Front Page Headlines
How many more people are going to die?
Accident on the Turunçlu (Strongylos) junction leaves three dead, two injured, one seriously. Police said that the accident was caused by Haşim Girgin who was speeding and driving recklessly. He lost control of his vehicle plunging over to the opposite lane. Girgin was a football player for Mormenekşe (Limnia).
- Without creating divisions, without discrimination, without polarization – Tufan Erhürman re-elected as leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) at the party’s 27th ordinary congress.
“New life brought to the party…”
Democratic Party (DP) Famagusta MP Fikri Ataoğlu, who is getting ready to announce his candidacy, said: “There is a new air in the party and there are some members of parliament who want to join the DP.” Ataoğlu, speaking to Kıbrıs Postası, claimed the DP was going to be the “new right”.
- Solution without delay – Erhürman highlighted the urgent need for a solution during the 27th general congress.
Three died in horrific night
Fatal car accidents continue to claim lives. Three died at the Turunçlu (Strongylos)-Ulukışla (Marathovounos) junction in a head-on collision. The junction has claimed 15 lives in the past few years.
- Erhürman restores trust – Republican Turkish Party Nicosia MP Tufan Erhürman was re-elected as the leader of the party as the sole candidate during the party’s general congress.
Our hearts ache
As a result of a head-on collision of two vehicles, three died at the Turunçlu (Strongylos)-Ulukışla (Marathovounos) junction. Two were injured.
- Sine qua non – Republican Turkish Party leader Tufan Erhürman said CTP’s demand is a comprehensive settlement. He also touched on the issue of political equality.
Night of tragedy
Haşim Girgin, Aysun and Yahya Amasyalı lost their lives in a horrific traffic accident on the Turunçlu (Strongylos)-Ulukışla (Marathovounos) junctions. 13-year-old Hasan and 18-year-old İlyada Amasyalı were seriously injured in the accident.
- Paris in November – Information that Guterres sent a letter to both leaders.
Three dead, two injured
Yahya Asmasyalı and his wife Aysun Asmasyalı, as well as Hasan Girgin, lost their lives in the horrific accident which took place at the Turunçlu (Strongylos) junction last night. 18-year-old Melike Amasyalı who was among the injured in the accident is said to be in serious condition.
- Paris invitation to leaders from Guterres –The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent an invitation to Akıncı and Anastasiades to meet in Paris next month.
Main News
Tatar: No one can usurp the rights of TCs
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said on Sunday that no one could usurp the rights of Turkish Cypriots.
According to a press release from his National Unity Party (UBP), Tatar rejected claims made by the Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis that Turkey’s activities in the Eastern Mediterranean were a ‘flagrant violation of South Cyprus’ rights’.
He said that contrary to these claims, Ankara was defending its rights and those of the Turkish Cypriots in the region.
“We are going through a delicate phase in the Cyprus Problem. We need to be vigilant and careful,” Tatar warned.
The UBP leader accused the Greek and Greek Cypriot leadership of tricking the Turkish Cypriots into prolonged talks to be able to usurp their rights.
“Both Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have legitimate rights stemming from international law and we are determined to make sure we defend those rights against the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo,” he said.
Tatar argued that Turkey’s drilling activities in the area known as Güzelyurt-1 (Morphou) fell within Turkey’s continental shelf.
Tatar also urged the Greek Cypriot side to reconsider the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposal for the co-management of the island’s resources, to stop trying to usurp the rights of Turkish Cypriots and setting unacceptable preconditions at the negotiating table.
“We would like to remind our Greek Cypriot neighbours that a solution can only be possible if they accept and recognize the political equality of Turkish Cypriots and the reality that there are two states in Cyprus,” he concluded.
“Return of the Yavuz drilling ship to the Eastern Mediterranean region is a clear proof Turkey will not back down from protecting its and TRNC’s legitimate rights,” Prof Dr Nurşin Ateşoğlu Güney told Anadolu news agency on Sunday.
Güney who is the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences at the Bahçeşehir University in North Cyprus said Turkey was determined to continue with its hydrocarbon activities in the region based on the 2011 continental shelf delineation agreement signed between Turkey and the TRNC.
“It is the Greek Cypriot side that is carrying out illegal activities in the Eastern Mediterranean region,” Güney stressed.
He added that the north and south have equal share over the island’s natural resources, a fact he added the Greek Cypriots have been disregarding since 2003.
“The Greek Cypriot administration is trying to achieve a fait accompli with their negative propaganda against Turkey,” Güney added.
Prof Dr Hakan Berument, who is the director of the Energy Policies Research Centre at Bilkent University, said Turkey is very determined to find natural gas and added: “It is doing whatever is necessary in that direction.”
“Should Turkey discover natural gas and utilize it, it bears the potential to change everything in the region,” Berument concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>> No one could usurp the rights of TCs on the issue of hydrocarbons.
>> Contrary to Mitsotakis’s claims, Ankara is defending its rights & those of the TCs in the region.
>> Turkey and TRNC have legitimate rights stemming from international law.
>> GC side should reconsider the TC side’s proposal for the co-management of the island’s resources, stop trying to usurp the rights of TCs & setting unacceptable preconditions at the negotiating table.
>> A solution can only be possible if GCs accept and recognize the political equality of TCs & the reality that there are two states in Cyprus.
Erhürman re-elected as CTP leader
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Tufan Erhürman was re-elected as the leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) on Sunday.
Erhürman was the only candidate running at the party’s general congress held in Nicosia.
The party members also elected a new party assembly.
Addressing the congress, Erhürman highlighted the urgent need to solve the Cyprus Problem.
“The CTP desires to see the immediate launch of talks aimed at reaching a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus Problem,” he said.
The CTP leader pointed out that the proposals made by the Turkish Cypriot side at Crans Montana had even surprised representatives of the international actors present at the meetings.
He said that the Turkish Cypriot community’s strong desire for a settlement was revealed once again.
Erhürman said that the CTP’s position regarding political equality was very clear.
“Political equality is not just a Turkish Cypriot right but is a precondition for a sustainable, viable and functional federation as and when a settlement is reached,” he said.
Erhürman added that efforts to create the perception that political equality was a Turkish Cypriot demand put forward to the Greek Cypriot side were unacceptable.
“This is not a demand. It is a UN parameter which will enable the new partnership to be created to function as a federation. To open this issue to discussion means opening all other UN parameters to discussion,” he added.
The CTP repeated his criticism of the current coalition government’s advocacy in favour or a two-state solution, stating that this was unrealistic.
“To expect the five members of the UN Security Council and 28 member states of the EU to recognize the TRNC or for Anastasiades to persuade the Greek Cypriot community in that direction is ludicrous,” he said.
Erhürman underlined the need for a pro-active foreign policy to prevent the Greek Cypriot leader from sweeping discussions held at Crans Montana under the carpet.
He reminded that the two sides had focused on confidence-building measures (CBMs) at times when talks reached a stalemate.
“This is what we need to do if there will be no progress in the talks,” he added.
Erhürman also pointed out that Turkish Cypriots couldn’t wait idly for a solution to take place.
He argued that the issues concerning Turkish Cypriots, particularly the isolations and embargoes, need to be addressed not through a quarrel with the international community but within the boundaries of international law.
Providing the example of the Immovable Property Commission, Erhürman said talks and consultations with the international community must be carried out in a way that will not exclude Turkish Cypriots from international law.
On relations with Turkey, Erhürman said that the Turkish Republic was extremely important for Turkish Cypriots.
“But the relationship between the two countries needs to be set on the right ground,” he added. Erhürman concluded his address by underlining the importance of working for a solution through solidarity and unity.
KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Urgent need for Cyprob solution. Talks should be launched as soon as possible for a comprehensive solution.
>> Political equality is not just a TC right but a precondition for a sustainable, viable & functional federation as and when a settlement is reached.
>> Efforts to create the perception that political equality is a Turkish Cypriot demand put forward to the GC side is unacceptable.
>> Political equality is not a demand but a UN parameter which will enable new partnership to function as a federation.
>> Opening the issue to discussion means opening all other UN parameters to discussion.
>> Government’s position in support of a two-state solution unrealistic.
>> Pro-active foreign policy needed to prevent Anastasiades from sweeping discussions held at Crans Montana under the carpet.
>> Sides should focus on CBMs in the absence of a settlement.
>> Not possible for TCs to wait idly for a solution to take place.
>> Issues concerning TCs, particularly isolations & embargoes, need to be addressed within the boundaries of international law.
>> Turkey extremely important for TCs but the relationship between the two countries needs to be set on the right ground.