Front Page Headlines
Official gazette in tatters
The quarrel between the UBP (National Unity Party) – HP (Peoples’ Party coalition partners over the Famagusta, İskele (Trikomo) and Yeniboğaziçi Master Development Plan has not ended. The Ministry of Interior sent the decree for the development plan to the Prime Minister’s Office. The decree, which would have been valid for an indefinite period of time, was published in the official gazette but the next day the decree, without informing the interior ministry, was declared null and void on grounds that it had been published by mistake.
Ceased Print/Online Only
Run hot and cold
The process to extend the Famagusta, İskele (Trikomo) and Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) construction decree which has been the cause of a crisis between the coalition partners has turned in a long-winded story. The decree which was extended after being published in the official gazette was cancelled by Prime Minister Ersin Tatar yesterday (Wednesday) on grounds that its contents had been changed and it was made valid for an indefinite period of time. Later in the night, the sides found the middle ground and the old decree was extended.
Corona adjustment to paid military service
Attention was drawn to the obstacles experienced by those who will be carrying out paid military service due to the coronavirus pandemic in the draft Military Service Amendment Law. Individuals who have been abroad before January 1, 2016, but who are no longer eligible for paid military service will now be given a second chance. Those who pay £6000 will now be eligible to do paid military service. Those who were born abroad will now be able to obtain a certificate of discharge if they pay a £1000 before the end of 2020.
Crisis is deep
Uncollected overdue debts (Non-performing loans) by banks have exceeded ₺2bn (€255m). The economic crisis in the country is deepening every passing day. According to information obtained by Diyalog, the banks which gave out ₺27bn (€3.4m) in loans to individuals and businesses are finding it difficult to collect ₺2bn (€255m) in overdue and unpaid debts. Economic circles say this is a high figure.
- Hoteliers are unhappy – Greek Cypriot tourism is planning to end the 2020with 75 per cent losses.
Erdoğan crosses out Akıncı, wants Özersay instead
A shocking revelation from the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodulides. Turkey has proposed talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots but excluding Mustafa Akıncı, Christodoulides said on Wednesday, adding that it wanted Kudret Özersay in his place. EU diplomats confirmed this report.
Main News
North finally hands over epidemiological report to the south
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
After weeks of waiting, the Turkish Cypriot side on Wednesday finally submitted the epidemiological report on the coronavirus outlook in the north to the Greek Cypriot side.
The 45-page long epidemiological report from the north was relayed to the Greek Cypriot co-chair of the bicommunal technical committee on health and to the United Nations (UN) official in charge of the technical committees on 15 July 2020, President Mustafa Akıncı’s office announced on Wednesday.
In a statement issued, the Turkish Cypriot coordinator of the bicommunal committees, Meltem Onurkan Samani said the health committee meeting, which had to be postponed due to Turkish Cypriot health ministry’s failure in submitting the report on time, will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2020.
“Following a pre-reading of the report by the Turkish Cypriot members of the committee, the epidemiological report in line with the procedures in place had been sent to the counterparts in the Greek Cypriot side on Wednesday,” Samani noted.
She added that the Turkish Cypriot members of the committee will also hold a meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2020, for a detailed evaluation of the report.
Samani said the health experts, who have contributed to preparing the report have also been invited to attend the meeting.
In the meantime, the Turkish Cypriot Health Ministry published a revised set of rules on entry into the north on Wednesday.
In a statement issued, the Health Ministry stated that those who will travel to Turkey for a short period of time (not more than five days) will be allowed to enter the north upon their return without having to be retested on the condition that they had a negative PCR test result obtained within the 72 hours of their departure.
Nonetheless, individuals in this group are required to have a second PCR test sometime between the fifth and seventh day of their return to the island.
The rules adopted on July 8, 2020, on the crossings remain unchanged. In this regard, individuals wishing to cross across the divide will only be required to carry out a one-off PCR test but will be tested randomly at certain periods.
Turkish Cypriots who work, study or receive treatment in the south, however, will be required to conduct a PCR test every 15 days starting from July 21, 2020, onwards.
This will apply on the condition that the person has not left the island for 14 consecutive days. The PCR tests can be carried out either at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu hospital or at the Famagusta state hospital.
According to the new rules, taxi drivers, as well as those trading with the south in line with the Green Line Trade regulation, are included in this category of people.
If the person has travelled abroad, he or she will be subjected to conditions that apply for the category in which the country they travelled to and from is listed.
Turkish Cypriot residents of Pile (Pyla) will be able to cross to the north on the condition they carry out a PCR test the first time they cross.
Those people from the A category list of countries will be able to enter the north by only showing a negative PCR test result obtained within the last 72 hours through any one of the crossing points.
However, the people who do not show a negative PCR test result will be tested by the health ministry personnel at the Metehan (Agios Domethios) and the Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing points and these people will be subjected to mandatory quarantine until the test results come out.
The individual will be asked to pay for the cost of the test as well as the quarantine period. The PCR test will cost ₺300 (€39) and the cost of the quarantine per day is set at ₺265 (€33).
If passengers from a country listed in the A category is arriving the north via Turkey, s/he will be considered as a B category national and will be subjected to a second PCR testing upon entry into the north.
Turkish Cypriot authorities confirmed on Wednesday that arrivals from the UK to the north will start on Thursday, but passengers must quarantine for seven days.
Passengers from the UK will also have to present a negative coronavirus test certificate. They are required to get tested between three to five days prior to their flight.
Upon their arrival in the north, they will be tested for a second time and then they will be quarantined for seven days. After that, they will be tested for the third time.
Turkish Cypriots will be exempt from the quarantine costs, but anyone else arriving from the UK will have the bear both the costs of the test and quarantine.
The health ministry said the decision to allow passengers from the UK was due to the decrease in the number of cases in that country.
All diplomatic, United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), British Bases Area (SBA) staff as well as members of international organizations will only be required to present a negative PCR test the first time they cross over to the north.
However, Turkish Cypriots working in the UN buffer zone and local UN or SBA staff will be required to re-test for COVID-19 every 15 days.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Cypriot Health Ministry also disseminated the north’s epidemiological report to the media as well.
Turkey issues new Navtex for East Med. drilling
Kıbrıs Postası
External Security
OVERVIEW
Turkey on Wednesday issued a new maritime notice for exploration inside the exclusive economic zone claimed by the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) starting on July 18.
It covers the area southwest of the island for the period between July 18 – August 20.
The new Navtex followed one that expired on June 18. It covered the area that includes blocks six and seven of Cyprus’ EEZ, which have been licenced to Eni and Total.
This makes it the seventh time this year that Turkey attempts to drill within the Cypriot EEZ.
Part of block 7 lies in what Ankara claims were its own EEZ.
The drilling activities will be carried out by four vessels named Yavuz, Ertuğrul Bey, Osman Bey and Orhan Bey.
In its Navtex message, Turkey also warned the vessels and “strongly advised not to enter the said area.”