Front Page Headlines
‘Who handed over what?’
The handing over of a plot of the land to the Turkish embassy for the construction of the new hospital has led to confusion. The fact that the embassy then handed over the ownership of the land to the company which will construct the hospital had raised further concerns. Prime Minister Ersan Saner said the land transfer transaction had been made a month-and-a-half ago but refrained from giving any more details. Saner who also said that a survey of the plot had been completed announced that the goal was to lay the foundations of the building on November 15.
Vehicle inspections carried out for the show
Even though it is reported that road accidents are caused by bad road conditions, poor or reckless driving, General Secretary of MASIB (Motorship Dealers’ Association) Hasan Tosunoğlu pointed to a very important issue, arguing that the current motor vehicle inspection methods are outdated. He underlined the vehicle inspection systems must be privatized as soon as possible to increase road safety. “If vehicle inspections were to be carried out properly, 60 per cent of the vehicles in the north would be banned from going out in traffic,” Tosunoğlu said.
- There are crowds but no one is shopping – Nearly two weeks have passed since the reopening of the crossing points between the north and the south following a 15-month break but retailers in Arasta (North Nicosia Old Town shopping district) have not seen the crowds of customers they were hoping for.
Gambling, Flag, State
Deputy Prime Minister, Economy and Energy Minister Erhan Arıklı continued to attack the Higher Council of Monuments. He also made statements on online betting and money laundering that will be debated for a long time. Arıklı also pointed to January as a date for an election.
- The parties agreed, (the case) postponed to September 20 – It was announced that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the People’s Party (HP) appeared before a judge on June 11 and June 15 regarding the lawsuit they filed against the formation of an ad-hoc committee.
Oh my dear country
From Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso) to Famagusta, from Kyrenia to Nicosia; whether it be our historic monuments or our forests areas, our paradise island is falling apart. Many of the important historic sites are in decay or ruin due to neglect. Gravel was poured on the 800-year-old Templar’s path in Bellapais. The scenes of abandoned stalls just outside the Apostle Andreas Monastery in the Karpaz (Karpas) are also heartbreaking.
- A success that is envied – The vaccination of those above 18 begins in South Cyprus.
A new guest in (Turkey’s) backyard: Alaattin Çakıcı
One of the two most notorious mafia leaders in Turkey Alaattin Çakıcı will be sent to us. Çakıcı was told to keep quiet and to disappear following Sedat Peker’s revelations. When all hell broke loose with Sedat Peker’s revelations, it was decided that Alaattin Çakıcı should live abroad until the heat dies down. Çakıcı’s new mandatory address, far from attention, is north Cyprus!
- TRNC should be annexed to Turkey – 48 per cent said the TRNC should be annexed by Turkey according to the latest survey.
Main News
Tatar: The EU continues with its biased attitude
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Tuesday pointed out that the EU continued to display a biased attitude on the Cyprus issue, stressing that the bloc’s responsibility should be to establish a balance between the two sides based on their legitimate rights for a sustainable settlement.
In a written statement on Tuesday regarding the draft conclusions for the upcoming EU Summit on June 24 and 25 circulated in the media, Tatar reminded that the UN efforts to find a common ground between the two sides to launch an official round of talks are still underway.
“Despite the UN Secretary-General’s ongoing efforts, the EU’s insistence on a federal settlement, which was not possible to reach due to Greek Cypriot side’s refusal to share power and wealth with the Turkish Cypriots based on equality, is proof of its biased stance on the Cyprus issue,” Tatar stressed.
He noted that any settlement on the island must be accepted by the two sides, adding that the EU must establish a balance between the two sides. “The common ground between the two sides can only be established by accepting the sovereign equality and the equal international status of the two sides,” Tatar concluded.
Meanwhile, Tatar following his meeting with Prime Minister Ersan Saner on Tuesday, reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side will not accept an imposed federal settlement on the island. Tatar also noted that he will attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, organised under the auspices of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Antalya on June 20 and 21 and then will meet with UN Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute on June 22.
KEY ACTOR
Tatar
>> EU’s insistence on BBF proves yet again it cannot be impartial on Cyprus Issue.
>> EU’s responsibility should be to establish a balance between the two sides based on their legitimate rights.
>> Common ground between the two sides can only be established by accepting sovereign equality & equal international status.
>> TC will not accept an imposed federal settlement on the island.
Turkish MFA slams MED7 declaration
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Ambassador Tanju Bilgiç on Tuesday slammed the declaration adopted by the Foreign Ministers of the EU’s Southern European states (MED7) on June 11 in Athens.
“The declaration holds no value and merits for us,” Bilgiç stressed, adding that the MED7 each year repeats its one-sided and biased approach. advocating the maximalist claims and policies of Greek Cypriot-Greek duo on Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean.
He said the declaration can in no way contribute to peace and stability or enhance cooperation in the region. The spokesman reiterated that it is not possible to leave Turkey or the Turkish Cypriots out of any equation in the region, urging for the regional conference on the hydrocarbons issue to convene.
KEY ACTOR
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> MED7 declaration has no value or merit for Ankara as it repeats the EU’s one-sided & biased approach.
>> Declaration cannot contribute to peace & stability or enhance cooperation in the region.
Foreign Ministers stick to their guns on the Cyprob
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Former and current Turkish Cypriot foreign ministers Özdil Nami on Tuesday expressed their opposing views regarding a settlement of the Cyprus Problem at different platforms.
Speaking on Genç TV, current Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu argued that the equal status of the two sides must be recognized before any new talks can begin.
Ertuğruloğlu also argued that the Turkish Cypriot side laid out its position clear during the five-plus-one informal meeting in Geneva, adding that “demanding good neighbourly relations did not mean desiring the continuation of the non-solution of the Cyprus Problem. Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side’s next moves will depend on the decisions to be made by the UN, Ertuğruloğlu stressed the Turkish Cypriot side will only sit at the negotiations table as a state. He however added that political recognition is not a precondition for the launch of a new round of talks.
Ertuğruloğlu argued that the negotiation processes to date were not held on equal footing. “How long more can we negotiate for federation when the Greek Cypriot side is recognized as a state and the Turkish Cypriots as a community?” Ertuğruloğlu asked, stressing that the Turkish Cypriots will no longer wait for the Greek Cypriots to accept a solution.
Ertuğruloğlu also argued that the UN is responsible for further complicating the Cyprus problem through its “inaccurate assessment of the problem.”
“The ball is on the UN’s court now. They will either continue to treat the Turkish Cypriots unfairly or put an end to the unfair treatment of the Turkish Cypriots. Our next moves depend on UN’s decisions,” Ertuğruloğlu argued.
Approaching the issue from an international perspective, former foreign minister Özdil Nami argued that the key to ending the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, improving Turkey’s relations with the EU and the US is the solution to the Cyprus problem.
Speaking on Kıbrıs TV, Nami urged the Turkish Cypriot side to abandon its two-state policies once and for all, warning the Turkish Cypriot side that it is not possible for the international community to support its position.
“Turkey is also fully aware of this fact,” Nami argued, adding that Turkey cannot solve its problems unless the Cyprus problem is solved. He expressed the belief that once the Cyprus problem is solved, all the obstacles to Turkey’s relations with the EU will be lifted, the energy corridors with Israel will be opened. Nami added that if the Cyprus problem remains unsolved, the EU will never accept Turkey as an ally.
“The key is the Cyprus problem,” Nami reiterated, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side must abandon its positions to divert the pressure on the Greek Cypriot side and force the Greek Cypriot side to decide on the solution of the Cyprus problem.
KEY ACTOR
Ertuğruloğlu (UBP)
>> The equal status of the two sides must be recognized before any new talks can begin.
>> Demanding good neighbourly relations does not mean desiring the continuation of the non-solution of the Cyprus Problem.
>> TC side’s next moves will depend on the decisions to be made by the UN.
>> TC will only sit at the negotiations table as a state but political recognition is not a precondition for the launch of a new round of talks.
Nami (CTP)
>> Solution of Cyprob is key ending tensions in the East Med & improving Turkey’s relations with the EU & US.
>> TC side needs to abandon its position in favour of a two-state solution as this will never receive acceptance.
48 per cent of Turks believe the north should be annexed by Turkey
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
48 per cent of Turkish people subscribe to the viewpoint that the north should be annexed by Turkey according to the results of the annual survey entitled “Turkish Foreign Policy Public opinion survey,” carried out by the Kadir Has University.
According to an article published on BBC Turkish, the percentage in favour of annexation increased by 8.5 per cent compared to the previous year’s results. On the other hand, 31 per cent of the respondents support a bicommunal, bizonal federal (BBF) settlement in Cyprus.
In response to a question on the conditions for Turkey to recognize the Republic of Cyprus (RoC), 37.3 per cent of the respondents said Turkey should do so only when the Cyprus problem is solved, whereas 28.2 per cent said Turkey must recognize the RoC immediately and without any preconditions.
The survey also revealed that while Azerbaijan is perceived as Turkey’s strongest ally, the US is regarded as the biggest threat. Support for EU membership has also increased however the news report does not provide any figures on it.
Another interesting finding of the survey is that 76.1 per cent of the participants never heard the term “Blue Homeland” which is frequently mentioned in line with Turkey’s policies in the Eastern Mediterranean. The survey, which was applied to 1,000 people in 26 districts in Turkey, was carried out from April 29-May 21, 2021.