Front Page Headlines
Turkish Embassy embargo on the reception
Revenge was taken from the political parties that “boycotted” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s address at the TRNC parliament on July 19, 2021. The Turkish embassy did not invite people from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Social Democratic Party (TDP) as well as the former presidents Mustafa Akıncı and Mehmet Ali Talat to the “October 29 reception to mark the anniversary of the founding of Turkish Republic.”
- The difference in ‘purchasing power’ – The minimum wage corresponds to 631 litres of 95 octane fuel in the southern part of Cyprus and 491 litres in the northern part.
All eyes turned to the UBP congress
The National Unity Party’s (UBP) 22nd ordinary general assembly, which has dominated the country’s agenda for months, will start today and will be completed with the counting of votes tomorrow. Three candidates are contesting for the party’s leadership and everyone is waiting for the results.
- We missed this liveliness in Arasta – Arasta, the pedestrian shopping area of the old town Nicosia, was alive both with tourists and with local visitors after having been empty for months due to the pandemic. The shopkeepers were pleased to see the crowds.
Get it over and done
The UBP is holding its ordinary party congress like general elections. The 22nd general assembly of the UBP will be held today and tomorrow at the Atatürk Sports Complex in (north) Nicosia. Three candidates are competing for the party’s leadership. Ersan Saner is expected to attend the congress and deliver the opening remarks. The Deputy leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Binali Yıldırım is also expected to attend the event.
- The highest level ever – The total deposits exceed €50bn in South Cyprus.
This is the October 29 blacklist
Those whose names were crossed out by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan were not invited to the October 29 Republic Day reception at the Turkish Embassy. Mustafa Akıncı, Mehmet Ali Talat, Tufan Erhürman and Cemal Özyiğit were among those who were not invited.
- The UBP congress is being held today and tomorrow – Three candidates are competing for the top seat in the UBP congress. Voting will start at 1 pm and end at 9 pm today to resume tomorrow at 9 am until 6 pm 16,484 members are eligible to vote. Binali Yıldırım will also attend the congress. Ersan Saner will deliver the opening remarks.
- Renovations at the Lokmacı (Ledra St.) crossing postponed – The renovations which initially were planned to be carried out on November 1 and 2, postponed indefinitely. The Lokmacı (Ledra St.) will be open on these dates.
Main News
Arıklı backs anti-federation position adopted by Tatar
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) Erhan Arıklı on Friday said that efforts to find a federal settlement to the Cyprus problem were over, arguing that the Greek Cypriots will have to choose to either be neighbours with the ‘TRNC’ or with Turkey.
In an interview with German TV ZDF, Arıklı said that this, however, should not be perceived as an annexation of the north by Turkey. “If we fail to achieve political recognition for the north, we will then have the Monaco model. That means we will be independent when it comes to domestic issues but somewhat a protectorate of Turkey when it comes to security and foreign affairs,” Arıklı said.
He added that such a choice will ultimately be up to the Turkish Cypriot community, arguing that not a single person in the north would support the idea of annexation by Turkey. Arıklı noted that the right to self-determination is universal, one that needed to be respected by everyone. He also urged the UN and the EU to accept the realities on the island without further delay.
Arıklı expressed the view that there are two sovereign states in Cyprus that have politically equal populations that have different religions, languages, and cultures.
He said that since the opening of the crossing points, the two communities have demonstrated that they can live side-by-side peacefully but added that imposing reunification in the classic sense would eventually cause bloodshed.
Also touching upon sports embargoes imposed on the north, Arıklı said that Turkish Cypriot football clubs want to be allowed to play football under the umbrella of UEFA, similar to the Kosovo model. “If the UEFA were to reject our demands, we will look at other alternatives. We are now talking with the Asian Football Federation as well,” he said.
Responding to a question on Turkey’s financial assistance, Arıklı said it is only normal for Turkey to continue to support the north. “The financial aid provided is not a detriment to our sovereignty, he said adding that it will not be possible for the Greek Cypriot side to make the Turkish Cypriots accept their ambitions through the embargoes.
KEY ACTORS
Arıklı (YDP)
>> Federation prospects are over. GCs will either choose to be neighbours with TCs or Turkey.
>> TCs could opt for the Monaco model, independent in domestic affairs but under the protection of Turkey for security & foreign affairs.
>> Not a single TC supports annexation of the north by Turkey.
>> Self-determination is a universal right & should be accepted by everyone. EU & UN should accept realities on the island immediately.
>> Financial aid provided by Turkey is not a detriment to the north’s sovereignty.
UBP electing its new leader in a two-day long election
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
After weeks of inner-party wrangling the north’s largest political party, the National Unity Party (UBP) is holding its general congress this weekend. Three candidates are contesting in the race which has been marred with scandals, cross accusations, and political smearing campaigns.
More than 16,000 UBP members will be asked to decide between Faiz Sucuoğlu, Hasan Taçoy and Zorlu Töre. The congress comes ten months after the UBP’s congress was cancelled amidst allegations of interference from Ankara.
Candidates Faiz Sucuoğlu who won the first round and his rival Hasan Taçoy had withdrawn from the race without providing a convincing reason. Immediately current leader Ersan Saner was appointed as party leader and tasked with forming a minority government.
Just two weeks before the congress, Saner after falling out with his coalition partners, handed in his resignation to Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. A week later a compromising video appeared on social media showing him carrying out a sex act with a woman online.
The video was not openly circulating on social media but was widely shared through private accounts. Following a complaint by Saner, five persons implicated in the circulation of the video were arrested by police. As the investigation deepened, new allegations came to light. A few days later Saner announced he was quitting the race.
While Saner has been accusing Sucuoğlu of orchestrating a conspiracy against him. Sucuoğlu has refuted the claims despite acknowledging he knew that such a video existed.
Speaking to Bayrak on Friday, UBP MP Özdemir Berova said the voting at the congress will begin at 1 pm on Saturday running through to 9 pm. The voting will continue Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm. Berova said the new UBP leader should emerge around 10 pm on Sunday.
Meanwhile, it was reported that Turkey’s last prime minister and Deputy Leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Binali Yıldırım will also be attending the congress.
Various circles in the north claim that Yıldırım was responsible for interfering in the UBP’s domestic affairs on behalf of Ankara.
Sovereign equality platform is established
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Some of the civil society organisations, trade unions, political parties and local administrations on Friday announced they have established the “Sovereign Equality Platform.”
In a statement issued, the Platform said it is founded by “volunteers who believe that a two-state solution based on sovereign equality must be implemented and for the continuation of the independent TRNC.”
Furthermore, the Platform also argued that the Greek Cypriot side has never perceived the Turkish Cypriots as their equal.
“The international community is fully aware of the fact that the Greek Cypriot side will never accept a federal solution based on political equality,” the statement read, adding that the Turkish Cypriot people have been subjected to unfair isolations and embargoes and continue to be the victims of the non-solution of the Cyprus problem.
Nonetheless, the Turkish Cypriot dailies did not provide any details on which organisations and who have formed the said platform.
Lokmacı (Ledra St) renovation postponed
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry on Friday informed the public that the scheduled renovations at the Lokmacı (Ledra St) crossing had been postponed indefinitely, noting that the crossing will not be closed as announced before.
The ministry had issued an advisory on social media noting that the said crossing will be closed for crossings on November 1 and 2.
In a new advisory on Friday, it noted that the Greek Cypriot side has informed the ministry of the postponement of the renovation works at Lokmacı (Ledra St) crossing.