Front Page Headlines
Heaven and earth mourned
Training pilot Serkan Özcezarlı who lost his life during a training flight was bid farewell on his final journey. Özcezarlı was laid to rest in Cihangir (Epicho) following a ceremony at Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) airport. Officials from the Italian firm where the plane was purchased from are expected to arrive on the island to examine the crash.
Turkish Cypriots are losing hope as long as the problems remain unresolved
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) General Secretary Erdoğan Sorakın highlighted the need to overcome the problems in Crans Montana such as the rotational presidency, effective participation in decision-making processes, guarantees and political equality. He added it was vital these issues were addressed because as long as they remained unsolved, a solution was becoming harder to reach. As a result, the Turkish Cypriot community is losing its hope and intolerance is growing. Sorakın spoke to Kıbrıs Postası web TV.
- Sucuoğlu: “We are deceiving the Turkish Cypriot people with fairy tales of a federation.”
Our poor state has incurred ₺86m in losses
Public officials have made an incredible mistake making it impossible for the state, already struggling with severe financial problems, to carry on with many projects. The mistake cost the state ₺88,298,000 for a project that initially cost ₺2,272,000. The problem started in 2012 with a decision to demolish the Istanbul Airlines aircraft hangar and to build a new one in its place. In 2014, the relevant state department responsible for rebuilding the hangar signed on a project that would cost over two million Turkish Lira to complete. However, nothing has been done since then. In 2019, the same department was presented with a new and more comprehensive project for rebuilding the hangar. The state officials also signed the second project without realizing that the state is now responsible for completing the same project for ₺86 million.
- Remains of 24 missing persons found in excavations carried out in 2019 – Turkish Cypriot member of the Committee of Missing Persons in Cyprus Gülden Plümer Küçük announced.
Severe negligence, horrific outcome
Four-and-a-half-year-old Mert Çakır was severely injured when his school-bus accidentally ran him over at the Şekerler Diyarı Kindergarten in north Nicosia.
- Step by step in search of the missing – The Turkish Cypriot member of the CMP Gülden Plümer Küçük announced remains of two missing persons have been found in excavations close to the Tekke Bahçesi area in Nicosia.
Change in the TRNC is extremely difficult
While the Public Works Minister is seeking funding for roadworks, the state contribution to political parties had risen to ₺17m. The government refuses to change although many problems from health to education, transportation and security are being experienced in North Cyprus. while Minister Atakan who is desperately trying to find funds to repair roads proposed for the state to freeze contributions to political parties for several years, it emerged that the figure of state contributions to political parties has been increased in 2020’s budget.
- They want an explanation – The special zero-euro note to honour Dr Küçük printed by the European Central Bank has outraged Greek Cypriots.
We’re going to have everything Turkey has
This is the TRNC Education Ministry’s latest accomplishment! Things spiralled out of control after the ministry assigned a maths teacher wearing a headscarf to the Lapta (Lapithos) Yavuzlar High School. The other teachers refused to do lessons in protest. The ministry was forced to call back the teacher following the reaction.
Main News
CMP announces two more missing persons located in North Nicosia
Yenidüzen, Havadis
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The Committee on Missing Persons on Thursday announced one of its crews has exhumed the remains of two people close the Tekke Bahçesi area in Nicosia in the north.
According to an announcement by the CMP, a bi-communal excavation team of has exhumed the remains of two presumed missing persons. Exhumations started a week ago and are ongoing.
In 2019, the CMP said that it recovered the remains of 24 individuals but that further efforts to identify the remains will determine whether or not they belong to missing persons.
The Turkish Cypriot member of the CMP Gülden Plümer Küçük on Thursday told the TAK news agency that in June 2019, the Turkish Cypriot side had granted permission for excavations at 30 different locations and 33 coordinates within military areas.
She said that there were no time limitations or deadlines for the excavations and that the work will be carried according to the CMP’s planning.
Küçük added that the remains of four Greek Cypriots had been recovered during an excavation in Derinya (Deryneia) in 2017 as part of permission granted for the first 30 digs.
“A new permit has been granted for a site in Derinya (Deryneia) close to the area where previous excavations took place,” she said, adding that this was not the first time the CMP was conducting work in fenced-off military areas.
The Turkish Cypriot CMP member said that cooperation with the Turkish military authorities was good and those military officials were always helpful to the CMP in its efforts.
Commenting on the appointment of the Greek Cypriot CMP member Leonidas Pantelides, Küçük said that the CMP’s work had slowed down in 2019 as a result of Pantelides’ late appointment.
She explained that both offices of the CMP conducted their separate research and that the information was later combined and evaluated as a whole.
“We use technology in assessing and evaluating the information obtained. We used maps dating back to 1963-1964 or 1974,” she added.
Küçük reminded that 50 years have passed since the first person went missing in 1963.
“The committee is racing against time. The landscape is constantly changing, new buildings are erected everywhere. Roads are being built. These are some of the difficulties we face,” she noted.
Küçük also highlighted the importance of witness testimonies and said the CMP’s task was to determine the whereabouts of the missing persons in Cyprus.
“We might not find everyone but we need to reach a point where at least we can provide relatives with some information,” she added.
UBP steps up rhetoric for two-state solution
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, External Security, Energy
OVERVIEW
The main ruling National Unity Party (UBP) stepped up its rhetoric in favour of a two-state solution on Thursday with UBP officials raising the subject at various occasions.
The main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) on the other hand continued to express support to the resumption of talks for a federal solution but warned that the issue of political equality must be addressed.
“Turkish Cypriots have always asked for equality while Greek Cypriots have only desired union with Greece,” Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said on Thursday.
Tatar speaking while receiving members of a women’s association from Turkey emphasized the importance of Turkey’s guarantees for Turkish Cypriots.
He said the north had become ever more important for Turkey’s national interests in the region.
“The ongoing struggle for rights and interests over region’s natural resources have become more meaningful with the TRNC in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Tatar added.
Labour Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu on Thursday argued that Turkish Cypriots were being deceived with fairy tales of a federal solution.
Speaking on Genç TV he said that Maraş (Varosha) and a two-state solution were being discussed for the first time in the history of the Cyprus Problem since the UBP– HP coalition took office.
Sucuoğlu emphasized the need for discussions of alternative solution models. “It is time we need to be realistic because the 50-year long negotiations process for a federal solution has failed to achieve the desired outcome,” Sucuoğlu said.
UBP MP Ertuğrul Hasipoğlu in a written statement on Thursday said that President Akıncı should not forget that Turkey’s consent was required if a solution was to be reached in Cyprus. He added even if Akıncı were to act on his own on the five chapters in the negotiations process, he will need Turkey for the sixth chapter which was on security and guarantees. “It is vital to sit at the negotiations table with a consensus established with Turkey,” Hasipoğlu said.
Asked to comment on the upcoming tripartite meeting, Hasipoğlu accused the Greek Cypriot side of resorting to delaying tactics. He pointed out that the UN Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute had repeatedly met with the two leaders only to find the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades abandon the known UN parameters.
“Anastasiades wants endless negotiations processes for the Greek Cypriot side to continue reaping the benefits of international recognition while the Turkish Cypriots continue to suffer in an unrecognized state,” Hasipoğlu added.
“What the Turkish Cypriot leadership should do is to refuse to resume talks because there is nothing left to discuss in the six chapters in the process,” Hasipoğlu stressed.
He added, “both sides are fully aware of each side’s red lines.”
Hasipoğlu recalled that Akıncı had admitted right after talks collapsed in Crans Montana that the process had been exhausted.
“Akıncı also said that Crans Montana would be the last attempt of his generation.
“If Akıncı wants to achieve yet another failure in the process, he should go to Berlin. Unless he believes he can convince the Greek Cypriot side to change by November 25 November,” Hasipoğlu said.
Hasipoğlu, in his response to a question on the upcoming presidential elections, argued that the election will be between those who favour a continuation of talks for a federation and those in favour of bringing alternatives to the table
“Either way the election will be directly linked to the national interests of the Turkish Cypriot people,” he said.
CTP General Secretary Erdoğan Sorakin on Thursday said that the disagreements between the two sides in Crans Montana on issues such as rotating presidency, effective participation in decision-making processes, security and guarantees needed to be addressed.
“It’s becoming harder to reach a solution as long as these issues remain unsolved, Sorakin told Kıbrıs Postası in an interview.
Sorakın argued that the Turkish Cypriot community was become more intolerant and falling in despair as the problems remained unresolved.
He pointed out that the CTP has been striving for a solution in Cyprus for 49 years.
Sorakın recalled that his party had entered a serious momentum starting with the Annan Plan.
“The Immovable Property Commission (IPC) came to life during the CTP’s term in government and when Mehmet Ali Talat was president. The IPC is recognized by international. We also showed great effort to increase the number of crossing points. We changed history books and even introduced Greek as an elective at schools so that the two communities can overcome the language barrier,” he said.
Sorakın underlined the importance of taking more effective diplomatic action to make Turkish Cypriots more visible.
“We have three guarantor countries. We have the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU). We need to carry our more proactive diplomacy. We are having difficulty making ourselves heard and understood,” he said.
Commenting on the possibility of a two-state solution under the EU’s umbrella, Sorakın said that this was not a realistic alternative.
“This could remain as an option but it’s not realistic.
On the issue of hydrocarbons, Sorakın said that the issue could be solved through a comprehensive solution.
“However, Turkey cannot be left out of the energy equation in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he said.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>> Turkey’s guarantees on the island are important for TCs.
>> North’s importance for Turkey’s national interests in the region has grown particularly in light of the discovery of hydrocarbons.
Sucuoğlu (UBP)
>> TCs are being deceived with tales of a federation.
>> Maraş (Varosha) and two-state solution issues are discussed for the first time during UBP-HP coalition.
>> It is time to be realistic because the 50-year long negotiations process for federal solution failed to yield the desired outcome.
>> Alternative solution models need to be discussed.
Hasipoğlu (UBP)
>> Akıncı will still require Turkey on the chapter of security & guarantees even if were to act on his own on the other five chapters.
>> It is vital to sit at the negotiations table with a consensus established with Turkey.
>> GC side resorting to delaying tactics as GC side wants to continue reaping benefits of international recognition while TCs continue to suffer.
>> GC leader Nicos Anastasiades has abandoned UN parameters.
>> What the TC leadership should do is to end the negotiations process because there is nothing left to discuss in the six chapters in the process.
>> Both sides are fully aware of each side’s red lines.
>> Akıncı should go to Berlin if he wants to achieve another failure.
>> The presidential election will be a choice between those in favour of a federal solution and those who want other alternative options at the table.
Sorakın (CTP)
>> Problems concerning political equality need to be addressed.
>> The longer these problems remain unresolved, the more intolerant TCs become and fall in despair.
>> Important to implement proactive diplomacy to make TCs more visible & heard.
>> Two-state solution under EU umbrella an option but unrealistic.
>> Hydrocarbons issue can be solved through a solution to the Cyprob but Turkey cannot be excluded from energy equation in East Med.
“We will not allow Turkey’s or TCs’ rights to be usurped”
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
External Security, Energy
OVERVIEW
“Turkey will continue its intense activities in the Eastern Mediterranean to protect our rights and interests,” Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said during a visit to Turkish troops on the Syrian border on Thursday.
Akar noted Turkey is in favour of good neighbourly relations and has not adopted an aggressive attitude.
He, however, added Turkey will continue its activities in the Aegean, Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean.
“We respect the rules laid out by international law and bilateral agreements,” Akar noted.
He added, “On the other hand, we will not allow anyone to usurp Turkey’s or Turkish Cypriots’ rights in the region.”
Akar said Turkey has maintained a consistent stance on these issues.
“My statements should not be perceived as a threat or our respect for international treaties as a weakness,” Akar stressed.
He added, “Our expectation is our interlocutors to understand Turkey’s position clearly.”
KEY ACTORS
Akar (Turkey)
>> Turkey will continue its intense activities in the East Med. to protect its rights & interests.
>> Turkey is in favour of good neighbourly relations and has not adopted an aggressive attitude.
>> Turkey will continue its activities in the Aegean, Cyprus & the East Med.
>> Turkey respects the rules laid out by international law & bilateral agreements.
>> Turkey will not allow anyone to usurp Turkey’s or TCs’ rights in the region.
>> Turkey has maintained a consistent stance on these issues & its position should not be perceived as a threat or Turkey’s respect for international treaties as a weakness.
>> Turkey’s expectation is for the interlocutors to understand Turkey’s position clearly.