Front Page Headlines
‘Uncertainty over split voting’
An agreement has been reached between the political parties to hold early elections on January 23, signalling the unofficial ringing of election bells. While the countdown for early elections had begun so has the debate on amending the election law. An Ad-Hoc committee has been set up to discuss whether or not to scrap or rearrange the system of split voting.
The budget first, then the elections
The National Unity Party (UBP)-Democratic Party (DP) coalition government’s programme was read out in parliament and it was agreed with a unanimous vote to form an ‘ad-hoc’ committee to revoke split voting. Moreover, January 23 was identified as the date for an early election with the support of all the political parties during the Parliamentary Advisory Board meeting, and the parliamentary sub-committee “Legal and Political Affairs” was tasked to prepare the legislation for early elections.
The election on the horizon
The Parliamentary Advisory Board reached a consensus on the date for an early election, the state budget and the amendments to the election law.
- Support to protect the ongoing cooperation – The bicommunal technical committee on cultural heritage received its award for dedicated service as part of the Europa Nostra award. Co-chair of the committee Ali Tuncay during the ceremony appealed to the international community.
- They fled, regretted and then returned – H.O. and H.A. had fled to South Cyprus after committing five crimes in Gönyeli (Geunyeli) but felt remorse and surrendered to the British police.
No support for ten per cent
The majority of the political parties do not want the election five per cent threshold to be raised. While an Ad-Hoc committee will discuss whether or not to scrap the system of split voting, many believe that the five per cent threshold for political parties in parliament should be raised to ten per cent. However, the majority of parties are still opposed to this idea. The leader of the UBP and Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu said that his party had proposed raising the threshold to eight per cent but that none of the parties supported this idea. Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Erkut Şahali said that even five per cent was too high. While the Democratic Party (DP) MP Serdar Denktaş said the current system should stay in place. The leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) Erhan Arıklı supported the idea of raising the bar to ten per cent. The leader of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Cemal Özyiğit for his part said that the threshold should be removed altogether.
- They went to the south and returned – Two persons wanted for assault and robbery in Gönyeli (Guenyeli) was caught after months.
- 50 per cent is full –There are 145 million m3 of water in dams in the south.
Continuing to conceal the occupation
January 23 was identified as the date for the early election. All the political parties reached an agreement to hold an early election on January 23. Speaker of the parliament Önder Sennaroğlu said he will work to “revoke the split voting system.” It was agreed to establish an ad-hoc committee to discuss the amendments to the election law.
Main News
Pol. Parties agreed to hold an early election on January 23
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The Parliamentary Advisory Board reached a consensus to hold early general elections in the north on January 23, Önder Sennaroğlu, Speaker of the Turkish Cypriot parliament announced on Monday. Speaking to reporters Sennaroğlu said the parliamentary legal and political affairs subcommittee had been tasked to do the necessary legislative work to hold the early election.
He also added that it was agreed to establish an ‘ad-hoc’ committee with a representative from each of the political parties to discuss changes to the existing election law, primarily focusing its deliberations on whether to scrap the split voting system.
Sennaroğlu noted that the advisory board also produced a decision for the state budget to be discussed and passed before the early elections.
In the meantime, the National Unity Party (UBP) – Democratic Party (DP) government programme was read out in parliament on Monday by the new Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu. Regarding the section in the programme on the Cyprus Issue, Sucuoğlu said that promoting a two-state solution would continue to be his government’s priority.
He pointed out that efforts to reach a federal settlement in Cyprus had failed due to the Greek Cypriot side’s irreconcilable attitude and the rejection of the Turkish Cypriots’ political equality.
“A federal settlement is now a matter of the past,” Sucuoğlu stressed, adding that a sustainable solution on the island can only be based on the realities in Cyprus today, reiterating the Turkish Cypriot side’s position in favour of a two-state solution.
Sucuoğlu also noted that the coalition government without having to wait for a settlement will display support for any initiative or act of collaboration between the two states that have an impact on the island and are in the best interest of the two peoples.
The UBP leader also stressed the government will continue the resolute position to protect the Turkish Cypriots’ rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean while taking steps beneficial for all and that will contribute to reinstating stability in the region.
He recalled that the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposal for co-management of the natural resources is still at the table.
“Nonetheless, the government will not remain silent on the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral acts on the hydrocarbon resources and attempts to usurp the Turkish Cypriots’ rights,” Sucuoğlu warned, adding their reciprocal steps will be taken in coordination with Turkey.
“The government will continue to protect the interests and the rights of the Turkish Cypriots with determination while making efforts for peace, stability and an agreement on the island,” Sucuoğlu said. He also touched on the Varosha Initiative and said the government’s support for the reopening of the fenced-off town will continue with utmost respect given to international law.
KEY ACTORS
Sucuoğlu (UBP)
>> UBP-DP government will continue to promote a two-state solution in Cyprus.
>> The coalition government without having to wait for a settlement will support any initiative or act of collaboration between the two states.
>> The coalition will continue to protect the rights & interests of TCs in the East Med.
>> Reciprocal steps will be taken in coordination with Turkey if the GC side resumes unilateral hydrocarbon activities.
>> Government will continue to pursue the process of reopening Maraş (Varosha) for settlement.
Hasipoğlu: The UN is symbol of the status quo on the island
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
National Unity Party (UBP) MP and member of the Turkish Cypriot negotiation team Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu on Monday said the UN has become the symbol of the status quo in Cyprus.
Responding to a question on the appointment of a new Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP) on Bayrak, Hasipoğlu said UNFICYP has been stationed on the island for 57 years now. He added that the UN does not have a mission or vision to establish peace in Cyprus.
“Peace was established on the island with Turkey’s military operation in 1974,” Hasipoğlu argued, adding that the UNFICYP’s mandate is limited to the buffer zone only. Hasipoğlu also noted that UNFICYP’s mandate is renewed every six months and one-third of its annual budget is covered by Greece and the Greek Cypriot side.
KEY ACTORS
Hasipoğlu (UBP)
>> UN has become a symbol of the status quo in Cyprus.
Bicommunal technical committee receives its Europa Nostra award
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage on Monday received its certificates for the Grand Prix Award at the 2021 European Heritage Awards for “Dedicated Service to Heritage by Organisations and Individuals” and the Europa Nostra Award.
Nicosia’s two mayors across the divide Constantinos Yiorkadjis and Mehmet Harmancı and members of the diplomatic community in Cyprus attended the ceremony on Monday held at the Home for Cooperation as well as inaugurating the Europa Nostra plaque installed at the H4C building.
Speaking during the ceremony, Ali Tuncay, Turkish Cypriot chair of the technical committee, said “The Cultural Heritage technical committee is a light of hope for dialogue and collaboration in Cyprus and the nearly 60-year-long conflict.”
Tuncay also expressed his view that the continuation of the current collaboration will result in writing more success stories, adding that the unilateral approaches will neither help trust between the two communities foster nor does it help preserve cultural heritage.
“The international community must display a stronger will to protect the current collaboration,” Tuncay stressed, adding that they should contribute to the working environment created by the committee and approach the two communities equally.
Noting that the cultural heritage committee was established 14 years ago, Tuncay stressed the committee members have managed to build mutual trust and collaboratively continued their work. Also speaking during the event, the Greek Cypriot chair of the committee, Takis Hadjidemetriou said the Europa Nostra award is proof that “Cyprus is an island of culture and its people display a genuine interest in cultural heritage.”
Saying that they owe the success of the committee to the trust and honesty between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot members of the committee, Hadjidemetriou underlined the importance of conservation efforts. “Conservation works are an effort to heal past grievances in a country that suffered tragedies and conflicts,” Hadjidemetriou said.
Myrto Zambarta, head of the European Commission representation in Cyprus, said the bicommunal technical committee on cultural heritage is the key in the efforts of rapprochement and confidence-building efforts between the two communities.
“It has been seen by the work of the committee that cultural heritage is a strong tool for peace, cooperation and rapprochement on the island,” Zambarta stressed, adding that the work of the committee gives hope for the future of the island.
Suspects gave themselves up to the British police
Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Two Turkish Cypriot fugitives. who had fled to South Cyprus months ago after committing five crimes in Gönyeli (Geunyeli) surrendered themselves to British police at the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) in Beyarmudu (Pergamos) after feeling remorse. The suspects were then handed over to the Turkish Cypriot police at the Dörtyol (Prastio) police station.
Speaking during the court hearing, the police officer in charge of the investigation said the suspects with two others had broken into a house in Gönyeli (Geunyeli) assaulting the owner before making way with valuable items.
The officer said the two suspects had been detained shortly after the incident but the other two had fled to the south side only to surrender to the British police on November 3. The court ordered for the suspects to be sent to central prison for a period not longer than a month until the court announces its verdict.