Front Page Headlines
Three deaths, three years, the same road
It’s been three years since the traffic accident which claimed the lives of three people took place on the Kyrenia-Değirmenlik (Kythrea) road. The only changes made on the road since then have been the metal protective side barriers installed along the road. Death still lurks over the road that has been the cause of so much pain and grief.
- İŞAD (TC Businesspersons’ Association) Chairman Enver Mamülcü: “Open the gates to the south, let the economy grow”
The uncertainty over Brexit is annoying
It is uncertain how one thousand and so Turkish Cypriot students studying in the UK will be affected by the Brexit process. Even though the Turkish Cypriot education minister claims the students need not worry, the poll conducted by the Turkish Cypriot Student Federation, shows nearly 70 per cent of them are concerned about Brexit.
- Özersay: “If the Greek Cypriot side wants to curb immigration we are ready for collaboration but if they want to harm our economy, we will harm them too.”
- FM Çavuşoğlu: “They did not listen to our proposals in Cyprus, therefore, we sent our ships.”
“Sequestration law” to be taken to the Constitutional Court
Both the Social Democratic Party (TDP) and the Rebirth Party (YDP) believe the recently enacted “code of civil procedure amendments” following its publication in the official gazette, will cause severe problems for the community.
- Çavuşoğlu: They didn’t listen to our proposals! We sent our ships to start drilling – Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Turkey sent its drilling ships to the region to as a show of force. He added his ministry was continuing diplomatic efforts as well.
- Özersay: “We will implement countermeasures if the Greek Cypriot side wants to harm our economy” – Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay reacted to Greek Cypriot side’s decision to implement measures at crossing points and expressed his readiness to collaborate should the intention really be to curb illegal migration.
The numbers are horrifying
Barış Sel, Deputy Director of the Police Narcotics Department spoke to Havadis regarding efforts to curb growing drug-related offenses. Sel said the most popular drug was marijuana used mainly between the 22 to 28 age group.
- We showed our strength – Turkish Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu spoke on the natural gas issue.
Anna’s fear for her life
Greek Cypriot woman who has been living in the north with her son illegally for the past four years begged the court after being arrested not to be sent back to the south. Anna told the judge that she had escaped to the north from her abusive husband and that the fear had ruined her psychology. Anna had been in a relationship with someone after crossing the north but tried to commit suicide several days ago after her boyfriend broke off the relationship.
- This crossing point is not enough – Around 6500 vehicles crossed over from south to north yesterday (Sunday).
- It’s [Cyprus] been divided in practice – Former Greek Cypriot leader George Vassiliou said, “We may not recognise it but the TRNC has all characteristics of a state.”
Murder attempt at the hands of bosses and the state
The collapse of a public school under construction in Kyrenia has caused outrage. Bağımsızlık Yolu (Independence Movement) in a press statement said that the incident wasn’t an accident or part of some destiny but attempted murder by greedy businessmen and the state. The movement demanded that those responsible be brought to justice.
- Former Greek Cypriot president George Vasiliou: the TRNC is a full-fledged state – Vasiliou: “We may not recognise it but the TRNC today possesses all characteristics of a state”
Main News
Özersay warns GC side over new Green Line measures
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Migration & Citizenship, Internal Security, Economy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay on Sunday warned the Greek Cypriot side that the Turkish Cypriot side would respond in kind if recent amendments to the Green Line code of implementation were aimed at hurting the Turkish Cypriot economy.
The new regulation is aimed at tighter controls at crossing points and restricts the movement of third-country nationals across the Green Line on grounds that illegal migration had grown out of control.
“If the move is truly aimed at curbing illegal migration we as Turkish Cypriot authorities are prepared to cooperate. However, we will be left with no option but to take steps of our own if illegal migration has been used as an excuse to initiate these changes so as to prevent the arrival of tourists to the north and hurt the Turkish Cypriot economy,” he warned.
Özersay said that the Turkish Cypriot foreign ministry was following the developments closely as it was not exactly clear what the new regulations envisaged.
He argued that the solution to such problems was possible through dialogue without having to wait for a solution to the Cyprus Problem.
Özersay pointed out that the issue of migration was a serious problem not only because of the conflict in Syria but because of rising global economic inequality.
“It is true that Cyprus is particularly affected by the issue and if the Greek Cypriot side would like to take additional measures to address this issue we are ready to cooperate with them. But if the Greek Cypriot side is attempting to use this global problem to discourage tourists arriving from ports in the south from crossing to the north we shall not refrain from taking reciprocal stems. This is not something we prefer and I hope it will not come to that. The situation is not clear and we shall soon the real aim of the measures so that we might take steps accordingly,” he said.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> TC authorities ready to cooperate with GC authorities if measures are really aimed at curbing the influx of migrants.
>> TC authorities will take reciprocal steps if the restrictions introduced are aimed at hurting the TC economy.
Ankara says Libya deal complies with int’l law
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Ankara on Sunday said the recently inked memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Turkey and Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) on maritime jurisdictions complied with international law.
“Through this agreement with Libya, the two countries have clearly manifested their intention not to allow any fait-accompli [in the eastern Mediterranean],” Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hami Aksoy said in an official statement in response to statements by Egypt and Greece.
The agreement determined a portion of Turkey’s maritime jurisdictions in the region, Aksoy said, adding it “is in accordance with the court decisions that create the international jurisprudence and international law including the relevant articles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
Reminding that Turkey has the longest continental coastline in the eastern Mediterranean, the statement said: “The islands which lie on the opposite side of the median line between two mainlands cannot create maritime jurisdiction areas beyond their territorial waters and that the length and direction of the coasts should be taken into account in delineating maritime jurisdiction areas.”
Referring to the regional countries, Aksoy said the Turkish government’s action was based on international law and an “equity-based approach,” while the countries which reject Turkey’s legitimate arguments took unilateral steps, accusing Turkey.
He also emphasized that the mere presence of
the Meis Island — or, Kastellorizo — across the Turkish mainland could not
have any effect on Ankara’s maritime territories is contrary to the arguments
of Greece and the Greek Cypriots.
Referring to these
arguments as “maximalist and uncompromising,” Aksoy said a similar
approach once had made Egypt lose 40,000 square kilometres (15,444 square
miles) of its maritime territory.
KEY ACTORS
Aksoy (Turkey)
>> MoU between Turkey and Libya on maritime jurisdictions complies with the int’l law.
>> Islands which lie on the opposite side of the median line between two mainlands cannot create maritime jurisdiction areas beyond their territorial waters.
>> Length & direction of the coasts should be taken into account in delineating maritime jurisdiction areas.
>> Ankara’s action is based on int’l law & “equity-based approach.
İŞAD chairman calls for more crossing points
Yenidüzen
Economy, CBMs
OVERVIEW
“More crossing points are needed to develop trade between the two communities and to further develop the Turkish Cypriot economy,” head of the Turkish Cypriot Businesspersons’ Association (İŞAD) Enver Mamülcü said in an interview with Yenidüzen on Monday.
Mamülcü pointed out that the only reason was the north’s economy kept going through the current Turkish Lira economic crisis was the flow of money the south.
Mamücü, in response to a question on the impact of economic embargoes on the north on commerce with the south, said embargoes were part of a political perception created by the international community and by some Turkish Cypriot politicians.
He added that it was not possible to speak about embargoes in trade as Turkish Cypriot manufacturers continued to produce and sell their products even to foreign markets.
“We have to focus our efforts on producing, marketing and selling products with added value instead of trying to grow barley,” Mamülcü said.
Mamülcü pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot economy was susceptible to any economic crisis in Turkey.
He added that the higher education and tourism sectors were the driving force behind the north’s economy but that higher education sector was currently falling behind tourism as a result of changing demographics in university students.
“The economic gap is covered with the cash flow coming from the south now,” Mamülcü said, adding that this was the main reason why İŞAD was demanding the opening of new crossing points. Mamülcü also argued that the psychological barriers preventing the Greek Cypriots from shopping in the north have been broken.
“All sectors are now providing service and products at European standards,” Mamülcü noted.
Touching on the association’s demands for opening new crossings, Mamülcü criticized the government for remaining callous to their calls. He said the association has presented feasibility studies, investment costs and projects to the authorities but that their efforts had fallen on deaf ears.
He said İŞAD is collaborating with Greek Cypriot economic associations in addition to contributing to the efforts to broaden the scope of the Green Line Trade regulation.
“Trade is the biggest tool that will deliver the desired solution,” Mamülcü concluded.