Front Page Headlines
Anastasiades delighted
Journalist Costa Constantinou speaks to Yenidüzen. “Mr Anastasiades is not sincere about a federal solution, but he’s delighted over the Turkish Cypriot side’s stance.” “The worst-case scenario would be for a new deadlock on the Cyprus Issue despite achieving some progress.” “Mr Tatar will object to nothing Turkey says.” “The Greek Cypriot leadership must understand that political equality is a necessity.”
Sharp hike in the price of drinking water
The price of bottled water increased by 15 to 20 per cent both due to the devaluation of the Turkish lira against the foreign currencies, and the increase in the prices of raw material.
- 448kg of illegally smuggled meat seized – Special investigation unit of the police carried out an operation in Kyrenia.
- No lockdown during the Eid holiday – Council of Ministers approved the decisions adopted the other day (Thursday) by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases.
- ₺0.30 (€0.03) increase in petrol prices – Council of Ministers increased the price of fuel. The new prices will enter into force today.
Disappointment
Shopkeepers’ hopes of doing business on Mother’s Day were dashed after the government extended the full-day curfew on Sunday. Shopkeepers who complain they have been closed for so long say that Mother’s Day was a good opportunity to make up for their losses. However, their plans fell through when the government extended the curfew.
Occupation museum
As if the 20th of July celebrations or dawn vigils held to mark Turkey’s military operation is not enough, a new museum where a landing craft is displayed has been opened. The vessel, which was brought to the Famagusta port before being disassembled into 19 pieces so it could be transported to Kyrenia easily was placed on top of the cliff overlooking the beach where Turkish troops first landed in 1974. The boat is being reassembled now. Following the completion of the assembly, the landing craft will be opened to the public.
- A sharp increase in petrol prices – Ersan Saner, who attended the Council of Ministers meeting through a video link, announced the decision to increase the petrol prices.
- 324 cases of coronavirus and four deaths in the south, 27 cases in the north…
Main News
TC side tabled peace, stability & collaboration in Geneva
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar’s special representative Ergün Olgun on Friday said the position tabled by the Turkish Cypriot side in Geneva envisaged peace, stability and collaboration in Cyprus as well as the Eastern Mediterranean.
Speaking during a programme on Bayrak, Olgun said that the Cyprus problem had become a thorn on the side of regional actors.
“Accepting sovereign equality and equal international status of the two sides on the island would lead to a swift solution,” Olgun argued, adding that the conditions on and around the island have changed making the Cyprus problem an international issue.
“The Cyprus problem causes instability in the Eastern Mediterranean, bringing two NATO members face-to-face,” Olgun said pointing to the tensions between Turkey and Greece. He also argued that the solidarity among the NATO members was also questioned as a result of these tensions.
He also argued the conflict between Turkey and Greece, was making it harder if not impossible to utilize the hydrocarbon resources or generate any profit from them.
Olgun stressed the international community must convince the Greek Cypriot side for a solution to ensure stability in the region, however, he added the Greek Cypriot side has no motivation for reaching a deal based on equality. “Equality is something that cannot be negotiated,” Olgun underlined, pointing out that if equality of the two sides is not accepted, the balance on the island or in the region cannot be established.
Responding to criticisms, Olgun defended the six-point proposal tabled by the Turkish Cypriot side, stating the proposal did not seek international recognition of the north as claimed but only demanded that the north’s sovereign equality and equal international status be safeguarded.
KEY ACTORS
Olgun (Tatar)
>> Position tabled by TC side in Geneva aims peace, stability & collaboration in Cyprus & East Med.
>> Cyprob growing thorn in the side of the international community, causing NATO solidarity to be questioned.
>> Tensions between Turkey & Greece making it hard to utilize hydrocarbon resources.
>> Equality is not something that can be negotiated.
>> TC proposal does not aim at seeking recognition of the north but securing sovereign equality & international status.
It was a mistake to reject CBM proposals in Geneva, says TDP leader
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit on Friday took a swipe at Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, stating that it was a historic mistake to reject the confidence-building measures (CBMs) on Ercan (Tymbou) and Maraş (Varosha) proposed by the Greek Cypriot side in Geneva.
In a statement issued from the TDP, Özyiğit added opening the ports to international flights and ships would have contributed significantly to the Turkish Cypriot economy. “The CBM proposals should have at least been evaluated,” Özyiğit argued, pointing out the contradiction that the Turkish Cypriot side for years had been offering to return Maraş (Varosha) in exchange for direct flights to Ercan (Tymbou) and direct trade from the Famagusta port but the Greek Cypriot side had always rejected the offer.
Özyiğit said the Turkish Cypriot side had been subjected to economic embargoes and isolations for years. “As the side suffering economically the most from the Cyprus problem, the reasons as to why the Turkish Cypriot side rejected this proposal should have been explained to the people,” Özyiğit urged, questioning what negativities could have been seen by the Turkish Cypriot leadership to reject the CBMs.
Touching on the Turkish Cypriot side’s six-point proposal submitted in Geneva, Özyiğit argued that Ersin Tatar and his team might be working on alienating the Turkish Cypriot community from the world further.
“Contrary to the proposals put forth by Tatar, the Turkish Cypriot community needs new policies that will bring the community closer with the world,” Özyiğit concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Özyiğit (TDP)
>> Rejecting the GC side’s proposal on CBMs was a historic mistake as if accepted could have contributed to the TC economy.
>> Tatar’s proposals will further alienate TCs from the world.
Anastasiades delighted over TC side’s positions, says GC journalist
Yenidüzen
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades may not be sincere about a federal solution, but he was delighted with the Turkish Cypriot side’s stance in Geneva, Greek Cypriot journalist Costas Constantinou said in an interview with Yenidüzen.
He said that Tatar had played into Anastasiades’ hand by tabling his two-state solution model which did not receive the UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) support.
Constantinou who writes for Politis and Ta Nea said that nothing surprising had emerged from the meeting in Geneva. He recalled that Tatar who he had interviewed shortly after his election had given a short and diplomatic response to his question as to whether or not he had a Republic of Cyprus (RoC) passport.
“His answer was short and diplomatic. He told me he was proud of holding a TRNC passport,” Constantinou said. He however criticized Anastasiades, stating that his remarks on passports created the wrong impression that he exercised authority over Turkish Cypriots and that he could speak on their behalf.
Constantinou added that the north had become a province of Turkey but that he personally did not believe that partition or independence will ever be realised the way some Turkish Cypriots are hoping for. “Nevertheless, Greek Cypriots need to understand that peace and stability cannot be achieved under the current circumstances,” he added.
Evaluating the 5+1 meeting in Geneva, Constantinou said it was clear that none of the parties wants a new deadlock in Cyprus.
He said Tatar’s leadership was problematic in the sense he will not be objecting to anything put before him by Ankara. Constantinou said that Anastasiades was delighted by the UNSG’s response to the Turkish Cypriot side but he also did not believe that the Turkish Cypriot side was naïve enough to believe the UN will accept their demands.
Dujarric: “Security & guarantees to be dealt with in comprehensive settlement”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
UNSG Antonio Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the issue of security and guarantees will have to come out in a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.
Responding to a question at a press conference in Geneva on Thursday, Dujarric reiterated that the UNSG will reconvene the five-plus-one meeting in a few months for more discussions.- “The Secretary-General asked the parties to return to Geneva for open discussions,” Dujarric added.
Also asked what the SG’s take was on the Turkish Cypriot side’s two-state solution model, Dujarric said the SG in his remarks at the end of the Geneva conference, said the two Cypriot sides laid out their positions.
“It was clear to all from what he said that there need to be more talks, so I think, in that sense, he referred to it pretty clearly,” Dujarric said, adding that “the issue of security and guarantees will have to come out in a comprehensive settlement.”
KEY ACTORS
Dujarric (UN)
>> Issue of security & guarantees will need to be addressed in a comprehensive settlement.
>> Outcome of 5+UN meeting reveals needs for more talks.
448 kg of illegally smuggled meat seized
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Police in Kyrenia seized 448kg of meat that was smuggled through from the south in unhygienic conditions. Two individuals were arrested and charged with the offence of being in possession of goods not declared to the customs.