Front Page Headlines
Management of pandemic turns into chaos
Daily case numbers keep rising, confusion over test fees are growing and testing sites have run out of kits. The new practice concerning fees for PCR and rapid tests came into force yesterday but no one really understands what is going on. Citizens do not know which type of test is free and which is not or where to get which test done. Private labs say that they have run out of testing kits.
- Co-chair of the bicommunal technical committee on environment Salih Gücel: “The oil perhaps will not contaminate the beaches but it will cause many marine animals to perish.”
“Test” decision changes once more
Once more, the decision concerning fees for PCR/antigen tests and the costs of quarantine was revised. According to the new decision, PCR tests will only be free for those who test positive for coronavirus, are suspected of having Covid-19 or who have come into direct contact with persons who have tested positive. People in other categories will have to pay for their PCR tests. Those who have not been vaccinated will be asked to pay for their antigen tests as well.
- Ecological destruction – We are observing the colossal environmental disaster caused by the petrol spill from a power plant in Baniyas in Syria with great concern.
A fight for existence
Three leading professional organisations in the country pointed to the problems in the country and decided to launch a joint struggle. Turkish Cypriot Bar Associations, Doctors’ Association and Union of Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects announced a road map during the press conference identifying the country is faced with problems that are of vital importance for existence.
- The struggle will continue until reaching peace – Cypriot members of the World Federation of Trade Unions gave a joint message to mark the International Day of Peace.
- The Turkish Cypriot community does not deserve these – Main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman pointed out that the cabinet has not been able to solve any one of the problems faced by the country.
- People were charged for tests when the state did not give test kits – Even though President Ersin Tatar welcomed the revised decision not to charge people for covid-19 tests, the vaccinated people were met with a surprise when they went to a testing centre after making an online appointment.
It has become a nightmare
While 12 people have died in the past week from Covid-19, the vaccination drive in the TRNC is moving at a slow pace. Confusion is also being experienced over PCR testing. While a total of 1,110 covid cases and 12 deaths have been recorded in the TRNC in August, 135 patients are still receiving treatment at the pandemic hospital. 19 people are in ICU. Experts say that only 51 per cent of the population has been vaccinated which is not effective in fighting the pandemic. The percentage of fully vaccinated individuals in the south on the other hand reached 74.2 per cent.
No Shame
PCR test costs ₺100 (€10.15). The Council of Ministers’ latest decision on PCR/Antigen tests entered into force after it was published in the official gazette. The maximum price for PCR tests is set at ₺100 (€10.15) and ₺40 (€4) for antigen tests.
- They will join their strength – Turkish Cypriot Bar Associations, Doctors’ Association and Union of Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects announced their principles of collaboration.
- 1110 cases, 12 deaths – 1110 positive coronavirus cases identified in the period from August 25 to 31. 12 people passed away due to coronavirus in one week. 135 of the 2126 active cases are being treated at the hospitals. 19 of these patients are in the ICU.
Main News
Tatar confirms the two sides expressed willingness to collaborate
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The massive oil slick which had been expected to hit the Karpaz (Karpas) is now heading back to Syria, Turkish Cypriot authorities confirmed on Wednesday, noting that the oil mass now stands at a distance of 14 nautical miles from the shore. The Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot coast guard are working round the clock to clean the petrol caught in the barriers laid out in the open seas.
Tourism ministry undersecretary Serhan Aktunç shared the latest developments with the Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK on Wednesday, saying that the Karpaz (Karpas) beaches are being screened by three vehicles for petrol residue while the tugboats in the sea are on patrol.
He noted that the members of the crisis desk were also receiving satellite imagery of the oil slick regularly. Aktunç added that the measures will remain in place, but the Turkish Cypriot authorities will set out medium and long-term environmental protection plans given the reports provided by the Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot experts on the issue.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar refuted the claims made by some of the Greek Cypriot officials that the Turkish Cypriot side was keeping them in the dark and sharing information with them.
In a statement issued on Wednesday from his office, Tatar said his special representative Ergün Olgun has relayed information received from the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis to the relevant departments on August 30.
Tatar added that he called Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay to coordinate the efforts against the oil spill and a crisis desk was established. Turkey had then deployed two vessels to collect the oil floating on the surface of the sea.
He also said one of the vessels was offered to the Greek Cypriot side, should they need it as the Greek Cypriot side had requested a vessel from the European Maritime Security Agency (ESAM) to assist their efforts if the need arose.
“Special representative Olgun and negotiator Mavroyiannis have maintained an open channel of communication since August 30 and both sides have mutually confirmed their openness for collaboration should there be a need,” Tatar said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side has also shared relevant information with UN Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar.
The Greek Cypriot co-chair of the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Environment, Michalis Loizides on Wednesday said he was waiting to be provided with more information by the Turkish Cypriot side about the oil slick, its current state and volume.
Loizides noted that he had “a very good contact” with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart in the Committee regarding the possibility of helping the Turkish Cypriot side tackle the oil slick, but eventually, it was not needed.
Meanwhile, the ecological impact of the oil spill has already proved to be deadly. A small turtle was pulled out of the sea dead by a cleanup crew in Karpaz (Karpas). A video uploaded online showed two men removing the oil when at one point they pull out a dead young turtle.
An act of sabotage at the Baniyas Thermal Station five days ago led to large quantities of fuel being poured into the sea, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA. The tank was filled with 15,000 tons of fuel.
Tatar: Turkish soldiers will not leave Cyprus
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
External Security, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Wednesday said the Turkish troops will not leave Cyprus. During a visit to the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus (TPFC) command on Wednesday, Tatar said US Senator Robert Menendez’ dream of seeing the Turkish army leave Cyprus would never happen.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said the Turkish army brought peace to the island on July 20, 1974, and called on Greek Cypriots to abandon their armament activities and behaviours that escalated tension. Tatar said what was important was finding a fair and lasting solution that would benefit Cyprus and the region.
The Greek-Greek Cypriot duo wants to scrap Turkish guarantees and rid Cyprus of the Turkish army,” Tatar said. He added that “This is an impossible dream and that Cyprus will not be a second Crete.”
Menendez on Monday had said a peace accord for Cyprus based on two separate states “flies in the face” of UN Security Council resolutions as well a decades-old arrangement between Greek and Turkish Cypriot negotiators to reunify Cyprus as a federation. He also said that the “retrograde vision” of Turkey’s president to cement Cyprus’ ethnic divide by striving for a two-state deal “is wrong” for all Cypriots.
“It is wrong, it is bad for all Cypriots and it is bad for the whole region…My goal is to see all Turkish soldiers withdraw from the island,” he added. Speaking after receiving Cyprus’ highest honour — the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III — at a ceremony, Menendez said Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots could strike a reunification deal if left to negotiate on their own.
Meanwhile, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar on Wednesday said the Turkish forces were the sole assurance of peace on the island. Speaking during a ceremony held at an airbase in Kayseri district of Turkey to greet Turkish troops returning from Afghanistan, Akar added Turkey is in Cyprus as a guarantor state with legitimate rights emanating from international treaties and Ankara is fully aware of its responsibilities as a guarantor nation.
Akar also underlined Ankara will in no way allow any fait accompli in Cyprus, in the Aegean or the Eastern Mediterranean.
“We want to resolve our problems with Greece through dialogue and in line with international law,” the defence chief said. Akar also touched on the efforts for finding a solution on the island.
“We expect that everyone comprehends Turkey’s position in favour of a solution based on two states that are equal, independent and sovereign, and contribute to efforts in implementing such a solution,” Akar concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Turkish troops will not leave Cyprus.
>> GCs need to abandon their armament activities & behaviour that escalate tensions.
>> What is important is finding a fair & lasting solution that will benefit Cyprus & the region.
Akar (Turkey)
>> Turkish troops sole assurance of peace on the island.
>> Turkey is in Cyprus as a guarantor state with legitimate rights emanating from international treaties.
>> Ankara will not allow a fait accompli in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus or Aegean.
>> Everyone should comprehend Turkey’s position in favour of a solution based on two states that are equal, independent & sovereign.
Messages issued in the north on International Day of Peace
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Wednesday once again accused the Greek Cypriot side of escalating the tension on the island and in the region.
In a statement issued from his office to mark the International Day of Peace, Tatar claimed the Greek Cypriot side continues to perceive itself as the sole owner of the island while seeing the Turkish Cypriot community as a minority.
“Despite all our calls for reconciliation, the Greek Cypriot side continued its irreconcilable attitude in the negotiations process and on the other hand continued investing in arms,” Tatar said, arguing that the Greek Cypriot side’s attitude is the biggest threat to peace.
He said the Turkish Cypriot side while on one hand monitor the Greek Cypriot side’s provocations will continue to strive to find a fair and lasting agreement based on the realities of the island. Tatar concluded by calling on the Greek Cypriot side to come forth for reconciliation.
Meanwhile, trade unions from both sides of the island and are members of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) said they will continue their solidarity and struggle for peace, social justice, labour rights and human rights.
In a joint statement issued by the Cypriot trade unions to mark the International Day of Peace, they also pledged to continue their efforts to reunify the island with a bicommunal, bizonal federation (BBF) in line with the UN resolutions, based on political equality and with a single sovereignty, single citizenship and single international identity.
“We, as Cypriot trade unions, unite our struggle and our voice for a peaceful future of Cyprus,” the joint statement read, adding that the developments in the region have proven once again the urgent need for the solution on the island.
The trade unions that signed the joint declaration are DEV-İŞ (Revolutionary workers’ unions federation), PEO (Pancyprian Federation of Labour), KTÖS (Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union), KTOEÖS (Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers’ Union), BES (Municipal workers’ union), Koop-Sen (Cooperative workers’ union), DAÜ-SEN (Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Academic staff union), CTP (Republican Turkish Party), AKEL (Progressive Party of Working People), TDP (Social Democratic Party), YKP (New Cyprus Party), “This Country is Ours Platform,” Bicommunal Peace Initiative and Road to Independence (BY).
Doctors, lawyers, architects and engineers launch a joint movement
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for doctors, lawyers and architects and engineers have decided to take a joint stance against what they say is the poor or mismanagement of the state and tarnishing of the Turkish Cypriot community’s reputation.
In a joint press conference on Wednesday, the Turkish Cypriot Bar Associations, Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association (KTTB) and Union of the Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects (KTMMOB) announced the three organisations will act together against any issue that will threaten the Turkish Cypriots’ future on the island.
“The continuing problems faced by the Turkish Cypriots have reached a level threatening the very existence of the community on the island,” the organisations said in a joint statement issued. They also noted that the Turkish Cypriots suffer the most from the lack of solutions on the island.
The organisations highlighted that the necessary efforts must be made to ensure the future generations of Turkish Cypriots will live in peace on the island.
Furthermore, and independent from the Cyprus problem, the NGOs argued that the Turkish Cypriot state fails to fulfil the basic state functions in areas ranging from education to health and personal rights and freedoms.
“It is also an undeniable fact that we are going through a period during which the Turkish Cypriots’ character, culture, and the north’s law and institutions are disregarded,” they said, adding that the NGOs are gravely concerned about the developments.
The NGOs, which their members can have different political opinions, pledge to be an advocate for rule of law and will make recommendations for the identification and the solution of the problems in the north by being objective and impartial.
The organisations also published a six-point list expressing their determination to fight together against any unfair and negative action in their areas of authority and occupation and to wage a struggle to establish a sustainable future for the Turkish Cypriots.
They also said the organisations will act together to contribute to the solution efforts and to integrate the Turkish Cypriots with the world.