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“Lift the restrictions”
Protest at Lokmacı (Ledra St). The United Action Committee set up by shopkeepers and small businesses protested the ongoing closure of the Lokmacı (Ledra) crossing point. They called for the reopening of the crossing point. Protest at Metehan (Agios Dhometios). Economic and tourism sector organisations staged at a protest at the crossing point. They protested the restrictions in place. They gave the message: “This island is enough for all of us.”
The catastrophe is documented
The Ombudsperson in her report clearly outlined the environmental damage caused by the Teknecik Power Plant. Speaking to Kıbrıs, Ombudsperson Emine Dizdarlı said, “We are afraid of the coronavirus now but we are being poisoned with the fumes coming out of the power plant every day.”
- Freedom of movement is a right and crossings cannot be obstructed – 17 Turkish Cypriot civil society organisations protested the Greek Cypriot side for not allowing foreigners to cross to the north.
- Shopkeepers: “The crossings must be opened immediately” – United Action Committee staged a protest at Lokmacı (Ledra Street) crossing demanding the opening of all the crossings immediately.
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‘Enough’
The embargoes were protested by the TRNC organisations for the first time since the Denktaş era. The Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers’ Association, the Turkish Cypriot Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the travel agencies association, contractors, the Young Businessmen’s’ Association and many other economic organisations protested the restrictions put in place by the Greek Cypriot authorities at the Metehan (Agios Dhometios) crossing points. It was the first time the economic organisations were united in protest actions since the founding President Rauf Denktaş stepped down from office. Members of the organisations who marched with placards in Turkish and English then read out a joint declaration. The declaration called on the embargoes imposed on the TRNC to be lifted. They said ‘enough’ to the Greek Cypriot administration, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN).
- What are we doing? – The Greek Cypriot administration is placing owl nests in the wild to battle rodent infestations.
Hoping for the opening of crossings
Protests were staged at the crossing points… The Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Industry, contractor companies, hoteliers, business people, tourism sector representatives, casino owners, tour guides, restaurant owners, taxi drivers and bus companies held a protest at the Metehan (Agios Dhometios) crossings while the shopkeepers went to the Lokmacı (Ledra Street) for theır protest. Since the European Union (EU) has included Turkey in its list of prohibited countries, the northern part of the island is also regarded the same. The north is seen as a part of Turkey. The government in South Cyprus, therefore, does not allow tourists from EU countries to cross over to the north. Moreover, the fact that the Turkish Cypriot government has included Turkey in the Category B list of countries is a contributing factor to the Greek Cypriot administration’s decision. 17 civil society organisations held a protest at the Metehan (Agios Dhometios) crossing yesterday (Friday).
Main News
TC economic organisations staged protest against GC side’s restrictions
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Several protests were staged on the Turkish Cypriot side of two crossing points on Friday, calling on the Greek Cypriot authorities to lift restrictions, particularly tourists, crossing over to the north.
One protest staged by a group which included the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry, contractor companies, hoteliers as well as other stakeholders in the tourism sector was held at the Metehan (Agios Dhometios) crossing while a second demonstration was held by shopkeepers at the Lokmacı (Ledra Street).
“The island is big enough for all,” cried the Turkish Cypriot civil society organisations (CSOs) during their protest at the Metehan (Agios Dhometios) crossing point.
The protestors held placards in English and Turkish drawing attention to their cause.
The group of CSOs made up of 17 organisations, also read out a joint declaration protesting the restrictions imposed by Greek Cypriot authorities for tourists and foreign nationals wishing to cross over to the north.
“Economic collapse of the north will result in the collapse of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic as well,” the CSOs argued in the joint declaration.
They argued that the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) were preventing the European Union (EU) citizens from crossing to the north.
“Prohibiting the freedom of movement of EU citizens throughout the island violates the EU laws in place,” the declaration said, adding that the Greek Cypriot side was fully aware of this fact hence not implementing law or a decree on the matter.
“Otherwise, the EU officials must be notified of their decision,” the CSOs added.
The groups pointed out that such arbitrary decisions adopted by the Greek Cypriot side is a serious blow to the efforts of finding a mutually acceptable and peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem.
The declaration also urged the EU and other countries to hear the cry of the Turkish Cypriots and make an effort towards lifting the isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriot community.
“The isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriot community must be ceased for the solution of the Cyprus problem and to establish regional stability,” the declaration concluded.
Among the organisations supporting the protest were the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry, the Turkish Cypriot Contractors’ Association, the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers’ Association, the Businesspersons’ Society, the Young Businesspersons’ Society, the Turkish Cypriot Tourism and Travel Agencies’ Association, the Turkish Cypriot Restauranteurs’ Association, the Tourists Guides’ Association, the Rent-a-car Businesses’ Association, the Casino Operators’ Association, the Public Transport Operators’ Association, the Taxi Drivers’ Association, the Sustainable Tourism Initiative and the Association of Turkish Cypriots Abroad.
The United Action Committee staged a separate protest on Friday at the Lokmacı (Ledra Street) crossing point rallying for a similar cause.
The Committee argued the crossings of foreigners into the north were being prevented by Greek Cypriot side’s arbitrary practices.
The committee made up of shopkeepers and business owners are demanding that the restrictions be lifted and for the crossing point to reopen without further delay.
Speaking during the event, Mahmut Kanber, head of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans (KTEZO), pointed out to the economic concerns heightened with the coronavirus pandemic.
“It is therefore important for the crossings to be opened to reduce the negative impact of the pandemic on the businesses,” Kanber said.
He invited the authorities across the divide to reopen all the crossings in line with the Green Line Trade regulation.
“Keeping the crossings closed is the sole obstacle before the two communities to be in social, economic and cultural solidarity,” Kanber concluded.
KTEZO general coordinator Hürrem Tulga for his part reiterated the view that the social, cultural and commercial relations between the two communities must continue to strengthen the economy.
He also criticized the Greek Cypriot side’s arbitrary decisions preventing EU citizens from crossing to the north.
“EU citizens’ freedom of movement cannot be prohibited. The Green Line Trade regulation is very clear. It is not possible to accept any derogation from it,” Tulga stressed.
“The obstacles before the two communities must be lifted opening the way for them to collaborate because the contrary is not an attitude conducive for the efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem,” Tulga concluded.
Pile (Pyla) residents to face criminal charges for their protest
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Sovereign Base Area (SBA) authorities have filed legal action against a group of Turkish Cypriot residents from Pile (Pyla) for staging a protest without permission from the SBA on May 13, 2020, the dailies report on Saturday.
The first hearing for the case will be held on July 22 2020.
The Turkish Cypriot Mukhtar of Pile (Pyla) Veysal Güden during a press conference held on Friday regarding the developments, said the SBA has filed legal cases against nine residents from the mixed-village including himself for staging a protest without obtaining necessary permission from the SBA authorities as well as endangering the public’s health by disobeying Covid-19 restrictions.
Güden added the number of court cases is expected to increase as nearly 400 residents participated in the protest.
“The Turkish Cypriot residents of Pile (Pyla) were cut off from both sides within a matter of 24 hours,” Güden said, pointing out that the nearly 500 Turkish Cypriot residents had suffered greatly from the lockdown and closing off access to the village.
He added that staging a protest to draw the attention of the authorities was the last option for the residents and they had informed the SBA authorities about their decision.
“Even though the SBA officials denied permission for the protest, the Turkish Cypriot residents wanted to go ahead with their planned activity at the Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing point,” Güden noted.
“We staged the protest to be able to establish communication with the north but we are now faced with court cases,” Güden said.
He noted that the Turkish Cypriot inhabitants of Pile (Pyla) desired good neighbourly relations with the SBA authorities but that it was difficult to do this with the court cases.
“There is a negative perception being developed on the SBA authorities in the village. It would be in the best interest of all for the SBA authorities to revise their decisions and take the existing and good neighbourly relations into consideration to end the legal process launched,” Güden stressed.
Appealing to the Turkish Cypriot authorities, Güden argued that the Turkish Cypriot community’s existence in the mixed-village is under threat.
“The only place on the island where four different authorities claim to have overlapping jurisdiction is the village of Pile (Pyla),” Güden noted.
He added that the Turkish Cypriot authorities have not contributed at all to protect the Turkish Cypriot presence in the mixed-village to date.
“It is the Turkish Cypriot authorities’ responsibility to protect and ensure the existence of the Turkish Cypriot community in Pile (Pyla),” Güden concluded.
Global Journalism Council reacts to Akıncı
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The Global Journalism Council on Friday reacted to President Mustafa Akıncı’s earlier statement on the legitimacy of his office arguing it was against the existing spirit of solidarity between the two countries.
In a statement issued on Friday, the organisation questioned why Akıncı had felt the need to issue such a statement.
“We find it difficult to comprehend which part of Turkey’s proposal on taking the TRNC Foreign Minister as the interlocutor for the hydrocarbons issue, is wrong,” the council said.
“Turkey’s position on the Eastern Mediterranean is clear. Turkey is determined to protect the rights and the interests of the Turkish Cypriots in the region in light of Greek Cypriot side’s consistent rejection to share the resources with the Turkish Cypriot side,” it said, recalling that an agreement had been signed between the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey in 2011 to grant hydrocarbon exploration licenses to Turkish Petroleum Company (TPAO) in the region.
“The agreements for hydrocarbon exploration were signed with the TRNC government and it is only normal for the TRNC government to continue to follow the steps to be taken on the issue,” the council said.
It also criticised Akıncı for attempting to link the issue of hydrocarbons with the upcoming elections in the north.
“President Akıncı is making a historical mistake by trying to remain on the forefront instead of responding to the unfounded claims by the Greek Cypriot foreign minister. The on-going struggle in the Eastern Mediterranean should not be used as election material,” the Council concluded.