Front Page Headlines
Diplomas in coffins
The tragedies experienced by foreign students who travel for thousands of kilometres with great difficulties to come and study in Cyprus are alarming. They disappear and then their bodies are found. While the number of students in the country grows unchecked and unregulated there has been a sharp increase in the number of students who end up dead. A considerable number of students have been murdered, most of the time as a result of disputes or fights among themselves.
- 1 new patient admitted, two patients are unconscious – Ministry of Health issues new statement on West Nile virus.
2019 is a lost year and Erhürman is responsible for this
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar responded to criticisms on the economic protocol agreement and accused Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman for the time wasted in 2019. Tatar added the protocol should have been signed in 2018. “The former government had agreed with Turkey on the structural problems that exist. Erhürman is fully aware of the public-private partnership model proposed for the telecommunications department,” Tatar said.
- Bring the Greek Cypriots to the table regarding the natural gas issue – Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay urges the international community to take on an initiative for the hydrocarbons issue.
- 16,000 accidents, 4,000 injured and 125 dead – Four-year tally in traffic.
Rental vehicles are a huge threat
There are nearly seven thousand rental vehicles in the north. Some of the foreigners who rent these cars violate the traffic rules.
- 16,000 accidents in four years – In the past four years, as a result of 15,803 traffic accidents, 125 people have lost their lives. 17 people have died in traffic accidents from January 1 to July 27, 2019.
- “We should focus on domestic problems instead of the Cyprus problem” – Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, National Unity Party (UBP) MP Zorlu Töre spoke to Kıbrıs. He added the proposed five-party meeting on the Cyprus problem will be meaningless.
From the skies to parliament
Her dream was to become a TV anchor, but she started her career as a stewardess for Cyprus Turkish Airlines (KTHY). She studied law and became the first woman MP to be elected from İskele (Trikomo). Havadis interviews National Unity Party (UBP) MP Yasemin Öztürk.
- Criticisms in vain – Prime Minister Ersin Tatar responded to the criticisms on the economic protocol, stating that the primary goal of the signed agreement was to raise the prosperity of Turkish Cypriots.
- 142 people have died in traffic accidents in four and a half years – More than four thousand people were injured and 125 killed in traffic accidents from 2015 to 2018. In the period from January 1 to July 27, 17 people were killed in accidents, bringing the total number of fatalities to 142.
- No need to be concerned – Health Minister Ali Pilli announced all measures were in place and that there is no need for concern on the West Nile virus.
This is a new record
There have been 1,444 marriages and 937 divorces in 2018. The number of divorces have almost equalled the number of marriages. According to statistics, most couples divorce after remaining married for 16 years.
- ‘We are ready for dialogue’ – Özersay says that the two sides can collaborate on hydrocarbons even in the absence of a solution.
- He was arrested in Larnaca – A 22-year-old man tried to smuggle 350 grams of cocaine in his stomach in 36 little sachets.
- He gave a message – Greek Cypriot Defence Minister Angelides said that their calm responses to Turkish activities in the Eastern Mediterranean should not be perceived as weakness.
We won the legal battle on the false document case
Merit Hotel lost the case filed against our paper. The court rejected the claims brought against our paper for a report published by our paper dated April 10, 2015 regarding false documents. The (North) Nicosia district court ruled that the document we published was indeed fake and ruled that the paper was correct in its reporting.
- Girl in Ayia Napa arrested on charges of making a false accusation – 19-year-old British girl confessed that she had been together with the Israeli men of her own free will.
Main News
Özersay: collaboration on hydrocarbons possible without solution
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Property, Territory, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said that the two sides in Cyprus and Turkey could cooperate on the issue of hydrocarbons even in the absence of a settlement on the Cyprus Problem.
In a written statement on Sunday, Özersay said that solving the issue of hydrocarbons was far more urgent than resuming 50 years of unsuccessful negotiations.
He added that the Turkish Cypriot side was ready to establish a dialogue and cooperate on the issue.
“If international actors truly want to solve this problem they should take on an initiative and persuade the Greek Cypriot leadership to sit at the table. Those who exert all their energy to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table to discuss a federal solution are insisting on this model in spite of being fully aware that such a settlement will not take place. This only shows that they want the continuation of the status quo,” Özersay said.
He said that this initiative could be taken by an impartial and balanced actor or international organisation.
Özersay pointed out that the issue was more than just sharing natural resources.
He said that what was important for the Turkish Cypriot side was to create a mechanism that would safeguard the Turkish Cypriots’ rights over these natural resources.
“This is only possible by allowing Turkish Cypriots to exercise their political will. What we are seeking is not the creation of some ineffective or weak committee where we just sit and discuss this issue,” he said.
On the issue of Maraş (Varosha), Özersay recalled the government’s decision to conduct an inventory of the fenced-off city and its intention to take steps in the period that followed.
He said that the plan was to end the area’s status as a military zone and to restore civilian life to the town.
Özersay pointed out that old hand-written inventories or records dating back to the 1980s were of no use.
He said that the inventory commission which included representatives from the Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers, the Immovable Property Commission, the Famagusta Municipality, the Evkaf Administration and the Department of Antiquities and Museums had started its work to prepare an inventory of all movable and immovable properties in Maraş (Varosha).
He said that various circles in the north and the Greek Cypriot leadership were unhappy with the government’s decision.
“I am openly saying it. Those who want to prevent this work from going on will only be helping the Greek Cypriot side which wants the continuation of the status quo. They are only hurting the interests of this country,” he said.
In a separate statement on Sunday, the Beşparmak (Five finger) Turkish Cypriot think tank group expressed support to President Akıncı’s latest proposal to set up a joint committee on co-managing hydrocarbons.
The group argued that the proposal would constitute a litmus test for the Greek Cypriot side’s readiness to establish a partnership with the Turkish Cypriot side.
On the possibility of a new five-party conference, the group said that the proposal to hold such a meeting was a strategic mistake and warned that it could have serious consequences for the Turkish Cypriot community because of the Greek Cypriot leadership’s continued rejection of Turkish Cypriots’ political equality and their effective participation in decision-making processes.
The group also argued that conditions for a viable federal settlement did not exist in Cyprus and that holding any meeting, formal or informal, before the Greek Cypriot side proved that its intentions or vision have changed, would only create the opportunity for the Greek Cypriot side to create the false perception that the talks were continuing from where they left off.
“It will also allow the Guterres Framework to be brought back to the table,” the group warned.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> Possible for the two sides & Turkey to cooperate on hydrocarbons without a solution to Cyprob.
>> TC side ready for dialogue & cooperation on hydrocarbons.
>> Solving hydrocarbons issue more urgent than resuming negotiations which have been unsuccessful for 51 years.
>> International actors should take on an initiative & persuade GC leadership to sit at the table.
>> Insisting on a federal settlement only serves continuation of status quo.
>> Initiative could be taken by an impartial & balanced actor or international organisation.
>> Hydrocarbons issue more than just sharing natural resources. Creation of a mechanism to safeguard rights important for TCs.
>> Goal is not to create an ineffective committee to discuss hydrocarbons.
>> Plan is to end Maraş (Varosha’s) military status and to restore civilian life to the town.
>> Old hand-written inventories or records dating back to the 1980s are of no use.
>> Those trying to prevent the inventory are only helping the GC side which desires the continuation of the status quo.