Front Page Headlines
Italy’s ENI which conducts exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus announced: “No drilling if there are warships”
CEO of Italian energy firm ENI Claudio Descalzi said his company would not risk prospecting off Cyprus if both sides show up with warships, adding: “I certainly don’t want to start wars for wells.”
- UN Security Council: Maraş (Varosha) can only be opened to its legal owners
Özersay: “Our determined stance and deterrence policies were effective”
Italian energy firm ENI, which has an agreement with South Cyprus, has announced it will not drill in the presence of warships. Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay spoke to Kıbrıs Postası web TV, describing the development as positive.
- Foreign Ministry: “Greek Cypriot leadership’s attempts to maintain the status quo are futile.”
We have failed in food safety
We do not have a government department that can adequately control the production of food of animal origin before it comes to our table. As a result, people are worried when consuming foods such as eggs, meat and fish.
- Foreign exchange values on the rise – Turkish Lira lost value against foreign currencies as a result of operation ‘Peace Spring’. A serious spike in foreign exchange rates has been recorded.
Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) Airport to become a base for armed and unarmed UAVs
Plans are underway to open the airport at Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko), which has been closed for years, for military purposes in light of the latest regional developments. According to information given to Havadis by a high-ranking official, a study was carried out at the airport to determine whether it can be used as a base by the Turkish Armed Forces for armed and unarmed UAVs.
- Government’s Maraş (Varosha) initiative becoming more complicated – UN Security Council convened to discuss Maraş (Varosha). Both Turkish and Turkish Cypriot foreign ministries reacted to the UNSC’s call on the fenced-off town which urged that no action be taken against UNSC resolutions 550 and 789.
She denied false reports
Speaking to Diyalog, Interior Minister Ayşegül Baybars said that under the new regulation for residency permits and visas, citizens of the Republic of Turkey can continue to use IDs when entering the country. She denied reports that under the new regulation Turkish citizens were required to use passports when travelling to North Cyprus.
Stop it
War under the pretext of peace. Turkey has launched a second invasion into Syrian territory under the pretext of an operation to clear terrorists. It was the very same AKP administration in Turkey that had supported radical Islamic elements in the area. The operation is nothing more than an attempt by the AKP government to solidify its power.
Main News
UN: No date or location on the tripartite meeting
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Deputy Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General Farhan Haq said on Thursday that the date or the place for the tripartite meeting had yet to be decided.
Responding to a question during his daily press briefing, Haq said: “We’ve been asked about a potential tripartite meeting on the issue of Cyprus to be hosted by the Secretary-General. All I can say is that no date or location has been confirmed. We are still considering a possible date and place for the meeting.”
Meanwhile, on Thursday, President Mustafa Akıncı briefed leaders of the political parties with seats in the Turkish Cypriot parliament on his recent meetings in New York as well as the latest developments on the Cyprus Problem.
The meeting, which lasted 45 minutes, was attended by leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) Prime Minister Ersin Tatar, leader of the People’s Party (HP) Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay, leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman, leader of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Cemal Özyiğit, Nicosia MP from the Democratic Party (DP) Serdar Denktaş and leader of the Re-birth Party (YDP) Erhan Arıklı.
No statements were issued following the meeting.
Özersay: Balance established in the playing field
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Energy, External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot officials welcomed the remarks by CEO of Italian energy firm ENI Claudio Descalzi that his company would not drill off Cyprus if it meant having to deal with warships.
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay on Thursday said that the Turkish Cypriot side’s policies in the Eastern Mediterranean, implemented jointly with Turkey, had set the balance on hydrocarbons activities.
Özersay posted on social media that the Turkish side’s deterrence policies had started to bear fruit.
He described the announcement by ENI as a positive development.
“In 2018 this company had witnessed first hand Turkey’s seriousness on this issue and the Turkish Cypriot side’s readiness to reach an agreement in the event these activities were to go ahead before a solution was reached. I hope that all actors, including the energy firms, give the Greek Cypriot leadership the right messages,” he said.
Özersay also argued that policies of deterrence were effective in achieving desired results.
In a separate statement to Kıbrıs Postası web TV, Özersay expressed hope that the other energy firms will follow in ENI’s footsteps, giving the Greek Cypriot leadership the right messages.
“The Greek Cypriot side will be unable to achieve any outcomes as long as it continues to disregard the Turkish Cypriots’ rights and refuse to accept Turkish Cypriots as interlocutors,” Özersay said.
He warned that “at one point, the efforts will reach a deadlock.”
Özersay added, however, that there was a real possibility of an agreement between the two sides as and when the Greek Cypriot side accepts these realities.
“In the past, we would only observe and protest the developments but now we have achieved a balance in the playing field,” Özersay concluded.
In another statement on Thursday, Turkish Cypriot Minister of Economy and Energy Hasan Taçoy said that ENI’s position on the issue was a step in the right direction.
In a social media post, Taçoy said that ENI had demonstrated that it would not be tricked by Greek Cypriot games or any other provocations.
“I believe the other firms should follow in ENI’s footsteps,” he said.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> TC side & Turkey’s deterrence policies in East Med have started to bear fruit & now reached a balance in the playing field.
>> Turkey serious about hydrocarbons.
>> TC side ready to reach agreement on hydrocarbon activities before a solution.
>> Energy firms should give GC leadership right message.
>> GC side will not be able to achieve any outcomes as long as they disregard TC rights & refuse to accept TCs as interlocutors.
>> Agreement between two sides possible if GC side accepts the realities.
Taçoy (UBP)
>> ENI demonstrated that it would not fall prey to GC games or any other provocations.
>> Other energy firms should follow in ENI’s footsteps.
Turkey slams trilateral summit joint declaration
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday slammed a joint declaration issued following a trilateral summit between Egypt, Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration on the Cyprus issue, saying it contained “baseless claims” against Turkey.
The joint declaration, issued Tuesday following the Egypt-Greece-Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA) Summit in Cairo, “has no meaning and value,” the ministry said in a statement.
“This declaration is the latest example of how the Greek/Greek Cypriot duo involves regional countries and instrumentalizes them into their maximalist and intransigent national policies at the expense of international law,” it said.
“Since the outset of the Cyprus issue, Turkey has exerted every effort in good faith and has put forward a strong political will for a comprehensive settlement,” it said.
“The party who rejected the Annan Plan in 2004 and who left the table at the Cyprus Conference in Crans-Montana in 2017 is known to everyone.”
“The Cyprus issue will remain unsettled as long as the Greek/Greek Cypriot duo’s mindset prevails which ignores the very existence of the Turkish Cypriots; denies their political equality and perceives them as a minority,” the ministry said.
It stressed that this mindset is the “core reason behind the failure of every negotiation process” carried out over the last five decades.
“On the other hand, Turkey exerts every effort towards the establishment of a mutually acceptable, durable and equitable regime within the framework of international law that upholds the legitimate rights and interests of all parties in all seas, including the Mediterranean,” it said.
The ministry accused Greek Cypriot “maximalist policies” of disregarding the principle of “equity” which is one of the most basic principles of international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“Yet Egypt seems to have turned a blind eye to this abusive treatment by the Greek/Greek Cypriot duo,” it added, noting that it led to losses in the past against Egypt’s interests regarding its maritime jurisdiction areas.
Turkey will continue to “resolutely” protect its rights and the rights of the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean, it said.
“Turkey is ready to talk to all countries in the region except the GCA for the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas in the Eastern Mediterranean in accordance with the principle of equity,” the ministry underlined.
Noting that the interlocutors of the Greek Cypriots are the Turkish Cypriots, it explained that the July 13 cooperation proposal of the Turkish Cypriots is an opportunity that should be seized to settle the Cypriot dimension of the hydrocarbons issue.
The ministry also “strongly” rejected the “baseless and distorted” claims against Turkey in the Syria part of the declaration.
“As the most affected country from Syria-based terror, Turkey has, as is the case in the past and in the future, demonstrated once again, with the operation initiated today, that it will not hesitate to take the measures required by its national security within its rights stemming from international law,” the statement said, referring to Operation Peace Spring launched Wednesday by Turkish troops.
“It is far from credible for those who have long been serving for the separatist agenda of the PYD/PKK terrorist organization to refer to the territorial integrity of Syria,” it said.
“Those who are rooting to split Syria over the terrorist organizations must back down at once for the well-being and union of Syrian society.”
In a related statement, Chairman of the Turkish Energy Strategies & Politics Research Center Murat Akyener on Thursday highlighted the importance of the drilling operations being carried out at the Güzelyurt-1 well by the drillship Yavuz.
Speaking to Bayrak, Akyener said that Turkey’s drilling and research vessels were technically and financially equipped to conduct operations without any problems.
He said that the other wells where natural gas was discovered off the coast of Cyprus all had dry gas which was why selling the gas to international markets after transforming into LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) was not feasible. Akyener added that Turkey’s drilling and research vessels had achieved important progress.
KEY ACTORS
MFA (Turkey)
>> Trilateral summit’s joint declaration contains baseless claims against Turkey & has no meaning or value.
>> Greek-GC duo involves regional countries & instrumentalizes them into their maximalist & intransigent national policies at the expense of international law.
>> Turkey has exerted every effort in good faith & put forward a strong political will for a comprehensive Cyprus settlement. Everyone knows which party rejected Annan plan & walked away at Crans-Montana.
>> The Cyprob will remain unsolved as long as the Greek/GC duo’s mindset, which ignores the existence of TCs, denies their political equality & perceives them as a minority, prevails.
>> This mindset is the core reason behind the failure of every negotiation process.
>> Turkey exerts every effort towards a mutually acceptable, durable & equitable regime within the framework of international law that upholds the legitimate rights & interests of all parties in all seas, including the Med.
>> GC maximalist policies disregard basic principle of international law & UNCLOS, the principle of equity.
>> Egypt ignoring this abusive treatment at a cost to its maritime interests.
>> Turkey will continue to resolutely protect its and the TCs’ rights in the East Med.
>> Turkey is ready for talks with all regional countries except the GC side for the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas in the East Med in accordance with the principle of equity.
>> The interlocutors of the GCs are the TCs.
>> TC July 13 cooperation proposal is an opportunity that should be seized to settle the Cypriot dimension of the hydrocarbons issue.
>> On Syria,Turkey will not hesitate to take the measures required by its national security within its rights stemming from international law.
Work on Maraş (Varosha) to continue
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that work compiling an inventory of properties in the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha) was continuing with determination.
A statement issued by the ministry said that the study was being conducted within the framework of international law and by taking into account the rights of the Evkaf Administration and former residents.
The foreign ministry statement came in response to the UN Security Council’s reaffirmation of previous resolutions on the fenced-off city following an unofficial closed meeting on Wednesday.
The statement criticized the Greek Cypriot side’s ongoing efforts to prevent work on the inventory, such as the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) reaffirmation of previous Maraş (Varosha) resolutions, which only served to maintain the status quo.
“More importantly the resolutions referred to in the latest UN statement are outdated following the numerous confidence-building packages on the issue which were rejected by the Greek Cypriot side,” the ministry stressed.
“The Greek Cypriot administration’s efforts are not solely aimed at preserving the status quo. The Greek Cypriot leadership out of concern of losing Maraş (Varosha) as a propaganda tool is harming the rights of former residents who have on several occasions welcomed the TRNC government’s move on the fenced-off city,” it said.
The statement also said that reference made to a specific solution model by the UNSC at a time when efforts were being made to convene a five-party meeting was wrong.
“The grounds on which a settlement to the Cyprus Problem can be negotiated can only be determined by the will and consent of the two sides,” the statement concluded.
Speaking in Morphou on Thursday evening, Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay argued in favour of a stronger vision in foreign policy for a stronger position at the table.
He argued that the current coalition government’s foreign policy was strong because the two parties saw eye-to-eye on the Cyprus Problem.
“Turkish Cypriots have different and new ideas other than the federation before them,” Özersay said.
Özersay pointed to the recent remarks of ENI CEO Claudio Descalzi stating that a balance had been achieved on the playing field.
“Now that we see the highest-ranking official of ENI stating his company does not wish to carry out drilling in the event of an escalation of tensions,” he said, adding that the statements were the outcome of Turkey’s and the Turkish Cypriot side’s determined and consistent position on the issue.
“No one can take any steps in the region by disregarding the TRNC,” Özersay stressed.
On the issue of Maraş (Varosha), Özersay announced the government has decided to remove the “fenced-off” affix when referring to the town – Maraş (Varosha).
He added that the government does not want to allow the status quo to continue. Özersay also said the Greek Cypriot side has adopted a position on Maraş (Varosha) at the expense of its citizens and their rights.
In the meantime, the Turkish Foreign Ministry declared support to the statement issued by the Turkish Cypriot foreign ministry on Maraş (Varosha), criticizing the UNSC for holding a closed meeting on Maraş (Varosha) when the fenced-off town does not pose a threat to international peace or security.
“Thereby the UNSC’s consultations requested by the Greek Cypriot side is an abuse of the mandate of the UN Security Council,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry claimed in a statement issued on Thursday.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry also noted that Maraş (Varosha) is part of TRNC territory.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> Work on compiling an inventory of properties in the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha) continuing with determination.
>> The study is being conducted within the framework of international law & by taking into account the rights of the Evkaf Administration & former residents.
>> GC side’s ongoing efforts to prevent work on the inventory only serves to maintain the status quo.
>> UN resolutions on Maraş (Varosha) outdated following numerous confidence-building packages on the issue which were rejected by the GC side.
>> GC leadership, concerned with losing Maraş (Varosha) as a propaganda tool, is harming the rights of former residents who have welcomed the initiative.
>> The grounds on which a settlement to the Cyprus Problem can be negotiated can only be determined by the will & consent of the two sides.
>> Need a stronger vision in foreign policy to be stronger at the negotiating table.
>> TCs now have different & new ideas other than federation before them.
>> ENI CEO’s remarks show that a balance has been established in the playing field.
>> ENI’s statement is the outcome of Turkey’s and TC side’s determined & consistent position on the issue.
>> No one can take any steps in the region by disregarding the TCs.
>> Coalition has decided to remove the “fenced-off” affix from the name of the town Maraş (Varosha). Does not want to allow the status quo to continue.
>> GC side has adopted a position on Maraş (Varosha) at the expense of its citizens & their rights.
MFA (Turkey)
>> The UNSC’s consultations requested by the GC side is an abuse of the UNSC’s mandate as Maraş (Varosha) does not pose a threat to international peace or security.
>> Maraş (Varosha) is part of TRNC territory.
Özersay: 2020 election will be a critical threshold
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said on Thursday that the 2020 Presidential elections will be a critical threshold on the Cyprus Problem.
“This will be no ordinary election. It is extremely important. It will be a breaking point in a good sense,” Özersay said speaking on Bayrak.
Asked whether he will be a candidate, Özersay said that his party was continuing its evaluations and that a decision has still not been made.
“We are listening to what the people have to say. Their expectations, their sensitivities and their tendencies. We are in other words sounding out the political climate. All these factors will determine our decision,” he added.
Commenting on an earlier remark by National Unity Party (UBP) MP Ersan Saner on the need for the right to unite, Özersay said that agreeing on the content of such collaboration was easy but what was important was achieving a national consensus.
Tatar: We shall seek our rights in international courts
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Economy, Energy, Governance & Power sharing
OVERVIEW
“All obstacles for direct flights to and from the north must be lifted,” Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said on Thursday.
He added that the rights of the Turkish Cypriots living in north Cyprus continued to be restricted despite the absence of a settlement for the past 45 years.
“We are determined to seek our rights in international courts,” Tatar stressed.
Speaking during the launch of the Vision 2035 Economic Development Project on Thursday, Tatar said no matter what type of an agreement is reached on the island, the entire world must accept that the Turkish Cypriot people have a separate state, a separate administration and will have its own separate entity on the island.
Tatar pointed out that the TRNC was growing stronger by the day in line with political developments.
“TRNC has become important for Turkey’s security as well,” Tatar stressed.
“We want to make 2020 a year of economic opportunities,” said Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy, who also addressed the launch ceremony.
Taçoy noted that the project entails eight strategic phases, which will be then converted into one plan with measurable outputs that will be supported through grant schemes.
“In the meantime, we will prioritize building a natural gas pipeline between Turkey and the north,” Taçoy said, adding that the most feasible method of transporting Mediterranean’s natural gas to Europe was via Turkey.
“This will create immense momentum in the Turkish Cypriot economy,” Taçoy stressed.
The Vision 2035 Project consists of macroeconomic planning for tourism, the agriculture, private, energy, higher education and information technology sectors together with several measures on social welfare and the public sector.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>> All obstacles for direct flights to and from the north must be lifted.
>> TCs are determined to seek their rights in international courts.
>> No matter what type of a solution is reached, the world must accept that TC’s will have a separate state and a separate administration.
>> TRNC has become important for Turkey’s security as well.
Taçoy (UBP)
>> A natural gas pipeline must be built between Turkey and the north.
>> Most feasible method to transfer East Med natural gas to Europe is via Turkey.
>> This will create immense momentum in the TC economy.
Closed airport to be transformed into Turkish drone base
Havadis
External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Havadis newspaper on Friday reported on plans to transform the closed airport at Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) into a military aerial base given the latest regional developments.
According to a high-ranking official, a study is being carried out at the airport to assess whether or not it can be used by the Turkish Armed Forces as a base for armed or unarmed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
The source noted that experts from the Turkish General Staff carried out tests at the airport’s runway and assessed the hangars built for fighter jets.
“When considering the distance for the armed and unarmed UAVs from Konya and Ankara, the Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) Airport is very suitable due to its strategic location,” the source told the paper.
The source also said that these UAVs provide support to Turkey’s drillships in the Mediterranean and the Turkish navy.
The source recalled that Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) Airport was initially built in 1982 for fighter jets in accordance with NATO standards.