TCC Press Review 28 Nov 2019

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

“No one gave us any information”

Ten-year-old Atlas Rüstemoğlu’s grief-stricken family talked to Yenidüzen. They claim Atlas died as a result of negligence. The death of the ten-year-old boy has raised many questions. Altas was laid to rest at Yuvacık (Chrysiliou) following a funeral in Morphou.

Kıbrıs Postası

From SFO to Prime Minister Ersin Tatar: Come on Ers!

After a long debate as to whether or not Tatar could travel to the UK, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said there was no public interest in Tatar’s prosecution in the Polly Peck case. Tatar’s freedom of travel has been reinstated with the letter.

  • Council of Ministers bans TC Electricity Authority Workers’ Union’s (EL-SEN’s) strike – EL-SEN president Özkıraç: “This is not democratic. We will continue our struggle.” 

Kıbrıs

Public made to suffer in strike against the government

EL-SEN continued with its strike action, launched at midnight on Monday till the late hours on Wednesday, paralyzing life in the north. As a result of the nation-wide strike, many places experienced power cuts. The Council of Ministers adopted a decision to ban the strike.

  • Eight died in workplace accidents – Ziya Sarıdan, who fell while working on the roof-top of a building on 20 November, passed away at the hospital. Sarıdan’s death is the eighth fatal workplace accident of the year.

Havadis

Tatar’s SFO document

Havadis obtained the document prepared by the UK Serious Fraud Office on Ersin Tatar. The document was prepared two days ago upon Tatar’s application. The document states that “The warrant for Mr Tatar’s arrest dated 13 August 2015 has been withdrawn by the Magistrate’s Court.”

  • Council of Ministers bans electricity strike – EL-SEN called for a nation-wide strike to protest the government for not taking the steps it had agreed on the energy sector. On Wednesday evening, the Council of Ministers banned the strike for 60 days. EL-SEN Chairman Kubilay Özkıraç said they will obey the decision but will continue with their protests in different means and ways.

Diyalog

Tempers across the country flared

EL-SEN which staged a strike on grounds the government did not purchase generators put the country through hell. The Council of Ministers after waiting for hours banned the strike. Citizens perished due to power cuts.

Afrika

The liar government banned the strike

The trade union’s shock strike action paralysed the country. Many businesses who suffered power cuts and did not have generators shut shop without selling a single item or service.

Main News

Töre says old ideas are being rehashed as new ideas

Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations process

OVERVIEW

The Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Cypriot parliament Zorlu Töre continued to challenge the outcome of the trilateral meeting in Berlin

He said nothing new, for the exception of the references made to past convergences and the Guterres Framework, had emerged from the meeting. 

Töre argued that the same positions and views expressed for the past 50 years had been rehashed at the Berlin meeting.

“Attempts are being made to pass off old ideas as fresh ones. The meeting had provided the president with the means to use the issue for propaganda purposes for his re-election campaign,” he said.

Alpay Durduran, member of the New Cyprus Party (YKP) Secretariat on Wednesday said that Akıncı had been successful in Berlin, receiving the UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) and UN Security Council’s (UNSC) support for a solution.

In a written statement, Durduran said the Cyprus Problem carried the risk of blowing into a wider conflict which is why the international community rushed to express support to the meeting and its outcome.

“The meeting was a success because it reaffirmed that the basis of a solution remained to be same as the one which carried the signatures of all past and present leaders in Cyprus,” he said

Durduran added, “Political equality has been accepted and supported on numerous occasions. Mr Anastasiades has not rejected political equality but in his attempt to bypass political equality by raising other models has sidelined and rendered it meaningless. There was no need to resort to such methods.”

He said that the Greek Cypriot leadership should never have given the opportunity to the Turkish Cypriot side to accuse it of not accepting political equality.

Democratic Party (DP) MP Serdar Denktaş said on Wednesday that dwelling too much on UNSG’s statement made after the trilateral meeting in Berlin was meaningless as it was nothing more than a repetition of previous statements made over the years.

In a post on social media, Denktaş said that the Cyprus negotiations process was a mechanism which the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades was using to achieve his political goals. 

“Let me make one thing clear. Anastasiades has constantly sought to delay the process after having achieved the 11 February 2014 Joint Declaration,” he said.

Denktaş said that it had become Anastasiades’ main goal to weaken and isolate Turkey on the issue of hydrocarbons by strengthening South Cyprus’s international relations, alliances and agreements.

He said that this was the strategy behind his ‘creative’ proposals which he made from time to time only to withdraw them later on.

“The perception of hope that is being created after the meeting in Berlin only serves Anastasiades’ strategy,” he added.

The DP MP said no Turkish Cypriot politician should support Anastasiades’ strategy even if it is not done directly.

He added that a solution was something that required developing relations between the two sides and taking steps, sometimes unilaterally.

KEY ACTORS
Töre (UBP)
>>
Nothing new, for the exception of the references made to past convergences & the Guterres Framework, had emerged from meeting in Berlin.
>> The same positions & views expressed for the past 50 years had been rehashed at the Berlin meeting.
>> Attempts are being made to pass off old ideas as fresh ones.
>> The meeting had provided Akıncı with the means to use the issue for propaganda purposes for his re-election campaign.

Durduran (YKP)
>>
Akıncı has been successful in Berlin, receiving the UNSG’s & UNSC’s support for a solution.
>> The Cyprob carries the risk of blowing into a wider conflict which is why the int’l community has rushed to express support to the meeting & its outcome.
>> The meeting was a success because it reaffirmed that the basis of a solution is the same as the one which carries the signatures of all past & present leaders in Cyprus.
>> Political equality has been accepted & supported on numerous occasions.
>> Anastasiades has not rejected political equality but in his attempt to bypass it by raising other models has sidelined & rendered it meaningless.
>> The GC leadership should never have given the opportunity to the TC side to accuse it of not accepting political equality.

Denktaş (DP)
>>
Dwelling too much on the UNSG’s statement after the Berlin trilateral is meaningless.
>> The statement is nothing more than a repetition of previous statements made over the years.
>> Cyprus negotiations process is a mechanism which the GC leader uses to achieve his political goals. 
>> Anastasiades has constantly sought to delay the process after having achieved the 11 February 2014 Joint Declaration.
>> It had become Anastasiades’ main goal to weaken & isolate Turkey on the issue of hydrocarbons by strengthening South Cyprus’s international relations, alliances & agreements.
>> This was the strategy behind his ‘creative’ proposals which he made from time to time only to withdraw them later on.
>> The perception of hope that is being created after the meeting in Berlin only serves Anastasiades’ strategy.
>> No TC politician should support Anastasiades’ strategy even if it is not done directly.
>> A solution was something that required developing relations between the two sides & taking steps, sometimes unilaterally.


Island’s resources must be shared equitably, says Tatar

Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Negotiations Process, Regional/ International Relations

OVERVIEW

“The natural resources around Cyprus need to be distributed equitably between the two peoples on the island,” Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the opening session of the 10th Bosphorus Summit in Istanbul, Tatar highlighted that both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots have equal rights over the natural resources. He argued that these rights emanate from international agreements.

Tatar added that the Greek Cypriot side and their partners had laid claim on the natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. He recalled the Greek Cypriot side had rejected Turkish Cypriot side’s proposals on establishing a joint committee for co-management of the resources.

“As a result, Turkey and we as the Turkish Cypriot side are now exercising our rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are telling the international community that we as Turkish Cypriots have as much a right as the Greek Cypriots on the natural resources in the area,” Tatar said.

He urged the international community to acknowledge, recognize and respect the realities on the hydrocarbons issue. “Failure to do so might lead to instability,” he warned.

Echoing the same message, Turkish Cypriot Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy said “The Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral activities in the Eastern Mediterranean will not be left unanswered. Speaking at the 35th Ministerial Session of the COMCEC (Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation) on Wednesday, Taçoy said it will not be possible to execute any project in the Eastern Mediterranean by disregarding Turkey and the TRNC. “We are taking important steps towards protecting Turkey’s and the Turkish Cypriots’ rights regarding the hydrocarbons in the region,” Taçoy said.

He also pointed out that a natural gas pipeline and electricity connecting Turkey and the TRNC was inevitable.

Touching on the outcome of the trilateral meeting in Berlin, Taçoy said the Greek Cypriot side’s only goal was to create a Cyprus without Turkey.

He criticized the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, who following the meeting, laid out preconditions for the resumption of talks, stating that Turkey must cease its hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and the process to reopen Maraş (Varosha) must be abandoned.

“There is not a single Turkish Cypriot who would accept his demands,” Taçoy stressed.

“You will be made to pay a heavy price even for dreaming of a Cyprus without Turkey,” Taçoy warned.

He concluded his remarks by stating that the Cyprus Issue was no more and that the only reality was there are two states in Cyprus.

KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>>
Island’s natural resources need to be distributed equitably between the two communities.
>> TCs & the GCs have equal rights over the natural resources and these rights emanate from international agreements.
>> Turkey & TC side are now exercising our rights in the East Med after GC side rejected TC side’s proposal on hydrocarbons.
>> The int’l community should acknowledge, recognize & respect the realities on the hydrocarbons issue. Failure to do so might lead to instability.

Taçoy (UBP)
>>
The GC side’s unilateral activities in the East Med will not be left unanswered.
>> Not possible to execute any project in the East Med. by disregarding Turkey & TCs.
>> Taking important steps towards protecting Turkey’s & the TCs’ rights regarding the hydrocarbons in the region.
>> Linking the north with Turkey through a natural gas pipeline and electricity cable is inevitable
>> GC side’s only goal is to create a Cyprus without Turkey.
>> Not a single TC would accept GC leader’s demands.
>> Those dreaming of a Cyprus without Turkey will pay a heavy price
>> Cyprob does not exist anymore. There are two states in Cyprus.


TC organisations stage protest at Metehan (Ayios Dometios)

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Economy, CBMs

OVERVIEW

The Turkish Cypriot Businesspersons’ Association (İŞAD) and several other economic organisations staged a protest at the Metehan (Ayios Dometios) crossing point on Wednesday against long queues forming at crossing points.

The associations urged the authorities to take action to address staff shortages at the crossing points as well as to open new crossing points.

Representatives from İŞAD, the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MUSİAD), the Turkish Chamber of Artisans and Shopkeepers (KTEZO), the Young Businessmen’s Association, the North Cyprus Restaurateurs Association (RESBİR), the Car dealership’s Association (GARBİR) and the Petrol Station Owners Association (BENBİR) gathered at the crossing point on Wednesday morning.

The President of İŞAD Board of Directors Enver Malmücü who read out a joint statement on behalf of all the associations said that the recent rise in the number of people crossing over to the north and the foreign currency they were bringing with them was important for the north’s economy.

He said authorities needed to open additional lanes at the Metehan crossing point as well as address the issue of staff shortages being experienced.

Also speaking, İŞAD president Okyay Sadıkoğlu said that stores, hotels, restaurants and supermarkets were doing more business as a result of the increase in people crossing to the north.


“Do Cypriots need guarantees to live together?”

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security, External Security, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Leaders and representatives of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot political parties agreed on Wednesday that one side’s security cannot pose a threat to the other side.

In a joint communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the representatives also noted the importance of the reference made by the UNSG to the point on guarantees in the Guterres framework in the statement issued after the Berlin meeting.

The political party representatives who met as part of the regular meetings of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties at Ledra Palace under the auspices of the Slovak Embassy in Nicosia, expressed their views on the issue, proposed by the hosting Turkish Cypriot political party United Cyprus Party (BKP): Do Cypriots need guarantor powers in order to live together? What should the new guarantee mechanism be like should it be implemented?


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