TCC Press Review 5 July 2021

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Our homeland in flames

Cyprus’s heart was burned. The fire, which began on Saturday in Arakapas has burned over 55 square kilometres, spreading across communities in Limassol and Larnaca. 50 homes and seven villages were turned to ash in the fire which lasted for three days. The fire was brought under control at noon yesterday with the support of firefighting aircraft from Greece, Israel and Italy.

Kıbrıs

Rubbish and overgrown vegetation everywhere

Both a source of environmental pollution and an invitation to fires. We have turned every corner of our country into a rubbish dump. Empty plots of land, forest areas, coastal areas and in between narrow streets are filled with rubbish and dirt. On top of that, there is also the dried vegetation problem that the forage is now taller than an average person.

  • Delta variant (of coronavirus) identified in the TRNC.

Havadis

This is a common pain

Cyprus is faced with an unprecedented catastrophe. One of the densest forests of the country was burned, dozens of villages evacuated, and four people died.

  • New general secretary for AKELThe three-day-long 23rd AKEL congress ended with the election held for the general secretary post yesterday. Stefanos Stefanou became the new general secretary of the party by receiving 74 out of the 103 valid votes. His contender Giorgos Loukaides received 29 votes. Stefanou was the government spokesperson during (Demetris) Christofias government.

Diyalog

The good old days

Many restaurants in Kyrenia’s historic harbour remain closed as the flow of tourists hasn’t started. People touring the area on the weekend complained of neglect of the surrounding spaces. Those establishments which are open complain that business is not good.

  • He didn’t even respond to Tatar’s offer for assistanceAn area spanning 55 square kilometres was destroyed in South Cyprus, four Egyptian nationals lost their lives.

Avrupa

$18m in three years

1,250 students are currently enrolled at the Netkent University, each paying $5000 as annual fees. Netkent University does not have any offices in Cyprus, nor does it have any legal permission from YÖK (Turkish Council of Higher Education) or YÖDAK (North Cyprus Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council) to operate. 90 per cent of the students registered with the university, which only provides online education, are Turkish students.

  • Delta variant (of coronavirus) discovered in the north – (Health Minister) Ünal Üstel announced.
  • Four people died in the car – It was announced that the Egyptian workers were killed by the fire in Limassol.

Main News

Tatar: Turkish Cypriots want justice and equality

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Sunday continued to preach to the converted on the need to achieve a two-state solution in Cyprus based on sovereign equality. He said the Turkish Cypriots wanted justice and equality on the island as well as a political settlement based on the realities of the island.

Tatar, speaking to local media in the Elazığ district of Turkey, where he is the keynote speaker at a conference, reiterated his position on the Cyprus problem, saying that an agreement can only be based on collaboration between the two separate states on the island.

“A negotiated settlement will be in everyone’s best interest,” Tatar said, repeating his argument that the efforts to achieve a federal settlement were exhausted. He also expressed disbelief in the principle of equality aimed within the framework of a federal solution, accusing the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades of being an admirer of EOKA.

“There are people who claim that the only way is a federal settlement, but they are wrong,” he added, arguing that the north will not be part of the EU without Turkey should there be a solution on the island. Tatar said he felt stronger with Turkey’s support and that the two countries shared a common cause, despite the accusations from the opposition parties in the north.

“We have a common cause in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean. Our greatest strength is the strong ties between the north and Turkey,” Tatar reiterated, adding that the Turkish Cypriots can only be opened to the world via Turkey.

Reminding that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be in the north on July 20, Tatar said very important messages will be given to the entire world from Cyprus on that day. “Attempts are being made to cut off our ties with Turkey through ploys from the EU,” Tatar argued and said he will not allow something like that to happen.

Responding to a question on Maraş (Varosha), Tatar said the public spaces in the fenced-off town have been reopened with support from Turkish President Erdoğan.

“Return of Maraş (Varosha) is no longer on the agenda,” Tatar said, stressing that the town belongs to Evkaf. He also noted that it is not acceptable that the town remains closed for another 46 more years. He claimed Maraş (Varosha) has become one of the leading points of attraction in the north already.

Tatar, responding to another question, said “the political recognition of the north will eventually happen one day.” He also argued that even though Turkey is working on it, the countries close to Turkey are constantly being threatened about political recognition of the north.

KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Two-state solution is the only option for a solution in Cyprus.
>> TC side will not be part of the EU without Turkey.
>> TC side is stronger with the support of Turkey.
>> Maraş’s (Varosha) return no longer on the agenda as the area is Evkaf property.
>> Political recognition of the north will happen one day.


Delta variant discovered in the north

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

Health officials in the north have confirmed that the Delta variant which is sweeping through most parts of the world has been detected in the north. “Despite our progress in the fight against the pandemic, the coronavirus is still a serious threat,” Health Minister Ünal Üstel said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Üstel pointed out the surge in the number of cases in the north, adding that the only way to contain the pandemic is through vaccinations and strictly adhering to rules such as social distancing, wearing a face mask and personal hygiene.

Üstel warned the people that another lockdown is unfortunately among the options to contain the pandemic, and urged everyone to refrain from crowded places. He also noted that the vaccination drive will be completed by the end of July when 70 per cent of the population in the north will be vaccinated.

On the other hand, the health officials announced 72 positive cases on Sunday. 37 of these cases were identified only in Kyrenia.


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