Front Page Headlines
Hands into the pockets!
If the government approves the amendment law on taxes on immovable properties than everyone will have to reach into their pockets. Yenidüzen which examined the amendment law together with experts and sector representatives compared the old and new tax rates. Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu in a written statement said, “There is no increase. In fact, some taxes have been lowered.” Taney Aşcıoğlulları, retired director of the Department of Revenues and Tax said, “If my properties are Turkish title deeds and I don’t have any possession of Greek Cypriot properties than why am I paying these figures?” Economist Göksel Saydam said, “A 250.87 per cent increase in the property taxes of businesses over 250m2 is envisaged.
- There is a camera but no official – Even though thermal cameras have been installed at the airport and several of the crossing points, those installed outside of the airport are not operational because there is no one to check them. The seaports don’t even have any cameras installed.
- Another step for peace – Paintings belonging to Greek Cypriots before 1974 and audio-visual records belonging to Turkish Cypriots before 1963 are being exhibited at Ledra Palace.
Watch your step!
President Mustafa Akıncı took precautions against possible attacks and smear campaigns against him by establishing a special bureau of lawyers.
- “We must derive lessons from the past” – Leader of the Republican Turkish Party and presidential candidate Tufan Erhürman said during a visit to Kıbrıs Postası.
Court orders for debts pile into a mountain
Nearly 20 thousand court orders concerning the indebted are waiting to be executed. Police officers stationed at the court are only able to carry out transfers between the court and the prison due to personnel shortages. Hasan Esendağlı, President of the Turkish Cypriot Bar Association, said the growing number of court orders must be carried out and served without further delay.
- A proposed increase in property taxes instead of value tax – The government to create funds for the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) has decided to implement taxation on all properties rather than implementing a “value tax” on properties, which its value is increased significantly following the resolution of the property dispute.
People are rebelling but the ministry is dead quiet
Bağımsızlık Yolu (Road to Independence) protested the Education Ministry for allowing the Şehit Ertuğrul Primary School’s car park to be leased to Merit Hotel after school ours. Despite the party’s protest, the Education Ministry has yet to comment on the issue.
- 46-year-long separation ends – Both leaders attended the opening of the exhibition of the Greek Cypriot art-work and audio-visual recordings of Turkish Cypriot artists, which was organised by the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Culture.
‘Privacy’ unprotected
Göksel Özdemir who installed spyware on his girlfriend’s mobile phone was caught after sending others naked photos of her to others.
- Greek Cypriot side waiting –It has been claimed that Turkey-EU (European Union) relations are entering a new phase.
- Coronavirus meeting at historical hotel
Disaster is reunifying the sides
They met for joint action against the spread of coronavirus. The bicommunal health committee met at the Ledra Palace hotel on Monday. The meeting was chaired by Mustafa Akıncı and Nicos Anastasiades. It was Akıncı who had proposed to Anastasiades to take joint action.
- Akıncı announcing his decision to tomorrow (Wednesday) – Akıncı who set up a legal desk for the elections will be announcing his candidacy at an event to held at the Elysium Park under the slogan “A night of trust and determination”.
Main News
Erhürman, “Important to derive lessons from past processes”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The leader of the Republican Turkish Party and presidential candidate Tufan Erhürman underlined the importance of deriving lessons from the past.
Erhürman who visited Kıbrıs Postası on Monday, said that it was important for Turkish Cypriots to have a contingency plan in the event efforts to settle the Cyprus Problem failed as a result of the Greek Cypriots.
“It is important to learn lessons from past processes and to sit at the negotiating table by working harder, he added.
Meanwhile, President Mustafa Akıncı on Monday warned the public not to pay attention to lies, false allegations and smear campaigns.
Akıncı, in a post on social media, said that he was setting up a legal desk made up of voluntary lawyers for the election campaign.
He said the team of lawyers will provide consultancy services to his election campaign as well as deal with any legal action to be taken in the face of false claims.
Akıncı expressed the hope that the process leading to the April election will be one carried out in democratic maturity and free of false allegations.
Akıncı reminded that he will be announcing his candidacy on Wednesday 5 February.
KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Important to derive lessons from past processes for future talks.
>> TCs must have a contingency plan in case efforts to solve Cyprob fail.
>> The TC side needs to prepare well for new any new process.
87 Syrians brought to shore at Larnaca port
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası
Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
A vessel believed to have set sail from Turkey arrived on Monday in Larnaca port after it was spotted earlier off Cape Greco.
According to Greek Cypriot media reports, the boat, with over 80 Syrian migrants, including 10 women and 16 children, arrived at the port at 1 pm on Monday.
A rescue operation was launched by port police and the civil defence in the morning after police received information through the coast guard of a vessel about a 13-metre-long vessel sailing some 20 nautical miles northeast of Cavo Greco.
Authorities started recording their details after which they will be taken to the temporary reception centre.
Committee to remain in close contact between the two communities
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The bicommunal Technical Committee on Health met on Monday to discuss the precautions that have been taken in response to the developing novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) epidemic on Monday, all six dailies report.
The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akıncı, and the Greek Cypriot leader, Nicos Anastasiades were also briefed by the committee members at the end of the meeting.
In a statement issued following the meeting, it is stated: “The Committee took note that all necessary precautions have been taken by both sides under the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), including screening.” The Committee members also agreed to remain in close contact, exchanging information between the two communities and providing assistance, as deemed necessary, the statement added.
The bicommunal technical committee on health had convened upon the request of the two leaders which was followed a phone call between Akıncı and Anastasiades, who voiced concerns over the risks posed by the coronavirus and the need to put measures in place to protect people on both sides of the divide.
“The exhibition raises my hopes for the future,” Akıncı said
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
“Works of art reflect a community’s creative potential and its existence,” President Mustafa Akıncı said on Monday during the opening of a bicommunal art exhibition with Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades. He added the cultural and artistic values of a community constitute its identity and its communal memory, therefore it is vital to protect such values.
“I see this exhibition as Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities’ mutual respect to each other’s artistic and cultural values; thus, I find it promising and hopeful towards the future,” Akıncı said.
Akıncı noted that artwork has a universal language and has the power to unite people.
“It is not necessary to speak the same language to enjoy the beauty of any artwork,” he added.
He pointed out the importance of art in conflict resolution. “It is not possible to reach our common goal of a political solution and real peace on the island without the unifying power of art and culture,” Akıncı said.
Emphasizing that “a peaceful future is possible,” Akıncı said, “We cannot change the past however we can take on the responsibility and show the necessary political will to build a peaceful future.”
“The art displayed here including the audiovisual recordings have enormous importance and value to the history of the art of Cyprus and in turn, of the world,” Kani Kanol, co-chair of the bicommunal technical committee on culture said.
Speaking during the opening of the exhibition, Kanol added: “This event is a reminder to all that with bold leadership and hard work, we can achieve great results through co-operation and collaboration across the divide that brings the sides closer.”
Kanol expressed hope that the Committee’s efforts will
continue and by using the universality of culture and art to heal the wounds in
the communities and bring them closer to ultimately achieve peace.
Art and audio-visual material exchanged last September between the two sides as
a Confidence-Building Measure (CBM) will be on a two-day exhibition for the
first time at Ledra Palace.
The exhibition showcases 50 works by Greek-Cypriot artists as well as audio-visual material from the CyBC archives on the work of Turkish-Cypriot artists.
In September of last year, works of art and audio-visual material were exchanged between the two communities as part of a CBM agreed between Akıncı and Anastasiades on February 26.
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> Works of art reflect a community’s creative potential & its existence.
>> The cultural & artistic values of a community constitute its identity & its communal memory; therefore, it is vital to protect such values.
>> Artwork has a universal language & has the power to unite people. “It is not necessary to speak the same language to enjoy the beauty of any artwork.
>> It is not possible to reach a political solution & real peace on the island without the unifying power of art & culture.
>> We cannot change the past but we can take on the responsibility & show the necessary political will to build a peaceful future.
New property taxes cause public outrage
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs
Property, Economy
OVERVIEW
The government which aims to create funds for the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) has decided to implement taxation on all properties rather than implementing “value tax” on property. The value of such properties will increase significantly following the resolution of the property dispute through the IPC, which will result in the said property being classified as ‘Turkish Cypriot property.’ There have been talk of implementing the “value tax” as a demand from Ankara, which had stopped providing funds for the IPC to make the compensation payments.
Taney Aşçıoğulları, former director of the Tax Department, questioned the reasons as to why Turkish Cypriot property owners were being asked to contribute in property taxes for Greek Cypriot properties in the north. “This is meaningless! The additional fund for the IPC should have been created through another law. Then only can it be a fair mechanism,” Aşçıoğulları said.
Ziya Toygan, a real-estate agent, expressed the same view as Aşçıoğulları and noted that the IPC requires new funds but increasing the property taxes exorbitantly for businesses which operate in stores above a certain size in square meters is not the correct approach. “The government is forcing the businesses to reflect their costs on their customers while trying to create a fund for the IPC. This is not right,” Toygan argued.
Göksel Saydam, a well-known tax expert and an economist, said the proposed bill foresees an increase in taxes from 40 per cent to 250 per cent. “Not only will municipalities not be able to collect taxes, but funds also will not be transferred to the IPC either. The revenues from the new measure will not be sufficient to cover the needs for the IPC,” Saydam claimed.
Speaking to Yenidüzen Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said the IPC is in need of funds and warned that failure to create much-needed funding will result in invalidation of the IPC. He also underlined the IPC is the only internationally recognized mechanism in solving property disputes in Cyprus.
Speaking to Kıbrıs, President of the Turkish Cypriot Bar Association Hasan Esendağlı said it was not right for the government to “reach into people’s pockets whenever it needs more money.” He added the proposed percentages on property tax will cause serious financial problems for the public. Instead, the measure should have been discussed on the principle of proportionality.
Also speaking to Kıbrıs, unnamed officials from the IPC found the proposed bill to be “unfair.”
“Even though the government often discussed the introduction of value-tax on a property, which its value is increased significantly following the resolution of the property dispute, it has decided to increase taxes throughout. This is not fair,” one unnamed official at the IPC said.
IPC official noted that they will issue a statement following the enactment of the said bill.