Front Page Headlines
Our concern is not the elections or the congress, it is getting by
Citizens on the street express outrage and frustration over the political agenda, calling on the politicians to return to the realities and to address the real issues. The government’s resignation, the video scandal and the controversial National Unity Party (UBP) congress. The public find all these current events shameful, stating that the focus should not be these issues but the difficulties people are experiencing in getting by.
The outrage is great!
As if the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic was not enough, the economic crisis, the sharp drop in the value of the Turkish Lira against foreign currencies, the constant price hikes as well as the uncertainty in politics has squashed the life out of the people. Kıbrıs spoke with the public and shopkeepers who are trying to survive. The people, who are becoming poorer by the day expressed their outrage to the officials.
- YSK gives its decision on Bertan Zaroğlu – The Supreme Electoral Board (YSK) said Bertan Zaroğlu must remain an “independent MP” until new elections stating that his membership to the “Nation Party” violates the law governing political parties.
The second act in the scandal
The first act was opened with the sex video scandal. The police asked National Unity Party (UBP) leadership candidate Faiz Sucuoğlu to testify but he refused to do so. Confirming that the police had called him to testify during a TV programme, Sucuoğlu said: “I do not see the need to testify amid my intense programme. I don’t have any problems with going to the police but I will testify on Monday or Tuesday, after the UBP congress.”
- “Student” gang in human trafficking – They came from Somalia to the TRNC as ‘students’ however were arrested in the military zone while trying to cross to South Cyprus.
This is a record
The UBP, currently engaged in a power struggle within the party, has seen 12 party leaders in the last 46 years. The UBP, which is the longest-serving party in North Cyprus has seen its share of party leaders since its creation 46 years ago. The party was established on October 11, 1975, under the leadership of the late president Rauf Denktaş. Derviş Eroğlu served the longest term as the UBP’s leader. The shortest term was served by Osman Örek for nine months. Ersan Saner who announced he was withdrawing from the race set to take place this weekend had taken over the helm of the party on December 9, 2020. Following his official departure from the post on November 1, Saner will have served less than 11 months. It is claimed Saner will not be attending the congress which will start on Saturday.
He is avoiding the police
Ersan Saner continues to direct accusations at Faiz Sucuoğlu. Saner said Sucuoğlu was lying and refraining from testifying…I will continue my legal battle against him until the very end and will do whatever is necessary to clear politics from people orchestrating conspiracies and for justice.”
- Zaroğlu’s party membership is revoked – The Supreme Electoral Board (YSK) said Bertan Zaroğlu must remain an “independent MP” until new elections and revoked his membership to the “Nation Party.”
Main News
Tatar accuses the GC side of escalating tensions in the East Med.
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, who embarked on yet another visit to Turkey on Wednesday, reiterated his known positions vis-à-vis the Cyprus problem, emphasizing that the Turkish Cypriot community was distinctly different from the Greek Cypriot community on the island.
Delivering the opening lecture at the Hasan Kalyoncu University in Gaziantep district of Turkey, Tatar said that the two communities speak different languages and have different religious beliefs and have been living separately since 1974.
Tatar repeated his view that a two-state model is the only feasible option in Cyprus, arguing that such a solution would be beneficial for the two communities as well as regional peace, trade and commerce.
Arguing that the Greek Cypriot side had played for time throughout the negotiations processes as being the only recognized entity as a result of the UN Security Council resolution dated March 4, 1964, Tatar said the Greek Cypriot side will never be willing for an agreement as long as the resolution remains in force.
“The Turkish Cypriot side has no patience or luxury to lose yet another 53 years in the negotiations processes,” Tatar said, reiterating that a two-state solution is the only feasible option on the island. He added that the Turkish Cypriot side has kept its channels of dialogue open with the Greek Cypriot side to discuss a two-state solution only to be met with their irreconcilable attitude.
“Despite the Turkish Cypriot side’s calls for collaboration, the Greek Cypriot side continued with its provocative attitude, roping the EU in on their side under the pretext of membership solidarity,” Tatar argued.
Tatar stressed the Turkish Cypriot side is in favour of a fair and a lasting agreement on the island however the realities in Cyprus must be accepted first. “The two-state concept is the only sustainable option that is based on the realities today and an agreement can only be reached based on sovereign equality,” Tatar concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Two-state solution remains the only feasible option for the solution of Cyprob.
>> Not possible to reach a solution as long as UN resolution 186 (March 4, 1964) remains in place.
>> TCs do not have the luxury to waste another five decades in talks.
>> TC side in support of a ‘fair’ & ‘lasting’ solution in Cyprus but realities must be accepted first.
Turkish, US presidential aides discuss ties, regional matters
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Ahead of the expected meeting of countries’ presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Joe Biden, presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan exchanged views on a variety of subjects including Turkey’s relations with Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean.
In a statement issued from the office of the Turkish Presidency, the two sides stressed the strategic importance of Turkish-US relations and the importance of mutual respect, understanding, and common interests as well as complying with international agreements.
Meanwhile, ahead of Angela Merkel’s farewell visit to Athens, her spokesman said Germany supported talks between Athens and Ankara to resolve bilateral problems. “Good neighbourly relations between Greece and Turkey are important, and they are beneficial, not only for the two countries but also for all of Europe,” Steffen Seibert told a regular press conference in Berlin on Tuesday.
Seibert said Berlin supported direct talks between Greece and Turkey, which aim at finding diplomatic solutions to their bilateral problems and maritime disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean. “Solutions can only be found through talks, and in a spirit of mutual respect,” he said.
Visiting hours for Maraş (Varosha) change
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
The visiting hours for the recently opened sections of Maraş (Varosha) have been revised, the Turkish Cypriot dailies report on Thursday.
In a statement issued from the Turkish Cypriot Security Forces (GKK), the visiting hours will be from 8 am to 5 pm from November 1 onwards. It is reported that the change is due to the change in the season.
In the meantime, Turkish Cypriot Famagusta Municipality on Wednesday announced that it will organise the first traditional cycling event to be held in Maraş (Varosha) as part of events marking October 29 Turkey’s Republic Day.
The cycling event will be organised by the Prime Ministry “Commission to fight against drug addiction,” the Famagusta Municipality and the cycling groups active in the northern part of the island.
Lokmacı (Ledra St) crossing to be closed for renovation
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry informed the public that the Lokmacı (Ledra St) crossing will be closed for crossings on November 1 and 2 due to renovation works to be carried out by the Greek Cypriot police at the crossing point.
In an advisory issued on social media, the ministry noted that a letter informing the Turkish Cypriot side about the Greek Cypriot side’s renovation work had been received by the ministry on Wednesday.
Seven undocumented migrants caught while trying to cross to the south side
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Seven Somali nationals were caught while trying to cross to the south through a military zone near Alayköy (Gerolakkos) on Tuesday.
The police officer in charge of the investigation told the court the group was detected by a border patrol as they were trying to cross into the south. He added that the police obtained testimony from one of the men in the group that they were dropped off by boat somewhere along the northern coastline.
Some dailies however reported that the group were students who enrolled in a university in the north. The court has ordered the suspects to be remanded for a period not exceeding one month awaiting their verdict.
Children of the bicommunal couple granted citizenship
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
The children born to a Greek Cypriot mother and a Turkish Cypriot father would be granted citizenship on humanitarian grounds, the Turkish Cypriot dailies report on Thursday.
Citing Greek Cypriot media reports, the children, who had been deprived of their Republic of Cyprus (RoC) citizenship because their paternal grandfather was from Turkey, would be given the “citizenship by exception” on humanitarian grounds.
The family currently resides in Liopetri in the Famagusta region in South Cyprus.