Front Page Headlines
“We shall resist”
Nicosia was shaken by a mass rally after a long time. Six public sector trade unions were protesting on the streets. They gathered in front of the parliament to protest the government’s economic policies.
- Songs were sung for peace –The barbed wire fence dividing Cyprus was no obstacle. Peace-loving Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots gathered at the line where Nicosia is divided yesterday singing songs, reciting poems and giving messages for reunification.
- “We are experiencing a serious surge in cases, cases are set to peak” – Dr Erol Uçaner, head of the pandemic hospital warns.
We drive in the dark even though we pay for it
The millions of Liras paid by the public to KIBTEK (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) for street-lighting unfortunately is for nothing. The streets and roads are pitch dark either because the street lamps don’t work or are not replaced. As a result, we see many accidents on the roads. The issue is one of many where taxpayer money goes to waste.
- No to impoverishment – Public sector unions staged a protest outside the parliament building and held a full-day strike.
- There is a drop in (state) revenues, we are not able to see our future – Finance Minister Dursun Oğuz said the government had to decide to freeze the cost-of-living increment due to the current economic situation the country is in.
Reacting to impoverishment with a strike
Six public sector trade unions held a general strike and staged a protest outside the parliament against the decision to freeze the cost-of-living increment.
- No inspections, too many cases – Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association (KTTB) evaluated the latest situation in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
- In search of solutions for problems in Ankara – Agriculture and Natural Resources Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu discussed the problems faced by farmers with Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay.
- Waiting for Erdoğan’s signature – Prime Minister Ersan Saner said the protocol agreement signed with Turkey has not entered into force yet therefore funds could not be transferred to the TRNC.
‘Corona’ hits hard
In addition to heart, blood pressure medication and antidepressants, there is a rise in the sale of vitamins. Ordinary citizens affected by the ailing economy have increased the use of antidepressants, heart and blood pressure medication. The head of the Turkish Cypriot Pharmacists’ Association (KTEB) Umut Öksüz said that people wanting to boost their immune system against Covid-19 are consuming vitamin supplements in higher quantities.
- The isolation would end –The UK’s Minister for Europe Morton expressed support and outlined the benefits of a solution during her meeting with President Ersin Tatar.
For a few dollars more
Six public sector trade unions staged a protest outside the parliament to protest the freezing of cost-of-living increment without reimbursement. Civil servants, who unfurled banners reading “No to impoverishment,” said they will not allow their legal rights to be taken from them. Güven Bengihan, head of KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot Public Servants’ Union) said: “This (the protest) is only the beginning,” adding the unions will continue with their struggle…He also asked the government to resign.
- 622 positive cases of coronavirus and two deaths in the south, 64 cases in the north…
Main News
Tatar meets with UK minister Wendy Morton ahead of 5+1 summit
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Diplomatic traffic ahead of the five-plus-one informal meeting set to take place in Geneva later this month picked up on Thursday as Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar met with the British Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas Wendy Morton.
Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Tatar reiterated his view that a solution in Cyprus can only be based on the realities of the island and the sovereign equality of the two states. He added that the Turkish Cypriots will not be tricked into agreeing to a solution “for the sake of finding one.”
The Turkish Cypriot leader said he has found the opportunity to convey the Turkish Cypriot side’s viewpoint in favour of a two-state solution model and the reasons why it believes this is the most suitable option to settle the decades-long Cyprus Problem.
He also said that he had told the UK minister that her country had a strong responsibility towards Cyprus not only as a guarantor power but because of its long history on the island.
Tatar said that while Morton had expressed the view that both sides needed to show more flexibility if the informal meeting was to produce a positive outcome, he had explained how the Turkish Cypriot side was faced with the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigence throughout decades of talks.
Tatar, nonetheless, added that the Turkish Cypriot side will do its best to reach a negotiated, sustainable and lasting settlement on the island. “It is out of the question for the Turkish Cypriots to accept an imposed solution plan with economic promises,” Tatar stressed, adding Turkish Cypriots’ sovereignty and the Turkish Cypriot state will be the core of the Turkish Cypriot side’s position in Geneva.
Touching on the issue of relations between the UK and the north, Tatar argued that the UK since leaving the EU should contribute to the lifting of the isolations and embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriots.
He added that he has underlined the UK, since leaving the EU, does not need to abide by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) decisions any longer thus allowing the possibility of direct flights, direct trade and other trade initiatives to be launched.
Minister Morton on the other hand, reiterated UK’s support for the upcoming five-plus-one Cyprus conference. Morton tweeted the UK encourages the two sides to approach the UN talks with flexibility and added: “At my meeting with Tatar, I highlighted that a settlement would benefit both communities in Cyprus and end Turkish Cypriot isolation.”
Meanwhile, Tatar also received former Turkish Cypriot foreign ministers on Thursday for consultations ahead of the informal meeting in Geneva. He had also held a similar meeting with another group of former foreign ministers on Wednesday.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Cyprob solution needs to be based on the island’s realities & sovereign equality of the two states.
>> TCs will not be tricked into agreeing to a solution for the sake of finding one.
>> UK as a former colonial power & guarantor country has a strong responsibility towards Cyprus.
>> TC side will do its best to reach a negotiated sustainable and lasting settlement on the island.
>> TCs will not accept an imposed solution plan with economic promises.
>> Post Brexit UK should contribute to lifting embargoes imposed on the TCs, launching direct flights & trade.
Morton (UK)
>> UK encourages the two sides to approach the UN talks with flexibility.
>> A settlement will benefit both communities in Cyprus & end TC isolation.
Özersay claims international actors favour the status quo
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The leader of the People’s Party (HP) Kudret Özersay on Wednesday argued that the international community, having realized that a federal settlement is out of reach, has preferred to prolong the status quo on the island. He added that the pro-federal settlement statements made by members of the international community are proof of their true intentions as such statements only serve the purpose of maintaining the current situation on the island.
Speaking during a TV programme on Wednesday night, Özersay also argued that neither the US nor the EU is concerned with the absence of political settlement on the island.
“The international community now perceives the negotiations process as the main goal instead of a means to solve the Cyprus problem,” Özersay said, adding that if the US and the EU had supported a federation, they would have exerted pressure on the Greek Cypriot side to accept sharing power and wealth with the Turkish Cypriots.
“The Greek Cypriot side is only interested in launching a new process supposedly to reach a federal settlement but nothing more! Therefore, we as the Turkish Cypriots must question the Greek Cypriot side’s sincerity for a federal solution,” Özersay concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> International community, realizing a federal settlement prefers to prolong the status quo.
>> Neither US nor the EU is concerned with the absence of a solution.
>> International community’s main goal is to hold talks but not to solve the Cyprob.
Cypriots unite with songs across the divide
Yenidüzen
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Members of the bicommunal Cypriot Songs Association arranged an emotional gathering on Friday as they gathered on either side of the Venetian walls in Nicosia near Paphos Gate and performed together.
While the Turkish Cypriots stood on top of the wall, and the Greek Cypriots underneath. Divided by a fence they sang the song “My Cyprus.”
The bicommunal peace activist group UniteCyprusNow (UCN) shared the video and photographs of the members of the Cypriot association singing on social media. In its post, UCN said: “Nothing can divide us!” and reiterated their demand to reopen the crossing points.
Physical contact between the two communities has been almost impossible since the coronavirus outbreak a year ago when restrictions were imposed on crossings, mainly due to the mandatory 14-day quarantine for ordinary citizens entering the north. Only Turkish Cypriots working, studying or receiving health treatment in the South are currently exempt from being placed in quarantine when returning to the north.
Public sector shuts down after a general strike
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Economy
OVERVIEW
Civil servants in the north went on strike on Thursday over a freeze on the cost-of-living increment for four months. Hundreds of civil servants marched to the Turkish Cypriot parliament to protest over the government’s decisions, which they said, negatively impacted workers.
Protesters called for a reversal of the decision to freeze the cost-of-living increment and for the government to resign over its mishandling of the economy during the pandemic. Public sector salaries in the north which are paid in Turkish Lira have eroded against foreign currencies which have seen a sharp rise in recent months.
Although basic goods and services in the north are sold in Turkish Lira, prices of the goods and services, as well as properties or land is set by foreign currencies. The strike led to the cancellation of the parliament’s general assembly session because most of the supporting staff participated in the strike.