Front Page Headlines
Students furious over quarantine condition
As of June 8, students, permanent residents and those with work permits will be allowed to return to the island on the condition that they cover the cost of their own 14 days in quarantine. The decision announced by the Council of Ministers drew strong reactions, particularly from Turkish students who bombarded the government on social media under the hashtag #cyprusdisgrace. The students pointed out that 14 days of quarantine would cost ₺2,000 (€264). Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu said the condition was only valid for June and that a new arrangement could be introduced as of July. He added that the students could spend their 14-day mandatory quarantine at their school dorms and thus would not have to pay the required amount.
- “Intentions and criteria regarding the gradual reopening of crossing points need to be determined” – General Coordinator for the Technical Committees Meltem Onurkan Samani speaks to Yenidüzen. She said the bicommunal Technical Committee for Health will convene tomorrow (Monday) to evaluate epidemiological data from both sides to review prospects for free movement.
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Regulation for occupational illnesses pending for years
The Social Security law, which includes a provision to issue a regulation on occupational illnesses, had been enacted 12 years and five months ago. However, no work has been done on drafting the regulation, which the law refers to. The law fails to define or identify occupational illnesses thus depriving people of seeking any legal action or compensation for illness caused by their occupation. KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot Public Servants’ Union) General Secretary Devrim Barçın spoke on the need to draft the regulation.
- Seasonal workers returning to their homes – 145 seasonal workers, who were stranded in the north due to coronavirus pandemic, boarded a ship destined for Turkey yesterday (Saturday).
- Turkish Cypriots working in the south will hold a protest outside the parliament on Tuesday – The workers working in the south criticized the cabinet for not adopting any decisions related to them.
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Return to Taşucu from Kyrenia
Turkish students and workers who have been unable to find work after the TRNC economy received a heavy blow from coronavirus pandemic are leaving the country. 384 people left the island yesterday (Saturday) via ferry services departing from Kyrenia and Famagusta. Around 14,000 Turkish nationals are believed to had left the island before the end of March on ferry services and flights organised by the Turkish consulate. Those departing have been complaining of the lack of work and low wages. “Life is cheaper in Turkey. Prices have gone up. We are returning to our families in Turkey,” the passengers were quoted as saying.
- The countdown has begun – The bicommunal Technical Committee for Health will be discussing the issue of reopening the crossing points tomorrow (Monday).
We saved you
The cabinet decision’s concerning Turkish students wishing to return to the TRNC was met with harsh criticism in Turkey, leading to hate speech. The Turks’ nationalist rhetoric that ‘we spilt blood to save you’ rose from the dead. This time our even gratitude expressing political leaders were not spared from the insults and accusations. The university students studying in the TRNC slammed the cabinet. According to the government decision, those wishing to return to the island will have to spend 14-days in quarantine, the costs of which they will have to cover themselves. The students, however, claimed the Turkish Cypriot authorities were being ‘ungrateful.’
- Those working in the south to stage a protest – The workers, who are not allowed to cross to the south, will stage a protest outside the parliament on Tuesday.
- Only one positive case – 2061 tests were carried out in the south. No new cases found in the 56 tests done in the north.
- The reopening of the crossings is imminent – Greek Cypriot media claims.
- Filed lawsuits against 68 people – An expert in expletive language Rebirth Party (YDP) MP Bertan Zaroğlu has filed lawsuits against 68 people claiming he was subjected to insults and slander on social media.
Main News
TC workers prepare to stage a demonstration in front of parliament
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot workers who work in the south are preparing to stage a demonstration in front of the Turkish Cypriot parliament on Tuesday, Turkish Cypriot media reported on Sunday.
The group, who calls themselves “Turkish Cypriots Working in the South” is demanding Turkish Cypriot authorities to take concrete steps which will allow them to return to their jobs in the south.
According to a written statement, the group said the failure of the cabinet to produce a decision concerning the crossing points at Friday’s meeting has left them with no choice but to take the issue to the streets.
The workers, calling on the political parties and labour unions in the north, said that the issue which existed due to the absence of a political solution on the island was not just the workers’ problem but a problem which concerned all on the island.
“That is why we are expecting your support,” the statement read.
The workers warned that they risked losing their job particularly now that a three-month restriction placed on businesses by the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) government to lay-off employees was expiring.
Meanwhile, the President Akıncı Special Advisor for Political Affairs and History Meltem Onurkan Samani, who is also the general coordinator for the technical committees, said that intentions and criteria for reopening crossing points should be determined.
In an interview with Yenidüzen, Samani reminded that the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health will meet on Monday to evaluate the epidemiological data from both sides to review prospects for free movement.
She reminded that an agreement had been reached in principle between Akıncı, the government and parliament at a meeting on May 22 to gradually reopen crossings on the condition that necessary health precautions are taken.
“The Turkish Cypriot side in the meantime should make its position clear and determine criteria for workers, patients and students who need to cross to the south urgently,” she said.
Samani added that it seemed that the outbreak had been brought under control in the south.
She expressed the view that the crossings will not only be allowed for a limited number of people.
“Everyone is waiting for the crossings to reopen. These include shopkeepers, supermarkets, petrol stations, hotels and casinos. They are waiting for Greek Cypriots or tourists to cross north,” she said, adding that there was was a similar expectation in the south for people crossing over from the north.
“In the end, I don’t think either side will prevent the crossings from reopening. The important thing is to be careful, to adopt and adhere to certain measures.”
Samani in response to a question explained that the Greek Cypriot members of the bicommunal health committee had learned of the Greek Cypriot leadership’s decision to shut four of the crossing points from them.
“Despite a view by health experts from both communities there was no need to close the crossing points on the condition that adequate screening was carried out at all ports of entry to the island, north or south, the Greek Cypriot leadership, without informing its experts, had decided to shut down the four crossing points,” she said.
“There was even an expert view given stating that there was even no need for thermal cameras at the crossings. The crossings were then closed by both sides following the outbreak of cases on both sides.”
Regarding the work carried out by the other bicommunal technical committees, Samani reminded that the work carried out by the committees represented the two leaders until a comprehensive settlement was reached on the island.
“The committees are structures which continue to carry out cooperation in humanitarian, cultural and technical matters during and in the absence of talks,” she said.
Samani added that the committees served to build trust, goodwill and culture of compromise between the two communities, which is why it was crucial to strengthen their role.
She said that many of the technical committees continue to hold meetings via teleconference and that pending projects had started to slowly resume.
Federation must not be delayed any further
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Afrika
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
“A federal solution based on the United Nations (UN) parameters must not be delayed any further,” Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Fikri Toros said on Friday.
Speaking during a “Cyprus Left” conference, Toros reminded his party had been a staunch supporter of a settlement, democracy and regional peace since its foundation
“The CTP’s vision for the island has always been a United Federal Cyprus and in fact, this vision had been the backbone of the CTP’s political position on the island,” Toros stressed, highlighting the urgency of a lasting federal settlement on the island.
Toros, recalling the disappointing outcome of Crans Montana process in 2017, the hope of resuming talks was pending following a long reflection period.
“The continuing problem on the island prevents the Cypriots from benefiting from a sustainable peace, a secure environment, from democracy and wealth,” Toros said.
He also argued that the current situation on the island not only contradicted the basic values of the European Union (EU) but also threatened the much-needed geopolitical stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Toros, touching on the issue of political equality, said this was is a sine qua non for any federation.
“Political equality is a requirement in all the federal entities as stated in all the UN decisions to date,” Toros stressed.
He explained that political equality did not necessarily mean numerical equality but to protect the interests of the two communities, it meant effective participation in the decision-making processes of the federal state.
“It is, for this reason, the political equality of the two communities must not be limited to the council of ministers but must be present in the form of rotating presidency and a one-positive-vote principle,” Toros said.
“The equality cannot be limited to ‘issues of vital importance’ for the two communities,” Toros stressed.
He also recalled the leaders’ meeting held in Berlin on November 25, 2019.
He said they reaffirmed the status quo on the island is no longer sustainable and reaffirmed their commitment to finding a bicommunal, bizonal federal (BBF) solution based on the political equality of the communities.
“We as the CTP, urge the two leaders to strengthen their dialogue towards convening a five-party meeting with the goal of the resumption of comprehensive settlement talks,” Toros said.
He noted the CTP trusts the UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) leadership to bring the relevant sides together at a five-party conference and that he will not allow any derogation from the agreed points ahead of the comprehensive settlement talks.
“As it is reaffirmed in the UN statement issued following the Berlin trilateral, the parties will remain loyal to all the convergences, the 2014 Joint Declaration as well as the Guterres Framework to open the way for the negotiations to reach to a strategic political agreement,” Toros said.
“The federal solution will remain the priority of Cyprus left,” Toros concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Toros (CTP)
>> A federal solution based on UN parameters must not be delayed any further.
>> The CTP’s vision for the island has always been United Federal Cyprus.
>> The continuing problem on the island prevents the Cypriots from benefiting from a sustainable peace, a secure environment, from democracy & wealth.
>> The current situation on the island not only contradicts the basic values of the EU but also threatens the much-needed geopolitical stability in the East Med.
>> Political equality is a sine qua non & a requirement in all the federal entities as stated in all the UN decisions to date.
>> Political equality does not necessarily mean numerical equality but to protect the interests of the two communities, it means effective participation in the decision-making processes.
>> Political equality of the two communities must not be limited to the council of ministers but must be present in the form of rotating presidency & the one-positive-vote principle.
>> The equality cannot be limited to ‘issues of vital importance’ for the two communities.
>> The two leaders must strengthen their dialogue towards convening a five-party meeting with the goal of the resumption of comprehensive settlement talks.
>> CTP trusts the UNSG’s leadership to bring the relevant sides together at the five-party conference.
>> UNSG will not allow any derogation from the agreed points ahead of the comprehensive settlement talks.
>> The federal solution will remain the priority of Cyprus left.