggesting that Turkish and Greek Cypriot producers could form cooperatives together to market the Hellim (Halloumi). “We can collaborate as Cypriots to market the Cypriot cheese and we can position Hellim (Halloumi) in a special status in Europe,” Kızılyürek said.
He also expressed optimism that the EU will grant a longer transition period, which normally expires in 2024 to meet milk production capacity. Noting that he is aware of the problems with the GLR, Kızılyürek assured the Turkish Cypriot producers that he will personally get involved should there be any problems caused by the Greek Cypriot side on the trade via the Green Line.
“We will apply to the European Commission, which is tasked with the implementation of EU laws, together,” Kızılyürek said.
Naimoğulları, for his part, said the nearly 5,000 livestock breeders were excited with the PDO registration of Hellim (Halloumi) even though there are many uncertainties.
Noting that the Greek and Turkish Cypriot livestock breeders share the same concerns, Naimoğulları said increasing sheep and goat milk production should become state policy and the EU must provide significant financial support for the Turkish Cypriot livestock breeders.
Tatar: “The political conjuncture is in our favour”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar on Monday reiterated his position in favour of a two-state solution based on equal sovereignty during a meeting with the TMT (Turkish Cypriot Resistance Fighters) Association.
In a statement issued from his office, Tatar recalled that he had won the October 2020 elections by advocating for a two-state solution.
“When we have our state, it is only absurd to try to form a federation with the Greek Cypriot side, which does not want the Turkish Cypriots,” Tatar said, claiming that the political conjuncture had shifted in the north’s favour. He added that the north has become stronger and its strategic importance has increased thanks to Turkey’s Blue Homeland doctrine.
“It is out of the question for the Turkish Cypriot side to give up on its sovereignty,” Tatar said and added that Turkey is fully supportive of the Turkish Cypriot side’s position in the talks.
Meanwhile, Tatar responded to former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı’s remarks on the two-state solution being a stepping-stone for annexation.
Speaking on a web TV programme on Monday, Tatar said: “Neither the Turkish Cypriot side nor Turkey has a policy based on annexation.” He added such remarks would only serve to confuse the people and impede the ongoing efforts towards a two-state solution. “Annexation is out of the question. TRNC is a separate state with its sovereignty,” Tatar concluded.
Ertuğruloğlu: 5+1 will not evolve into full-fledged talks
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu on Monday continued to issue statements targeting the Greek Cypriot side ahead of the five-plus-one meeting in Geneva later this month.
Speaking on Kıbrıs TV, Ertuğruloğlu said it will not be possible to solve the Cyprus Problem so long as the Greek Cypriots continue to use the title of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC).
He said that the international community was continuing to make the mistake of recognizing the Greek Cypriot side as the legitimate government on the island. “Obtaining RoC citizenship, the argument over two-seats in the European Parliament and the Hellim (Halloumi) issue are developments that reinstate the notion of Turkish Cypriots being part of the Greek Cypriot state,” Ertuğruloğlu argued.
Reiterating the Turkish Cypriot side’s position in favour of a two-state solution, Ertuğruloğlu said the upcoming five-plus-one conference in Geneva will neither be the continuation of the Crans Montana process nor accepting the RoC as the basis.
“I do not believe the sides will be able to reach a conclusion in Geneva,” he said, noting that there might be follow up meetings without evolving into an open-ended negotiations process. “A new page has been opened in the Cyprus problem,” Ertuğruloğlu concluded.
Seven foreigners arrested while trying to cross to the south
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Five Bangladeshis, one Nigerian and one Pakistani were arrested last Thursday while trying to cross to the south illegally through a military zone in Alayköy (Gerolakkos). The seven appeared before a court on Monday.
According to a police report, individuals were dropped off in the area by another person in exchange for money, who had left them in the area.
While five of the individuals had been living in the north without any permits, one had a valid work permit while the other had a student permit. The court ordered the suspects remanded in custody for three more days until the police conclude their investigation.