Front Page Headlines
This is not the way to govern
Health associations express outrage over the shortage of medicines. Civil society organisations working in the field of health to acquire medicines and medical equipment have had enough. Speaking to Yenidüzen, they voiced their anger and frustration, stating that they have run out of patience. The head of the Universal Patients’ Rights Society Emete İmge says that they were experiencing shortages when in fact there are no shortages. The Coordinator for the Turkish Cypriot Society for Persons with Orthopaedic Disabilities Meltem Sarıfakıoğlu says that patients aren’t even able to find simple supplies such as urine drainage bags or catheters which are not sold by private pharmacies.
- “He crossed over to the south from the north with a silencer” – An Azeri national who crossed over to the south through the Lokmacı (Ledra) crossing point with a Russian passport was arrested by Greek Cypriot police. Police found a silencer and drugs on him. The incident was reported in the Greek Cypriot press.
Quorum pain
Numbered days left before the opening of the new legislative year for the Republic’s Parliament however it is still unknown whether the parliament will find 26 MPs to find the quorum or not. The coalition government MPs dropped to 24 when Bertan Zaroğlu resigned from the Rebirth Party (YDP) before the summer recess and 24 MPs is not enough for the quorum. The government needs the support of at least two independent MPs.
- Brought 16 kgs of drugs from South Cyprus
Guterres hounding the two leaders
The Secretary-General, who brought the two Cypriot leaders, one advocating a return to 1960, the other a two-state solution, together at an informal meeting in New York gave the message he is not going to give up.
- He bought the weapons from a Greek Cypriot – The police found two weapons and 57 bullets in the home of A.D., who is faced with charges for beating up his girlfriend for giving too much money to the maid.
- Asya made headlines in the South – Asya’s transfer from Ankara to Makarios Children’s Hospital via Athens has made headlines in the Greek Cypriot press. Asya’s father thanked Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades.
- Big narcotics operation – Police discovered more than 6 kg of drugs, weapons and bullets in its ‘Whirlpool’ operation. The evidence points to Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot drug barons.
This is not the way to go
Passengers at Ercan (Tymbou) Airport are suffering due to the ‘Adapass’ safe pass application. Some passengers drew attention to the problems created by the practice. Speaking to Diyalog, they said that their flight lasted for an hour but that going through checks and customs lasted for more than an hour. Tourism operators who reminded that no tests were required of vaccinated persons at crossing points demand similar procedures be applied at sea and airports.
- Greek Cypriot police unsuccessful – Foreigners who started a fight on Ledra Street caused havoc.
- I got it from the Greek Cypriot side – Police who arrested A.T following a complaint filed by his girlfriend that he hit her, found two handguns and 57 bullets in a search carried out in his home.
- 16kgs in four months – A.B.A and S.Ş who were arrested in operation ‘Girdap’ (Whirlpool) are being charged with smuggling large quantities of drugs from the south.
Joint march for a solution in Derinya (Deryneia)
Some Turkish Cypriot political parties and civil society organisations will hold a march for reunification in Derinya (Deryneia) on Sunday. The New Cyprus Party (YKP), United Cyprus Party (BKP), Left Movement, Federal Cyprus Movement, Peace and Democracy Movement and AKEL will take part in the march to be held on October 3. AKEL in a written statement announced it will arrange busses from Ledra Palace for those who wish to participate in the march.
- These returned from their sightseeing tour, and these have left – Ersin Tatar and his delegation have returned to the island after taking making selfies in New York. Those in the other photo have gone to Strasbourg to attend PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe) meetings as ‘observers.’
Main News
Tatar evaluates his NY meetings upon returning
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Tuesday said the two-state solution model has made its way to the world’s agenda and that the Turkish Cypriot side was slowly yet steadily progressing with its policies on the Cyprus Issue
Tatar, speaking at a press conference at Ercan (Tymbou) airport on his return from New York, said that, unlike his predecessors, he had made no promises of a quick-fix to the Cyprus problem. He said that he had found the opportunity during his meetings in New York to once again promote the Turkish Cypriot side’s two-state model based on sovereign equality.
“I as the Turkish Cypriot leader defended the Turkish Cypriots’ rights as best as I could with Turkey’s support,” Tatar said. Taking a swipe at his critics, the Turkish Cypriot leader urged the people not to look down or undermine his efforts.
He said the meetings he held were important for the future of the Turkish Cypriot people, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side was acting together with Turkey to protect their joint interests. “We might not be recognized but everyone knows there are two peoples and two states on the island,” Tatar stressed, adding that he has successfully reaffirmed the Turkish Cypriot side’s position to the world.
Noting that the UN parameters remain unchanged for 60 years, Tatar said the UN was now searching for creative ways to bring the two sides together.
“I saw the good intentions of the UN Secretary-General (UNSG). I believe he understands the Turkish Cypriots and approaches the issue accordingly,” “We found the opportunity to relay the realities on the island to the Secretary-General,” Tatar said, adding that it was an important meeting to maintain equality given the Greek Cypriot leader’s address of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
Tatar recalled that the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also drew attention to the inequality between the two Cypriot sides during his address of the UNGA, adding that the Turkish president had been the voice and strength of the Turkish Cypriot community. He argued the Turkish Cypriot side’s hand is now stronger with its new position and added that the work of the technical committees is being carried out as a collaboration between two states.
Tatar also noted that the UNSG had indicated that he might appoint a new representative to Cyprus and that he had expressed the view that any new appointment should not be outside the mandate granted to the former special envoy Jane Holl Lute. He also added he will inform the heads of political parties, the parliament and the public about the details of his meetings in the coming period.
Speaking in New York on Monday following the trilateral meeting with Guterres and the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, Tatar said that the status quo on the island would continue if a two-state solution was not accepted.
He added that it was out of the question for Turkish Cypriots to give up their state and that the Turkish Cypriot side was ready to launch official negotiations once the UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted a decision acknowledging the Turkish Cypriot state and its sovereign equality. Tatar argued that the world’s priorities have changed and both Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean regions have changed irreversibly.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> TC side is slowly yet steadily progress with its two-state policies on Cyprus.
>> I defended the TCs’ rights as best I could.
>> TC side acting together with Turkey to protect their joint interests.
>> UN parameters on Cyprus need to be revised. The UNSG is looking for creative ways to bring the two sides closer together.
>> New UN envoy’s mandate should not be different to that of her predecessor.
>> Status quo in Cyprus will continue if a two-state solution is not accepted.
>> TC side ready to launch official talks as & when UNSC acknowledges TC state & sovereignty.
Marching for solution, peace and reunification
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Pro-unification parties have called on Turkish Cypriots to march in support of a solution and reunification in Cyprus on Sunday, October 3 in Derinya (Deryneia).
In a statement issued on Tuesday by New Cyprus Party (YKP) board member Murat Kanatlı, the march is being organized by the YKP, United Cyprus Party (BKP), Federal Cyprus Movement, Left Movement and Peace and Democracy Movement and supported by AKEL.
Explaining the reasons for organising the march, Kanatlı said they will organise the event to show they “reject any demand for a two-state solution or any secessionist model,” and to condemn the unilateral actions taken by the Turkish Cypriot side in the fenced-off town of Maraş (Varosha).
He also noted that the organisers demand immediate implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992) on the fenced-off town. “We also demand that the negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem must resume from the point it had been left off in 2017,” Kanatlı said, adding that the organisers also condemn the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades’ proposals outside the UN parameters and demand from him to end his cheap populist approaches.
“We demand reunification, peace and justice for our country and our people,” Kanatlı said, urging all the Cypriots to reignite the fire of hope over the barbed wire.
Additionally, AKEL is also supporting the march and has announced that it will organise a bus service departing from Ledra Palace for those who want to attend the march on Sunday.
PDO registration to enter into force but TCs cry foul
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Economy, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The European Commission (EC) decision on the product designated origin (PDO) registration of Hellim (Halloumi) will enter into force on Friday, October 1 but representatives of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry complain that Bureau Veritas, the company contracted for compliance controls, has yet to get in touch with them or Turkish Cypriot producers.
Bureau Veritas must check the production standards against the outlined criteria in the PDO registration and approve in order so that the Turkish Cypriot producers are allowed to export their produce using the word Hellim (Halloumi) to the European market.
The EC had appointed the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce as the responsible authority in the north for trade over the Green Line in line with the existing regulation and the Chamber of Industry as the authority in charge of production.
Deputy General Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) Mustafa Ergüven, in his comments to Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK, said Bureau Veritas, within the scope of its contractual agreement, should have contacted KTTO to set up the necessary control mechanisms in the north but that nothing has happened even though the PDO decision was adopted in April 2021.
“The KTTO had asked the EC several times to force Bureau Veritas to get in touch with us but there has been nothing so far,” Ergüven complained. He added that the EC had informed them that the company will get in touch with KTTO once a contract is signed between the EC and Bureau Veritas.
Pointing out that the control mechanisms have not been established in the south either, Ergüven said but the company is already accepting applications from Greek Cypriot dairy producers. Ergüven also highlighted that the EC has not appointed a company to carry out inspections in line with the amendments made to the Green Line Trade Regulation within the scope of the EU food safety standards.
“We expect the EC to do its part without further delay and Bureau Veritas will get in touch with the KTTO for the Turkish Cypriot producers to benefit from the PDO registration of Hellim (Halloumi),” Ergüven said, adding that it is not possible at the moment for anyone to export the Cypriot cheese via the Green Line until the controls are carried out and an inspection mechanism is up and running.
He also noted that there are Turkish Cypriot dairy producers who are already capable of complying with EU standards in line with the PDO registration but there are no exports to the EU market yet.
Echoing similar views, Kemal Öztürk, the representative of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry, accused Bureau Veritas of being biased in favour of the Greek Cypriot side. Öztürk said the company has already supplied the Greek Cypriot producers with the production guidelines whilst Turkish Cypriot producers were still waiting for the appointment of a representative who will inspect their products.
Explaining the legislative process, Öztürk noted that following the PDO registration of Hellim (Halloumi), two more regulations were adopted by the EC. The first regulation is on the compliance controls of the production of the Cypriot cheese and the second one is on animal health and residues in raw milk.
“It is necessary to see what’s going on in the field to accept the cheese as Hellim (Halloumi),” he said, adding that the Greek Cypriot side has signed a contract with French company Bureau Veritas on production standards. Nothing has been done on the residue regulation yet, he added. “In this respect, the company must have informed the producers on the areas it will inspect and distribute a guideline on what the companies need to pay attention to,” Öztürk said.
He said that Bureau Veritas has put the Hellim (Halloumi) producers in the north in difficulty, adding that there are 11 companies capable of exporting their produce once the PDO registration enters into force on October 1.
Öztürk also noted that the 11 Turkish Cypriot companies are not afraid of any inspections or compliance controls as they all use top of the technology production standards and have international quality and health certifications. He also expressed the belief that the Turkish Cypriot producers will be able to meet the 50 per cent sheep and 50 per cent goat milk requirement set by the PDO registration.
16 kgs of drugs from South Cyprus in four months
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Two suspects, who were detained in Kyrenia and Nicosia by the Narcotics Police, confessed to smuggling large quantities of drugs from South Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot dailies report on Wednesday.
In separate police operations carried out on September 16, the first suspect was arrested with 300 gr cannabis type drugs ready to be sold. Following further investigation by the police, the second suspect was arrested in the northern part of Nicosia. The police also found weapons and bullets in the suspects’ homes.
Informing the court of the details of the investigation, the police officer said the suspects, who have been remanded since September 16, have smuggled 16kgs of various types of drugs from South Cyprus from June to September 2021.
The officer also said the investigation is underway and in addition to searching for other suspects, the weapons found will be sent for ballistic analysis and the suspect’s telephone records will also be looked at. The court ordered the suspects to be remanded for six more days until the police conclude their investigation.
Meanwhile, in another incident, police who arrested A.D for assaulting his girlfriend found two handguns and 57 bullets in a search carried out in his home. The man is being accused of beating up his girlfriend for paying too much to the maid.
After the police found the ammunition at his home, the suspect confessed to purchasing the weapons from the Greek Cypriot side.