Front Page Headlines
‘We’re anxious’
Patients with chronic illnesses restlessly await their turn to get vaccinated. Associations are warning that the risk is very high. Many with chronic illnesses have not received their Covid-19 vaccines yet. Working individuals are particularly nervous as they wait for their turn. Representatives of associations for people with chronic illnesses have been repeatedly highlighting the need for their members to be vaccinated.
- “Process for a solution bogged down in Geneva” (Republican Turkish Party leader Tufan Erhürman)
- Anastasiades responds to Tatar: “Should the 97,000 Turkish Cypriots who have Republic of Cyprus (RoC) passports or IDs be ashamed?”
- He consulted with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: The new airport (Tymbou) should be called Dr Fazıl Küçük while the name Ercan should be given to Geçitkale (Lefkoniko) airport.
Negligence is the main cause of fires
As the weather becomes warmer, firefighters prepare for the busiest time of the year. Dozens of forest fires in our country each year cause extensive damage. Speaking to Kıbrıs, Director of the Fire Brigade Ahmet Özmenek said there were 1,053 fires in the past 16 months in our country and urged the people to be more cautious.
- Making appointments with the virus – Many people flocked to the hospitals to get their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The long queues which formed in front of the hospitals caused concerns.
Anastasiades launches a war
While the Turkish side maintains its quiet following Geneva, the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades gears into action urging Turkish Cypriots to unite for Cyprus.
- Erdoğan approves the new name – President Ersin Tatar said he consulted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to name the new airport Dr Fazıl Küçük airport.
- The final act in the scandal – It was revealed that the Greek Cypriot administration has offered a fraudster to sell 5,000 passports.
Should he be ashamed?
Anastasiades said that 97,000 Turkish Cypriots have ‘Republic of Cyprus’ IDs and asked Tatar whether they should be ashamed. Anastasiades had said that the current situation was not acceptable for either community and had called on Turkish Cypriots to unite for their common homeland. In the message he sent to President Ersin Tatar he said that even patience has its limits. His announcement that 97,000 Turkish Cypriots had RoC citizenship sparked a serious debate on social media.
- Police caught her – Greek Cypriot A.G and her British boyfriend R.G were caught and arrested at a student dormitory.
Tatar is also a (Republic of) Cyprus citizen
(Ersin) Tatar is also a citizen of (Nicos) Anastasiades…It was revealed that Ersin Tatar is also a citizen of the RoC. Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades announced 97,000 Turkish Cypriots, including Ersin Tatar and Ersan Saner have RoC citizenship. In other words, they are also citizens of Anastasiades however they were both outraged with Anastasiades when he called the Turkish Cypriots his compatriots.
- The vaccination drive reached the 30s age group – According to the national vaccination plan in South Cyprus, people aged 30 to 38 will soon start receiving their jabs. The goal is to complete a significant percentage by the end of May.
- Health Ministry disallows Left Movement’s congress – Abdullah Korkmazhan announced.
- 24 trade unions demand the amendments to the labour law to be withdrawn – The trade unions argue that the amendments will violate the constitution as well as the ILO (International Labour Organisation) provisions.
Main News
Political parties in the north continue to trade accusations on 5+1 meeting
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The recent informal talks held in Geneva between the five parties and the UN continues to occupy the political agenda in the north.
Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, who is the General Secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP) and member of the Turkish Cypriot negotiating team on Tuesday defended the Turkish Cypriot side’s position, arguing that all attending parties were well informed of their position in favour of sovereign equality.
Speaking on Bayrak, Hasipoğlu said the Turkish Cypriot side’s position had been documented by the UN, describing this as an important development if talks were to restart. Responding to criticisms from the opposition regarding the outcome of the meeting, the UBP General Secretary said that contrary to claims that the meeting was a failure, the fact that the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) agreed to convene a second meeting in the near future was proof that there was room for progress.
“At no stage did he (UNSG Antonio Guterres) tell us we could not table our position or views on grounds they violated UN parameters or UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions,” Hasipoğlu said. Referring to the six-point proposal submitted in Geneva, he also refuted claims that the Turkish Cypriot side had sought recognition of the north.
“This is not how you get recognised. What we are essentially asking for is to be treated as equals, to set a balance when sitting at the negotiating table but this was interpreted by the Greek Cypriot side as a demand for recognition,” Hasipoğlu added.
The UBP official said that the embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriots should be removed to achieve a balance in talks as this was a reasonable demand. He also the Turkish Cypriot side was not obliged to wait for the Greek Cypriot side on the issue of hydrocarbons.
Erdoğan Sorakın, General Secretary for the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) meanwhile claimed that the UBP is advocating for partition. Also speaking on Bayrak on Tuesday, Sorakın added the two-state solution model was part of Turkey’s project to permanently partition the island.
He said that the Turkish Cypriot side will lose all it has gained through past negotiations if the Turkish Cypriot side continues to insist on a two-state solution.
Sorakin also argued that the goal of achieving EU membership, a common desire of all Turkish Cypriots, will also be lost should the Turkish Cypriot leadership continue to pursue such a settlement. He concluded by stating that the international community will never accept a two-state solution.
The leader of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Cemal Özyiğit on Tuesday said that the two sides will be engaged in serious negotiations in the near future as could be predicted when following statements made by international actors and officials from Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP).
“The six-point proposal submitted by the Turkish Cypriot side, which is far from reflecting the reality on the Turkish Cypriot side, was designed for the sole purpose of creating room for the AKP government for political manoeuvres.
He also questioned the UN’s motivation behind organising such a conference when it knew what the outcome would be in advance. “The only possibility is that the UN behind closed doors had been given certain messages by Ankara and by the international actors,” Özyiğit argued, noting that he will find out more about these developments following contacts with the UN in Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot political parties.
Gülşah Sanver Manavoğlu, General Secretary of the People’s Party (HP) on Tuesday said that the Turkish Cypriot leadership had adopted the HP’s position on collaboration between the two sides.
Speaking during a programme on Genç TV, Manavoğlu accused the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar of not consulting the political parties ahead of or during the Geneva process. “We learned about the Greek Cypriot side’s proposals on Maraş (Varosha) and Ercan (Tymbou) airport through the media and the Turkish Cypriot side’s six-point proposal was leaked by the Greek Cypriot side,” Manavoğlu complained.
She said when the political parties wanted to confirm the news, the Turkish Cypriot leadership had told them “it was nonsense!” Manavoğlu also argued that the Turkish Cypriot side should have negotiated property, territorial adjustment, purchase of immovables and other issues with the Greek Cypriot side and should have entered a ‘give-and-take’ process.
“The Turkish Cypriot side could have seized the opportunity for the Turkish Cypriots to live a more modern and humane life in the north with the opening of the ports, and direct flights but the leadership missed it completely,” Manavoğlu stressed.
KEY ACTORS
Hasipoğlu (UBP)
>> Attending parties at 5+1 were well informed of the TC side’s position for sovereign equality.
>> Contrary to claims TC side is not seeking recognition but is demanding to be treated as equals.
>> Embargoes on TCs should be lifted & TCs not obliged to wait for TCs on the issue of hydrocarbons.
Sorakin (CTP)
>> Two-state model is part of Turkey’s plan to partition Cyprus permanently.
>> TC side will lose all previous gains, including prospects of EU membership if TC side insists on a two-state solution.
>> The international community will never accept a two-state solution.
Özyiğit (TDP)
>> TC side’s proposal at 5+1 aimed at creating manoeuvre room for the Turkish government.
>> Sides will be engaged in serious negotiations in the near future.
Manavoğlu (HP)
>> TC leadership has adopted HP’s position in favour of collaboration between two sides.
>> TC side should have negotiated key issues such as property, territorial adjustment etc & engaged in a process of give-and-take.
>> TC side missed an opportunity to address CBMs such as direct flights & opening of ports.
Former British MP claims UK & US only see Cyprus as a strategic asset
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The island of Cyprus is only a strategic asset for the United Kingdom and the United States, British politician and lawyer Michael Stephen stated on Monday, underlining that both countries disregard the Turkish Cypriot community.
Former Conservative Member of Parliament and legal adviser to the late Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktaş, Stephen highlighted that the best formula for the Cyprus problem is a solution based on two states.
Stephan was the key-note speaker at an online meeting organized by the British Turkish Cypriot Association (BTCA). Recalling the past events on the island, Stephan argued that the Greek Cypriot politicians at the time carried out their policies to gain dominance over the entire island to unite Cyprus with Greece.
“The Greek Cypriot politicians have the same vision today,” he claimed, adding that “No solution model will be accepted by either one of the communities on the island as long as the Greek Cypriot politicians do not change their ideas.” He also accused the international community of what he called “being part of the Cyprus problem,” and said the UN and the EU legitimized the Greek Cypriots by recognizing the Greek Cypriot state.
Stephan also rejected the claims that the UK might politically recognize the north however he argued that they would refrain from doing so in order not to risk the presence of the British bases on the island, which is also utilized by the US.
“Both the US and the UK are trying to preserve the status quo, estrange the Turkish Cypriots from the idea of the two states and convince them of accepting an alternative version of the Annan Plan,” Stephan claimed, urging Ankara to pull its weight over the other Islamic countries to recognize the north.
Akar says a two-state solution in Cyprus only viable option
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, Energy
OVERVIEW
Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar on Tuesday said that a two-state solution was the only viable solution model in Cyprus. Akar who came together with Turkish troops stationed in Libya said that there was a sovereign and independent Turkish state in Cyprus.
“We wish for peaceful and good neighbourly relations based on dialogue,” he said. The Turkish Defence Minister also said there was no point in renegotiating solution models which have been tried and which have been unsuccessful.
“Unfortunately, despite our goodwill, we continue to face provocations, disrespectful actions and threats from Greece,” he added. Also touching upon developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Akar said that Turkey’s presence in Libya was vital for protecting its rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“We are continuing with our activities in the region within the framework of the maritime jurisdiction agreements we have signed. Greece’s attempts to render these agreements invalid are futile. We support a solution to these problems through law, good neighbourly relations, dialogue and peaceful methods,” he said.
Akar repeated that Turkey has no plans or designs over the territories of other countries. “We respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our neighbours within the framework of international law. This does not however mean that we will give up our own rights or allow a fait accompli. Everyone should understand this,” he said.
KEY ACTORS
Akar (Turkey)
>> Two-state solution model remains the only viable solution model in Cyprus.
>> Turkey’s presence in Libya is vital for the protection of its rights & interests in the East Med.
>> Attempts by Greece to render signed agreements futile. Turkey desires good neighbourly relations based on dialogue.
>> Turkey respects the sovereignty & territorial integrity of its neighbours but will not give up on its own rights.
GC woman wanted by Cypol arrested in the north
Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
A Greek Cypriot woman, A.G wanted by Greek Cypriot police was arrested in the north last week along with her British boyfriend R.G.
Acting upon information, the police carried out a raid at a student dormitory in Famagusta and arrested the suspects for being in possession of drugs on April 30.
The court remanded the suspects for three days until the police conclude their investigation.