TCC Press Review 27 Aug 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Come, enrol!

Placements in higher education institutions are good. Now all are anxiously waiting for university students to arrive in the country. With tourism in the country over this year and hundreds of businesses have either shut down or on the brink of bankruptcy, all hopes are now on the higher education.

Kıbrıs

501 people were hired into the public sector

The Prime Minister’s office put an end to the ensuing debate on those recently hired for public sector jobs. A statement from the office said it would not allow room for speculation and manipulation, publishing a list of all those who were hired.

  • 310kgs of smuggled meat in the boot of a car – Police discovered 310kgs of beef and lamb meat in plastic bags in the boot of a car driven by a man (E.K)

Havadis

Now this is good news

What we feared did not happen. According to the ÖSYM (Turkish University Measuring, Selection and Placement Exam) results, 8,636 students have earned the right to study in the TRNC. While the country is battling numerous problems, this piece of good news from the university sector has made everyone happy.

  • 23 tons of smuggled meat in three years – Meat smuggled from the south to the north is once again in the spotlight. According to unofficial information, around 23 tons of meat was attempted to be smuggled into the north from the south. Both the agriculture minister and livestock breeders are unhappy about the situation. Butchers, on the other hand, are asking for tighter inspections.

Diyalog

Schools to remain open for six days

The Minister for National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu who spoke to Diyalog said that they were working for 3+3 education system for the new semester. Çavuşoğlu said that remote education was planned to begin on September 1 and students would be returning to classrooms on September 14. Underlining the importance of face to face education, Çavuşoğlu said that schools will be open on Saturday’s as well.

Avrupa

It’s bad, 19 cases

Record in Covid-19 tests in the north. The number of cases within the community is growing. 19 positive cases were detected in the 1431 tests carried out yesterday. Nine of the cases arrived via air, three via ferry and six others through contact with positive cases. One case was local. The health ministry revised the list of countries. While seven countries were moved from category B to category C, Turkey remained in category B list of countries.

  • Three suspects exchanged – Two suspects were handed over to the south while one to the north.
  • Migrant tragedy – Nineteen Syrian migrants who tried to enter the country were caught. They were tested for Covid-19 and placed in quarantine at the Lapta (Lapithos) youth camp.

Main News

Tatar says any settlement must be based on current realities

Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, Territory, Property, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

National Unity Party’s (UBP) presidential candidate and Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar on Tuesday night said that his party desired a solution in Cyprus but that any settlement to be reached should not take the Turkish Cypriot community back to pre-1974 conditions.

Addressing supporters in Çatalköy (Agios Epiktitos), Tatar said that any settlement to be reached needed to be based on the realities on the island.

“There are two sovereign peoples in Cyprus. We will not accept Turkey’s guarantees to be subject to discussion or debate,” he said.

Tatar added that it was also out of the question for his party to accept territorial concessions or property arrangements which will distraught the Turkish Cypriot community.

“Our effective participation in decision-making processes is also essential. We need to preserve our right to veto which we even had in 1960.

Tatar also accused President Mustafa Akıncı of raising false hopes of a federal solution.

“Akıncı himself had acknowledged after Crans Montana that all chances of a federal solution had ended. He had advocated for a two-state solution under the European Union (EU) umbrella and now he has made another U-turn,” he said.

The UBP candidate said Akıncı had failed and had made irreversible concessions such as the return of Güzelyurt (Morphou) and opening the issue of guarantees to debate.

“He even prompted the Greek Cypriot side to demand zero troops and zero guarantees,” he added.

Speaking to Turkish news channel A Haber later on Wednesday afternoon, Tatar said that work to reopen the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha) was moving ahead full speed.

“We expect to open the closed city soon. We shall be reopening the fenced-off town under the TRNC’s administration. We are not saying anything different from the UN resolutions,” he said.

Tatar added that the property owners or investors will be allowed to return but that those who will want to sell will be able to do so.

“Reopening this area will benefit the country’s economy,” he added.

Tatar stated that Turkish Cypriots could no longer remain idle in the face of regional developments.

“We need to be part of a proactive politics together with Turkey,” he added.

Tatar also accused Akıncı of deceiving the Turkish Cypriot community.

“The Greek Cypriots have never taken a step forward towards solving the Cyprus Problem. They are dreaming. Akıncı said that he would solve the Cyprus Problem in three months. What happened? He presented a map, he opened the issue of guarantees to discussion but received nothing in return. Not even a rotational presidency,” he said.

The leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) and presidential candidate Erhan Arıklı also took a swing at Akıncı on Wednesday calling on him to share the details of the map he had presented in Geneva.

“Presenting that map was a historical mistake. There were more than 40 villages including Güzelyurt (Morphou) being given away as territorial concessions,” he said.

Arıklı said that Akıncı was prepared to give away the very houses people were living in for the past 40 years.

“Are you still going to vote for him?” he asked. Arıklı concluded his address by stating that the 40-year-old fairy tale of a federal settlement was over.

KEY ACTORS
Tatar (UBP)
>>
UBP desires a solution to Cyprob but settlement should not take TCs back to pre-1974 conditions.
>> Any settlement to be reached needs to be based on the realities on the island.
>> There are two sovereign peoples in Cyprus. UBP will not accept Turkey’s guarantees to be subject to discussion or debate.
>> Out of the question for UBP to accept territorial concessions or property arrangements which will distraught the TC community.
>> Effective participation in decision-making processes is also essential.
>> Work to reopen the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha) is moving ahead full speed.
>> Maraş (Varosha) expected to be opened soon under TC administration. The town will be opened in accordance with UN resolutions.
>> Property owners or investors will be allowed to return but that those who will want to sell will be able to do so.
>> Reopening this area will benefit the TC economy.
>> TCs can no longer remain idle in the face of regional developments.
>> TCs need to be part of a proactive politics together with Turkey.

Arıkı (YDP)
>>
Akıncı’s presenting a map in Geneva was a grave mistake.
>> 40-year-old fairy tale of a federal settlement is over.


Erdoğan: Turkey will not forsake rights in seas or make concessions

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, External Security, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated Turkey’s determination to protect its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Black Sea, saying that Ankara will not make any concessions as he criticized Greece for its policies.

“We will take whatever we are entitled to in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black seas, we will not make any concessions,” Erdoğan said Wednesday in eastern Muş province at a commemoration ceremony of the Seljuks’ Manzikert (Malazgirt) Victory over the Byzantines in 1071.

The president noted that the same way Turkey does not set its eyes on other countries’ territory, sovereignty, or interests, it expects others to do the same for Turkey.

“We are determined to do whatever is politically, economically and militarily necessary to ensure this,” Erdoğan said, adding that all countries need to realize that Turkey is no longer a country whose patience, determination, courage and opportunities can be tested.

“If it (Greece) wants to pay a price, let them come and face us. If they don’t have the courage for it, they should stand out of our way,” Erdoğan said, as he referred to Greece as being “unworthy of the Byzantine legacy” and hiding behind the European Union in its pursuit of piracy and unlawfulness.

Erdoğan continued by saying that Greece refuses to take lessons from history and acts as a fake bully in the Mediterranean, as he warned Athens to avoid taking steps that could lead to its “ruin.”

“We urge our counterparts to pull their socks up and refrain from making mistakes which would lead to their ruin,” Erdoğan said.

Highlighting that the region has withstood provocations and other attacks that pose a threat to the sense of fraternity, solidarity and fondness, Erdoğan said ongoing plans to ruin peace will backfire.

“All of our success in politics, the economy and military fields help us to look to our future with more confidence, as the natural gas reserve we discovered in the Black Sea has boosted our morale after a long time,” Erdoğan said, adding that the revenue from the Black Sea gas will be utilized to improve the lives of all citizens in the country.

Meanwhile, Turkey announced on Wednesday it had conducted exercises with a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Eastern Mediterranean, hours after Greece began war games with France and EU allies nearby.

“Turkish frigates TCG Barbaros and TCG Burgazada have conducted maritime training with American destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill in the Eastern Mediterranean on Aug. 26,” the defence ministry announced in a tweet.

The ministry also released photos of three warships, two of them Turkish and one flying the Turkish and U.S. flags.

It did not specify the military drills’ location or other details.

KEY ACTOR
Erdoğan (Turkey)
>>
Turkey is determined to protect its rights in the East Med, Aegean and the Black Sea, politically, economically and militarily.
>> Ankara will not make concessions from its rights.
>> Turkey expects other countries not to set eyes on its territory, sovereignty or interests.
>> Turkey expects Greece to pull itself together and to refrain from making mistakes.


Criminals exchanged by two sides

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security, CBMs

OVERVIEW

Authorities on both sides exchanged suspects wanted for crimes in the past.

The exchange took place under the aegis of the UN through the bicommunal committee on crimes, a statement issued by President Mustafa Akıncı’s office announced on Wednesday.

The two suspects wanted for separate incidents in the south in connection for kidnap, robbery, murder as well as possessing and using deadly firearms were handed over to Greek Cypriot authorities via the United Nations.

One of the suspects, a foreign national was wanted in the south in connection for kidnapping, robbery and murder.

The second individual, a Greek Cypriot, was wanted in connection to a drugs case as well as five other crimes including attempted murder.

Both had fled to the north after having committed the crimes.

The individual who had been handed over to Turkish Cypriot police had crossed over to the south illegally.

He had served a prison term in the south for robbery.

The exchange was carried out by members of the bicommunal Technical Committee for Crime and Criminal Matters under the supervision of the UN. All three suspects had been served prison sentences for the crimes they committed on the side they fled to.

The co-chair of the committee Hakkı Celal Önen said that the suspects will now be tried for the crimes the other crimes they committed.


More Syrian migrants reach North

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Migration & Citizenship, Human Rights

OVERVIEW

Nineteen Syrian refugees, including children, were brought ashore in the north on Wednesday morning off the coast of Sadrazamköy (Livera) and Karşıyaka (Vasiliea), reports said.

The boat was spotted around 8.30 am. Onboard there were, according to reports, five men, four women and ten children said to be Syrian.

They were all taken to the general hospital in the north of Nicosia, where they were to undergo PCR tests to check whether they were positive for coronavirus.

After the test, they were to be transferred to a migrant camp in Lefke (Lefka).


Man arrested in Beyarmudu (Pergamos) trying to smuggle meat

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

Police arrested a 66-year-old Turkish Cypriot man in a raid held in the early hours of Wednesday morning as he attempted to smuggle 310kgs of meat.

Narcotics team caught the man red-handed as he tried to cross into the north through the Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing point.

Police said the man had attempted to smuggle the meat, 260kgs of beef and 50kgs of lamb in unhygienic conditions in large plastic bags in the boot of his car.

The man was arrested and jailed pending a police investigation.


Turkey donates $100K to CMP

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

The Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) wishes to express its sincere thanks to Turkey for its generous donation of $100,000 (€84,500). This donation brought the Turkish financial assistance to the CMP to a total of €1,082,500 over the past thirteen years.

A cheque was handed over to the Turkish Cypriot member of the CMP Gülden Plümer Küçük by the north’s Turkish ambassador Ali Murat Başçeri.

Speaking during the meeting, Başçeri expressed the hope that all missing persons will be found and that their loved ones will find peace.

Küçük for her part said the Turkish government had made important contributions to the committee for the past 13 years.

She thanked the Turkish government, stating that they will continue to work tirelessly to find, identify and return all missing persons.

This contribution to the CMP Project on the Exhumation, Identification and Return of Remains of Missing Persons in Cyprus will support the Committee’s goal of identifying and returning as many remains of missing individuals as possible, to bring an end to the uncertainty which has affected so many families for so many years, a statement from the CMP read.

So far, 976 missing persons from both communities have been identified and returned to their families for dignified burials.

The CMP relies on donor support to alleviate the suffering of the concerned families.


EC delivers medical supplies to the TC community

Yenidüzen, Havadis
Human Rights, EU Matters, Internal Security

OVERVIEW

The European Commission announced on Wednesday that it has delivered additional equipment and supplies to the Turkish Cypriot community to fight against COVID-19 as part of a close partnership with UNDP in Cyprus.

A statement posted by the EU Information Office said that equipment financed by the EU Aid Programme had successfully arrived on August 18 and 24, including 8,064 PCR test kits and 1,000 Viral Transport Media (VTMs) contributing to the increased testing capacity of the laboratory as well as 31,104 masks, 184,000 examination gloves, 15,512 goggles, 3,624 aprons, 30,000 shoe covers and 800 face shields serving as personal protective equipment.


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