TCC Press Review 10 June 2021

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

He too expressed his thanks to Ankara

While news that the tender process for the construction of village roads in the TRNC was completed in Ankara and awarded to two Turkish firms outraged local contractors, Prime Minister Ersan Saner was at (Kaleburnu/Galinoporni) village yesterday expressing his gratitude to the Turkish government.

  • The double dose vaccine ratio on both sides: South 37 per cent, North 18 per cent.

Kıbrıs

The problem is the lack of inspection

It emerged that a building at the Lavinuim housing estate which was evacuated after in danger of collapsing had not been subject to any inspections during its construction. Head of the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors’ Association, Cafer Gürfar claimed the firm responsible for the construction of the building was not registered as a contractor.

  • Two stretches of beachfront to be opened in Maraş (Varosha) – Famagusta Mayor İsmail Arter gave information regarding the ongoing (infrastructure) works.
  • CHP (Republican People’s Party) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to arrive in the TRNC today.
  • 11,993 people used the electronic wristband monitoring system “Stay Safe.”

Havadis

Even the village roads are handed over to Ankara

Despite strong reactions from the contractors in the TRNC, the public tender to build village roads was opened in Ankara and there was even an inauguration ceremony held yesterday with the participation of the Prime Minister and Turkish Ambassador.

  • Ad-hoc committee taken to the court – Social Democratic Party (TDP) filed a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court regarding the (parliamentary) decision to form an ad-hoc committee to identify a date for an early election.
  • The Çanakkale camps are back – National Education and Culture Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said 3,750 students will be sent to the camps in Turkey, which will be held in July, August and September.
  • 12,000 people = ₺4,200.000 (400,000) net profit – Health Minister Ünal Üstel held a press conference on the electronic wrist-band monitoring system and announced the numbers.  

Diyalog

The aim to create chaos

It was the presidential palace’s turn to react to claims that President Ersin Tatar had met with Taner Ay believed to a member of a criminal organisation. Following the circulation of photographs on social media showing Tatar posing together with Ay, the president’s office issued a statement claiming that the photographs were part of a planned smearing campaign based on lies and fake allegations being carried out against the president.

  • Properties (in MAraş/Varosha) under protection.
  • Agenda busy – Leader of the CHP Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is set to visit the TRNC for contacts.

Avrupa

3,750 students being sent to bigotry camps again

The schools are shut, there’s no education but our students once again are being sent to the Çanakkale National Struggle camps in Turkey. Education Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said the Çanakkale National Struggle and Joint culture camps, which are being organized by the Turkish Youth and Sports Ministry will be held in July, August and September.

  • Two stretches of beachfront to be opened in Maraş (Varosha) – Yet another step taken in Maraş (Varosha). Two stretches of beaches and a tea garden will be opened soon. It is believed many local and foreign tourists will head to these beaches.
  • Tatar thinks it’s an operation (against him) – Ersin Tatar refutes the claims on his connections with the banned gang ‘Osmanen Germania’ following the publications in this regard. He believes an operation is being carried out against him.

Main News

Two beaches to open for the public with the summer season

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Property, Territory

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot Mayor of Famagusta İsmail Arter said on Wednesday that two beaches and a tea garden in the fenced-off town of Maraş (Varosha) will be open for the summer.

Speaking to the Turkish news agency Anatolia reporter, Arter said that one of the two beaches, which is 500-metres long, is nearly ready to welcome visitors after around 250 umbrellas, sunbeds and a small kiosk selling refreshments were installed.

He reminded that work to improve the area’s infrastructure has been underway since the town’s reopening in October 2020. Arter also noted that more than 140,000 people have visited the reopened parts of the town since its reopening, adding that more than the town had seen 2000 visitors since the crossings reopened last week.

“I really hope the gradual reopening of Maraş (Varosha) would have a positive effect on the Cyprus negotiations process and allow the two sides to reach an agreement,” Arter said. He added that the area outside the building known as the Greek Cypriot secondary school was cleaned of shrubbery and that the area will be transformed into a tea garden.

The mayor also gave the assurance that no one’s private property had been touched with the ongoing works. “There is no need for the Greek Cypriot community to be disturbed by the works being carried out in the fenced-off town. We are cleaning and upgrading many public areas in town, including the important religious area of Bilal Ağa Mezcit, which will be opened to the public once the restoration is completed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar also visited the Famagusta Municipality on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters Tatar said he was following work carried out by the municipality closely. He said he hopes that the reopening of Maraş (Varosha) will contribute to the return of tourists to the town.

“Maraş (Varosha) was a very important destination for tourists in the past, with its history and culture. We hope to see it return to its old glory days,” Tatar said. “The reopening has boosted the morale of Turkish Cypriots. We are in the middle of an important process for everyone.”


Tatar tells Anastasiades not to politicize CMP’s work

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Wednesday expressed his disappointment over recent remarks made by the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades regarding the issue of missing persons in Cyprus.

He described the June 5 dated statement claiming that Turkish forces were hindering efforts of the Committee for Missing Persons (CMP) from locating burial sites and carrying out its work effectively as regretful.

In a written statement, Tatar said contrary to the baseless claims made by Anastasiades the Turkish Forces provide the necessary assistance to the CMP in Cyprus, including giving timely permits to access military zones as well as assisting the CMP excavation teams on site. He added the facts were recorded by the CMP and available for examination.

Tatar said the Greek Cypriot leader had unfortunately politicised the issue of the missing persons violating the existing principle not to do so and to disrespect the families of the missing persons.

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side has always kept the humanitarian aspect of the issue in mind, Tatar called on the Greek Cypriot leader to collaborate with the Turkish Cypriot side on matters that the two sides will benefit from instead of engaging in a blame game with political rhetoric.


EU observing the developments in the north with grave concern

Yenidüzen
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said the EU is observing any attempts to deal a blow to freedom of the press and pluralism in the northern part of Cyprus with grave concern.

Responding in writing to questions on Turkish Cypriots’ freedom of expression posed by AKEL MEPs Niyazi Kızılyürek and Yorgos Yeorgiu on June 4, Borrell said the EC is aware of the incident in which Left Movement leader Abdullah Korkmazhan together with two of his friends were detained by the police and aware of the lawsuits brought against journalists Şener Levent and Ayşemden Akın. He also said the commission is also closely monitoring the situation journalist Esra Aygın was put in.

Stressing that freedoms of thought and expression are universal rights and basic elements of democracy, Borrell said these rights apply to all equally and must be protected at all cost.

Borrell noted that the EU is financially supporting the ongoing project “Free and ethical journalism in the northern part of Cyprus” to strengthen the Turkish Cypriot media’s capacity to advocate for freedom of the press and basic human rights.


TC side is now being accused again of not wanting a solution, says Özyiğit


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The leader of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader on Wednesday Cemal Özyiğit said the Turkish Cypriot side was once again being accused of not being the side wanting, 20 years after it had reversed this perception.

Speaking during a programme on Kıbrıs TV, Özyiğit said the current position the Turkish Cypriot side found itself in was all the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar’s doing after tabling unacceptable demands at the recent five-plus-one meeting in Geneva.

He said Tatar’s wrong strategy had relieved pressure off of the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades who was being held responsible for the collapse of the negotiations in Crans Montana.   “The Turkish Cypriot side should have questioned the Greek Cypriot leader in Geneva as to why he had abandoned the table in Crans Montana rather than tabling unacceptable solution models,” Özyiğit stressed.

He also said the dominant mood in the Turkish Cypriot community at the moment is very gloomy, adding that people are concerned about the future of the Turkish Cypriots.


Tatar’s office says attempts to link TC leader with mob boss part of smearing campaign


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance and Power Sharing, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot Ersin Tatar on Wednesday rejected all allegations that he had any association with Taner Ay, believed to be a leading member of the notorious ‘Osmanen Germania’ gang based in Germany.

He said that attempts being made to link him with Ay were part of a smearing campaign being carried out against him for advocating for a two-state solution model. According to a statement issued by his office, Tatar said such attempts were futile.

Photographs of Tatar posing with Ay have been circulating on social media for days raising questions regarding their relationship. Tatar has denied any affiliation with Ay, stating that he had only taken the photo after Ay had approached him at a hotel in Ankara during his term as prime minister, asking for a souvenir shot.

Several Turkish Cypriot dailies including Avrupa have claimed that Tatar is well acquainted with Taner Ay, son of the north’s ‘honourary’ consul in Dusseldorf Çetin Ay, who is a known gang member in Germany and is driving around with label reading “TRNC Consul” on his car’s number plate.


Undocumented migrants caught, remaining group missing


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

One undocumented migrant was arrested on Tuesday as he attempted to cross to the south, several of the dailies reported on Wednesday.

According to the media reports, the migrant told police whilst being questioned that they had arrived at the northern shores in a group of 10 from Mersin, Turkey on a fishing boat. The police are searching for the other nine migrants.


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