Front Page Headlines
“Cyprus has the highest number of asylum seekers per capita”
The United Nations Commission for Refugees Office in Cyprus shared details concerning asylum seekers. The number of asylum seekers that have come to Cyprus has exceeded 10,000. 60 per cent of them have decided to settle in Cyprus.
“I hope there won’t be an early election if the government collapses”
Narin Ferdi Şefik, President of the Supreme Court, expressed the hope that there won’t be an early election if the coalition government collapses because such a situation would require holding elections with the existing election system, which is based on a single list of candidates encompassing all six districts. She warned it will be difficult to announce the outcome of the elections and to find anyone to work at ballot-box stations.
- Akıncı: “The urgency of the solution is no longer only a need for Cyprus”
- Tatar: “The world sees the Greek Cypriot side’s human rights violations”
- Ill-treatment of the Turkish ship captains on the UN’s agenda
These cars are death traps
People were shocked to see the scrap cars kept at the Famagusta Free Port area. Some car-dealers import these scrap cars from the UK and Japan for cheap before selling them on the domestic market after repairing them. MASIB (TC Motor Vehicles Importers and Dealers’ Association) President İbrahim Akın pointed to the lack of legislation on the importing scrap cars to be sold in the market. He said there is no state institution to control the import of such vehicles!
- Britons chasing after Republic of Cyprus citizenship – Greek Cypriot media reports that UK citizens in Cyprus want to acquire RoC citizenship.
The refugees in the south come from the north
Katja Saha, Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cyprus informed the Turkish Cypriot media regarding the issue of asylum seekers and migration movements in the world and specifically for Cyprus.
- CMP finds remains of 28 missing persons in 2019
- Possible to reverse the dangerous course of developments – President Mustafa Akıncı pointed to the escalating tension in the eastern Mediterranean due to hydrocarbon resources and said the 13 July co-management proposal was still valid.
Interpol involved
The plans of four friends to share 45 per cent of €2m which they aimed to launder was foiled. Police are involved in the matter. According to the plans, Ahmet Saldan who owns a plot of land with a hotel permit was going to launder €2m by faking the sale of the plot to a company in Germany.
- ‘State’ laws in the south are a deterrence – A 24-year-old Greek Cypriot man has been fined €26,000 for illegal hunting.
- Stronger cooperation – German Defence Minister who visited South Cyprus watched a joint military exercise.
He couldn’t say no to the UAVs
He’s not making any concessions before a solution but wants everything from the other side. Mustafa Akıncı who chose to ignore Turkey’s military advances in Cyprus triggered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s threats, blackmail and war-mongering held the Greek Cypriot side as the sole responsible for tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Another missing person found –The remains of another missing person was found in excavations taking place in Nicosia’s Kızılbaş (Trachonas) area.
- Cyprus has the highest number of asylum seekers per capita
Main News
The urgency of a solution has become a need for the region
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Energy, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
“The need for adopting a position in favour of using the island’s natural resources to bring peace and prosperity to the entire island has become more imminent with the military aerial vehicles (UAVs)being stationed on both sides of the island,” President Mustafa Akıncı said on Thursday.
In a written statement, Akıncı stressed the July 13
proposal on co-management of hydrocarbons is still valid and is at the
table.
“I wish to remind that our proposal which will transform the hydrocarbons into
an area to be utilized in the best interest of the two communities on the
island, is still at the table,” he noted.
Akıncı recalled the recently established military collaboration between the Greek Cypriot side and Israel as well as the Greek Cypriots unilateral steps on hydrocarbons had forced the north to take reciprocal steps.
He added that the Greek Cypriot side’s military agreements with the countries in the region, and their attempts to disregard the rights of the Turkish Cypriots have resulted in the escalation of tension on the island and in the region.
He also noted that the initial decision to allow sales of arms to the Greek Cypriot side, debates on granting military bases to various countries in the south are all negative developments.
“Our recent past has shown it is not possible to achieve anything with unilateral steps by ostracizing the other side instead of meeting at a common denominator of interest,” Akıncı said.
He stressed such initiatives have resulted in consequences that neither side prefers.
“The negative consequences of policies based on tension instead of seizing the proposals based on sharing and co-management, are becoming more visible,” Akıncı stressed and reiterated that his July 13 proposal is still valid.
Akıncı emphasized the need for initiatives that are based on the shared interests of all sides.
“As a result of the latest developments, the urgency for a solution in Cyprus has gone beyond its borders and has become a need for the region,” Akıncı stressed.
Akıncı said his efforts are focused on creating conditions in Cyprus that peace and collaboration will prevail.
KEY ACTOR
Akıncı
>> The need to use natural resources in a way to bring peace & prosperity to the entire island has become more imminent with the deployment of UAVs.
>> The TC side’s July 13 proposal on co-management of hydrocarbons is still valid.
>> The proposal will allow hydrocarbons to be used in the best interest of the two communities.
>> The GC side’s unilateral steps triggered various reciprocal steps from the north.
>> GC side’s military agreements with neighbouring countries & their attempts to disregard the rights of the TCs have resulted in the escalation of tension on the island & the region.
>> The initial decision to allow sales of arms to the GC side, debates on granting military bases to various countries in the south are all negative developments.
>> Experience shows it is not possible to achieve anything with unilateral steps by ostracizing the other side.
>> Such initiatives have resulted in consequences that neither side prefers.
>> The negative consequences of policies based on tension instead of seizing the proposals based on sharing & co-management are becoming more visible.
>> The need for initiatives based on the shared interests of all sides have emerged.
>> Latest developments have shown urgency for a solution had passed gone beyond Cyprus’s borders & has become a need for the region.
GCs’ harassment of Turkish captains reported by UN
Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis, Diyalog
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The harassment of Turkish sea captains at the hands of the Greek Cypriot authorities has been documented by a recent UN observation report, Turkish Cypriot dailies reported on Thursday.
The UN reported that Greek Cypriot authorities have threatened all captains aiming to enter into the harbours of South Cyprus, as seen in evidence provided by the Turkish Cyprus Ship Owners’ Union and Turkish Cypriot Union of Ship Agencies.
The report noted that Turkish sea captains were being arrested and denied basic human rights, such as the provision of translators and lawyers, and being subjected to foul treatment by Greek Cypriot police.
It noted that most of the captains are released after a number of days, without explanations provided.
Bilun Elmacıoğlu, an expert on international maritime law who applied to the UN with the aforementioned evidence in order to attract attention to the issue, stated that Turkish Cypriots are being denied basic human rights, thereby putting them under social, economic and psychological duress.
He said that the actions on the Greek side ought to be considered within the scope of human rights.
The Greek Cypriot authorities have falsely claimed that the country’s legal decision to define the harbours of Famagusta, Kyrenia and Gemikonağı (Karavostasi) in the north as “closed and forbidden” was actually an international decision, presenting the move as though it were accepted by the UN and EU.
However, much lobbying on behalf of the north has led the UN and EU to accept that there are no such sanctions.
“The world has taken notice of the Greek Cypriot side’s human rights violations,” Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said on Thursday welcoming the UN’s report.
Speaking at a programme on Turkish state broadcaster TRT, Tatar argued the Greek Cypriot side, exploiting its international recognition, has been violating the human rights for years.
“The Greek Cypriot side also imposes unfair embargoes on the TRNC, which the world has begun to see as well,” Tatar claimed.
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said, “The Greek Cypriot side wants to harm the Turkish Cypriot economy and to cut off TRNC’s economic relations with the world.
Speaking to Turkish broadcaster TRT on Thursday, Özersay also accused the Greek Cypriot side of pursuing a destructive campaign against the TRNC.
He noted the Greek Cypriot side unilaterally claimed that the north’s ports were closed to international maritime traffic.
“This is not the viewpoint of the international law,” Özersay said.
He added the European Commission (EC) about a decade ago and very recently, had stated in writing, that the north’s sea-ports were open for international maritime traffic and commerce.
“The Greek Cypriot side, however, continued to use the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions against the TRNC in its global campaign despite the European Commission’s letter stating otherwise regarding the ports,” Özersay said.
He noted the foreign ministry had launched initiatives with the UN in Geneva, which was why the UN was now monitoring the Greek Cypriot side closely.
“This is a positive development,” Özersay said, adding that none of the UNSC resolutions on the TRNC mentioned any of the sea-ports in the north.
Therefore claiming that the ports are closed to international traffic under the UN system is incorrect, Özersay said.
“No matter what the Greek Cypriot side does, Turkish Cypriots will continue to remain on the island with their own identity,” he concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>> The int’l community has taken notice of the GC side’s human rights violations.
>> The GC side also imposes unfair embargoes on the TRNC.
Özersay (HP)
>> The GC side wants to harm the TC economy & to cut off TRNC’s economic relations with the world.
>> The GC side’s claim that north’s ports are closed to int’l maritime traffic is not the viewpoint of int’l law.
>> EC has stated in writing north’s sea-ports are open for int’l maritime traffic & trade.
>> UN’s monitoring of GC side regarding human rights violations is a positive development.
>> Claims that north’s ports are closed to int’l traffic under the UN system is incorrect.
>> No matter what the GC side does, TCs will continue to remain on the island maintaining their identity.
Remains of a GC missing person found in north Nicosia
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Excavation teams working for the Committee for Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus searching for missing persons have recovered the remains of one individual in a military area north of Nicosia, it was announced on Thursday.
A statement from the committee on missing persons said the remains were found in Kızılbaş (Trachonas) on Wednesday.
So far, this year the CMP has recovered the remains of 28 individuals, the statement said.
The presidency is the only window opening to the world
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Havadis
Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
“The Office of the Presidency is the only institution in the north that has political stability,” Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman said on Thursday.
Erhürman, speaking on a programme on Bayrak, said that political stability in the office of the presidency can be reflected in both domestic and international affairs. He added the presidency plays a significant role in CTP’s three-pronged vision as it is the only window in the north that opens to the world.
Erhürman argued that the presidency should be a lot more active on issues such as tourism, higher education and other areas of the economy.
Touching on the recent developments, Erhürman said the word ‘status quo’, which is often used to describe the situation the Turkish Cypriots are in, cannot continue.
“It is not sustainable,” Erhürman said.
“We are as if living the same day over and over again. Our agendas are always the same. But we have to end today to reach tomorrow. However, we have to start working from today for tomorrow,” Erhürman concluded.
KEY ACTOR
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Office of the President is the only institution in the north that has political stability.
>> This political stability can be reflected in both domestic & int’l affairs.
>> The presidency plays a significant role in CTP’s three-pronged vision as it is the only window in the north that opens to the world.
>> The presidency should be a lot more active on issues such as tourism, higher education & other areas of the economy.
>> Status quo means the continuing situation in Turkish however we believe the situation cannot continue. It is not sustainable.
Dönmez: “We aren’t guests in the Mediterranean”
Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations, External Security
OVERVIEW
“We will neither usurp anyone’s right nor will we allow anyone to usurp the rights of the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said on Thursday.
Speaking at an energy conference in Batman, Turkey, Dönmez stressed Turkey is not a “guest” in the Mediterranean but the host.
“It is not possible to carry out any exploration in the region without Turkey’s consent or approval,” Dönmez said, adding that the agreement signed with Libya has foiled the plans of neighbouring countries.
He also recalled the maritime jurisdiction agreement with Libya has also been approved by the Turkish Parliament.
Dönmez reiterated that Turkey is committed to carrying out five new drillings in 2020.
He noted that Turkey’s exploration continued with all its might.
He said the Fatih and the Yavuz drillships were operating at a depth of four thousand metres while Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa and Oruç Reis seismic research vessels continued with their research.
“We have the best vessels equipped with the highest technology,” Dönmez said.
KEY ACTOR
Dönmez (Turkey)
>> Turkey will neither usurp anyone’s right nor will it allow anyone to usurp the rights of the TCs in the East Med.
>> Turkey is not a “guest” in the Med but the host.
>> It is not possible to carry out any exploration in the region without Turkey’s consent or approval.
>> The agreement signed with Libya has foiled other neighbouring countries plans.
>> Turkey is committed to carrying out five new drillings in 2020.
>> Turkey has the best vessels equipped with the highest technology.
Cyprus has the highest number of asylum seekers per capita
Yenidüzen, Havadis, Afrika
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Cyprus has the highest number of asylum seekers per capita, the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Cyprus Office announced on Thursday at a meeting with representatives of Turkish Cypriot media.
The head of the UNCHR office in Cyprus Katja Saha said that the number of asylum seekers who arrived in Cyprus had exceeded 10,000.
She added that 60 per cent of those who arrived had decided to remain on the island.
Saha added that many of the migrants or asylum seekers who arrived in the north wanted to cross to the south because of the absence of legislation in the north for asylum seekers.
“Legal status is extremely important for those seeking asylum,” she added.
Saha said that the UNHCR’s priority at the moment was achieving recognition of the right to seek asylum in the north.
“The principle of not sending back people who escaped conflict or dangers in their home countries is a universally binding principle,” Saha said.
She pointed out that the number of asylum seekers wishing to remain in the north were low and did not exceed a hundred.
“We provide support to these individuals. Our priority is that these people who arrive in the north are granted refugee status. We are working closely with civil society organisations based in the north,” she added.
Saha said that one of the biggest obstacles UNCHR faced was the absence of direct contact with authorities in the north.
In terms of discrimination against refugees, Saha said that they seldom witnessed discrimination against such individuals in Cyprus.
“Culture and physical similarities are the main reason for this. However, we see there is higher discrimination against people from Africa,” she said.
Saha added that society’s acceptance of refugees; asylum seekers and migrants had reached 50 per cent in time.
Also speaking, UNCHR consultant Faika Deniz said that attempts to draft legislation granting basic rights to asylum seekers and refugees in the north had been made in 2013 but was later shelved.