Front Page Headlines
Nile virus nightmare
One dead, seven patients under observation. The West Nile virus which is transmitted through mosquitos claimed its first victim in the country. Hilmi Bolel who was receiving treatment at the Nicosia state hospital lost his life. Seven other persons are being kept under observation at the hospital. Their blood samples have been sent to Turkey for testing.
Cooperatives acting like ‘banks’ will become banks
Cooperatives that collect savings and give out loans like banks under the authority granted by the Cooperative Companies Registrar, will either be closed down or be forced to acquire a banking license from the Central Bank in accordance with the recently signed economic protocol’s action plan.
- Excuses for not collaborating all rendered invalid – Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry announced.
- “Turkish Cypriots will never accept being a minority” – Turkish Foreign Ministry shows support to TRNC.
- “Authorities did not implement timely measures” – According to Dr Remzi Gardiyanoğlu, the biggest problem regarding West Nile Virus is that the authorities failed to take measures on time.
West Nile virus kills
Hilmi Bolel, who was hospitalized after diagnosed with West Nile virus, passed away. Seven more are being kept under observation at the hospital. The virus led to panic in the north. Health Ministry and experts warn the public.
- Bodyguards in jail, Akacan granted permission to travel abroad – Businessman Bulut Akacan who is currently on trial for assaulting and injuring two men in Kyrenia has been granted permission to travel abroad. His two bodyguards who carried out the actual assault are waiting for their trial in prison.
Mosquito bite claims life
The West Nile virus, which is spread through mosquitoes, claimed a life in the TRNC. 64-year-old Hilmi Bolel, who was being treated for West Nile virus, lost his life. An emergency meeting was held on Friday evening. PM Ersin Tatar, Health Minister Ali Pilli and experts spoke on the measures to be implemented.
- Shades being placed at the crossing for tourists – Tourism Minister Ünal Üstel solved the problem raised by Havadis on numerous occasions. The tourism minister gave instructions for shades to be placed above the Lokmacı/Ledra Street crossing point to provide tourists shade as they wait in line to cross to the North.
There is panic
Hilmi Bolel, diagnosed with West Nile Virus, died in hospital. Seven others are being kept under observation. Two of the seven patients are being kept in isolation. Bolel was said to be the patient in the worst condition. Prime Minister Ersin Tatar decided to set up a crisis desk to deal with the issue.
- There is a serious increase – It has been reported that over 25,000 people in South Cyprus smoke marijuana.
Nile virus claims life in TRNC
Hilmi Bolel who was receiving treatment at the state hospital in Nicosia for West Nile virus lost his life. The health ministry confirmed that the 64-year-old patient who was admitted to intensive care died of the virus. It was also announced that seven others were being kept in observation. Bolel lost his life due to cardiac arrest, the health ministry said.
Main News
Turkish side highlights shortcomings of UNFICYP resolution
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process, External Security
OVERVIEW
All dailies reported on the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) adoption of resolution 2483, renewing for another six months, until January 31, 2020, the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
In the resolution, approved unanimously by the UNSC on Thursday, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the sides and all stakeholders to renew their political will and commitment to a settlement under UN auspices, including by engaging actively and with a sense of urgency with senior UN official, Jane Holl Lute, to achieve agreement on terms of reference to enable results-oriented negotiations leading to a settlement as quickly as possible.
The resolution also pointed out that the basis for a settlement remained a bizonal, bicommunal federation and that the two sides, as well as international actors, should cooperate.
In a written statement issued on Friday, the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry welcomed the UN resolution’s call to the two sides and international actors to collaborate.
It said that the call was an appropriate message in view of changing the status quo on the island and argued that all excuses made by the Greek Cypriot side were no longer valid.
“The call made by the report highlights the need for the two sides and international actors to be in direct communication and to collaborate to reach a negotiated settlement in Cyprus,” the Foreign Ministry added.
It said the Greek Cypriot side had been stripped of one of its archaic propaganda tools.
The statement also said that the lack of communication and collaboration between the two sides on the island was one of the leading reasons why all negotiations processes for the past 51 years had been unsuccessful.
“It has now become an expectation of the United Nations to see international actors to be in direct communication and collaboration with the Turkish Cypriot side and to encourage the Greek Cypriot side to be doing the same,” the Foreign Ministry emphasized.
It argued that collaboration between the sides is the only way to overcome the lack of trust between the two communities and to foster interdependency. The statement noted the Turkish Cypriot side’s willingness and readiness for direct communication and cooperation.
The statement added that the Foreign Ministry will continue to contribute to developing mechanisms of cooperation with determination as it did on the issue related to the exchange of criminals.
Also touching upon the issue of hydrocarbons, the Foreign Ministry statement said that the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral and provocative actions which ignored the rights and will of Turkish Cypriots was threatening peace and stability in the region.
“Reference to this issue in the resolution is too brief and superficial. The Turkish Cypriot side submitted three proposals on this issue, the first in 2011 followed by two others in 2012 and 2019, all of which were rejected by the Greek Cypriot leadership. Our expectation from the UN and all related parties is to urge and convince the Greek Cypriot side that the only way to end tensions over hydrocarbon resources is through diplomacy and cooperation,” the statement added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret that references made in the resolution for the resumption of negotiations were not satisfying or clear enough. “The resolution fails to refer to results-oriented talks in detail and is not enough to encourage the sides to work on a new agreement through negotiations. To enter new negotiations without the two sides reaching an understanding on a joint vision for the future of the island will be nothing more than a waste of time,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed its support to the Turkish Cypriot side on Friday through a statement of its own.
“The most important shortcoming of the resolution extending UNFICYP’s mandate is that the consent of the TRNC was not sought, in contrast to the UN’s established practices,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated.
“Turkish Cypriots, as politically equal co-owners of the island, will never accept a minority status,” the statement said, adding that the real reason for the perpetual non-solution of the Cyprus problem was the Greek Cypriot side’s unwillingness to share power and wealth with the Turkish Cypriots. “Unless this mindset changes and common ground with a joint vision based on political equality is found, there will never be a real and result-oriented negotiation process between the two sides,” the statement read.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry also pointed out that the resolution failed to mention the Turkish Cypriot side’s constructive approach and its proposals on the hydrocarbons issue when it called for a reduction of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“It is both unfortunate and unfair,” the Ministry said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposals, all supported by Turkey, prove that it is the Turkish side that is making a concerted effort while the Greek Cypriot side makes no effort to defuse tensions,” the Foreign Ministry highlighted.
The statement also drew attention to the continuation of what is said was unfair isolations on the Turkish Cypriot community. It said that this was one of the main reasons for the lack of trust between the two communities on the island.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> Resolution’s call for collaboration between the two sides & international actors is an appropriate message in view of changing the status quo.
>> Excuses made up not to collaborate rendered invalid.
>> Call made by resolution proves the necessity for the two sides & international actors to be in direct communication & to collaborate to reach a negotiated settlement in Cyprus.
>> Collaboration the only way to overcome the lack of trust between the two communities & to foster interdependency.
>> TC side is ready and willing for direct communication and cooperation.
>> MFA will continue to contribute to developing mechanisms of cooperation.
>> GC side’s unilateral & provocative actions which ignored the rights and will of TCs is threatening peace & stability in the region.
>> Resolution’s reference to hydrocarbons issue too brief & superficial.
>> TC side’s expectation from the UN & all related parties is to convince the GCs that the only way to end hydrocarbon related tensions is through diplomacy & cooperation.
>> Resolution fails to refer to results-oriented talks in detail & too weak to encourage the sides to a new agreement through negotiations.
>> Entering into new negotiations process without an agreement on a joint vision for the future of the island will be nothing more than a waste of time.
MFA (Turkey)
>> UNFICYP Resolution failed to seek the consent of TCs unlike in previous years.
>> TCs, as politically equal co-owners of the island, will never accept minority status.
>> Real reason for non-solution of the Cyprob is GC side’s unwillingness to share power & wealth with the TCs.
>> Unless GCs’ mindset changes & common ground with a joint vision based on political equality is found, no real result-oriented negotiations will be possible.
>> TC side’s proposals on hydrocarbons prove TC side’s concerted efforts, whilst GCs make no effort to defuse tensions.
>> Resolution’s failure to mention TC side’s constructive approach & its proposals regretful.
>> Isolations leading reason for the lack of trust between the two communities.
>> Isolations most important element exacerbating the deepening crisis of confidence & preventing cooperation on important areas.
Erdoğan: some are disturbed by Turkey’s drill ships
Kıbrıs Postası
Energy, Regional/International relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday said he was aware of the fact that Europe’s perception of Ankara has changed due to the “illogical and unlawful attempts to stop Turkey from exercising its legitimate rights in the Eastern Mediterranean”.
“Some are disturbed by Turkish activities in the region,” Erdoğan told a meeting of provincial heads of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in the capital Ankara on Friday.
Explaining the reasons for their annoyance, Erdoğan pointed out that Turkey was acting in line with international law and the Law of the Sea.
“We are not an ordinary state for Cyprus,” he added, recalling that Turkey together with the UK and Greece, were guarantor countries.
Erdoğan argued that the European Union (EU) was only an observer on the island and had also failed to deliver its promises to the Turkish Cypriot community.
“I would like to hope that in the coming period, we will provide a reconciliation platform with the EU on regional policies, especially on our sensitivities in Syria, and the Eastern Mediterranean,” Erdoğan went on to say.
He expressed his hope for the EU to review its stance against Turkey. “Turkey can still be Europe’s closest, most powerful and most beneficial friend with the highest potential in all respects. We want to remain the same as long as we see that the Europeans are on the same page as well,” the Turkish president concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Erdoğan
>> EU’s perception of Ankara has changed due to illogical and unlawful attempts to stop Turkey from exercising its legitimate rights in the East Med.
>> Turkey is acting in line with international law & Law of the Sea.
>> Turkey to provide a reconciliation platform with the EU on regional policies, especially in Syria, & East Med.
>> EU should review its stance against Turkey.
>> Turkey can still be Europe’s closest, most powerful & most beneficial friend with the highest potential in all respects.
West Nile virus claims first victim in Cyprus
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
64-year-old Hilmi Bolel who had been diagnosed with the West Nile virus and was admitted to intensive care at a hospital in the north, died on Friday of cardiac and respiratory arrest.
In a written statement, the health ministry said the man had been in intensive care after being diagnosed with the virus. It also said seven other people were as of yesterday in hospital while their blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples were sent to Turkey for testing.
The health services recommended removing stagnant water from homes and gardens, as this is where mosquitoes store their eggs.
Swimming pool filters need to be cleaned regularly to remove eggs and larvae, a health ministry advisory read.
A coordination meeting chaired by Prime Minister Ersin Tatar was also held on Friday. A decision to set up a crisis desk was taken at the meeting. In a statement after the meeting, Tatar said that the government was following developments closely and that necessary measures will be taken.