Front Page Headlines
It smells bad
The chaos that has gripped the country took a new turn with the sex video that emerged of the leader of the National Unity Party (UBP)-Prime Minister Ersan Saner who claimed that he had been framed. Current and former politicians, sociologists and lawyers are unhappy with the state of affairs.
We are ruined!
Our country is being dragged into a deadlock due to unsolved problems. Survival has become a common concern for all in the TRNC, where we wake up to a new crisis each day. The public, which was nervously waiting for news of new price hikes was dealt another blow yesterday when the value of the Turkish Lira took another plunge against foreign currencies. (The value of) US Dollar against the Turkish Lira became ₺9.52, Euro ₺11.09 and the British Pound exceeded ₺13. In the meantime, there is no government or parliament as the country struggles to cope with the economic and financial crisis.
- Six million kilos of Hellim (Halloumi) kept in warehouses – Greek Cypriot association for cheese producers highlighted the decrease in the Hellim (Halloumi) exports.
The police get involved
Prime Minister Ersan Saner filed a complaint with the police regarding the scandal video. The police detained the woman in the video identified as P.G. from Famagusta and eight others.
- A large price hike is expected – The threat of the competition board launching an investigation did not work. K-pet and Al-pet continued to supply limited amounts of fuel to petrol stations. Meanwhile, the commission tasked to identify fuel oil prices prepared a list of new fuel prices, but a Council of Minister’s decision is required for the new retail prices to enter into force.
I am sad
Speaking to Diyalog for the first time since the (sex) video was circulated; Ersan Saner said that he had filed a complaint with the police to shed light on those involved in the conspiracy to frame him. “This video was deliberately served ahead of the party congress,” he told tv2020.
- Economy on the rise – More than 339,000 tourists visited South Cyprus in September.
Blackmailing, threats and big panic
Sedat Peker continues with his video threats. Organised crime gang leader Sedat Peker said he is determined to rid the TRNC of drug smugglers, adding that he will continue to release sexually explicit videos of the politicians who collaborate with these people.
- There are 20 more videos at his hand – Journalist Erk Acarer said the videos were sent to Sedat Peker through electronic means. Peker’s team is very effective in this regard.
- “Nature will take its course” – Ersin Tatar spoke for the first time on the videos released by Sedat Peker. He said: “I am saddened” and added, “nature will take its course.”
- Asya is being given her medication – Asya’s parents announced on social media that she is being given her medication. Parents said: “It’s like we are in a dream.”
Main News
Tatar says the reality is there are separate & sovereign states in Cyprus
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Thursday reiterated his known position, saying that there are two separate and sovereign states in Cyprus. Addressing a conference at Ankara’s Social Sciences University, Tatar stressed the Turkish Cypriot side wants an agreement based on the realities of the island.
“That reality is the existence of two separate and sovereign states,” he stressed, adding that the Turkish Cypriots have been waging an existentialist struggle on the island. Tatar who briefly touched upon history argued that the British which had seized the island from the Ottoman Empire instead of handing it back established a partnership republic.
He complained that the UK continued its unfair treatment of Turkish Cypriots providing the example of travel restrictions imposed on travellers from the north based on the type of Covid-19 vaccination they had received. He noted the necessary initiatives had been launched on the issue, demanding the British authorities to recognize vaccines accepted by the EU.
Tatar also claimed that Turkish Cypriots had been subject to ethnic cleansing policies by the Greek Cypriots who did not see the Turkish Cypriots as their equals. “Turkish Cypriots were saved by Turkey in 1974. Since then the Turkish Cypriots have been living in their state, exercising their sovereignty,” Tatar said, repeating that all attempts to reach a federal solution in Cyprus had failed.
He added that numerous opportunities for a solution have been squandered after the Greek Cypriot side had rejected all proposals and offers tabled over the past four decades.
“The continuation of Turkey’s guarantees and the presence of the Turkish troops on the island are indispensable for the Turkish Cypriots,” Tatar said, adding that both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot people will continue to defend the Blue Homeland doctrine.
Noting that it has been possible to table the two-state solution model with the help of Ankara, Tatar also thanked the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for raising the injustices faced by the Turkish Cypriots during his address of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
“The only way possible for a lasting, fair and sustainable agreement on the island is to accept two states co-existing side-by-side and collaborating,” Tatar said. He argued that the Greek Cypriot side desired the continuation of the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus (RoC), which in time had transformed into a Greek Cypriot state.
Later on Thursday, Tatar speaking during a meeting with the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, said the Turkish Cypriots had as many rights on the island as their Greek Cypriot counterparts.
Addressing the members of the chamber, Tatar argued the Greek Cypriots insist on the continuation of the RoC whilst annulling the “TRNC” under the pretext of a federal settlement.
“The Turkish Cypriots have seen the risks in the federal solution and will never accept cutting off its ties with Turkey,” he argued, adding that since his election in office, the Turkish Cypriot side has tabled a two-state model based on the sovereign equality of the two sides.
Also touching on reopening of the Maraş (Varosha), Tatar expressed the belief that the reopening of the fenced-off town will have significant contributions to the north’s economy.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> There are two separate & sovereign states in Cyprus.
>> The continuation of Turkey’s guarantees and the presence of Turkish troops on the island is indispensable for TCs.
>> A lasting & sustainable settlement in Cyprus is only possible by two states co-existing side-by-side and cooperating.
>> Reopening of Maraş (Varosha) will have significant contributions to the north’s economy.
Turkish MFA accuses GC side of escalating tensions in the East Med
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgiç on Thursday said both Greece and the Greek Cypriot side were taking steps aimed at escalating tension in the Eastern Mediterranean as they continued to go ahead with surveying in areas that fell within the Turkish continental shelf.
Speaking during a routine press briefing, Bilgiç responded to a question on the Greek and Greek Cypriot side’s hydrocarbon activities. “Ankara is giving the appropriate responses to these provocative acts both in the field and at the diplomacy table,” Bilgiç stressed, adding Turkey will never allow its rights to be violated.
Reminding that the Greek Cypriot side has announced it will start drilling in November, Bilgiç warned that Ankara will reciprocate to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. “I speak openly that Turkey will continue to respond to every act like that,” Bilgiç said.
He also reminded Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s proposal of holding a regional conference to overcome the differences in the region. “It is possible to find a basis for collaboration if the Eastern Mediterranean conference were to be held,” Bilgiç said. He added that as a result of the conference the regional countries could agree on equitable sharing of the natural resources.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> Greece & GC side escalating tensions in East Med with surveying activities.
>> Ankara will respond to such activities to protect its rights & those of TCs.
>> Issue should be addressed through a regional conference as proposed by Turkey.
Kızılyürek: Turkish Cypriots must turn to the EU
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
AKEL MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek on Thursday said the Turkish Cypriots need to “turn to the EU and demand more rights from the bloc.”
Kızılyürek, who held a press conference titled “EU citizen Turkish Cypriots have been in the EP for two years” to mark his second anniversary as a member of the EP, argued that the Turkish Cypriots under today’s conditions will not be able to achieve anything from the elections.
“The Turkish Cypriots can protect their identity and become the main subject on the island by coming closer to the EU and by waging a struggle for a federal future,” Kızılyürek said, arguing that Turkey does not want the Turkish Cypriots to be in contact with the Union.
Kızılyürek said that the Turkish Cypriots are stuck between the Greek Cypriot elite and Turkey. “The Greek Cypriots, who have been ruling the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) on their own, neither accept Turkish Cypriots as their equals nor are they willing for federation whilst Turkey thinks it owns and governs the northern part of the island, squeezing the Turkish Cypriots in between,” Kızılyürek argued.
“All my efforts are aimed at bringing the two communities closer for a reunited island in the future,” Kızılyürek stressed, adding that he does not see any constructive effort from the northern part of the island to raise the Turkish Cypriots’ rights in the EU.
“I see that the Turkish Cypriots are being left out of many areas but there is no effort from the north demanding it either. The political parties are also very quiet on the issue,” Kızılyürek said. Touching on the importance of pro-federal solution political parties in the north and on the island to establish and maintain relations with the EU.
He also warned that it is not possible to achieve anything in Europe with secessionist rhetoric. Kızılyürek recalled his efforts for Turkish to be one of the official languages of the EU.
“I’m the only MEP who does not speak his mother tongue in the EP,” he stressed, urging the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades to raise the Turkish language issue at European Council’s agenda to promote reconciliation and peace on the island. He noted the EC must have a unanimous vote on the issue for Turkish to be accepted as an official language of the union.
Kızılyürek also highlighted that the product designation origin (PDO) registration of Hellim (Halloumi) poses an important opportunity for Cypriot producers. “The only obstacle before the Turkish Cypriot producers is the two-state rhetoric, unfortunately,” he said, adding that he will have meetings on the issue in the EP. He also noted that the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) has yet to launch the application process for PDO registration for the Turkish Cypriot producers.
KEY ACTORS
Kızılyürek (AKEL)
>> TCs should demand more from the EU.
>> TC authorities not exerting constructive efforts to raise the TCs’ rights in the EU. Thus TCs are left out in many areas.
>> Not possible to achieve anything in Europe with secessionist rhetoric.
>> Turkish language must be recognised as an official EU language.
>> Hellim (Halloumi) PDO is an important opportunity for Cypriot producers.
>> KTTO has yet to launch an official application for PDO registration for TC producers.