Front Page Headlines
Another horrifying lane violation accident
Truck crosses to the opposite lane: one killed. 18 people killed in the past year and a half in head-on collisions due to lane violations. 38-year-old Orun Cumayev who lost control of the truck he was driving crossed over to the opposite lane and crashed into the car driven by 47-year-old Nefi Yazıcı. Yazıcı was killed instantly in the accident.
Tensions will rise but conflict unlikely
Experts agree that tensions will rise in the Eastern Mediterranean but that a heated conflict is highly unlikely. Ahmet Sözen noted “disputes areas” have been created in the Eastern Mediterranean but ruled out a conflict even though there is not a hundred per cent guarantee. Deniz İşçioğlu said the relevant parties’ positions will define whether or not there will be a crisis. Vedat Yorucu argues that international actors acted the moment they realized Turkey’s determination to stand with Turkish Cypriots on the hydrocarbons issue. Şevki Kıralp said the two communities have rights in the hydrocarbons, therefore, relevant parties will refrain from a heated conflict.
- Consultations on Maraş (Varosha) commenced – FM Kudret Özersay met with former President Derviş Eroğlu and New Birth Party (YDP) leader Erhan Arıklı as part of his consultations with political actors on the government’s Maraş (Varosha) initiative.
Country’s roads become graves
Traffic accidents continue to take lives. 47-year-old Nefi Yazıcı was killed when a truck driven by Orun Cumayev crossed over into his lane, colliding with his car. 13 people died in the first six months of 2019.
- What rights does America have in the Eastern Mediterranean? – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said both Turkey and North Cyprus have rights in the Eastern Mediterranean and questioned the US’s rights in the region.
The only option is a national airline
The Tourism and Environment Minister Ünal Üstel, who was the guest of Havadis, said tourism is the locomotive sector of the country and that the sector depended very much on transportation. We need to implement measures. Charter flights will help the sector to breathe but the only option is to establish a national airline company.
- Put an end to this barbarism – A Greek Cypriot called on the two mayors of Nicosia on social media to put an end to the suffering of people and tourists forced to wait for hours under the scorching sun and sweltering heat due to long queues at the Lokmacı (Ledra) crossing.
He destroyed a family
Careless truck driver crossed over to the right lane, crashing into and killing father to two Nefi Yazıcı. The 38-year-old driver of the truck Orun Cumayev was arrested. Yazıcı had become a grandfather only eight months ago. His family and village Aygün in Turkey were devastated by his death.
- Four powers excluding Turkey –US Senate Foreign Relations Committee passes “2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Cooperation” bill.
Here you go…get poisoned
Here is one of the leading causes of the rapid increase in cancer cases in the country. How many more times are we going to draw attention to the absence of a smoke filter on the Teknecik power plant’s chimney? Our ignorant authorities continue to turn a blind eye to the black smoke billowing from the plant. El-Sen (Electricity Authority Workers’ Union) drew attention to the problem once again, demanding that a filter be installed.
Main News
Özersay continues to seek views of political actors on the Maraş (Varosha) initiative
Property, Territory
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay met separately with former President Derviş Eroğlu and representatives of the Rebirth party on Wednesday as part of his efforts to consult with political actors in the country on the government’s plans regarding the closed city of Maraş (Varosha).
Announcing his meetings via social media, he had discussed with both former president Derviş Eroğlu and a delegation from Rebirth Party (YDP) led by Erhan Arıklı the inventory to be conducted and future steps on the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha).
In a statement after the meeting, Arıklı emphasized the need to complete the inventory study as soon as possible.
“The Maraş (Varosha) issue must not be sacrificed to the presidential election campaign,” Arıklı warned.
He added following the completion of the inventory study, the initiative must progress to its next phase. Arıklı said, “should the process take too long; the initiative will turn against the Turkish Cypriot people.” He underlined that Maraş (Varosha) must be made state policy and that the TRNC Security Council must convene without delay to evaluate the matter.
Foreign Minister Özersay and Prime Minister Ersin Tatar will be meeting on Thursday with President Mustafa Akıncı.
The National Unity Party (UBP)-Peoples’ Party (HP) coalition government had come under heavy criticism earlier in the week from the opposition which claimed it had been left in the dark regarding the Maraş (Varosha) initiative.
In response, Özersay has been meeting with political actors since Monday.
So far, he has met with the General Director of the Evkaf Administration, the leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman, Arıklı and Eroğlu.
Erhürman on Wednesday said the contradictory statements made on Maraş (Varosha) by Ersin Tatar and Kudret Özersay was a serious problem. Speaking to HaberKıbrıs TV, Erhürman said that the CTP supports the idea of conducting an inventory in the fenced-off city. He added, however, that Prime Minister Ersin Tatar had openly stated on Turkish TV he was looking for investors to invest in Maraş (Varosha).
“The government’s statements actually points to the opening of Maraş (Varosha) under the administration of the UN,” Erhürman added. He said the Maraş (Varosha) issue should be discussed with the UN and the Greek Cypriot side and that President Akıncı must also be included in the discussions.
KEY ACTORS
Arıklı (YDP)
>> Initiative must progress to its next phase.
>> Prolonging the process will be against interests of TCs
>> Maraş (Varosha) must be a state policy and the country’s Security Council must convene without delay to evaluate the issue.
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Contradictory statements on Varosha by coalition partners a serious problem.
>> CTP supports the creation of an inventory in Maraş (Varosha).
>> Government’s statements points to opening Maraş (Varosha) under UN administration.
>> Maraş (Varosha) issue should be discussed with UN and GC side. Akıncı must also be included in discussions.
While Turkey maintains its hardline stance on hydrocarbons issue, experts say heated conflict highly unlikely
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Heated tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean over the issue of hydrocarbons continue as Turkey maintains a hardline stance over its rights in the region.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told reporters before departing for theG20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, that Turkey knew how to share the resources in the region but that the Greek Cypriots needed to be fair and treat Turkey accordingly.
He reminded that Turkey has deployed its drilling ships in the region as a response to the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral activities.
“Even though they have not found anything yet, the other countries have seen that Turkey is serious. Equal sharing is our principle because we know how to share. The other side needs to be fair and treat Turkey accordingly,” Erdoğan said.
He added that both Turkey and North Cyprus had rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, unlike other countries such as the US.
“The US, especially, has no rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. How could the US Senate adopt such a decision?” Erdoğan asked as he referred to the latest bill adopted by the US Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee regarding Washington’s energy and security policy in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Erdoğan repeated his earlier viewpoint on Cyprus’s guarantor nations, adding that Turkey, Greece and the UK had a say on matters concerning the island.
Legislation giving short shrift to Turkey’s strategic importance in the eastern Mediterranean and its longstanding alliance with Washington passed a key U.S. Senate hurdle on Tuesday, Diyalog newspaper reported.
Sponsored by Democrat Bob Menendez, the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act says it intends to “update the United States’ strategy in the Eastern Mediterranean to meet new challenges and opportunities.”
But in championing the legislation, which passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, Menendez said, “Israel, Greece, and Cyprus are key partners of the United States,” forgetting and ignoring the U.S.’ over six-decade-long strategic alliance with Turkey in NATO.
The legislation would pave the way for the U.S. to “fully support the trilateral partnership of Israel, Greece, and the Greek Cypriot side through energy and defence cooperation initiatives —including by lifting the prohibition on arms transfers to the Republic of [Greek] Cyprus,” said Menendez’s statement.
The controversial legislation, which spurns Turkey’s sovereign rights to resources in the region, could further escalate tension between Washington and Ankara at a time when Turkish officials have already said they will not allow unilateral and arbitrary activities in its region.
The paper also reported that once the bill is passed, the US will join South Cyprus, Greece and Israel in forming a new alliance against Turkey in the region.
Experts speaking to Kıbrıs Postası on Thursday said that tensions in the region will continue to remain high but that the outbreak of conflict over hydrocarbons was highly unlikely.
Prof. Dr Ahmet Sözen said that the related actors in the region approached the natural gas issue as a matter of sovereignty rather than a positive incentive for a solution to the Cyprus problem. He said that contrary to current positions, the countries in the region would have benefited from their rights and there would have been stability in the region had they adopted a collaborative approach. Sözen added that it has not been possible to reach an agreement on the island’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) due to the lack of collaboration.
“Instead they have created disputed areas”, Sözen said. He added that tensions have further escalated after the sides involved are backing up their economic claims with a show of military and naval might.
In response to the question as to whether there could be heated conflict, Sözen said he did not believe a conflict would break out, even if it was not possible to give a hundred per cent guarantee.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Deniz İşçioğlu said the positions to be adopted by the relevant parties will define whether or not there will be a crisis. She added everyone has adopted a position based on their interests.
“Turkey is also giving a strong message, saying that it is there”, İşçioğlu said, adding that lasting peace in Cyprus can only be reached if there is an economic agreement in place.
Prof. Dr Vedat Yorucu said the source of the tension in the region is the Greek Cypriot side’s claim over the entire region by disregarding the Turkish Cypriots’ rights.
He said the international actors had started acting the moment they realized Turkey was determined to stand with the Turkish Cypriots on the matter.
The tension might escalate but there will not be a heated conflict, he concluded.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Şevki Kıralp said there is a controlled crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean region and risks are being calculated. Therefore, the relevant parties will refrain from a heated conflict. Kıralp said both communities have rights over the island’s natural reserves.
“The most reasonable approach is for the two sides to be taking political decisions together. Even if the Cyprus problem remains unsolved, a bicommunal committee should be established for the hydrocarbon resources”, he said.
KEY ACTORS
Sözen
>> Parties approach the natural gas issue as a matter of sovereignty rather than an incentive for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
>> Countries would have benefited from their rights if a collaborative approach had been adopted
İşçioğlu
>> Lasting peace in Cyprus can only be achieved through an economic agreement.
Yorucu
>> International actors acted the moment they realized Turkey’s determination to stand with the Turkish Cypriots on the hydrocarbons issue.
Kıralp
>> Even if the Cyprus problem remains unsolved, a bicommunal committee should be established for the hydrocarbon resources.
Uluçay says TC State’s international representation is vital
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs
Negotiations Process, Energy, Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
The speaker of the Turkish Cypriot parliament Teberrüken Uluçay said on Wednesday that Turkish Cypriots must take their well-deserved place within the international community alongside their Greek Cypriots counterparts.
Speaking on Radyo Güven, he recalled that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is being represented at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as an observer member since 2004. He said that he found the opportunity to raise the issue of embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot community during the 14th summit of Organisation for Islamic Cooperation
Touching on the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Uluçay said even though the natural resources could have contributed to the solution of the Cyprus problem the Greek Cypriot side had rejected all proposals to set up a joint committee.
Uluçay reminded a parliamentary delegation together with Turkish Cypriot Football Federation representatives had attended the 69th General Assembly of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in Paris to raise the issue of sports embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot community. He added that they have also been in communication with the Asia Football Federation and were looking into how to register the Turkish Cypriot football league under that federation. “There is also an effort for TC Football league champions Mağusa Türk Gücü (MTG) to play a friendly match with a Turkish team,” he added. On the issue of Maraş (Varosha), Uluçay said he believed it was better to be doing something rather than not doing anything at all.
KEY ACTORS
Uluçay (CTP)
>> TCs must take their place in the international community alongside GCs.
>> Hydrocarbons could have contributed to a solution but GC side rejected all proposals to set up a joint committee.
>> Better to do something on Maraş (Varosha) rather than not doing anything.
Republic of Cyprus reduces the fee for late birth registration
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis
Migration and Citizenship
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union (KTÖS) and Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS) announced on Wednesday in a joint statement that the Greek Cypriot authorities have reduced the late birth registration fee from €150 to €30.
The trade unions said that one of the main obstacles faced by Turkish Cypriots when applying for the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) citizenship had now been overcome.
“As it is known, Mr Serdar Atai had applied to the Ombudsperson’s office in writing and received a 10-page long positive response in March 2017,” the statement read. It added that the reduction in the fees had been made possible with the political support of the parties in the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives.
The statement concluded by thanking Serdar Atai for his efforts which allowed dozens of Turkish Cypriots to register with reduced fees.
GC and TC political parties met under the auspices of the Slovak Embassy
Yenidüzen, Havadis, Kıbrıs, Kıbrıs Postası
Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties met for their regular meeting at Ledra Palace on Wednesday under the auspices of the Slovak Embassy in Nicosia. The political parties paid tribute to the long-standing and vital contribution of the former Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias to the launching of the Ledra Palace meetings and the bicommunal dialogue at large, in a joint communiqué issued at the end of the meeting.
EDEK, which was the hosting party, had proposed to discuss a “unified electoral register, one nation, one people, one electoral role” at the meeting.
Among the parties which attended Wednesday’s meeting was the Social Democratic Party (TDP), United Cyprus Party (BKP), New Cyprus Party (YKP), Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP) from the north and EDEK, AKEL, EDI, Cyprus Green Party and EPALXI from the south.
“In addition, they all agreed on common grounds of the common struggle of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot people for peace and reunification of Cyprus through a federal solution,” the communiqué concluded.
Imagine project completes its second year
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Afrika, Diyalog
CBMs
OVERVIEW
The educational programme “Imagine” project, taking place under the auspices of the Bicommunal Technical Committee of Education and implemented by the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) and the Home for Cooperation (H4C) successfully completed its second year this week.
The project summarized its activities covering the past two years in a statement issued on Wednesday.
“Imagine” which addresses primary, lower and upper secondary and vocational schools managed to bring together 3,665 students and 397 teachers from more than a hundred Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot schools from all areas of Cyprus.
The statement pointed out that island-wide study visits were introduced as a new initiative to advance the programme. The study visits were designed to bring the students together and to collaborate with each other through cultural heritage environments. A total of 150 students from three Turkish Cypriot and three Greek Cypriot schools joined the pilot phase of the study visit initiative ‘Learning from Nicosia’ that took place on both sides of the old town in Nicosia.
It said that another initiative launched by the project was directed at the teachers with the aim of increasing contact and cooperation between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot teachers.
“A total of ten monocommunal training workshops took place with the participation of 254 teachers from all districts of Cyprus and two bicommunal training sessions by international experts took place with the participation of 50 Greek Cypriot and 50 Turkish Cypriot teachers to develop teachers’ knowledge, skills and attitudes on education for a culture of peace and non-violence,” the statement read.
Long queues at Lokmacı (Ledra) make crossings unbearable under the sweltering heat
Havadis
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and tourists suffer under the scorching sun and sweltering heat as they are forced to wait in long queues at the Lokmacı/Ledra crossing point, Havadis reported on Thursday.
The excuse is always the same, a shortage of immigration officers on the Turkish Cypriot side of the crossing point, the paper reports.
A Greek Cypriot expressed his frustration and urged the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot mayors of Nicosia to do something about this problem through a post on social media.
Turkish Cypriot Tourism Minister Ünal Üstel said that efforts were underway to set up shades above the path leading to and from the crossing point.