Front Page Headlines
All eyes on the unmanned vehicles
Yenidüzen spoke to retired colonels. Mustafa Kemal Tümkan and Behçet Öznacar evaluated the stationing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at Geçitkale “military base”. They said the move was not aimed at the security of North Cyprus. “Turkey needs it for the Eastern Mediterranean crisis. Serious measures need to be taken. The slightest error could lead to a diplomatic crisis,” Özçınar said.
“We could not have allowed the balance to turn to our disadvantage”
Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said, “the conditions have changed. We have to be aware of the bigger picture. This is not an ordinary island” in his evaluation of the decision to allocate Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) airport for UAV operations.
- Çavuşoğlu: “We have had similar military and security agreements with Libya signed in the past.”
Retailers switched to the Euro, people complained
Department of Trade issued fines to shopkeepers that use price tags in Euro. Even though the Trade Department reminded business owners the law making it mandatory to use price tags with Turkish Lira prices, retailers say their only customers are the tourists and insist they will not comply with the said law.
- Increase in the number of voters but a decrease in participation – Kıbrıs newspaper looks into the presidential elections in the past stating that election participation percentages have dropped.
The people will not be enslaved by the political blockade
Mayor of Nicosia Turkish Municipality Mehmet Harmancı said he believes the people have already made their decision on the presidential candidate. “The sides are clearer,” he said, adding that President Akıncı had made the Turkish people proud with his efforts in the negotiations process.
Officially bankrupt
Of the 28 municipalities, 18 of them owe the state ₺400m. Reforms have not been implemented only causing the municipalities debts to grow. Half of the debts belong to the Nicosia Turkish Municipality.
- The sides are cautious – The Greek Cypriot government spokesman like Özersay said there was no possibility for a heated conflict.
Speak up. You will cease to exist as long as you remain silent
Those who don’t dare to speak up against the stationing of UAVs and UACVs remain silent over Turkey’s military advances on the island. Ironically they state that the UAVs have been brought in response to the Greek Cypriots’ armament campaign.
- UAVs and UCAVs (Unmanned combat aerial vehicles) have arrived –Turkey has loaded the UAVs on three trucks and sent them to the island. The UAVs and UCAVs entered the island the other night through Famagusta port and were sent to Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) Airport. They will be taking off from the airport today (Monday).
- Asil Nadir: Incompetent fools –Turkish Cypriot businessman Asil Nadir accused officials of incompetence for failing to keep classified information about the UAVs a secret. “The Turkish and TRNC media turned this sensitive issue into a social frenzy after the officials failed to take the necessary measures. It was meaningless to spread fear and panic among the public,” he added.
Main News
Details about UAVs slowly emerge
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said on Sunday that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side had balanced the playing field with the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in response to steps taken by the Greek Cypriot side along with other actors to usurp the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Speaking to CNN Türk, Özersay said that both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side were taking steps in the Eastern Mediterranean, not just on paper but in action as well, to establish a balance in the playing field.
He said that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and similar aircraft was necessary for providing support and protection for Turkey’s drilling operations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“The Greek Cypriot side purchased eight UAVs with Israel. The other actors protect their vessels with warships but at the same time the need to collect information, observe and carry out reconnaissance emerges. We have done what other actors have been doing,” he said.
Özersay pointed out that the area was not only important strategically but also geopolitically and economically.
“It is this kind of a balance which will serve peace and stability. Had we allowed our rights to be usurped then this would lead to tensions in the period that followed. That is why we took such a step,” he added.
He added that the conditions in the region have changed.
“We have to be aware of the bigger picture. This is not an ordinary island,” he added.
Asked about what stage the preparations were, Özersay said that the process to station the UAVs at Geçitkale Airport was underway.
“All legal work has been cleared and the process is actively underway. I can’t say how long it will take because technical work is required. UAVs taking off from Dalaman, Turkey has been operating in the area for some time now but there were difficulties due to the long distance. Now the UAVs will take off from the TRNC which is where the vessels are operating,” he added.
Asked whether they had met with any reactions, Özersay said that Israel and Egypt were using the same methods to ensure their own security.
“So there is nothing more natural than doing the same thing,” he added.
Özersay said the UAVs had become part of changing needs around the world.
Meanwhile, Afrika and Yenidüzen, citing an online news portal HaberKıbrıs as its source, reported on Monday that three trucks loaded with UAVs which arrived at Famagusta port was transported to Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) Airport.
In a separate statement to Bayrak, Özersay denied the reports stating that the UAVs had not arrived on the island and that what had arrived was the control centre which was currently being installed.
He added that currently there was also a need to station UAVs and that there were not going to station armed UAVs at Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko).
Retired colonels Mustafa Kemal Tümkan and Behçet Öznacar who spoke to Yenidüzen said that the UAVs were not being stationed at Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) Airport for the north’s security but will be used to support Turkey’s operations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Both expressed the view that the UAVs will be stationed on the island temporarily and will not harm efforts to reach a settlement.
Retired colonel Öznacar said that the issue was serious and that serious security measures were needed to be in place.
He warned that the slightest error could lead to a diplomatic or political crisis. “That is why the air traffic control at Ercan (Tymbou) should be in cooperation with the UN to prevent any accidents,” he said.
KEY ACTORS
Özersay (HP)
>> UAVs have balanced the playing field.
>> Turkey & TC side taking actions in the Eastern Mediterranean, not only on paper but in the field as well.
>> The area is not only important strategically but also geopolitically & economically.
>> Balance achieved is the kind which will serve peace & stability.
>> Allowing usurpation of rights would lead to tensions in the period that followed.
>> Conditions have changed. We need to be aware of the bigger picture. Cyprus is not an ordinary island.
East Med. Problems will not end unless Cyprob is solved
Kıbrıs
Negotiations Process, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“The problems in the eastern Mediterranean will not end unless the Cyprus problem is solved,” President Mustafa Akıncı said during a meeting with the people in Akçay (Argaki) on Saturday.
He added the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) is also concerned about the developments in the region which is why Guterres is personally involved in the solution process.
Touching on the outcome of the Berlin trilateral, Akıncı said a road map for a solution had emerged from the meeting in Berlin.
He added it is important to see the realities on the island. “In this regard, the only realistic solution model is a bicommunal, bizonal federation based on political equality,” Akıncı emphasized.
Acknowledging the public’s demand to look into the domestic developments, Akıncı said, “As I have been saying for years, we have to focus our efforts to the solution of the Cyprus problem because it is in our best interest.”
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> The problems in the east Med will not end unless the Cyprob is solved.
>> UNSG is also concerned about the developments in the region which is why he is personally involved in the solution process.
>> A road map for a solution emerged from the meeting in Berlin.
>> It is important to see the realities on the island.
>> The only realistic solution model is a BBF based on political equality.
>> Our efforts must be focused on the solution of the Cyprob because it is in our best interest.