Front Page Headlines
Clarification from Özersay concerning government hirings: “No need to announce vacancy for contract employees”
The Peoples’ Party (HP) has defended the recent increase in the number of contractual staff hired to the public service by the government. The list of hired ranges from party supporters to the HP’s unelected candidates who ran in the latest election. Deputy Prime Minister Kudret Özersay claimed that they acted fairly and shown sensitivity when hiring these people. He added that the laws did not require vacancies to be announced for contractual staff.
- “No steps can be taken on Maraş (Varosha) outside of UN resolutions – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: “I’m still hopeful that a lasting settlement can be reached to the Cyprus Problem.”
Mukhtars fed up of begging. All are focused on the budget!
Nearly 250 “elected” mukhtars have turned their attention to ongoing discussions on the budget, which envisages an 80 per cent increase to the ₺700 state contribution they receive. Speaking to Kıbrıs Postası, National Unity Party (UBP) MP Sunat Atun said was better for the state to increase its contributions rather than mukhtars charging the people for the services they provide.
- Identities of those who torched the TRNC flag identified – Kudret Özersay announced.
Özgürgün’s dossier ready to for legal proceedings
Attorney General Behiç Öztürk informed the budget planning committee that the dossiers on the two UBP MPs Hüseyin Özgürgün and Aytaç Çaluda, who have been stripped of their political immunity, are almost complete and will be ready for legal proceedings soon.
- “Serdar Denktaş’ political immunity could be lifted” – Özersay said that action could be taken to lift Serdar Denktaş’s political immunity if it is proven that he had hidden documents from the state causing financial losses.
Lucrative benefits to AKSA
Havadis published the documents! The TRNC state pays AKSA ₺46,215.000 every month in line with the electricity supply contract in place. ₺12,264.000 is paid as “rent”. AKSA is also given a “purchase guarantee” and is exempted from any devaluation risks of the Turkish Lira. AKSA, which is going through turbulent times in Turkey, is surviving with the money it receives from the TRNC.
The wheel has turned the other way
The number of Turkish Cypriots crossing south in the first nine months of 2019 is 970,000. The number of Greek Cypriots crossing to the north for the same period has been recorded at 1.7m. The number of Greek Cypriots crossing to the north has tripled in the past year.
- Washington before Berlin – Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodulides who met face to face with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo received support for a federal solution.
- They will be arrested if they cross to the north – TRNC police identified Greek Cypriots who burned TRNC flag.
Arrest the nine attackers first
No arrests for Afrika newspaper attackers. They made a huge fuss over the burning of the TRNC flag by members of the far-right ELAM, carrying the issue to the Turkish Parliament. Have you received instructions from Ankara to blow this issue out of proportion? What are those who pursue a policy of tension seeking to achieve?
- They don’t want a federation, they want two states –They presented their demands to Akıncı.
Main News
Trilateral meeting only to raise false hopes, says Özersay
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay on Monday said that a positive outcome from trilateral meeting in Berlin on November 25 was highly unlikely under the current circumstances.
He said it would be wrong to restart talks without a timeframe.
Speaking on Bayrak, Özersay said that it was wrong under the current conditions to raise the public’s hopes regarding the Cyprus Issue.
Özersay pointed out that the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy has failed to find common ground to restart negotiations despite having tried for the past two years.
“There were two negative developments in the process that followed Crans Montana. The first was the Greek Cypriot side backed away further from convergences on the issue of power-sharing. Secondly, the Greek Cypriot leadership rejected the July 13 dated proposal for co-managing the hydrocarbons,” he said.
Responding to a question on his expectations about the meeting in Berlin, Özersay said, “I have little hope of the meeting in Berlin. The trilateral meeting is being held to create the atmosphere that the process is continuing. Past convergences, the UN Secretary-General’s statements, the joint declaration… everything can be compiled to form a paper and they could say that the talks are continuing. But only Turkish Cypriots would be harmed by such a process. The exercise would be nothing more than a repeat of what has been discussed in the past,” he said.
Repeating the same process would only be imprisoning Turkish Cypriots in a vicious circle, Özersay added.
Asked why the Greek Cypriot side had agreed to come to the table, Özersay said that the Greek Cypriot side had nothing to lose.
“In fact, the Greek Cypriots would not have agreed to come back if they thought they would be in a difficult position. They can even turn this into an advantage. They can use it to get away with their unilateral hydrocarbon exploration activities,” he said.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> Positive outcome from trilateral meeting unlikely.
>> It would be wrong to restart talks without a time frame.
>> It is wrong under the current conditions to raise the public’s hopes regarding the Cyprus Issue.
>> Trilateral meeting held to create the impression the process is continuing.
>> No point in preparing a paper on all that has been discussed. This would be a repeat & only TCs would be harmed from such a process.
>> Repeating process would be imprisoning TCs in a vicious circle.
>> GCs have nothing to lose by returning to talks. They could use it to their advantage to get away with hydrocarbon drilling.
Cyprob dominates budget planning meeting
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The Cyprus Problem dominated Tuesday’s discussions at the budget planning subcommittee’s meeting for the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry.
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay who responded to questions posed by the members of the parliamentary subcommittee on foreign ministry’s budget for 2020 said the philosophy adopted by his ministry was peaceful, conciliatory, based on human rights, freedoms and dialogue.
On the government’s approach to the Cyprus problem, Özersay reiterated his view that conditions for a bicommunal, bizonal federal settlement did not exist on the island.
“It is, therefore, necessary for the sides to discuss more realistic models with the consent of the two sides,” Özersay said.
“These could be models based on cooperation,” he added.
Özersay said he was opposed to the continuation of the status quo on the island but the policies proposed to change the status quo did not help free the Turkish Cypriot side from the current deadlock.
“If the reasons for the status quo are not discussed openly, how would it be possible to change it?” Özersay asked.
He also questioned as to how many more years were the two sides in Cyprus supposed to be locked in endless talks on achieving a settlement that was not achievable.
“It is not right to continue with the talks from where they left off in Crans Montana,” Özersay said, arguing the Greek Cypriot side will continue to play for time by attending Berlin type summits without agreeing to hold a referendum or a move forward in the process.
Özersay claimed that despite the efforts of the international community, the Greek Cypriot side did not change its stance.
“It is, therefore, necessary to play our cards as a country and break the norms on the issue of hydrocarbons and the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha),” Özersay stressed.
He acknowledged the efforts of the previous energy ministers and added that the foreign ministry has raised the issue of hydrocarbons at the international arena.
Regarding Maraş (Varosha) Özersay said there are completed reports on the fenced-off city.
He rejected the accusations on the government’s Maraş (Varosha) initiative, stating that his ministry does not ignore the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on the fenced-off city.
He argued that contrary to claims, the government’s policies will not bring harm to anyone’s rights.
Özersay explained they were working closely with lawyers regarding the property cases on Maraş (Varosha) currently before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
He said these efforts are handled through the TRNC Strasbourg representation office.
Özersay also vowed to take steps to increase the effectiveness of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC).
It is necessary to do something on Maraş (Varosha) instead of feeling sad about the fenced-off town, Özersay said.
“Leaving this issue to be addressed solely by the president is a limiting approach. Instead, a unified approach should be adopted,” he stressed.
Özersay also touched upon his ministry’s initiative to have the UN camp in Famagusta relocated elsewhere.
He said the UN had rejected the Turkish Cypriot side’s request to relocate the camp.
Also speaking at the meeting, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Fikri Toros hit back at Özersay for his latest remarks on the Cyprus Problem, stating that his views and policies were unacceptable.
He said that Özersay’s and the government’s policies were figments of imagination and could not achieve anything.
“Your Maraş (Varosha) policy is just a fantasy as your solution policy. It will not take us anywhere,” Republican Turkish Party MP (CTP) Fikri Toros said during the committee meeting.
Toros said that his party perceived the initiative to open Maraş (Varosha) as important not only in economic terms but from a human perspective as well.
“This is something that could motivate and encourage the Greek Cypriot community. This issue should be taken up immediately through consultations with the president,” he said.
Toros argued that references made to cooperation by Özersay were only valid in circumstances where negotiations for a federal settlement had been exhausted and alternative solution models were being discussed.
“If cooperation is conducted as it should then this would contribute positively to a solution,” he said.
Toros expressed the view that a strategy could be developed independently of a comprehensive settlement that could increase the prosperity of Turkish Cypriots and further advance relations with the European Union (EU).
“Standard institutions accredited with the EU should be brought to North Cyprus to provide consulting services to Turkish Cypriot producers to speed up the harmonization process with the EU.
Toros also pointed out that Turkish Cypriots had been subjected to unjust isolation for many years.
“It is important in terms of credibility and consistency that the Turkish Cypriot community acts as one and conducts negotiations which will not open its political equality to a discussion,” he added.
The leader of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Cemal Özyiğit on Tuesday criticized the government’s policies on the Cyprus Issue, the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha) as well as the repatriation of Maronites to their villages in the north.
Özyiğit who addressed the budget planning committee reminded that Maraş (Varosha) was a sensitive issue which was linked to international law.
He said that the President’s Office should be included in any decisions or moves on the issue.
“There are measures taken by the UN because of the Turkish side’s unilateral steps. The UN’s position on the matter is clear. The fenced-off city can only be opened within the framework of UN resolutions and international law,” he said.
Regarding talks on the Cyprus Issue, Özyiğit said that it would be wrong to seek alternative solutions just because there was no change in the Greek Cypriot side’s position.
“The process did not collapse. The ball should hit the woodwork. We need to try again. We need to lobby more and there is a need to increase the international initiatives. No one wants an open-ended process,” he said.
Özyiğit also said that the Turkish Cypriots did not have the luxury of turning their backs on the process and the international community.
Also a member of the same subcommittee, UBP MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu said there were no changes or shifts in the Greek Cypriot side’s mindset.
“The Greek Cypriot side clearly wants a unitary state. They want to prevent the Turkish Cypriots right to a veto,” Hasipoğlu claimed.
He recalled that the Greek Cypriot side has rejected every proposal put forward by the Turkish Cypriot side and added it is time to discuss alternative models other than a federation.
Meanwhile, CTP leader Tufan Erhürman, who is not a member of the subcommittee, joined in the criticisms against the government on Tuesday.
In a post on social media post, Erhürman said: “If we do not tackle important issues such as Maraş (Varosha) seriously, it will not be possible for us to take the necessary steps that will lead us to a piece by piece solution should efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement.”
He argued that the government despite the UNSC’s statement on October 9, announced its plans to open Maraş (Varosha) by the end of 2020.
“Not only does the UNSC ask to respect the relevant resolutions on the fenced-off town, but there also is not a single plan on the opening that is being discussed with the presidency or with parliament,” Erhürman concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> Philosophy adopted by TC side is peaceful, conciliatory, based on human rights, freedoms & dialogue.
>> Conditions for a bicommunal, bizonal federal settlement do not exist in Cyprus.
>> Sides need to discuss more realistic models with the consent of the two sides.
>> Policies being proposed to change the status quo do not help free TC side from the current deadlock.
>> Not possible to change status quo if its reasons are not discussed openly.
>> It is not right to continue with the talks from they left off in Crans Montana.
>> GC side will continue to play for time by attending Berlin type summits without agreeing to hold a referendum or a way forward.
>> TC side must play its cards & break the norms on the issue of hydrocarbons & Maraş (Varosha).
>> TC government does not ignore UNSC resolutions on Maraş (Varosha).
>> The government’s policies will not bring harm to anyone’s rights.
>> Steps will be taken to increase the effectiveness of the IPC.
>> Leaving Maraş (Varosha) issue to be addressed solely by the president is a limiting approach. Instead, a unified approach should be adopted.
Toros (CTP)
>> Özersay’s views & policies on Cyprob are unacceptable. They are figments of imagination & cannot achieve anything.
>> CTP perceives initiative to open Maraş (Varosha) as important not only in economic terms but from a human perspective.
>> Maraş (Varosha) could motivate & encourage the GC community. It should be taken up immediately through consultations with the president.
>> References made to cooperation by Özersay are only valid in circumstances where negotiations for a federal settlement have been exhausted & alternative solution models are being discussed.
>> If cooperation is conducted as it should than could contribute positively to a solution.
>> A strategy could be developed independently of a comprehensive settlement that could increase the prosperity of TCs & further advance relations with the EU.
>> Standard institutions accredited with the EU should be brought to the north to provide consulting services to TC producers to speed up the harmonization process with the EU.
>> It is important in terms of credibility and consistency that the TC community acts as one & conducts negotiations which will not open its political equality to a discussion.
Özyiğit (TDP)
>> Maraş (Varosha) is a sensitive issue which is linked to international law.
>> President’s Office should be included in any decisions or moves on the issue.
>> UN has taken measures because of the Turkish side’s unilateral steps. The UN’s position on the matter is clear. Maraş (Varosha) can only be opened within the framework of UN resolutions & int’l law.
>> It would be wrong to seek alternative solutions just because there is no change in the GC side’s position.
>> The process has not collapsed. More lobbying and int’l initiatives needed. No one wants an open-ended process.
>> TCs did not have the luxury of turning their backs on the process & the int’l community.
Hasipoğlu (UBP)
>> There is no changes or shifts in the GC side’s mindset.
>> The GC side clearly wants a unitary state.
>> GCs want to prevent the TCs right to a veto.
>> GC side has rejected all TC proposals, therefore, it is time to discuss alternative models other than a federation.
Erhürman(CTP)
>> Failure to tackle important issues such as Maraş (Varosha) seriously will prevent future steps for a piece-by-piece solution in the event a comprehensive solution cannot be reached.
GC flag burners identified
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said on Tuesday they have identified the people who burned a makeshift flag of the TRNC and measures will be taken at crossing points.
The TRNC flag was burned by members of far-right party Elam during demonstrations to mark the 36th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Cypriot breakaway state in the north last week.
The incident irked Turkish Cypriots and Turkish politicians who strongly condemned the action.
On Tuesday, Özersay posted on social media that the people who carried out the burning had been identified and instructions were given for the necessary measures to be put in place at the crossing points.
“They have been informed about the development and ordered to carry out the necessary legal procedure should the perpetrators try to cross to the north,” he said.
Earlier in the day on Tuesday, Özersay said that incident was a reflection of the dominant ideology of the Greek Cypriot community and recalled the Enosis decision adopted by the Greek Cypriot parliament.
“As we all know, the Greek Cypriot side did not take a step back on the Enosis issue either,” he stressed.
He added the Greek Cypriots’ viewpoint can change but the Greek Cypriot political leadership first needed to accept that what it had done was wrong. “The political elite’s position and whether to implement measures or not are all important deterrents. What had been done is uncivilized. It is a serious disrespect to a nation’s symbol,” Özersay stressed.
Noting that he will also be raising the issue with his meeting with the UN officials, Özersay said “what needs to be done is to telephone Anastasiades and tell him that ‘this was a very dangerous move and that something needs to be done. He should be warned that the Turkish Cypriots are disappointed and outraged.”
Number of GCs crossing north have tripled in 2019
Diyalog
CBMs, Economy
OVERVIEW
The number of Greek-Cypriots crossing to the north almost tripled in 2019 in relation to last year, figures released by the Greek Cypriot justice ministry showed on Tuesday.
According to data revealed, 1,776,343 Greek Cypriots crossed to the north between January 1 and September 30, a 63 per cent increase over the corresponding period of 2018 when only 658,741 Cypriots living in the south crossed.
A significant increase was also seen in vehicles owned or driven by Greek Cypriots crossing the line, with 928,221 over the same period compared to 309,374 in the first nine months of 2018.
An upsurge was also seen in 2018 in relation to the number of Greek Cypriots visiting the north. Following the fall in the value of the Turkish lira at the beginning of 2018 many Greek Cypriots crossed to the north for cheap shopping and to fill their vehicles with fuel.
At the same time, Turkish Cypriots visiting the south also showed an increase in the first nine months of this year with 970,510 visits this year compared to 791,103 last year, an 18.5 per cent increase. The number of Turkish Cypriot vehicles crossing during the same period also rose by 18.5 per cent, with 375,835 crossings compared to 308,420 in 2018.