TCC Press Review 12 May 2021

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

“The students expected did not arrive”

Speaking to Yenidüzen, the head of YÖDAK (Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council) Turgay Avcı said that the expected number of university students, particularly from Turkey did not return to the island during the pandemic. Instead, he says that students from third countries remained in the country to continue their education. Avcı added that the aim will be to start in-class or face-to-face education in September.

  • This Country is Ours Platform: “They (President Tatar and Prime Minister Saner) have failed when it comes to vaccines. We have only acquired 30,000 doses.

Kıbrıs

Crime rates at frightening levels

The number of cases at the Serious Crimes Courts reveals the ‘crime rate’ in our country. An increase in murder cases, battery, assaults, stabbings, fraud, sexual crimes and drug cases are causing concern. There is also an increase in the number of cases of theft, especially embezzlement by public servants and/or staff members.

  • The power supply could be cut off at any moment – EL-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority (KIBTEK) Workers’ Union) went on strike but the KIBTEK Board Director Turan Büyükyılmaz called on EL-SEN to end their strike.
  • Dug holes looking for artefacts – Three people in Bostancı (Kato Zodhia) were caught red-handed while digging holes searching for artefacts. The suspects also had with them a pair of binoculars, a laptop and a metal detector.

Havadis

Outrage over vaccines

Economic organisations platform staged a protest arguing that the vaccines sent by the EU are not fairly distributed on the island. Only 6.2 per cent of the vaccines sent to the island were delivered to the north.

  • “Respect ended in Geneva” – Main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman during the Havadis web TV programme criticized President Ersin Tatar’s attitude and policies.
  • Started the efforts for a struggle – “This Country is Ours” Platform reiterated its support for the “United Federal Cyprus.”

Diyalog

Shopkeepers disappointed

The continuation of restrictions has affected shopping for the Eid-al-Fitr holiday negatively. Shopkeepers also complain that peoples’ purchasing power has gone down and that pre-holiday sales were at an all-time low. They said that people who are staying at home because of the restrictions are not buying new clothes.

  • ‘We want our rights’ – Economic organisations which staged a protest at Metehan (Ayios Dhometios) gave out a message to the EU on vaccines.
  • The public is happy –The relaxation of measures in South Cyprus has raised shopkeepers’ hopes.
  • It will pass – A man who purchased 134 grams of marihuana and 29grs of cocaine from the south has been sentenced to 24 months in prison. Another person involved was sentenced to 22 months.
  • The tip was effective – As sales have gone up due to the upcoming Eid holiday, two suspects who smuggled 449kgs of meat were arrested and released on bail.

Avrupa

Why was the proposal on the ports rejected?

The issue over which the opposition leaders kept quiet about in Geneva has now become an issue in Nicosia. “This Country is Ours” Platform, though late, reacted to the rejection by the Turkish Cypriot leadership to Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades’ proposal on the opening of the Famagusta Port and the Ercan (Tymbou) airport. “Rejecting the proposal on the Famagusta Port and the Ercan (Tymbou) airport means self-inflicted embargo,” the platform said.

  • 448 people arrived under the ‘closed-circuit’ tourism model – Tourism and Environment Ministry announced 448 people holidayed in the north last week under the ‘closed-circuit’ system.
  • 390 positive coronavirus cases and two deaths in the south, 33 cases in the north…

Main News

Pro-solution platform expresses commitment to achieving a united federal Cyprus

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

“This Country is Ours” Platform on Tuesday stepped up its criticisms of the Ersin Tatar’s leadership and two-state policy, stating it was ready and determined to wage a joint struggle to reach united federal Cyprus.

The platform which held a press conference reiterated that a united federal Cyprus was the most realistic and sustainable solution model for Cyprus.

Emel Tel, head of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union (KTÖS), reading a press statement on behalf of the platform, described the outcome of the informal meeting in Geneva as a diplomatic failure. She warned that Tatar’s proposals carried the risk of losing all the progress achieved to date.

“Moreover, the Turkish side’s position displayed in Geneva has acquitted the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, who had been insincere about the negotiations and refraining from agreeing to a solution,” Tel argued.

She also slammed Tatar for keeping the representatives of political parties in the dark before submitting his proposals. Tel harshly criticized the Turkish Cypriot side for rejecting the Greek Cypriot side’s proposals on Ercan (Tymbou) airport and Maraş (Varosha) arguing that the Turkish Cypriot side missed out on great economic opportunities.

“Rejecting the confidence-building measures (CBMs) on Ercan (Tymbou) airport and Maraş (Varosha) also means self-inflicted embargo,” Tel stressed, adding that the only positive outcome of the Geneva talks was the fact that the UN Secretary-General has agreed to hold another five-party summit in the coming period.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Turkish Republican Party (CTP) leader Tufan  Erhürman on Tuesday said the long term development plans for the north must go in parallel with efforts to reach a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution (BBF).

During meetings with DEV-İŞ (Federation of Revolutionary Workers’ Unions) and KTÖS on Tuesday, Erhürman repeated his earlier warnings regarding Tatar’s policies, stating that the Turkish Cypriot community was facing the risk of losing its gains achieved to date.

He underlined the CTP will continue to advocate for a BBF based on the political equality of the two communities.

Speaking separately on Havadis Web TV, the CTP leader said that Tatar had lost his party’s respect in Geneva. He said that he and his party had been informed of the proposals only after they had been reported by the press.

On the issue of the vaccines, Erhürman said Tatar needed to take action on the matter and that complaining about the issue through the local media was meaningless. Touching upon the issue of the crossing points, Erhürman, said that the Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan’s remarks were disappointing as the issue cannot evolve around who closed the checkpoints first.

“It has been more than a year the crossings are closed now. The CTP was there protesting against it,” he said, urging the Turkish Cypriot leadership to keep the issue of crossings in the forefront at all times.

Earlier on Tuesday, the General Secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP) MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu harshly criticized the CTP, calling on the party to “stop contributing to the Greek Cypriot side’s irreconcilable attitude that disregarded the rights of Turkish Cypriots.”

In a statement issued from the UBP, Hasipoğlu argued that Tatar’s position in Geneva was “appropriate” vis-a-vis the Cyprus problem. He noted the CTP had witnessed firsthand the Turkish Cypriot side’s disappointment in Crans Montana in 2017 when the federal talks collapsed.

Hasipoğlu, in criticism of CTP’s accusations against Tatar, also reminded that former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı too had chosen not to inform either parliament or the Turkish Cypriot delegation in Crans Montana when he submitted a map containing territorial concessions.

Rejecting accusations that Tatar had hidden the details of the six-point proposal submitted from the opposition, the UBP General Secretary said the details of the proposal had been shared with the political parties repeatedly.

“Safeguarding our sovereign equality and equal international status is the very core of our proposal,” Hasipoğlu said, adding that official talks could be launched once the Turkish Cypriot side’s demands were met.

People’s Party (HP) leader and former negotiator Kudret Özersay said the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposal is not likely to be accepted because of the preconditions it dictates. Speaking during a programme on Bayrak, Özersay reiterated his known stance, saying that the solution model proposed by the Turkish Cypriot leadership will not be brought to the negotiations table because it is a grave mistake to expect the UN Security Council (UNSC) to deliver justice to the Turkish Cypriot community.

“It is not possible to claim the UNSC is a fair body when one looks at the Israel-Palestine issue or many other international conflicts,” he said, adding that the UNSC acts in the best interests of the permanent members.

“So the real question here is: why did the Turkish Cypriot side submit a proposal knowing that it will be rejected?” Özersay asked, arguing that Tatar contradicted himself when claiming to be sovereign while at the same time calling on the UNSC to safeguard the north’s sovereignty.

Özersay urged Tatar to publicly call on the Greek Cypriot side “to start talking about possible areas of collaboration even before a solution.” “The Turkish Cypriot side could table Ercan (Tymbou) and Famagusta Port issue in exchange for the opening of Turkish airspace and ports to Greek Cypriot vessels instead of Maraş (Varosha),” Özersay argued, adding that there are many areas the Greek Cypriot leadership could accept.

“We have to seek areas of collaboration with the Greek Cypriot side that will give economic breathing space to the Turkish Cypriots,” he stressed and added that it would also be possible to reach an agreement on these issues before the eyes of the international community.

“It is easier than finding the comprehensive settlement,” he noted, emphasizing the vitality in creating economic interdependence between the two communities on the island.

Özersay also noted that the HP was expecting to see the minutes of the meetings in Geneva, saying that the party might be able to read between the lines and possibly make new recommendations in light of the meeting notes.

KEY ACTORS
This Country is Ours Platform
>> Geneva was a diplomatic failure.
>> Outcome of Geneva meeting carries the risk of losing all previous progress & gains.
>> Great economic opportunities missed by the rejection of Anastasiades’ proposals.
>> Rejecting CBMs means self-inflicted embargo.

Erhürman (CTP)
>> Long term development plans for the north must go in parallel with efforts to reach a BBF.
>> Tatar’s policies carry the risk of losing gains achieved to date.
>> CTP will continue to advocate for BBF.

Hasipoğlu (UBP)
>> Safeguarding TCs’ sovereign equality & equal international status is the very core of the TC side’s proposal.
>> Official talks can only be launched once the TC side’s demands are met.

Özersay (HP)
>> TC side’s proposal is unlikely to be accepted because of the preconditions it dictates.
>> UNSC not a fair body & only acts according to the interests of its permanent members.
>> Tatar contradicted himself when claiming to be sovereign while asking at the same time for the UNSC to safeguard the north’s sovereignty.
>> Tatar should propose to the GC side to start talking about possible areas of collaboration before a solution.
>> TC side could table Ercan (Tymbou) & Famagusta Port issue in exchange for the opening of Turkish airspace & ports to GC vessels instead of Maraş (Varosha).
>> TC side needs to seek areas of collaboration with the GC side that will give economic breathing space to the Turkish Cypriots.
>> Creating economic interdependence between the two communities on the island is vital.


Platform protests slow distribution of vaccines to the north

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs

OVERVIEW

A protest was held on Tuesday morning at the Metehan (Ayios Dhometios) crossing by representatives of various business sectors against the slow distribution of vaccines to the north. The Economic Organisations Platform EOP said the process was not being done fairly, according to the population ratio.

Due to restrictions, a small number of representatives of various sectors took part. The protest is organised by the Construction Contractors Association (KTİMB), the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO), the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KTSO) and the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers’ Association (KITOB).

The representatives called on the EU commission to treat the Turkish Cypriot community fairly, questioning whether the commission was imposing its own form of embargoes on Turkish Cypriots. The platform noted that the 30,050 doses of vaccines sent by the EU amounted to only 6.2 per cent of what was already sent to the Greek Cypriot side, even though the initial agreement was for 20 per cent.

Speaking later on Monday Cafer Gürcafer, head of the KTIMB complained that the Turkish Cypriot community is not being heard in the committees that make the decisions on vaccine distribution.

He claimed that the Greek Cypriot side’s attitude to prioritising its community on the issue was unlawful. Gürcafer also argued that the Turkish Cypriot leadership should have been spending all its efforts on obtaining vaccines from the EU and other places as well.

He also noted that Monday’s protest at Metehan (Ayios Dhometios) crossing was the first step and that the next move for the platform will be to carry this issue to Brussels. “We want what’s Turkish Cypriots’ right,” Gürcafer concluded.

General Secretary of the New Cyprus Party (YKP) Murat Kanatlı on Tuesday responded to Gürcafer’s claims in a post on social media, claiming that the platform was spreading disinformation.

Kanatlı said “The EU is not handing out vaccines for free nor are they donating them to anyone,” reminding that the EU was purchasing the vaccines from various suppliers on behalf of the member states under an umbrella agreement and then dispatching them to the various countries. He also noted that the member states pay for the vaccines either upon receiving the vaccines or later.

“The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) is also trying to purchase the vaccines,” Kanatlı said, adding that there are problems in vaccine production. “It is the RoC which is purchasing the vaccines,” Kanatlı stressed, adding that the Greek Cypriot side is only giving the vaccines to the north due to Turkish Cypriots’ rights emanating from the 1960 Republic.

Recalling that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı had agreed on the required number of doses of vaccines for the Turkish Cypriots at a meeting, Kanatlı said since then the Turkish Cypriot side has refused to share a vaccination plan with the north; and refused to allow representatives of the vaccine manufacturer to cross to the north.

In the meantime, Kanatlı also claimed that Anastasiades was reluctant to share vaccines with the north in an attempt not to upset the nationalist voters because of the upcoming parliamentary elections on May 30.


Caught red-handed while trying to cross to the south

Diyalog
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

A 39-year-old man, believed to be a resident of South Cyprus was arrested while trying to cross to the south near Bostancı (Kato Zodhia) area on Tuesday. The suspect was in possession of various brands of cigarettes and other tobacco products worth ₺41,335 (€4,135) purchased from two different shops in Güzelyurt (Morphou).

In another development, the Kyrenia District Court released on bail two suspects charged with smuggling meat from the south and violating a first-degree military zone. On May 7, the police had seized 449kg of meat that was smuggled from the south through Beyarmudu (Pergamos) under unhygienic conditions.

The police informed the court that the police is also searching for two other suspects involved in the smuggling activity.


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