TCC Press Review 19 Apr 2021

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

“There is a struggle between light and darkness”

Former negotiator, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Özdil Nami said that Turkish Cypriots needed to wage a struggle against the dark forces which opposed their way of life, their understanding of democracy and their belief in the rule of law. He said that the Turkish Cypriot side was going to sit at the table in Geneva with an understanding aimed at addressing the needs of the nationalists and conservatives in Turkey. “The president’s and his team’s goal are neither to reach a two-state solution or a federation but to maintain the status quo,” he said.

Kıbrıs

We can’t take a third lockdown

Finance Minister Dursun Öğuz who reminded that two lockdowns had already taken place due to the pandemic urged everyone to adhere to the Covid-19 measures in place to avoid a third lockdown. He also underlined the importance of inspections.

  • Significant decrease in the number of crossingsThere is a 93 per cent decrease in the number of crossings in the past year due to the coronavirus measures. There is also a 99 per cent decrease in the number of Greek Cypriots and foreigners crossing to the north in the period from January to March 2021 compared to the same period the previous year.

Havadis

Judiciary’s test with Erdoğan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s remarks directed at the head of the TRNC Supreme Court following its ruling declaring Quran courses given by the Department of Religious Affairs as unconstitutional caused outrage within the community. The Turkish Cypriot Bar Associations will stage a protest today.

  • The big danger in face masks – It is reported 90 per cent of the face masks, which their use had become mandatory due to pandemic, imported from Turkey or made in the TRNC are below standards and do not provide any protection. The majority of the imported masks do not comply with the European Accreditation standards either. The Department of Medicine and Pharmaceuticals or the Department of Trade cannot control the import of these masks either.
  • TDP’s position is clear on domestic violence – The bill on prevention of domestic violence and the protection of victims, submitted by the Social Democratic Party (TDP) will be discussed in the parliament today. The relevant subcommittee will also discuss the urgency of the bill.

Diyalog

Hundreds of people are waiting

Summer is here early but no decision has been produced yet on weddings and wedding venues. Wedding venue owners say that they can’t hold on any longer as weddings are still prohibited under Covid-19 restrictions. Sector representatives who spoke to Diyalog say that hundreds of people are waiting for the ban to be lifted to be able to get married.

  • First location Dikmen (Dikomo)! – CTP to start lighting peace bonfires as of tonight
  • 26 fines in six hours – 26 people were booked in Nicosia by police who carried out inspections during yesterday’s curfew.

Avrupa

This community will not submit to bigotry

The Turkish Cypriot Bar Associations will protest (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan’s interference in our judiciary. All the court hearings scheduled for today will be postponed due to the lawyers’ protest. Staff at the courthouses will also participate in the protest that will start at 9:30 am. Many trade unions and political parties have declared support for the protest as well. The organisations that emphasized their determination to protect the independence of the judiciary condemned the insults and threats directed at the constitutional court. The reactions to the annexation rhetoric, which is being increasingly voiced by various circles, has reached a new dimension with Erdoğan’s threats.

  • 46 locally transmitted, 53 positive coronavirus cases in the north, 852 cases and three deaths in the south…

Main News

Outrage over Erdoğan’s remarks evolve into a wider protest

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

Anger at the remarks made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the north’s judiciary grew over the weekend evolving into a wider protest. Erdoğan on Friday openly threatened Turkish Cypriots with repercussions if the Supreme Court did not overturn its ruling on Quran courses.

The Turkish Cypriot Bar Associations will be staging a protest on Monday. Many Turkish Cypriots expressed support for the protest via social media, updating their profiles in a show of solidarity. People from all sides of the political spectrum have expressed anger at statements made by Turkish officials undermining the independence of the judiciary and the core principles of state of law.

Basın-Sen (Turkish Cypriot Press Workers’ Union), on Sunday, said it will support the Bar Association’s protest on Monday. Issuing a written statement, the trade union said they are not surprised to see submissive statements from the Turkish Cypriot ruling elite in view of Erdoğan’s remarks.

“There is a sovereignty problem in the north and there are not any issues with an independent judiciary,” Basın-Sen said, urging everyone to join forces in the struggle to “have a say and to have the political will in our own country.”

The three opposition parties in the north namely the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), People’s Party (HP) and the Social Democratic Party (TDP) have also declared support for the lawyers’ protest.

Issuing a statement on Sunday, the CTP stressed they will protect the independent judiciary. “The remarks made by Turkish officials are baseless accusations that target the judiciary and are a direct interference in the Turkish Cypriots’ democracy and the judiciary,” the CTP said, adding they will never allow it.

The HP stressed the independent judiciary safeguards Turkish Cypriots’ basic rights and freedoms and is critical in ensuring justice. “Our constitution defines our republic as a democratic, secular and social state,” the HP stressed, adding that if there is no independent judiciary, it is not possible to speak about the rule of law.

The HP said the party will support the lawyers’ protest and expressed determination to continue to struggle to protect the independent judiciary and the rule of law. Echoing a similar message, the TDP also said the independent judiciary is the very basis of democracy and freedoms.

Expressing support for the lawyers’ protest, the TDP also said the remarks made by Turkish officials are in no way acceptable.

CTP MP Özdil Nami in an interview with Yenidüzen published on Monday described the incident as a fight between light and the forces of darkness.

He said Turkish Cypriots will need to wage a serious struggle to preserve their way of life, their understanding of democracy and the rule of law. Nami also argued that the current position adopted by the Turkish Cypriot side on the Cyprus Problem was directed at domestic politics in Turkey and aimed at appeasing nationalists or conservatives.

“The mission of the president and his team is neither to reach a two-state solution or a federation but to preserve the status quo,” said Nami, claiming that this was part of Ankara’s plan in motion to slowly tighten its grip on the north.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner on Sunday issued a statement clarifying the Supreme Court’s ruling, a move which could have averted the crisis had it been done earlier. He said that the north was a Muslim country and that no one was banning Quran lessons.

Saner, who spoke to Turkish broadcaster TGRT on Sunday, explained the technical details of the verdict given by the Supreme Court. He said the Turkish Cypriot constitution safeguards people’s freedom of faith and their freedom to learn their religion as well.

He added that the ruling was not about banning religious courses, as claimed, but about which state institution or body had the authority to organize and hold such lessons. Saner said that the government will amend the legislation to solve the issue as soon as possible.


Tatar: TC side will table its new vision in Geneva

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Sunday continued to seek support for his two-state policy ahead of next week’s informal five-plus-one summit in Geneva.

Speaking at an online meeting organised by the Euroasia Economic Relations Association, Tatar said he was determined to table his new vision at the meeting which was based on the cooperation of two sovereign equal states, in many areas, such as water, natural gas, criminal events, and electricity.

He argued that the north’s hand had strengthened due to Turkey’s position in the region. Tatar repeated that the Turkish side will not discuss a federation nor accept the resumption of talks from where they left off in Crans Montana.

Asked to comment on the EU’s participation at the meeting in Geneva, the Turkish Cypriot leader reiterated that there was no room for the EU at the table. “Firstly, the EU is not impartial. Secondly, the EU has failed to keep its promises to the Turkish Cypriot community after the Annan Plan. Furthermore, it continues to stand by the Greek Cypriot side under the cloak of membership solidarity,” he said.

Also touching upon the issue of Maraş (Varosha) Tatar said the move to open the fenced-off town was a service to humanity adding that the lawful owners will be able to apply to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC).

KEY ACTOR
Tatar
>>
TC side will table its new vision for a two-state solution in Geneva.
>> Turkish side will not discuss a federation in Geneva. It is also out of the question to resume talks from where they left off in Crans Montana.
>> EU has no room at the table in Geneva.
>> Property owners in Maraş (Varosha) will be able to apply to IPC.


A sharp drop in the number of crossings

Kıbrıs
CBMs

OVERVIEW

The number of crossings is at an all-time low since the first checkpoint opened 18 years ago on April 23, 2003, Kıbrıs reported on Monday just days before the anniversary.

According to the figures obtained from the Tourism Planning Department, 1,107,089 people had entered the north in the first three months of 2020, whereas only 74,279 crossings were recorded for the period between January to March 2021. In terms of crossings to the south, even though 1,111,936 crossings were recorded in 2020, only 74,300 were recorded in 2021 for the same period.

The crossings of Greek Cypriots and other foreigners dropped by 99.2 per cent in the first three months of 2021. As a result, the Greek Cypriots’ and tourists’ contribution to the north’s tourism and its economy during this period is almost none.

In terms of Turkish Cypriots’ crossings, even though nearly 400,000 crossings have been recorded, only 68,503 Turkish Cypriots crossed to the south from January to March 2021. Even though 433,555 crossings by Greek Cypriots were recorded in the first three months of 2020, only 1,446 crossings were recorded from January to March of 2021.


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