Front Page Headlines
It turns out he was not informed!
Education Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu who said he had not been informed of the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases decision (last week) allowing schools to open defended his position. He said the health minister had undergone surgery and that they couldn’t get through to the health ministry undersecretary. “And then they announced the decision without our knowledge,” he said. Amcaoğlu said that schools will not start face-to-face education until teachers are vaccinated. Graduation ceremonies will be held and that the new education year is being planned. Schools are expected to reopen on September 6.
- Crossings to take place with PCR tests every seven days, tourists with both doses of vaccines to be allowed entry without quarantine –Latest decisions valid from May 31-June 7 announced. Crossings to begin with PCR tests. As of June 4, fully vaccinated tourists to be allowed into the country with PCR tests. Despite Prime Minister Saner’s announcement on the crossings, the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health has not announced the decision. The negotiators will be discussing the issue of crossing points today.
- Elections in the south – DISY leads again, AKEL disappoints alarming rise from ELAM.
Nature being destroyed
Biologists reacted to the Nicosia Municipality’s (LTB) clearing of the rived-bed in the city’s Marmara district. Biologists argue that the method of spring cleaning destroys the natural habitat of fish, tortoises, frogs, snakes, birds and many other species, resulting in their death.
- Tourists with two jabs of coronavirus vaccines can enter the north without quarantine from June 4 onwards – Prime Minister Ersan Saner announced the latest decisions adopted regarding the entry into the north. It will be possible to cross from the south to the north with a negative PCR obtained within the last seven days. The times for the nighttime curfew has been revised.
- DISY is the winner in the elections – In the parliamentary elections with a 65.7 per cent turnout, both DISY and AKEL lost votes compared to the previous election.
- 98 people violated the prohibited military zones in 2020 – 56 people in Nicosia, eight in Famagusta, 34 in Güzelyurt (Morphou) violated the military zone in 2020 according to the information obtained by Kıbrıs from the police. Among the people in violation, Syrian nationals top the list, followed by Africans and Pakistani nationals.
Foreign currency catastrophe
The value of foreign currencies is on the rise, breaking a new record each day and reaching a historic high on Friday, May 28, 2021. The Turkish lira has melted, bringing despair to the public. Havadis calculated the minimum wage based on the main foreign currencies with their values in the past four-and-a-half years.
- We are opening at full speed – The night-time curfew will be from 11:30 pm to 5 am. Supermarkets and shops will remain open until 10 pm whereas restaurants, cafes and taverns until 10:30 pm. All the crossing points are being unilaterally opened. A PCR test obtained in the last seven days will be the only requirement. Hotels are also opened, and the flights are resuming. Passengers can enter the north on the condition they have received two jabs of any coronavirus vaccine and two negative PCR tests.
- Fascism on the rise in the south – DISY and AKEL lost votes in the parliamentary elections held yesterday in south Cyprus compared to the previous election. ELAM on the other hand increased its votes. Following the four-hour-long vote counting, centre-right DISY received 27.77 per cent of the votes and came first according to the unofficial results. ELAM increased its votes by three per cent.
Finally
The government which introduced the PCR requirement every seven days for crossings from the south decided to open tourism as of June 4. Those vaccinated will be required to have PCR tests when crossing south. Saner who announced that the crossings will begin as of today revised the previous PCR requirement from 72 hours to seven days. However, it is being stated that those who have been fully vaccinated should not be required to undergo PCR testing.
- Dangerous development – Fascist ELAM raised its votes by three per cent in the elections in the south, winning 6.78 per cent of the votes.
It’s big brother Tayyip’s turn
Sedat Peker in his eighth video targeted Tayyip Erdoğan. Sedat Peker confirmed the reports on the weapons carried to Syria in trucks revealed by Can Dündar, who has been sentenced to jail in his absentia and has been living in exile for years.
- Adalı was killed by the Greek-Greek Cypriot intelligence – Peker Gündal, who served as the force commander of the Turkish Security Forces (GKK) from 1996 to 1998 and who had testified to ECHR (European Court of Human Rights) judges claimed: “Kutlu Adalı was killed by the Greek-Greek Cypriot intelligence through the Turkish mafia.”
Main News
Saner’s remarks on crossings cause confusion, more talks on the issue today
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner’s announcement regarding the crossings made on Sunday following a cabinet meeting has led to confusion in the north. “From May 31, 2021, we will accept into our country every citizen of the Greek Cypriot side who will have a PCR or antigen test no more than three days old,” Saner said.
However, according to a report by the Cyprus News Agency, Ergün Olgun, the special representative of the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis, and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus, Elizabeth Spehar will discuss the issue of crossings via teleconference on Monday.
Citing sources, CNA said that the three will discuss when and how crossings from the crossing points will take place, in light of the meeting held on Friday between the working group, set up by the bi-communal Technical Committee for health, regarding the health measures to be applied for crossings.
In light of the decisions adopted by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases, Saner, referring to Greek Cypriots, said that individuals wishing to cross over to the north will be able to do so provided they present a valid PCR or rapid test obtained in the last seven days.
What made matters more confusing was the announcement by Saner that tourists who have been fully vaccinated or in other words received both doses of any Covid-19 vaccine will be allowed to enter the north as of June 4 provided they present a negative PCR test at entry.
It’s not known whether the rule will apply for tourists wishing to cross over to the north through the checkpoints.
Çavuşoğlu says insisting old UNSC resolutions will lead nowhere
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Sunday reiterated that the Turkish side envisions a relationship of cooperation based on equal status and sovereignty between the two states on Cyprus.
In an interview with Greek daily To Vima ahead of a scheduled visit to Greece, Çavuşoğlu pointed to the past processes that failed on the island. “Insisting on the old UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution will only make us go round in circles,” Çavuşoğlu said, adding that the two sides have differing views on how to resolve the Cyprus problem. He said while the Greek Cypriot side backs a federal solution, the Turkish Cypriot side wants a two-state deal.
Responding to a question on the bilateral relations between Turkey and Greece, Çavuşoğlu urged Athens to refrain from using the EU as a trump card against Turkey. “Greece must embrace the positive momentum between the two countries,” he said, adding that the ongoing problems can only be solved through dialogue.
Çavuşoğlu also said the two countries must focus on cooperation as “Turkey and Greece as two neighbours were condemned to live in the same geography.” He added that his visit to Greece will prepare the basis for a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the NATO Summit.
Turkish Foreign Minister, responding to a question on Turkey’s relations with the EU, said Ankara has put achieved positive agenda with the bloc. However, Çavuşoğlu added, “The positive agenda must be supported with concrete and meaningful steps.”
“Turkey’s participation in the EU is the most significant geopolitical investment the EU can do for Europe and beyond,” Çavuşoğlu stressed. In response to Turkey’s hydrocarbon activities, Çavuşoğlu stressed that they were conducted within Turkey’s continental sheld, reiterating Ankara’s determination to protect its rights.
“Turkey will not hesitate at all in protecting the rights of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean in the face of the unilateral and maximalist claims of Greece and the Greek Cypriots,” Çavuşoğlu stressed. He however added that while Ankara wanted to resolve the differences on the issue through dialogue Athens to date has ignored Ankara’s calls.
98 people caught while trying to cross to the south in 2020
Kıbrıs
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
A total of 98 people were caught and arrested trespassing military zones in an attempt to cross to the southern part of the island in 2020, Kıbrıs reported on Monday.
Based on the information obtained from the police general directorate, among the 98, 56 people attempted to cross to the south from Nicosia; 34 in Güzelyurt (Morphou) and eight in Famagusta.
In terms of the breakdown of the nationalities, Syrians top the list of those trying to cross illegally, followed by Africans and Pakistani nationals. Among those attempting to cross to the south, in addition to the irregular migrants, there are also people residing in the north either on a student visa or a work permit.
A navy base will follow after Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) airport
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
External Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish broadcaster CNNTürk on Sunday claimed that Ankara was preparing to establish a naval base in the north once work to convert the Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) airport into a permanent stationing base for Turkey’s armed and unarmed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is completed.
The Turkish broadcaster noted that the navy base like the Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) airport will be a permanent base for navy ships to dock at. CNNTürk did not provide any locations as to where the navy base will be built.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who will attend the ceremony to mark the 37th anniversary of Turkey’s military intervention in Cyprus, had announced his plans for the Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) airport on May 19. He had also said he will “give strong messages to the entire world during his visit.”
Turkish media on Saturday, May 29 reported that the improvements to establish a permanent base for Turkish UAVs at the Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) airport are almost completed and the Turkish President Erdoğan will inaugurate the airport, which will be given a new name.