Front Page Headlines
Tense day in parliament ‘They are delaying the process with the upcoming congresses in mind’
The decision to discuss the date for early elections at the Temporary Special Ad-Hoc committee instead of the Committee for Legal and Political Affairs raised tensions in parliament. The process to identify members of the special committee was approved with a majority vote with 24 in favour, 16 against and one vote of abstention. The Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the Peoples’ Party (HP) and the Social Democratic Party (TDP) refused to appoint members of the committee on grounds that it was unconstitutional. The committee is made up of three National Unity Party (UBP), and one member each from the Democratic Party (DP) and Rebirth Party (YDP).
Neither production nor exports are enough
The business community emphasised the importance of increasing quality, standards, the scale of production and inspections to achieving higher production output and increasing exports. They highlight that the north is far behind countries like South Cyprus, Malta and Sicily in exports, which are an important indicator of the level of development in any country.
- The opposition did not take part in the ad-hoc committee – The UBP motion to identify the members of the ad-hoc committee tasked to identify a date for an early election was adopted by a majority of the vote in the parliament. CTP, HP and TDP did not appoint anyone to take part in the committee arguing that the committee violates the constitution and parliament’s by-laws. There will be three MPs from the UBP, and one from DP and one from the YDP.
- The law becoming compliant with the EU Directives – The anti-money laundering law will comply with the EU directives and it will enter into force by June.
- Ten years of imprisonment for drug pusher – Nicosia Serious Crimes Court announced its verdict on D.E, who was caught bringing more than two kilos of drugs from South Cyprus to sell in the TRNC.
- “There is not a problem that cannot be solved between Turkey and the US” – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan evaluated his meeting with US President Joe Biden as “beneficial and sincere.”
Deep crack in the parliament
The minority government insisted on the ad-hoc committee identifying a date for an (early) election. The opposition parties did not nominate anyone for the committee.
- Sent to jail for ten years – Nicosia Serious Crimes Court announced its verdict on D.E, who was arrested for bringing more than two kgs of drugs through a military zone in Haspolat (Mia Milia) in the TRNC.
One touch reveals a thousand complaints
Diyalog asked, the public listed the country’s most important problems. People complained almost about everything from the condition of the roads to poor health services, environmental pollution, high prices, unjust practices and the failure of the political mechanisms to address problems. Citizens also complain about the rise in the crime rate and the courts’ failure to produce decisions fast enough.
- Flow from Israel – Greek Cypriot Tourism Undersecretary Perdios said they were expecting tourists from the UK and Russia as a result of their advertising campaign.
- There is no issue that cannot be solved – Biden-Erdoğan agrees on carrying out relations at the best level possible.
Camera surprise
The first face-to-face between (Turkish President) Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and (US President) Joe Biden lasted for 45 minutes. Biden speaking after the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Brussels, said he had “a very good meeting with Erdoğan.” (The heading is supported with a nearly a full-page photograph showing the Turkish President attempting to get up for a fist bump with the US president. The photo looks like he is trying to kiss the hand of the US President.)
Main News
MED7 countries prove once again they cannot be impartial, says TC MFA
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu said on Monday that a joint statement issued at the MED7 summit held in Athens last week failed to reflect the political and legal realities on the island.
In a written statement issued by the Ministry, Ertuğruloğlu accused the Greek Cypriot side of first ousting the Turkish Cypriots from the 1960 Republic by force of arms and then of rejecting all solution plans put forth through the negotiations processes to date.
“The negotiations to reach a federal solution model have been exhausted,” the statement read, adding that the insistence of the MED7 countries on the federal solution would only mean to prolong the status quo on the island which in turn serves the Greek Cypriot’s comfort zone.
“The joint statement proves that the EU cannot be an impartial party to the Cyprus Issue,” he added. Ertuğruloğlu recalled the Turkish Cypriot side during the five-plus-one informal meeting on Cyprus in Geneva had shown the world it was ready to negotiate for a two-state solution based on sovereign equality and equal international status. He added that the Turkish Cypriot side also submitted proposals on the Eastern Mediterranean that was based on win-win understanding for all the relevant sides.
Reiterating that the Greek Cypriot side continued to disregard the legitimate rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots despite the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposals, Ertuğruloğlu claimed the Greek Cypriot side threatens the stability of the region whilst the MED7 countries are further encouraging the Greek Cypriot side’s maximalist approach.
Also touching on the Maraş (Varosha) issue, Ertuğruloğlu argued that the fenced-off town was located within the territory of the Turkish Cypriot state and the Maraş (Varosha) Initiative is in line with international law.
The Ministers in charge of European Affairs of Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain (known as MED7) issued a joint statement following their meeting on June 11 in Athens, reiterated their strong commitment to a viable comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation (BBF) with political equality, as set out in the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions and in line with the EU acquis, values and principles.
The MED7 countries also rejected the Turkish Cypriot side’s two-state solution tabled during the informal meeting in Geneva and rejected the violations in Maraş (Varosha) urging adherence with the existing UNSC resolutions.
KEY ACTORS
Ertuğruloğlu (UBP)
>> MED7 statement fails to reflect legal & political realities on the island.
>> Talks to reach a federal solution model have been exhausted.
>> MED7 statement proves that the EU cannot be an impartial party to the Cyprus Issue.
>> TC side ready to negotiate a two-state solution based on sovereign equality & equal international status.
No problem between the US and Turkey cannot be solved, says Erdoğan
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
“There is not a problem between the US and Turkey that cannot be solved,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday said after holding his first face-to-face meeting with US President Joe Biden since Biden’s election to office, on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting in Brussels, Erdoğan said the two leaders have “constructively handled issues that they differ as well as areas of cooperation.” Erdoğan added they have also agreed to keep Turkey-US dialogue channels.
“We believe that cooperation between US and Turkey will contribute to regional security,” Erdoğan said, adding that he sees a strong will for the beginning of an efficient period of cooperation in Turkey-US relations, “based on mutual respect and interests in every field.”
Erdoğan, before meeting with Biden, had met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. No statements were issued following Erdoğan’s meetings with the other world leaders.
The ad-hoc committee continues to cause problems for the coalition
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the People’s Party (HP) and the Social Democratic Party (TDP) once again objected to the decision to identify the members of the ad-hoc committee formed by the government to set a date for early elections, arguing that it violated both parliament’s bylaws and the constitution.
During Monday’s parliamentary plenary, which started four hours late due to lack of quorum, the National Unity Party (UBP) put forward the motion to identify and nominate members for the ad-hoc committee. Following the approval of the motion with a unanimous vote, it was announced Sunat Atun, Özdemir Berova, and Menteş Gündüz from the UBP; Serdar Denktaş from the Democratic Party (DP), Bertan Zaroğlu from the Rebirth Party (YDP) have been appointed as members of the committee.
The leaders of the opposition parties CTP, HP and the TDP refused to nominate any one of the MPs to serve in the said committee, noting that they filed lawsuits against the formation of the ad-hoc committee at the Constitutional Court.
Cabinet allocates more funds to the Famagusta Municipality for Maraş (Varosha)
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Council of Ministers has allocated ₺950,000 (€95,000) on Monday to the Famagusta Municipality to cover its expenses incurred within the scope of the Maraş (Varosha) Initiative.
Publishing the decision of fund allocation in the Official Gazette, the cabinet used the Finance Ministry’s budget item named “Ongoing and emergency investment projects” remaining it as the “Maraş (Varosha) Initiative cleaning project.”
The funds are used for maintenance, repairs, landscaping, and watering.