Front Page Headlines
“My two children are left without a mother”
The youngest person to die (in the north) from Covid-19. She leaves behind two children and a broken husband. 29-year-old Adle Fırat who had been receiving treatment at the pandemic hospital for over a month first lost her baby and then her life. Her death brought with her a tragic life story.
- Pharmacies to start carrying out rapid tests.
The minimum wage is at the Council of Ministers
The decision reached in the last meeting of the commission tasked to identify the new minimum wage has been sent to the Council of Ministers. Now all eyes are turned to the cabinet which will decide on (whether to continue or not) the premium support scheme.
- Othello Castle is collapsing – There is serious damage to the facade of the Othello Castle facing the sea. The citadel which was built in the 14th century during the Lusignan period requires immediate attention.
- City surveillance management system enters into force – A new police unit named ‘City surveillance management unit’ has been established.
We are at our worst
The daily policies adopted for the health sector has deepened the chaos. It is not possible to talk about success anymore in the fight against the pandemic. Both the people and the businesses are outraged with the Health Ministry’s decisions that are adopted in the morning only to be changed by the evening.
- Greece imports a minister from Cyprus – Greek Cypriot politician appointed as the Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.
Parents experiencing hardships
New school uniforms for primary school students cost up to ₺800 (€81.29). Following a long break, face-to-face education is set to resume on September 13. While families and students are rushing to get ready for the new school year, uniforms and stationery costs are shaking peoples’ budgets.
Special treatment for the well-connected
They secretly acquired the Novavax vaccine to innoculate themselves and some of their close supporters. General Secretary of KTÖS (Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union) Şener Elcil asked whether the rumours that a limited number of Novavax vaccines, which is seen as the most effective vaccine for all variants of the coronavirus, was brought from Turkey to vaccinate some of the cabinet members and some of their close supporters are true.
Main News
Tatar: A federal solution is not possible
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Monday reiterated his known positions on the Cyprus problem, arguing that the Turkish Cypriot side desired a two-state solution based on sovereign equality. Speaking during a ceremony held in his honour in Kütahya district of Turkey, Tatar said the Turkish Cypriots were waging a struggle to exist on the island since 1571 and that the struggle was crowned with Turkey’s military operation in 1974.
“The Turkish Cypriots’ demand for sovereignty and demand for two states living side by side has gained wider acceptance since 1974,” he argued, adding that the Greek Cypriot side has not given up on its ambitions.
Tatar also reiterated his anti-federal solution rhetoric, arguing that the federal model would result in majority ruling over the minority as well as cutting Turkish Cypriots’ ties off with Turkey.
“The federal model would also weaken Turkey’s control over the Eastern Mediterranean,” Tatar argued, saying that this is an impossible dream. He added that the Greek Cypriot side believes that they have achieved union with Greece through EU membership.
Tatar, speaking at a different ceremony on Sunday touched on the hydrocarbons issue. He argued that the Turkish Cypriots’ struggle in the Eastern Mediterranean is similar to the one waged by Turkey, which resulted in Turkey’s victory on August 30, 1922.
“The Turkish Cypriots finally became independent with the arrival of the Turkish forces in 1974,” Tatar said, adding that since then and with the founding of the Turkish Cypriot state, the Turkish Cypriots have been living in peace on the island.
He pointed out that various ploys are being planned against the Turkish Cypriots even today. “Federal model, which has single sovereignty, aims at making the Turkish Cypriots a minority on the island and aims at distancing Turkey away from the island,” Tatar claimed, arguing that the federal solution model is a dangerous game that will result in the annihilation of the Turkish Cypriots.
Reiterating his support for a two-state solution on the island, Tatar said the two-state settlement is needed to ensure the protection of the rights of Turkey as well as the Turkish Cypriots. Tatar concluded by stating that the north’s economic development will continue with Turkey’s support.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> TC side desires a two-state solution based on sovereign equality.
>> A federal solution will weaken Turkey’s ties with Turkish Cypriots, weaken Ankara’s control in the East Med.
>> A federal solution with single sovereignty will transform TCs into a minority within a GC state.
>> A two-state solution is needed to ensure the protection of the rights of Turkey & TCs.
The crisis team dissolved, but officials remain vigilant
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy
OVERVIEW
Head of the crisis desk and undersecretary at the prime ministry Hüseyin Amcaoğlu on Monday said the crisis desk set up to manage the oil slick threat has completed its task and was dissolved, handing over the authority to the Turkish Cypriot Ministry of Tourism and Environment.
Amcaoğlu, speaking to Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK, said the teams on the ground in Karpaz (Karpas) and the seas had not detected pollution caused by the oil.
He also noted that the crisis team worked in close collaboration with experts and officials from Turkey and they highly depended on the imagery provided by the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Amcaoğlu said the Tourism Ministry is also tasked to come up with an action plan on how to cope with and be prepared for similar environmental disasters in the future.
City surveillance system working 7/24 now
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
City surveillance cameras installed in Nicosia and Kyrenia came into operation on Monday, a statement issued by the Turkish Cypriot police department announced on Tuesday.
The cameras installed at public areas and main traffic arteries will be monitoring and carrying out surveillance 24/7 in line with a law passed in 2018. The process of installing the cameras which began in July 2019 was completed just a week ago.
A special 19-strong unit had been created which will be working in 24-hour shifts will help curb crime in the north while contributing to efforts to increase the quality of life, the statement read, adding that the police department will now be able to provide better service to the public.