Front Page Headlines
The administration will either be handed over to the ministry or an appointed trustee
The amended Municipalities Law has been published in the official gazette, igniting a new debate on autonomy and independence of local administrations. The National Unity Party (UBP)-Democratic Party (DP)-Rebirth Party (YDP) minority government has introduced various changes to the law. The amendments made were initially aimed at allowing municipalities to be restructured into autonomous administrations which could be audited but now the changes made have opened the path to handing over the authority of any local administration of a ministry or appointed trustees through a court order in cases where a mayor may resign and there is no one to act in his/her place. The amendments made have not received the approval or support of mayors who have described the move as undemocratic.
- European Parliament (EP) has asked the EU to suspend accessions negotiations with Turkey
We do not want dark roads
The roads are still pitch dark despite the fact the public pays monthly taxes for street lighting and their maintenance. The authorities continue to pass the ball on responsibility from one institution to the other but in the end, it’s the public who is made to suffer.
- I will give the necessary messages to the entire world from Cyprus – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he will be in (north) Cyprus on July 20 and added he will give important messages.
A fight to the death
Rebirth Party (YDP) leader Erhan Arıklı found himself in a new quarrel with Bertan Zaroğlu when responding to the criticisms directed at him on Havadis web TV. Arıklı said he had vouched for Zaroğlu who took out a large bank loan. He added: “What will I do if Zaroğlu does not pay his bank loan?” Zaroğlu, who was outraged with Arıklı’s post on Facebook said: “A person must be ashamed to write something like this” and added that the bank loan for a car which Arıklı had co-signed, had already been paid for.
- Ad-hoc committee to be taken to the courts – Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit said the opposition parties will take the government’s attempt to form an ad-hoc committee to identify a date for an early election to the courts.
- “We will lose a lot if we remain out of the UN parameters” – Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman warned.
- The new date for Ercan (Tymbou) is 2022 – Prime Minister Ersan Saner inspected the ongoing construction of the new terminal building at Ercan (Tymbou) airport and gave a new date for its inauguration again.
What are you still waiting for?
That is the question tourism sector workers who reminded the government that they have been without work for the past 15 months are asking. The tourism workers who sent a letter to the president and prime minister criticized the stance of the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases.
- It has doubled – Pfizer will be sending 50,000 doses to South Cyprus per week.
- He gave support – The Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades who attaches great importance to tourism held a meeting with hoteliers and travel agents.
- He will give important messages – (Turkish) President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be coming to Cyprus on July 20.
Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) (airport) will be used for attacks
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who will come to Cyprus for July 20 celebrations, spoke openly! Erdoğan said: “There are two airports in Cyprus. The first one is Ercan (Tymbou), there is another one…With some changes and with a new name, it is an airport where our armed and unarmed UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) are stationed…Why are we mobilizing that airport in such a fashion? We have to be strong in any possible attack in the region.”
- 135 positive cases of coronavirus in the south, 36 cases in the north…
Main News
“We will lose a lot if we remain outside of UN parameters, says Erhürman
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman on Wednesday repeated his warning that the Turkish Cypriot community will face serious consequences if the Turkish Cypriot leadership does not abandon its current position in favour of a two-state solution which is against UN parameters.
Speaking during a meeting with KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot Public Servants’ Union), KAMU-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Civil Servants’ Union) and KAMU-İŞ (Turkish Cypriot Public Workers’ Union), Erhürman said that the proposal submitted by the Turkish Cypriot side in Geneva was unacceptable.
“The Turkish Cypriot side’s proposal which demands the recognition of the TRNC is neither plausible nor possible.,” Erhürman stressed, adding that the Turkish Cypriot leadership’s position will only serve the continuation of the non-solution on the island and postponing a federal settlement, the only realistic option.
He warned that the Turkish Cypriot community will be at a great loss if Tatar continues to adopt the same attitude at a second five-plus-one meeting. Erhürman also touched on the need for implementing long-term development plans in the north for better management of the economy.
He also urged the government to quickly reopen the crossing points for the shopkeepers to survive through the economic difficulties.
KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> TC community will face serious consequences if TC leadership does not abandon its current position.
>> Current policy in favour of a two-state solution will serve the continuation of the non-solution & prolong the process to reach a federal settlement.
>> TC side’s proposals are neither realistic nor attainable.
Erdoğan: “We will give a strong message to the world on July 20”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
External Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday once again gave out defiant messages to the international community on the Cyprus Issue as well as the Eastern Mediterranean
Addressing Turkish youth from various districts at a specially planned and televised meeting to mark the May 19 Commemoration of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, the Turkish President lashed out at criticism directed towards him from the opposition. He argued that if the opposition were ruling Turkey at the moment, they would not have been able to defend the rights of Turkey or the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“We are now very close to receiving good news from the drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Erdoğan said, noting that both Greece and the Greek Cypriot side were disturbed by Turkish vessels in the region.
Reminding that he will be in North Cyprus on July 20 to mark the anniversary of the military operation carried out by Turkey in 1974, Erdoğan said he will give “the necessary and strong messages to the entire world from there.” “We will give a strong message to the entire world; these messages will be relevant to the island and the world,” Erdoğan said, adding that “Ankara’s determination will be seen by all.”
Erdoğan pointed out that there are two airports in the north.
“The first one is the Ercan (Tymbou) airport, which is known by all. The second one had been there, but we are upgrading it and will have a new name soon. This airport is the one that accommodates our armed and non-armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),” Erdoğan said. He also noted that Turkey has stationed its UAVs in the north to be prepared for any possible attack in the region.
“We have to be strong on land, on the sea and in the air,” Erdoğan stressed.
Ankara strongly rejects EP report on Turkey
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Ankara on Wednesday rejected the European Parliament’s (EP) “unilateral and by no means objective” 2019-2020 report on Turkey, a resolution it passed earlier in the day.
The EP on Wednesday expressed serious concern that in recent years, despite being a candidate country, Turkey’s government has pursued a continuous and growing distancing from EU values and standards, according to its report on the accession process. The report was passed with 480 votes in favour, 64 against and 150 abstentions, out of a total of 694 voters.
The report called upon the Commission to recommend, “in line with the negotiating framework from October 2005, the formal suspension of accession negotiations with Turkey, so that both sides can review in a realistic manner and through a structured and comprehensive high-level dialogue, the appropriateness of the current framework and its ability to function, or, if necessary, to explore possible new models for future relations”.
The EP also noted that “unilateral actions in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as strong and at times provocative statements against the EU and its Member States had brought EU-Turkey relations to a historical low point
Passing such a resolution at a time when efforts are being made to revive Turkish-EU relations based on its EU membership perspective within the framework of a positive agenda “is unacceptable,” said a statement issued by the Turkish foreign ministry.
“We reject this biased text which not only includes false allegations regarding human rights, democracy, the rule of law, our governmental system and political parties; and views Turkey’s effective, solution-oriented, humanitarian and enterprising foreign policy as a threat; but also reflects the completely unfair and biased Greek and Greek Cypriot arguments regarding the Aegean, the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus issue and supports the one-sided and inconsistent Armenian narratives regarding the 1915 events,” it said.
The ministry stressed that it considers that the wording of the report, as it tries to call Turkey’s accession negotiations into question, to reflect “a lack of vision and an effort to deviate from the principle of pacta sunt servanda,” meaning agreements must be kept.
“It is well known by the EU institutions and the EP members that the standstill in Turkey’s accession negotiations is not due to Turkey’s lack of will for reforms or any shortcoming in assuming the EU acquis, but, rather, to the fact that certain circles have exploited the membership process as an opportunity for political gains against Turkey since the beginning of this process,” it added.
The ministry also underlined that the EU membership is a strategic goal for Ankara and would benefit all of Europe and beyond, adding that Turkey will “decisively” continue its efforts in line with this objective.
“While the EU expresses its appreciation for our efforts, particularly concerning migration issue, within the scope of the Turkey-EU Statement of 18 March 2016, for which we have fulfilled our commitments, the EU should get out of the vicious circle of not taking any concrete step to fulfil its commitments in the 18 March Statement, ranging from Turkey’s EU accession process to cooperation on migration,” it said.
It also highlighted that as a candidate country, Turkey expects the European Parliament to carry out “constructive efforts” about how relations can be improved with Ankara and how it can contribute to Turkey’s EU integration process, rather than “being a platform for baseless allegations and blind accusations against Turkey.”
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> EP resolution adopted as efforts are being made to revive Turkish-EU relations is unacceptable.
>> Text of the resolution is biased text & includes false allegations regarding human rights, democracy, the rule of law, Turkey’s governmental system & political parties.
>> EU membership is a strategic goal for Ankara & would benefit all of Europe & beyond.
>> Turkey expects the EP to carry out “constructive efforts” about how relations can be improved with Ankara & how it can contribute to Turkey’s EU integration process.