TCC Press Review 26 Sept 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

The student arrivals turned into an ordeal

Transportation Minister Tolga Atakan: The first flight will be held on October 5. Even though the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases had announced the university students could start arriving in the north from September 20 onwards, none have arrived because of the absence of planning. Now all is focused on the first week of October. Both the students and the retailers are waiting for their return to the north.

  • Water will start flowing on September 29 – Turkish Water Works department announced.

Kıbrıs

Milk production drops due to highly saline water

The repairs on the water pipeline supplying the north with freshwater continues. The local water resources are being used now due to low levels of water at the Geçitköy (Panagra) dam. However, the high salinity of the water has made both the people and the farmers suffer. Mustafa Naimoğulları, head of the Livestock Breeders’ Association, said the daily milk production output dropped from 440 tons to 370 tons. “If water from Turkey is not delivered soon, production in all fields will drop,” Naimoğulları said.

  • Economic initiatives necessary – National Unity Party (UBP) leader and presidential candidate Ersin Tatar said he will also focus on economic development during his term in addition to the negotiations.
  • PCR tests and quarantine costs to be covered by the state – The cabinet amended its earlier decision. The cost of PCR tests and quarantine facilities for TRNC citizens, university students and those with work or residency permits will be covered by the state.
  • 30,000 PCR kits to be purchased – The cabinet has approved the purchase of 30,000 PCR test kits.

Havadis

N/A

Diyalog

Come to our rescue mother

The only hope for the residents of Famagusta, who have not had any water supply for weeks, is the water from Anamur, Turkey.

  • Tourists will have to pay – The cabinet has exempted TRNC citizens, university students and those who reside in the north with a work or residency permit from shouldering the cost of PCR tests and quarantine.
  • Against the law – The British government responds to the north’s request for direct flights stating that it is not in line with the laws.

Avrupa

Investigation on Tatar

The Higher Electorate Board (YSK) reminded the prohibitions in place after Ersin Tatar held a mass meeting as part of his campaign. The YSK said it had received many calls and complaints and added that the investigations have been launched. The YSK also warned the Bayrak to provide equal opportunity to all candidates.

  • “No direct flights to the north because we do not recognize the TRNC” – The British government announced.
  • 30,000 PCR kits to be purchased – The cabinet has approved the purchase of 30,000 PCR test kits.
  • Quarantine conditions revised – The TRNC citizens, university students and those who reside in the north with a work or residency permit are exempt from the cost of PCR tests and quarantine.

Main News

EOP clarified the situation at the crossing points

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, CBMs, Economy

OVERVIEW

The Economic Organisations’ Platform on Friday said that the perception that all restrictions imposed by the Greek Cypriot authorities at the crossing points had been lifted was misleading and wrong.

The platform, which issued a new statement on the Green Line Regulation said that measures adopted for COVID-19 were still very much in place.

On Wednesday, the organisations had issued a statement welcoming the lifting of various restrictions at the crossing points which had been introduced before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its new statement, the platform said that the recently lifted restrictions should not be confused with those still in place due to Covid-19.

“The restrictions lifted by the Greek Cypriot authorities concern the changes on the Green Line code of implementation adopted on November 27, 2019, and which came into force on February 14, 2020.

The EU Commission had informed the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce which has been pursuing the matter on behalf of the platform of the lifting of the restrictions,” the statement read.

The changes that had been made included the prohibition of the movement of third-country nationals arriving from sea or airports in the north to the south as well as the prohibition of third-country nationals with temporary residence permits living in the South from crossing into the north.

The Economic Organisations’ Platform however repeated that it was pleased with the decision to lift the restrictions imposed on the freedom of movement of individuals on the island.

It also said that it will continue its efforts for the lifting of existing restrictions imposed by the Greek Cypriot authorities on individuals at crossing points within the framework of the pandemic.

The matter had been protested by the Turkish Cypriot officials and a letter had been sent to the EU Commission by all six parties in the Turkish Cypriot parliament demanding that the decision reversed as it was a violation of the Green Line Regulation.


Not possible to hold direct flights to the north

Diyalog, Avrupa
Economy

OVERVIEW

The British government responded negatively to the petition launched by Turkish Cypriots living in the UK demanding “direct flights to the north,” some dailies report on Saturday.

The petition had been submitted to the British Parliament after it reached the 10,000 signatories mark.

The British government responded to the petition in writing and said the government does not have any plans to launch direct flights to the north.

“Direct flights (to the north) would violate the government’s responsibilities in light of international law,” the British government’s response said.

Also quoting the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations, the British government noted that there is no airport in the northern part of the island listed by the ICAO as a recognised airport.
It added that the British government accepts the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) as the sovereign authority on the island.


Restoration of the Quirini Bastion completed

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights, CBMs

OVERVIEW

The section of the Quirini Bastion which is part of the Venetian walls of Nicosia, that had collapsed in July 2019, has been fully restored, Ali Tuncay, Turkish Cypriot chair of the bicommunal Technical Committee of Cultural Heritage, said on Friday.

In a social media post, Tuncay pointed out the problems encountered by the team that worked on the restoration, and the interruption of the works due to the pandemic.

“It was a difficult process, the first part, which is where the office of the president is located, that collapsed was just the tip of the iceberg, the walls suffered great structural problems due to years of neglect, and despite all our efforts the walls were continuing to collapse,” Tuncay said.

Tuncay stressed that structural problems in the walls will continue and will increase in general.

“I hope that authorities in the north would be strengthened financially, technically and staff-wise so they could start working on the walls without delay,” Tuncay concluded.

The bicommunal technical committee carried out the works with the technical contribution of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the financial contribution of the European Union.


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