Front Page Headlines
Early election government and heading to the polls in January
Faiz Sucuoğlu who was elected as the new leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) and given the task of forming a new government by the president, launched his contacts with the political parties. An understanding was reached during the meetings to form an early election government, to work on approving the budget and passing other urgent laws. The focus is now on holding early elections in January 2022.
An early election as soon as possible
Faiz Sucuoğlu, after he was given the task of forming the government by President Ersin Tatar, held separate meetings with the political parties yesterday. Sucuoğlu said he wants to reach a conclusion by Thursday and present Tatar with his cabinet before the weekend.
“With my own team”
National Unity Party (UBP) leader Faiz Sucuoğlu talked about his road map on Havadis web TV. He said the efforts to form a government is underway, adding that there is consensus on forming an interim government that will lead the country to elections. He added that the opposition approves of this approach. Sucuoğlu also noted he will work with his own team and that his priority will be the economy. He said he will hold a three to four-day long workshop with economic organisations once the government is established.
- The government is almost ready – UBP leader Faiz Sucuoğlu held meetings with the People’s Party (HP), Social Democratic Party (TDP), Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Democratic Party (DP). He is expected to submit the new cabinet to the president today.
Who has the solution?
Flu vaccines haven’t arrived, MS, cancer and diabetes patients cannot find medicine. While the country has seen three governments in the past three years with the fourth on the way, the TRNC is experiencing serious problems in terms of health. While the Health Ministry’s Department for Medicine and Pharmaceuticals is not attempting to hide the shortages of medicine, including flu vaccines, the head of the Pharmacists’ Association Umut Öksüz says that MS, cancer, and diabetes patients are also having difficulties finding medicine. He said that they have been experiencing problems in finding flu shots for the past three years. Meanwhile, it has also emerged that health minister Ünal Üstel has been denied authorisation from the Finance Ministry to hire new nurses and doctors for months.
- It’s been raining tourists – Larnaca and Paphos Airport has served over a million passengers in one month.
Police cover up beating a military officer
He was beaten up by his commander while doing his compulsory military service. He then went to the police to file a complaint, but the police did not do anything…Halil Özben, who served at a Famagusta regiment was beaten up three times in a single day by Captain Mehmet Tosun. Özben together with his father went to Famagusta police station to file a complaint. “Police took my testimony but did not forward the matter to the courts,” Özben said.
- A UBP-DP government with support from the independents – Faiz Sucuoğlu met with the political parties. Kudret Özersay said it looks like a National Unity Party (UBP) – Democratic Party (DP) government will be established with support from the independent MPs. Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman announced the CTP will not be part of any government.
Main News
New UBP leader loses no time on forming a new government
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The newly elected leader of the UBP Faiz Sucuoğlu was off to a busy start on Tuesday as he and his associates embarked on a series of meetings with leaders and representatives of the political parties with seats in parliament.
Sucuoğlu started his day with the People’s Party (HP), then went to the Social Democratic Party (TDP) and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP). His meetings continued with the Democratic Party (DP) and with the Rebirth Party (YDP) later in the event evening.
Speaking after meeting with Sucuoğlu, HP leader Kudret Özersay said they shared the view that early elections should be as soon as possible. He added that various government options were tabled during the meeting, adding that a UBP-DP coalition supported by independent MPs seems to be the most likely option.
Sucuoğlu for his part said the UBP did not favour establishing a technocratic government but said he agreed with the idea of having representation from all the parties with seats in the parliament, at least at the committee level.
TDP leader Cemal Özyiğit following his meeting with Sucuoğlu said the TDP will not take part in the government model with broad representation unless there is equal representation amongst all the political parties. He also emphasized the need to hold an early election without any delay.
Sucuoğlu for his part said the TDP and the UBP expressed similar views regarding the date for an early election. He pointed out that the state budget should be prepared and passed by the cabinet and handed over to the parliament before the early election without further delay.
The CTP also said it would not take part in an interim government headed by Sucuoğlu. “We have focused on three issues. The state budget, the amendments to the election law and the bills approved by the parliamentary sub-committee to be adopted by the parliament,” CTP leader Erhürman told reporters his meeting with the UBP leader, warning that if the budget is not passed, the economic crisis in the country will only become worse.
Sucuoğlu for his part said he fully agrees with the CTP on the three priorities, adding that the UBP wants to hold early elections as soon as possible.
Speaking following his meeting with Sucuoğlu, DP leader Fikri Ataoğlu said the DP also wants an early election but also highlighted the importance of amending the election law before heading to the polls.
Sucuoğlu, echoing what the DP leader had said, added that the coming two months will be critical in terms of passing the necessary laws from the parliament. He also drew attention to the upcoming local administration election in June 2022, warning that the prohibitions implemented during the election periods could cause difficulties for the government.
The last meeting Sucuoğlu held on Tuesday was with the YDP. Speaking following the meeting, YDP General Secretary Enver Öztürk said the YDP will not be part of the new government but will support it. “It is necessary to identify the date for early elections and we insist on January 9,” he said, adding that the amendments to the election law must also be made.
The north calls for more cooperation on irregular migration
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry on Tuesday called on the authorities in the south to cooperate over the issue of irregular migration, arguing that a single country can’t tackle this on its own.
In a statement, it said the issue of irregular migration should be addressed with the spirit of cooperation. “Our state announces, on every occasion, that it favours cooperation with the Greek Cypriot side in matters concerning our island,” it said.
Noting that the problem of irregular migration, which is the result of poverty, economic and political instability in various places, is beyond the means of a single country to overcome, the ministry said, therefore, prevention of it requires a joint effort by the international community
It added that neither the authorities in the north nor the south is immune from irregular migration due to the island’s location at a crossroad between three continents. “Contrary to the Greek Cypriot side, our country is devoid of international assistance and struggling with irregular migration only with the support of Motherland Turkey,” it said.
Recalling that its offer to establish cooperation with the Greek Cypriot side on irregular migration remains on the table, the ministry renewed this proposal arguing that irregular migration posed a significant challenge to all.
KEY ACTORS
Ertuğruloğlu (UBP)
>> Authorities in the South should cooperate on irregular migration as a single country can’t tackle this issue on its own.
>> Irregular migration should be addressed with the spirit of cooperation.
>> TC side’s offer to establish cooperation with the GC side remains on the table.
Turkish MoD: “Two-state solution is the only model on the island”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Regional/ International Relations, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Ministry of Defence on Monday said a two-state solution based on sovereign equality in which the two states will co-exist side-by-side and collaborate, is the only feasible solution model for Cyprus. Major Pınar Kara, during a routine press briefing, added that it will be in everyone’s best interest for the Greek Cypriot side to accept this solution model without further delay.
“The Turkish armed forces will continue to protect the rights and interests of Turkey and the TRNC in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean,” Kara stressed, adding that the armed forces will also continue to be the assurance of peace and security with rights emanating from the international treaties.
Kara added that despite all the calls within the scope of good neighbourly relations, Greece continues to violate the demilitarized status of the islands in eastern Aegean. “Greece has violated the said international treaties 2061 times with its air and naval vessels since the turn of the year,” Kara said.
Ankara has taken all the necessary diplomatic measures against the provocative and hostile attitude adopted by Greece, Kara said, adding that the necessary response on the field within the principle of reciprocity was also given. Kara argued that Athens is trying to escalate the problems between Turkey and Greece by signing military agreements with France and the US.
“Attempting to transform the problems between the two countries into a Turkey-EU or Turkey-US problem whilst seeking support from NATO member states, would not only harm the spirit of solidarity within NATO but also would harm the bilateral relations,” Kara stressed, urging Greece to abandon its efforts to include third parties into the problems between Turkey and Greece.
“It is our expectation from Greece to abandon unlawful and irreconcilable attitude and to display sincere efforts for dialogue to overcome the disagreements in peaceful means within the scope of international law and good neighbourly relations,” Kara said.
Touching on the Cyprus issue, Kara said all relevant sides have seen that a solution is not possible with the previously attempted methods. “It must be seen by all that there will not be any progress in the negotiations processes unless the existence of two equal, sovereign and independent states are accepted,” she said, reiterating that the only possible solution on the island is a two-state model based on the sovereign equality of the two sides.
KEY ACTORS
Akar (Turkey)
>> Two-state solution based on sovereign equality & cooperation of two states most feasible option for a solution.
>> It will be in the best interest of everyone for the GC side to accept this solution model.
>> Turkey will continue to protect its rights & interests as well as of TCs in Aegean & East Med.
>> Greece should abandon unlawful & irreconcilable attitudes and display sincere effort in solving problems through dialogue.
Tatar reiterates his position for the two-state model
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Tuesday, reiterated his stance vis-à-vis the solution of the Cyprus problem, saying that the two-state model is the only feasible solution option on the island.
During a meeting at his office, Tatar underlined there are two ‘peoples’ on the island and the entire world is aware of this fact. “This is the core of the two-state policy and this is what we are trying to convey to the entire world,” Tatar said. He added that the two peoples are distinctly separate, speaking different languages, believing in a different faith and having different cultures.
“The distinction between the two peoples have also been clearly stated in the 1960 establishment treaties,” Tatar argued. He noted that it is not possible to establish a partnership with the Greek Cypriot as there is not a mechanism in place to bring the two sides to a joint point based on their mutual interests.
Tatar also said that the Turkish guarantees must continue at the time of the agreement as well.
In the meantime, Tatar met with Judith Gail Garber, the US Ambassador to Cyprus on Monday. In a post on Twitter, Tatar said he met the Ambassador for lunch upon an invitation from Ms Garber.
During the lunch, the two discussed the trilateral meeting held in New York on September 27 and subsequent developments since then, the tweet read.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Two-state solution is the only feasible option on the island.
>> There are two different peoples, languages, and religions on the island.
>> Turkey’s guarantees must continue.
UNFICYP issues warning to hunters to stay away from the buffer zone
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Hunting in the buffer zone is strictly forbidden, the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) warned on Tuesday, just days after the start of the hunting season.
In a message in Turkish, Greek and English posted on Twitter, UNFICYP warned the hunters to stay away from the buffer zone.
UNFICYP strongly urged hunters to refrain from dangerous or irresponsible actions in and around the buffer zone.
In the meantime, new details are emerging in the case involving C.B who was arrested by Turkish Cypriot guards on October 29 close to Greek Cypriot controlled areas in a place between Güvercinlik (Acheritou) – Çayönü (Kalopsida).
Police, acting on a tip had carried out a raid in the area, arresting the suspect as he was trying to four handguns, four magazines and 74 bullets hidden in the bushes in an area close to the Greek Cypriot controlled areas.
Caught by surprise, the suspect had smashed his mobile phone and tried to flee the scene but was captured. After becoming aware of the police ambush, the suspect broke his mobile phone and tried to escape the scene.
The police officer in charge of the investigation told the court the weapons and bullets were sent for ballistics testing while the cyber unit was trying to retrieve data stored on the mobile phone.
The suspect was ordered by the Famagusta District Court to be remanded in police custody for seven days while the police concludes its investigation. In another incident, a man who crossed over to the south through a checkpoint only to return through a military zone in Nicosia was detained by police.
The suspect, A.R.K.A was caught in a military zone on November 1 when he was trying to enter back the north. The court ordered the suspect to be remanded for two more days.
Young innovators for peace getting together on Nov. 4
Yenidüzen
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Young innovators and entrepreneurs can be the seeds from which hope and healing grow, UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) said on Tuesday, announcing the event it plans to hold on November 4 via videoconference.
Bringing together young innovators from Cyprus, Israel, Palestine and Somalia at an event entitled “Changing the world – Young innovators for peace,” UNFICYP in coalition with Cypriot organizations and others, intends to explore how young entrepreneurs from communities across Cyprus and from abroad can come together with innovative approaches for a better economic life in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
After a successful online panel discussion with renowned speakers, which brought together hundreds of people and an intensive two-day workshop on innovation and social entrepreneurship, with participants from all communities of Cyprus, UNFICYP joins forces with six youth innovation groups across the island and abroad, for a new online event on youth innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship, on November 4.
Together with the Center for Social Innovation, Junior Chamber International (JCI) Larnaca, GIGEM, CyprusInno, the Israeli-Palestinian NGO Tech2Peace and iRiseHub from Somalia, UNFICYP aims at providing a safe and open platform for these young innovators to discuss and share their experiences and pieces of advice with young Cypriots, fostering intercommunal cooperation and peace-building.
The event will be on ZOOM for a more interactive discussion between speakers and participants but will also be broadcast live from the Facebook event and UNFICYP’s Facebook page.