Front Page Headlines
Search to achieve a forced majority
No agreement was reached at the Parliamentary Advisory Committee regarding a date for early elections. All eyes are now turned to today’s meeting and then to parliament. The steps which were taken by the National Unity Party (UBP)-Democratic Party (DP)-Rebirth Party (YDP) coalition to secure a majority of seats on the (parliamentary advisory) committee and to postpone the date for early elections failed to produce the desired outcome.
- Letter to Guterres from the CTP (Republican Turkish Party) – “Political equality is an essential component of a bizonal, bicommunal federation”
- As opposed to the leaders, civil society is determined on a federal solution – Joint voice from 113 organisations who said “Together on the path to a federation.”
Election commotion
The efforts to identify a date for an early election have raised tensions between the government and the opposition. The government wants April 2022 for an early election whereas the opposition insists on August 2021. Following disagreeing on the election date, the government and the opposition now cannot agree on which committee to discuss the proposed dates.
- Vaccination drive continues with people aged 50 and above – Health Minister Ünal Üstel announced the vaccinations will continue from today onwards with the 40,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines sent from Turkey.
- Tatar and Erdoğan to meet on Monday – President Ersin Tatar, who chaired the Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday, said he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday ahead of the Geneva conference.
Political will for a solution
More than 110 organisations from both the north and the south of Cyprus will organize a peace march on the anniversary of the Annan Plan referendum on April 24.
- Protect federation – Main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman sends a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
- Ankara stop-over before Geneva – President Ersin Tatar will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara ahead of the Geneva conference.
- To goal is to ascertain positions – The details of the five-plus-UN meeting which will be hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Geneva from April 27 to 29, are becoming clearer.
Deterring penalties and inspections
Citizens unhappy with the rise in unemployment, poverty and who have to live with the fear of Covid-19 are proposing stricter inspections. Citizens talking to Diyalog draw attention to the alarming rise in drug-related crimes, expressing concern about the future of younger generations. They call on the government to take urgent measures to address the country’s growing problem of crime.
- ‘On the path to a federation’ – Over 100 trade unions, civil society organisations and political parties from the north and south of Cyprus are organising a peace event.
- ‘I didn’t accept a two-state solution’ – Anastasiades who said he met with Çavuşoğlu in 2018 in New York announced he was ready to share the minutes of the meeting.
- 48,000 people received their second doses – Vaccinations for over 50-year-olds begin as of today.
- Now it’s the turn of 49-year-olds – South Cyprus announces that 214,000 people have been vaccinated.
We (Turkish Cypriots) are not at the table this time, but Turkey will be
The Turkish side is preparing to table the two-state model during the Cyprus conference to be held in Geneva from April 27 to 29. Ersin Tatar, who will be attending intercommunal talks for the first time, has been trained by Turkish officials…Tatar, who will be travelling to Ankara on Monday, will also receive a briefing from Tayyip Erdoğan after he received one from (Turkish VP Fuat) Oktay and one from (Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt) Çavuşoğlu.
Main News
TC & GC organisations organize joint march ‘Together for federation’
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
More than 100 organisations from both sides of the divide and abroad, called on Wednesday for Cyprus’ reunification as a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality.
“Despite the widespread disappointment and in contrast to the lack of political will by the leadership on both sides, Cypriots have demonstrated an unprecedented resolution in their will for reunification and peace in a bizonal, bicommunal federation for a federal settlement,” the organisations said it in a statement issued on Wednesday.
A total of 113 groups, parties, and trade unions said they back a bicommunal mobilisation scheduled to take place on Saturday on both sides of the divide in Nicosia, as a means of responding to the negative political climate ahead of next week’s informal summit in Geneva.
“Greek and Turkish Cypriots are marching together along the common route to reunification, rejecting all proposals leading all forms of partition. Walking together is the essence of success!” the groups said in a joint declaration.
Issuing a joint statement ahead of the planned march to be held simultaneously on both sides of the divide on April 24, the CSOs expressed their determination for a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF) with single sovereignty, single international personality and single citizenship.
Organising the march under the slogan “Together for federation (#together4federation24_4),” the organisations noted Cyprus has reached yet another critical milestone, faced with the risk of permanent partition.
The organisations demanded the leaders abandon their anti-solution positions and give positive responses to the calls and recommendations made by the UN.
They also expressed their determination to work towards a reunified country “independent from interference from third countries,” adding that a united peaceful Cyprus would also help improve the relations between Turkey and Greece and help create broader opportunities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
They said that, under these conditions, civil society is taking the lead. The groups also demanded “the immediate opening of all crossing points” as provided by the recent UN Security Council Resolution (UNSC) with the same health controls implemented in other parts of the island.
They also said that the bicommunal committee on health must be empowered to enhance cooperation between the two communities to combat the pandemic.
The organisations called for strengthening cooperation in all fields such as trade and employment “in all parts of our de facto divided country and access to international markets based on the Green Line Regulation to minimise the negative economic burden on the Turkish Cypriot community resulting from the prevailing extraordinary conditions.”
Touching on the natural resources issue, the organisations demand that all sides suspend their hydrocarbon activities under negotiations are concluded. The group also states that the issue of Maraş (Varosha) must be handled by a bicommunal technical committee supported by experts and representatives from the two communities to return the properties to their lawful owners.
“Both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots are walking on the path for reunification together while rejecting every move that might lead to partition. Marching together is the core of success,” the organisation’s statement concluded.
A joint peace march will be held simultaneously on both sides of the divide on April 24. The march is organized by the “This Country is Ours” Platform in the north.
The participants from the north are asked to meet at 5:30 pm in the area which is known as the old train station. The participants in the south will gather at the Eleftheria (Freedom) square in south Nicosia to march to the Paphos Gate and to the Taksim (Çetinkaya) football pitch in the buffer zone, to unite with the Turkish Cypriot participants at the Yiğitler (Rocca) bastion.
Tatar doing final rounds of consultations ahead of 5+1
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar on Wednesday reiterated that the two-state solution is the only realistic option in Cyprus. Speaking to reporters after chairing a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Tatar said he had briefed ministers before heading off to Geneva for the five-plus-one meeting.
He announced that he will also be meeting with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Monday (April 26) for consultations ahead of the summit.
“We shall be discussing our new policy on a two-state solution which we will be tabling in Geneva,” he said, adding that a solution based on two sovereign equal states that would cooperate was the only realistic option in Cyprus.
Tatar said he has already informed all the international actors on the Turkish Cypriot side’s new vision for a two-state model and done everything possible so far for a two-state solution. “With Ankara’s full support, we will be heading to Geneva with a clear conscience,” Tatar concluded.
Earlier on Wednesday, Tatar held a meeting with his negotiations team as part of his ongoing preparations for the upcoming summit in Geneva. Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu was also present during the meeting which was held to review the preparations made by the Turkish Cypriot side.
KEY ACTOR
Tatar
>> Two-state solution only realistic option for a solution in Cyprus.
Çavuşoğlu says Turkish side will adopt a constructive stance in Geneva
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Wednesday reminded that the purpose of the upcoming 5+UN informal meeting set to take place in Geneva next week was to discuss what to negotiate if a new process is to be launched.
Speaking to the Turkish HaberTürk news channel, Çavuşoğlu said the Turkish side will be adopting a constructive stance at the meeting. “We shall explain what we want and why a federal settlement is not possible,” he said.
Çavuşoğlu also said that it was not possible to settle the outstanding problems between Turkey and Greece at a single meeting. Regarding the issue of hydrocarbons, the Turkish Foreign Minister said that Greece signed bilateral and trilateral agreements in the Eastern Mediterranean which ignored the rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.
“We are explaining at every opportunity that no plan in the Eastern Mediterranean which excludes Turkey is feasible or possible. The steps we have taken in the field because they didn’t listen to us has proved this,” he said, adding that Ankara supported the idea of a fair distribution of resources.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> Purpose of 5+1 is to discuss what to negotiate in any new process.
>> Turkish side will be adopting a constructive stance in Geneva.
>> Turkish side will explain what it wants & why a federal settlement is not possible.
>> Not possible to settle problems between two countries with just one meeting.
>> Not possible to take steps in East Med by excluding Turkey or TCs.
Dujarric reiterates aim of the 5+1 meeting is to explore common ground between parties
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric reiterated that the purpose of the five-plus-one meeting will be to determine whether a common ground exists for the parties to negotiate a lasting solution to the Cyprus issue within a foreseeable horizon.
Speaking during his daily press briefing in New York, Dujarric also noted the Secretary-General will go to Geneva for the meeting, which will be held from April 27-29.
“As we had said on February 24, the UNSG is convening this informal meeting following consultations conducted on his behalf by a senior UN official, Ms Jane Holl Lute,” the spokesman said, adding that the consultations were held over the past months.
Spehar meets with the CTP and the HP ahead of the 5+1
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
UN Secretary-General’s Representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar held final consultative meetings with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the People’s Party (HP) on Wednesday ahead of the five-plus-one meeting in Geneva.
During the meeting with the CTP, party leader Tufan Erhürman and Kyrenia MP and foreign affairs secretary Fikri Toros presented Spehar with a letter to be passed on to the UNSG Antonio Guterres.
In the letter, Erhürman noted that despite the Secretary-General’s strong determination to find a strategic political agreement to the Cyprus problem, the division on the island continues.
“The developments in the region prove that the status quo is not static…and the consequences of the ongoing conflict on the island is neither acceptable nor sustainable,” the CTP leader stressed in the letter, arguing that the Turkish Cypriots support Secretary-General’s call for the urgent resumption of the talks to reach a comprehensive and lasting solution on the island.
Reiterating the CTP’s commitment to the bizonal, bicommunal federal solution based on the political equality of the two communities, Erhürman in his letter, stressed the importance of the concept of political equality.
Erhürman, quoting relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions that define political equality, added that the political equality of the two communities must also include rotational presidency and the ‘one-positive vote’ principle in all the federal organs and not be limited to the federal council of ministers. He concluded the letter by expressing his support for Secretary-General’s leadership in overcoming the differences between the two sides to launch a new and official round of talks.
On the other hand, HP leader Kudret Özersay reiterated his known stance in favour of developing areas of collaboration during an online meeting held with Spehar.
In a social media post following the meeting, Özersay said collaboration between the two sides can be done “no matter what the proposed solution model is and without having to wait for a comprehensive solution.” The HP leader also noted that it is not right to raise the expectations of the people from the five-plus-one meeting, instead emphasized the need to start collaborating between the two sides on the economy.
KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Status quo on the island is neither acceptable nor sustainable.
>> CTP continues to support a BBF.
>> Political equality must also include rotational presidency & the one-positive vote’ principle in all the federal organs. It must not be limited to the federal council of ministers.
>> CTP supports UNSG in overcoming differences between the two sides & to launch new talks.
Özersay (HP)
>> Collaboration between two sides is needed.
>> No need to wait for a solution for the two sides to collaborate.
>> Not right to raise expectations of 5+1 meeting.