Front Page Headlines
“Tourism is over…we are over too”
Subsectors of tourism slump into silence following pandemic lockdown. The serious drop in tourist numbers has also hit other sectors which depend on tourism. Shopkeepers, rent-a-car businesses, taxi drivers, tourist guides and yacht tour operators in Kyrenia where the heart of the country’s tourism beats are in despair.
- “British High Commissioner Stephan Lillie: “Property rights in Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) in Akrotiri and Dhekelia are being safeguarded.”
Tons of olives unsold
Olive producers have not been able to sell their produce as a result of the closure of hotels and restaurants as well as the population in the north. Not only are producers worried about the tons of olives they haven’t been able to sell but are also upset about the continuing import of olive and olive by-products to the north.
- Seven-day quarantine is out of the question – Prime Minister and head of the National Unity Party (UBP) Ersin Tatar said: “there is no need to cause panic in the north” and added a mandatory quarantine will not be implemented for those coming from Turkey and the south.
- The total number of cases reached 25 – Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ersin Tatar said two positive cases were identified in 1,179 tests carried out yesterday (Saturday).
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No need to panic
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar announced that arrivals from Turkey or South Cyprus will not be subject to a seven-day mandatory quarantine. Tatar made his position very clear to the trade unions which are threatening to strike if the government does not reintroduce the quarantine requirement for arrivals. He argued that the economy is just as important as health, stating that the number of positive cases since the reopening of ports on July 1 were within acceptable limits.
- Morale low – The number of tourists visiting South Cyprus in June did not reach 10,000. The majority of tourists spending their holiday in South Cyprus are from Israel.
- Under control –1,682 tests in the South, six positive cases, 1,179 cases in the North, two positive cases.
Continuing with entries without a quarantine
The government did not listen to the warnings or recommendation of the health experts and trade unions. Ersin Tatar said imposing a mandatory seven-day quarantine for those arriving in the north either from Turkey or from the south is out of the question. He added the current outpatient clinic at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital will be transformed into a 45-bed capacity pandemic clinic. “No one will benefit from statements causing panic among the community,” Tatar stressed.
- Two new cases in the north – Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ersin Tatar said two positive cases were identified in 1,179 tests carried out yesterday (Saturday). Six new cases identified in 1,682 tests carried out in the south.
- “Those suggesting another lock-down will be responsible for the bankruptcies” – Dimağ Çağıner, head of the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers’ Association, said it is not possible to achieve anything with recommendations that will lead to a total lock-down.
Main News
Erhürman: “We have to learn to share”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“There is no other way but to learn to share the natural resources fairly and equitably,” Tufan Erhürman, head of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) said on Saturday.
In a social media post, Erhürman drew attention to the escalation in tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and urged everyone to find an agreement through dialogue.
“The waters in the Eastern Mediterranean are heating up. The French President is calling for sanctions against Turkey. Tension is escalating by the day with each development,” Erhürman warned.
The main opposition leader argued that everyone is fully aware that the most important step to be taken for lasting peace in the region is a solution to the Cyprus problem based on political equality.
“Until the desired solution is found, the acceptance of Turkish Cypriots’ rights in the natural resources is essential,” Erhürman stressed.
He added that the Turkish Cypriots must be included in the decision-making processes on hydrocarbons instead of mere revenue sharing.
“It is time for all relevant parties to reach an agreement on the issue as no one wins from tension. This island and its natural resources are ours and there is no other way but to learn to share fairly,” Erhürman concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> There is no other way but to learn to share the natural resources fairly & equitably.
>> Everyone is fully aware that most important step to be taken for lasting peace in the region is the solution of Cyprob based on political equality.
>> Until the desired solution is found, the acceptance of TCs’ rights in the natural resources is essential.
>> The TCs must be included in the decision-making processes on hydrocarbons instead of mere revenue sharing.
>> It is time for all relevant parties to reach an agreement on the issue.
>> This island & its natural resources are ours and there is no other way but to learn to share fairly.
TCs’ property rights within SBA are safeguarded, says Lillie
Yenidüzen
Property, Territory, Governance & Power Sharing, Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The British High Commissioner to Cyprus Stephan Lillie has said that the property rights of Turkish Cypriots within the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) in Akrotiri and Dhekelia were being safeguarded and could not be developed without the consent of its owners.
He said the properties in question where not being given to anyone as some claimed.
Lillie was referring to an agreement signed in June between the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) and the UK government allowing the development of certain areas within SBA territory.
Earlier this week, the Turkish Cypriot religious endowment foundation Evkaf said it owned a lot of land within the base areas and any development of property should reap them rent.
It went on to say question the validity of the agreement as it was signed without the consent of the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey – a violation of one of the main principles of the establishment of the RoC in 1960, Evkaf claimed.
In an exclusive interview to Yenidüzen published on Sunday, the British High Commissioner said that the agreement was not in violation of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment of the RoC.
He explained that no steps had been taken to alter the Treaty of Establishment or the status of British sovereignty in the bases areas.
“We did not give up any sovereignty or British land,” he said, adding that no one had been given Turkish Cypriot property.
Lillie explained that everyone, whether it was the Evkaf or individuals had the right to develop their properties within the SBA if they had the title deeds for their property.
“If you have property, you too can develop it. If you don’t want to you don’t have to. No one can force you. No one else can,” he said, adding that he had a difficult time understanding what the Evkaf was planning to achieve by launching legal action.
Lillie said the agreement signed with the RoC reflected the strong desire of Cypriots to develop their properties in the bases areas.
He reminded that the agreement had initially been made in 2014 and that there were currently 11,000 Cypriots living within the SBA, the majority of them Greek Cypriots.
“There are also 250 Turkish Cypriots. They were all eager to develop their homes, businesses and land. We believed this was a legitimate and justified demand and so we signed this agreement,” he added.
Lillie asked to comment about the Turkish Cypriot authorities’ criticism that they had not been consulted, said they have always been transparent and had nothing to hide.
He added that the British government had been in touch with the Turkish Cypriot residents and had informed the authorities of their intentions.
“The agreement was naturally signed between the UK and RoC governments,” Lillie added.
The British High Commissioner rejected the claims that the Turkish Cypriots had been ignored.
“We have a long-standing and respectful relationship with the Turkish Cypriot community. We want to preserve this and we shall continue to be in contact with Turkish Cypriot representatives. However, this is not a geopolitical issue but a matter which concerns planning and development. Those who will be affected will be the property owners or the villagers,” he said.
Lillie concluded the interview by stating that the British government remained committed to assisting the two sides in reaching a lasting solution in Cyprus.
KEY ACTORS
Lillie (UK)
>> TC properties within SBA are safeguarded.
>> Properties in question are not being given to anyone as some claim.
>> Agreement signed between UK & RoC governments is not in violation of ToE.
>> All property owners, including Evkaf have the right to develop their properties within the SBA.
>> Agreement signed with RoC reflects the strong desire of Cypriots to develop their properties in the bases areas.
>> SBA authorities have been in touch with TC property owners & authorities, informing them of their actions.
>> UK government has not ignored TCs & has a long-standing/respectful relationship with TC community.
>> This is not a geopolitical issue but one that concerns property development & planning. Only property owners & villagers will be affected.
>> UK government remains committed to assisting two sides in reaching a lasting solution in Cyprus.
Tatar rules out seven-day quarantine requirement
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar on Saturday ruled out the possibility of reintroducing mandatory quarantine for arrivals into the north.
Tatar rejected a recommendation made to the cabinet by the Higher Board of Contagious Diseases to introduce a seven-day mandatory quarantine requirement.
“It is out of the question to impose a seven-day mandatory quarantine for those arriving from Turkey or South Cyprus into the north,” Tatar said, noting that only 23 people out of the 24,000 PCR tests carried had tested positive since 1 July.
“This is an acceptable number,” Tatar said, adding that the current outpatient clinic at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital will be transformed into a 45-bed capacity pandemic clinic.
“No one will benefit from statements causing panic among the community,” Tatar concluded.
In the meantime, Dimağ Çağıner, head of the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers’ Association, said it is not possible to achieve anything with recommendations that will lead to a total lock-down.
In a written statement issued from the Association, Çağıner pointed out that the hoteliers were doing their part in contributing to efforts to contain the spread of the virus as well as to prevent a new lock-down.
Çağıner also criticised the on-going debates focused on the hotels.
“Nearly 10,000 passengers have arrived in the north since the reopening but very few of them were tourists. 23 cases were identified since the reopening of ports and almost none of these were tourists staying at the hotels. Therefore, placing the responsibility on a sector that employs nearly 20,000 people and supports its subsectors, is not fair,” Çağıner stressed.
He also urged everyone to strictly to adhere to personal hygiene rules.
“Those insisting on closure of entry points and a new lock-down will be responsible from the bankruptcies, unemployment and unpaid salaries,” Çağıner concluded.