Front Page Headlines
Cases surge after PCR requirement lifted
The Council of Ministers lifted the mandatory PCR test requirement from various sectors with a decision adopted on April 2. For some sectors, the requirement to carry out PCR tests every seven days was extended to every 14 days. At supermarkets, the requirement was first changed from every seven days to every 14 days before being lifted completely. At restaurants and delivery services, the requirement was lifted. Barbers and hairdressers only need to repeat PCR tests every 14 days while there is no requirement at public offices at all. While grade 12 students are required to undergo rapid tests, there is no mandatory requirement for teachers or school staff.
Someone must be held accountable
The bids made to the public tender to procure 220,000 tons of fuel oil were opened yesterday. One of the two companies that made a bid offered $32.38 per ton whereas the other offered $14 per ton. The public is now wondering the reasons as to why KIB-TEK (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) has been paying much more than the amount stated in the bids as well as paying millions of dollars extra over the years.
- We asked for medication for 20 patients, but they sent only for 10 – Ayşe Gökyiğit, head of the Department of Medicine and Pharmaceuticals, said they had ordered medication enough for 20 multiple sclerosis patients but the company in Turkey only sent enough for ten patients.
- 72 locally transmitted, 88 positive cases identified in the TRNC.
- A general strike will be held – Six public sector trade unions will protest the government’s decision to freeze the cost-of-living increment.
The public tender raised speculations
Former vice-chair of the Board of Directors of KIBTEK (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) Yusuf Avcıoğlu evaluated the public tender to procure fuel oil, which was completed yesterday. He explained with documents how the Economy and Energy Minister Erhan Arıklı has interfered with the process.
- It’s not all that bad – The Veterinary Department and the Chamber of Industry (KTSO) discussed the Hellim (Halloumi) issue and agreed to collaborate on the food safety project. The two also shared their data on livestock numbers and milk production.
- Tatar ordered the police to launch legal proceedings – President Ersin Tatar said he has asked the police to launch the necessary legal action against the individual who directed insults at Dr Fazıl Küçük.
No money to buy medicines
Citizens who lost their jobs due to the pandemic or who have experienced a drop in their income are afraid to go to the doctor unless they are seriously ill. Many complain they cannot afford the medicines prescribed by doctors at private clinics. “We can’t afford to pay for medicine when we barely earn enough for food,” they complain.
Plenty of criticisms towards the government but nothing towards Ankara
The government’s decision to freeze the cost-of-living increment for four months has outraged the trade unions. The protocol agreement was signed, and Turkey had promised to give ₺3.5bn (€360m) to the TRNC but not a single cent has been received so far. As a result, those who praise the motherland every day once again dipped their hands in the pockets of the people…Six public sector trade unions will be on strike today.
- Tatar launched legal proceedings – In addition to (President) Ersin Tatar, Dr Fazıl Küçük’s son Mehmet Küçük will file legal complaints about insults directed at his father.
- 72 local, 88 positive coronavirus cases in the north, 529 cases and two deaths in the south…
Main News
Religious leaders condemn party held at Sourp Magar monastery
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The head of the Religious Affairs Office in the north Talip Atalay on Wednesday condemned a dance party organised in the courtyard of the Sourp Magar Monastery in Alevkayası (Halefka), Kyrenia.
“We condemn this irresponsible and disrespectful event,” Atalay said in a written statement issued from his office, adding that regardless of the participants’ intentions, it is out of the question for the Office of Religious Affairs to permit any event that contradicts the faith of any place of worship.
The video footage of a live techno party that took place on March 20th was shared on social media after it was uploaded on the video-steaming platform YouTube on April 7, 2021.
Additionally, a written statement issued by the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process also condemned holding a party on the grounds of the Armenian Monastery.
“Religious Leaders of Cyprus are deeply saddened to hear the news that the grounds of the Armenian Monastery of St Magar were used for a live techno party on March 20, 2021,” the statement read, adding that the Religious Leaders of Cyprus condemn this unfortunate act and any misuse, disrespect and desecration of places of worship and cemeteries in Cyprus, irrespective of intention, religion, dogma and denomination.
The statement also called for all places of worship and cemeteries, in use or not, are protected against vandalism, misuse and desecration. “Disrespecting places of worship and cemeteries creates pain, nurtures mistrust and becomes an obstacle to peaceful coexistence,” the statement said.
US Ambassador to Cyprus Judith Garber also condemned the misuse of the Saint Magar Armenian Monastery. She tweeted on Wednesday saying that the US Embassy also echoes the call made by the religious leaders of Cyprus. “All places of worship, in use or not, be protected against misuse, vandalism and desecration,” Ambassador Garber tweeted.
Sourp Magar is an Armenian Monastery is an 11th-century Monastery founded by the Coptic Orthodox Church in memory of Saint Makarios the hermit of Alexandria. The Monastery was transferred to the Armenian Community in Cyprus during the 15th century and has belonged to and has been intrinsically linked to the community ever since.
St Magar Monastery is regarded as the most important place of worship and pilgrimage for the Armenian community of Cyprus and the only Armenian monastery in Cyprus.
In a separate development, the Turkish Cypriot chair of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage Ali Tuncay on Wednesday said the fencing around the Ayia Paraskevi church located in Famagusta has been completed.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Tuncay said the next step will be to launch conservation efforts for the church. He also noted that despite the obstacles caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the bicommunal technical committee will continue its work believing that cultural heritage is the wealth of this island.
Also on Wednesday, Atalay, who is also the mufti of Cyprus, visited the Episkopi mosque in Limassol. The mosque had been vandalized on March 26, which was then condemned by both religious leaders and by the Cypriot authorities.
Tatar continues with his consultations ahead of the 5+1
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar held a meeting with the former foreign ministers on Wednesday as part of his ongoing consultations to prepare for the upcoming five-plus-one meeting in Geneva.
In a statement issued from Tatar’s office, his spokeswoman Berna Çelik Doğruyol said Tatar had met with Vedat Çelik, Atay Ahmet Raşit and Turgay Avcı. Doğruyol noted that he will continue with his consultations with the other former foreign ministers in the coming period.
In the meantime, it is reported that Tatar will be meeting with Wendy Morton, who is the Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office at 11 am on Thursday.
Six trade unions to stage a protest in north Nicosia
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot public sector trade unions KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot Public Workers’ Union), KAMU-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Public Sector Employees’ Union), KAMU-İŞ (Turkish Cypriot Public Workers’ Union), GÜÇ-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Customs Officers’ Union), VERGİ-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Tax Department Employees Union) and Turkish Cypriot Nurses and Midwives Union will stage a full-day strike in north Nicosia on Thursday over the coalition government’s decision to freeze the cost-of-living increment given to the public sector for four months without reimbursement.
Civil servants from the different trade unions will gather at 9:30 am before marching march to the Turkish Cypriot parliament. The strike will not cover the emergency and essential services.
Petition launched for “1Cyprus”
Yenidüzen
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
An initiative named “1CYPRUS” has launched a petition to garner support for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Yenidüzen reported on Thursday.
The web-based campaign, which was introduced with a press conference on Wednesday, appealed to the Greek Cypriot leader “to whatever is necessary” to reach a bicommunal, bizonal federal solution in line with the 11 February 2014 Joint Declaration, the past convergences and the Guterres framework dated June 30, 2017.
The petition can be accessed at https://www.1cyprus.eu/el/petition-english