Front Page Headlines
Face-to-face education stalls
We’ve left behind the first week of in-class education. Many teachers and students have tested positive or come into contact with positive cases. The situation in secondary education is not clear yet. The rotational teaching model which is being implemented at primary schools and subject to debate is also being implemented at some secondary schools where classrooms are crowded.
Here are the results of the tests on the fuel oil
Kıbrıs got hold of the results from the two laboratories. Following the claims that the fuel oil procured for the Teknecik Power Plant without a tender posed a public health risk fuel oil samples were taken from two tanks and sent to two separate laboratories in Mersin for testing. According to the results of the tests done both by KIBTEK (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) and Prime Ministry Inspection Board, the fuel oil is ‘clean.’ Now an evaluation is expected from the experts and the environmentalist on the test results.
- Crossings without tests are on the agenda – The Health Ministry Undersecretary and head of the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases Assoc Dr Deren Oygar said the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health will exchange epidemiological data during its meeting on Thursday and will evaluate the requirements on crossings in view of Covid-19 measures.
Fight between the minimum wage and the value of foreign currencies
The minimum wage goes up but so does the value of foreign currencies against the Turkish Lira. It is not possible to stop the high price in the TRNC, whereby prices are pegged to foreign currencies. No matter how much the minimum wage is increased, it’s always below the poverty threshold in view of the living conditions.
- Vaccinated people to use crossings without tests – The bicommunal Technical Committee held a productive meeting on Friday. During the meeting, Covid-19 measures at crossings, European Digital vaccination certificate and returning 40,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines were discussed. Health Ministry Undersecretary and head of the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases Dr Deren Oygar said the bicommunal committee will exchange epidemiological data on Thursday.
- Shameful act against Irulla – E.S. stole 80-year-old Greek Cypriot woman’s bag from her car.
Don’t waste time
People who have received both jabs are urging the unvaccinated to get vaccinated. The fact that vaccination coverage in the TRNC has remained a little over 50 per cent of the population compared to the south where 80 per cent of the population has been inoculated is disappointing. Fully vaccinated individuals who spoke to Diyalog told those avoiding the jab, said, “Don’t waste time. Don’t risk yourselves and others.”
- Greek Cypriot side determined – Anastasiades said he will table his proposal to return to the 1960 constitution at the trilateral meeting in New York.
- A final decision will be taken on Thursday – Fully vaccinated individuals will not be required to present a negative PCR/rapid test as of September 27 when crossing over to the south.
- That isn’t right! –E.S accused of stealing the mobile phone and money of an 80-year-old Greek Cypriot woman after cutting her off with his motorcycle was released on bail.
We don’t believe the test results are clean
It seems they are determined to poison us! Meftun Orkun, head of the Prime Ministry Inspection Board announced the test results on the fuel samples taken from the Teknecik Power Plant. Orkun said all the analysis proved that the values were below the upper limits and added that oil residue was not identified in the fuel either.
- “Don’t share the results with anyone” – Feriha Tel, head of the Green Peace Movement said Prime Minister Ersan Saner ordered that the fuel oil test results will not be shared by anyone.
- Won the cases, Turkish Cypriot Security Forces (GKK) lost – V.G. one of the three psychologists employed at the GKK was physically assaulted by a lieutenant in the barracks in 2016. As a result of the case filed by the prosecutor, the officer was sentenced to 45 days in prison. In the case filed by V.G., the court ordered the officer to pay ₺18,000 (€1,800) in damages.
- Citizenship granted to the architect designing Tatar’s palace – The Union of the Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects (KTMMOB) said the architect for Ersin Tatar’s presidential complex is granted citizenship by Ersan Saner.
Main News
Ready to discuss everything if the TC side’s demands are met, Hasipoğlu says
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
National Unity Party (UBP) General Secretary Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu on Monday said the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to discuss anything and everything at the negotiating table once its demands are met.
Speaking during a programme on Bayrak, Hasipoğlu, who is also a member of the Turkish Cypriot negotiations team, said the Turkish Cypriot side always supported a solution in Cyprus and never ran away from the negotiation table, and the United Nations was aware of the situation.
Pointing out that Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar would be explaining the Turkish Cypriot side’s new position to the world leaders during his visit to New York, Hasipoğlu highlighted the importance of conveying the Turkish Cypriot side’s new road map in the best possible way.
“What we are demanding are our inherent rights and our sovereignty,” Hasipoğlu stressed, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side wants its sovereign equality and its equal international status to be accepted and the unfair isolations and embargoes imposed to be revoked.
“Once all that is done then we will be ready to discuss everything. In that case, it will be out of the question for us to run away from the table” Hasipoğlu concluded.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar also attended the inauguration ceremony of the “Turkish House” – a 36-story skyscraper that houses the UN permanent mission of Turkey as well as the Turkish Consulate General as well as the “TRNC representation office” in New York. Tatar in a statement issued on Monday expressed his gratitude to Turkish officials for allocating office space for the Turkish Cypriot diplomats in New York.
KEY ACTORS
Hasipoğlu (UBP)
>> TC side ready to discuss anything & everything at negotiating table once its demands are met.
>> TC side demanding its inherent rights & sovereignty as well as the removal of international embargoes.
Oktay reiterates support for the TC side’s two-state solution model
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Turkey wants to see a progressing Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) that is self-sufficient and confident, Turkey’s vice president said Monday.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara, Fuat Oktay said there are “a few points” that his country always emphasizes regarding economic and development cooperation with the TRNC.
“We desire a progressing TRNC that is self-sufficient, stands on its feet with self-confidence, can produce added value with its industry, agriculture and production besides tourism, has completed the structural reforms needed for its realization and whose decision-making mechanisms work most effectively. In this direction, we said that we, as Turkey, will do whatever we have to do, and we reiterate this will here today,” Oktay said.
Oktay also reiterated his support for the Turkish Cypriot side’s new vision for a two-state solution on the island. He said that Turkish Cypriots are equal owners on the island.
“The Turkish Cypriots do not have any more time to waste in the endless negotiations processes,” Oktay said, adding that the Turkish Cypriots’ sovereign equality must be accepted for a solution to be reached on the island.
Touching on the domestic developments, Oktay stressed the efforts to build a new presidential complex that will also house the parliament building are underway, noting that the construction will soon start.
Saner for his part echoed views expressed by Oktay.
In the meantime, it emerged that the Turkish architect who designed the project for the new presidential complex “has been granted TRNC citizenship.” In a statement issued on Monday, the Union of the Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects (KTMMOB) slammed the coalition government and Saner, who is also an architect by profession, for granting the citizenship to ensure smooth and swift implementation of the said project.
“We will not allow the Turkish Cypriot identity or the reputation of our professions to be harmed just because you want to protect your seats,” the KTMMOB stressed, adding that citizenship is not a simple issue to be overlooked.
“Granting of citizenship to a Turkish architect not only means disregarding the engineering and architecture sectors but also disregards the north’s identity and disregards the Turkish Cypriots,” the statement read.
KEY ACTORS
Oktay (Turkey)
>> Turkey desires a strong, self-sufficient and confident ‘TRNC.’
>> Ankara supports Turkey’s vision for a two-state solution.
>> TCs do not have any more time to waste in the endless negotiations processes & Ts’ sovereign equality must be accepted for a solution.
Turkey reciprocates with a Navtex for the Aegean
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, External Security
OVERVIEW
Ankara issued a counter naval alert (Navtex) for its continental shelf area in the Aegean responding to the Greek Navtex issued on September 16, the Turkish Cypriot dailies report on Tuesday.
Claiming that the Greek move on its maritime territory for “scientific research” was “provocative,” Ankara stopped Greece from entering Turkey’s continental shelf east of Crete with the counter Navtex.
“Turkey is determined to protect and defend its rights and interests on its continental shelf against such unlawful, aggressive, and provocative attempts, as part of its legitimate rights and authorities arising from international law,” Turkey’s Defence Ministry said about the Greek Navtex.
Turkish leaders have repeatedly stressed that Ankara is in favour of resolving all outstanding problems in the region – including maritime disputes – through international law, good neighbourly relations, dialogue, and negotiations.
Bicommunal committee on health to look at the number of Covid-19 cases
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Head of the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases, Assoc Dr Deren Oygar said the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health will discuss and exchange the epidemiological data across the divide and as a result, the committee can produce a decision for vaccinated people to cross without the need for showing a negative PCR or antigen tests.
Speaking to Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK, Oygar said the number of positive tests identified is steadily declining on both sides and that should that trend continue the threat level to health may be revised down to orange.
The policy change could come into effect as soon as September 27, according to Oygar. But no change is expected for the unvaccinated, who will still have to provide proof of a negative test taken within the past three days.
Oygar further said that the committee met last Friday and discussed the process by which Turkish Cypriots can obtain the EU Covid pass and further details are expected from the Greek Cypriots soon. She also noted that the Turkish Cypriots who wish to travel abroad can apply for an EU Digital vaccination certificate until September 30.
In the meantime, the People’s Party (HP) MP and member of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health, Jale Refik Rogers urged the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar to make efforts for the Turkish Cypriot vaccination card to be recognized internationally.
Speaking during a web TV programme, Rogers pointed out that the citizens, university students who will travel abroad, and international students and foreigners living in the north are faced with problems due to an unrecognized vaccination card issued in the north.
“Tatar as the internationally recognized leader of the Turkish Cypriot community must use his trip to New York to solve this problem,” she stressed, noting that the Turkish Cypriots, who are not Republic of Cyprus (RoC) citizens, are seen as if they are not vaccinated in the international arena. Rogers added Tatar instead of attending weddings in the north, should work on solving this important problem that hinders people’s freedom of travel and raises the matter with the Greek Cypriot side, with the UK and other states.
Rogers, also commenting on returning 40,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, said “This is unacceptable.” She held the government responsible for their failure in convincing the people to get vaccinated. The north plans to return 40,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, reasoning that it will not be possible to administer them ahead of the expiry date – October 30 – due to low demand.
Efforts launched within the scope of the Hellim (Halloumi) project
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Economy, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Agriculture Ministry, the Veterinary Department and Animal Husbandry Department in the north have launched a joint project to identify the specific breed of sheep and goat throughout the northern part of the island.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Agriculture Ministry said 42 farms will be identified to launch breeding at EU standards as required by the EU product designated origin (PDO) registration of Hellim (Halloumi) as a result of a year-long project.
Gönen Vurana, director of the project and the head of the Animal Husbandary Department, said the breeds must be up to standards before full compliance with the PDO registration requirements. “It is necessary to identify the breed that is suitable for Hellim (Halloumi) production, as well as the quality and the quantity of the milk output,” Vurana said, adding that the available literature and documentation on animal records have already been screened.
“As a result of the project we will be able to establish the infrastructure to carry out production in line with EU directives,” Vurana concluded.