Front Page Headlines
It’s seen 10
The Turkish Lira continues to slide; $1 equals ₺7.83, €1 is above ₺9. The value of the British Pound has risen even further passing the ₺10 mark. It has been claimed that this is the first time the value of foreign currencies against the Turkish Lira has risen to such levels.
- Health Minister Ali Pilli: “We shall open the schools on October 1”
It’s risen above ₺10
Foreign currencies which have been breaking record after record against the Turkish Lira reached new levels yesterday (Monday) following the conflict which broke out in Nagorno-Karabakh and the rise in geopolitical risks.
- Come let us transform the Mediterranean into a basin of peace – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that no equation in the Eastern Mediterranean which excludes Turkey and the TRNC can result in peace.
Everything for the elections
The government is trying to create the impression before the elections that it is successful and that life is returning to normal. It is preparing to adopt a series of decisions in that direction. The limit on passengers arriving via ferry has been quietly lifted and the limit on those arriving with flights is also expected to be lifted later this week. In an attempt to lure voters back to the country before the elections, the government first exempt TRNC citizens from shouldering quarantine costs. It is now preparing to allow arriving people to self-isolate. It has ordered 100,000 electronic cuffs to monitor people. The government has also given the green light to resume in-class education at schools starting as of October 1. Secondary schools and high schools students have been divided into two groups. The first group will go to school three times a week while the other group will go twice a week. The groups will then rotate the following week.
- They will face each other on Genç TV – Six of the 11 candidates (the most popular ones) will be attending a live debate on Genç TV tonight (Tuesday). Those who will attend are Mustafa Akıncı (Independent), Erhan Arıklı (Rebirth Party-YDP), Serdar Denktaş (Independent), Tufan Erhürman (Republican Turkish Party-CTP), Kudret Özersay (Independent) and Ersin Tatar (National Unity Party-UBP). The YDP leader Erhan Arıklı who is still being treated for Covid-19 will be participating online.
The hardest issue
Veteran politicians are not accepting the fact that Turkish Cypriots own 12.3 per cent of the land on the island. The Greek Cypriots claim that that the total amount of land belonging to Turkish Cypriots on the island amount to 848,858 dönüms (dunams) which comes roughly to 12.3 per cent. The TRNC’s experienced politicians claim otherwise. Former Speaker of Parliament İsmail Bozkurt reminded that the Turkish Cypriot side for years has been insisting on 29+ at the negotiating table. He added that there was extremely valuable property in Larnaca, Paphos and Limassol. UBP MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu on the other hand claims that Greek Cypriots are applying to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) for their properties in the north and that this is how the problem will be solved. CTP Erkut Şahali on the other hand said that the 29+ formula is a formula on which everyone agrees.
We’re on the rise…10
(Edited photo of Queen Elizabeth II with Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar and Deputy Prime Minister Kudret Özersay standing next to her.)
Main News
Property issue among the most challenging
Diyalog
Property, Territory, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Diyalog newspaper in an exclusive on Tuesday reports that there is a consensus among Turkish Cypriot politicians on the “29+” (The conceding of 29 per cent and more territory to the Greek Cypriot side in the event of a settlement) ratio is an accepted principle in the negotiations.
Most reject the Greek Cypriot argument that the total amount of property belonging to Turkish Cypriots on island amounts to a mere 12.3 per cent.
Diyalog sought the views of the former speaker of the Turkish Cypriot parliament, İsmail Bozkurt, National Unity Party (UBP) Famagusta MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu and Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Erkut Şahali on the issue.
“The Greek Cypriot claim of 12.3 per cent is not right and does not mean anything because this is merely a political statement,” Bozkurt said in his evaluation of the issue.
He recalled that the Turkish Cypriot side since the beginning of the negotiations has proposed on conceding 29+ per cent of the territory is currently holds.
“The late Rauf Denktaş had proposed 29 per cent of territory during the talks and I believe the map submitted by President Mustafa Akıncı is also around that figure,” Bozkurt said.
He added that if the Greek Cypriot claims were to be accepted, the Turkish Cypriots would be confined to the Karpaz (Karpasia) peninsula only.
“The property issue cannot be reduced to personal ownership only because the state also owned property and the Turkish Cypriots have rights in the state-owned property as well,” Bozkurt stressed.
He noted that there has not been any study in place to calculate the property ownership of the Turkish Cypriots but argued that the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots owned almost an equal amount of property in the western part of Larnaca.
Bozkurt said the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) had been established to resolve the property disputes.
“I believe a federation is a utopia. The solution of the Cyprus problem will contribute to the solution of the Eastern Mediterranean problem but I believe that if the Eastern Mediterranean problem is not solved, it will not be possible to take any steps on the Cyprus problem,” Bozkurt concluded.
Also rejecting the Greek Cypriot claims on territory, Hasipoğlu argued that the territorial adjustment map submitted by Akıncı had been withdrawn from the table.
“This was a map which envisioned the return of Güzelyurt (Morphou) and Maraş (Varosha) submitted by Akıncı. This is not valid anymore. We also do not accept the negotiations to reach a bicommunal, bizonal federation (BBF)” Hasipoğlu said.
He pointed to the IPC for resolution of property disputes and added that Greek Cypriots are applying for their property rights.
“The 29+ per cent ratio is what had been agreed upon in the negotiations process,” Şahali stressed.
He added that the Greek Cypriot side’s claims only reflect the personal ownership of property.
“The territorial adjustment of the island is pegged to the seven-to-three ratio and the calculation cannot be based on the title deeds because the Turkish Cypriots had rights in the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) owned properties as well,” Şahali stressed.
The CTP MP argued that the Cyprus problem is a political dispute and the numbers lose their meaning in the debates.
“The solution to the Cyprus problem will be a political decision. It might make some people unhappy but I believe none of the leaders would go no further than proposing the conceding of 29 per cent of the territory Turkish Cypriots currently control,” Şahali said.
He concluded by stating that the issue of territorial adjustment was something to be discussed and agreed upon during the negotiations process.
CTP welcomes lifting of restrictions on GLR
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, Internal Security, CBMs, Economy
OVERVIEW
The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) on Monday welcomed the lifting of restrictions introduced to the Green Line code of implementation on November 27, 2019, and which came into force on February 14, 2020, Yenidüzen reports on Tuesday.
In a statement issued, the CTP in addition to welcoming the development said they will continue to monitor the restrictions imposed in crossings due to the pandemic and their compliance with the Green Line Trade regulation.
“We wish to reiterate that the CTP will pursue the issue of restrictions imposed by the Greek Cypriot side on crossings and their compliance with the Green Line Trade regulation, while at the same time, will continue with efforts to allow Turkish Cypriot registered commercial vehicles to cross to the south and for the sale of processed food via the Green Line,” the statement concluded.
In another development, President Mustafa Akıncı’s office announced that the Greek Cypriot side will start allowing the school buses to approach the northern end of the Ledra Palace crossing point to collect the students studying in the south.
The request had been made by the parents of the students studying in the south and the matter was discussed and between the coordinators of bicommunal technical committee and resolved.
The students were made to walk across the buffer zone at the Ledra Palace to get to their school buses as a result of the Greek Cypriot side’s coronavirus measures.
Erdoğan: Let’s turn the Mediterranean into a basin of peace
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“Let’s turn the Mediterranean into a peace basin again,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday.
Speaking during a symposium on international maritime law and the Eastern Mediterranean, Erdoğan added Ankara has preferred diplomacy to resolve the disputes.
“I believe the win-win formula will be found by the relevant parties,” he stressed.
Explaining Ankara’s position in the Eastern Mediterranean, Erdoğan said there are two pillars in Turkey’s approach to the region.
“The first is the just and fair delimitation of maritime jurisdictions and the second is the protection of the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots as partners of the island,” Erdoğan said.
The Turkish president added was is not possible to leave Turkey or the Turkish Cypriot side out of any energy equation in the region.
“Any equation in the region would not bring peace to the Mediterranean if Turkey and Northern Cyprus do not take part fairly in it,” he noted.
Erdoğan reiterated that Ankara, which insists on equitably resolving disputes, is ready for an unconditional dialogue with Greece.
He also accused the EU of taking sides with Greece and the Greek Cypriot side resulting in the escalation of tension in the region.
“The EU failed to take advantage of the diplomatic opportunities but instead gave in to demands of spoilt Greece and the Greek Cypriot side,” Erdoğan argued.
Recalling his proposal made during his address of the UN General Assembly, Erdoğan argued establishing an “Energy Cooperation Forum” will be beneficial for all the parties involved.
“We want the climate of peace to be re-established in the region based on equity and cooperation but we also stress we are against one-sided fait accompli,” he underlined.
Stressing that Turkey is not “a guest but the host” in the Mediterranean, Erdoğan said every step taken in the region has a direct impact on the security, rights and the interests of Turkey.
“The Mediterranean is the sea that brings us closer together and strengthens our cooperation. For Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Turkey and Greece, the Mediterranean is a roof to our big family. We can solve problems in the Mediterranean not by excluding each other, but by bringing the actors together at the same table,” Erdoğan concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Erdoğan
>> Let’s turn the Med. into a peace basin again.
>> Ankara prefers diplomacy to resolve disputes.
>> A win-win formula could be found by the relevant parties.
>> There are two pillars in Turkey’s approach to the region.
>> The first is the just & fair delimitation of maritime jurisdictions & the second is the protection of the rights and interests of the TCs as partners of the island.
>> Not possible to leave Turkey or the TC side out of any energy equation in the region.
>> Any equation in the region would not bring peace to the Med if Turkey and north do not take part fairly in it.
>> Ankara, which insists on equitably resolving disputes, is ready for an unconditional dialogue with Greece.
>> EU took sides with Greece and the GC side resulting in the escalation of tension in the region.
>> EU did not take advantage of diplomacy opportunities and gave in to spoilt Greece & the GC side.
>> Establishing an “Energy Cooperation Forum” will be beneficial for all the parties involved.
>> Turkey wants the climate of peace to be re-established in the region based on equity & cooperation but it is also against one-sided fait accompli.
>> Turkey is not “a guest but the host” in the Med.
>> Every step taken in the region has a direct impact on the security, rights & interests of Turkey.
>> The Med is the sea that brings the regional countries closer together & strengthens cooperation among them.
>> The problems in the Med cannot be solved by excluding each other, but by bringing the actors together at the same table.
EU summit on East Med chance to reset relations, Kalın says
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey sees the upcoming EU summit on recent tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean as an opportunity to reset relations between Turkey-EU relations, the dailies report on Tuesday.
In an interview with Reuters, İbrahim Kalın, spokesman for the office of the Turkish presidency, added the EU must produce proposals and a timetable to work on a road map together.
“I believe the EU summit has a chance to have a reset in Turkey-EU relations. It is an important opportunity. And I see this willingness on the part of many EU member countries,” Ibrahim Kalın said.
The spokesman stressed the EU countries cannot expect Turkey to accept everything or do everything the bloc says.
“It must be a mutual process and the other member states must deliver their responsibilities as well,” Kalın underlined.
Kalın recalled that Ankara and Athens have agreed to launch exploratory to overcome disputes with Greece over the contested maritime claims.
Kalın said work was continuing to decide on a date for the resumption of talks which will be held in Istanbul and noted that the talks would continue where they left off and focus not just on issues of continental shelves and maritime limits but islands and airspace.
Touching on the developments and the positive atmosphere between the Turkish and French presidents, Kalın said the two leaders have agreed to try and find ways to minimize their differences.
“I believe all these things will produce a more positive agenda and a more positive atmosphere between Turkey and France,” Kalın said.
The EU summit is scheduled to be held on October 1 and 2.
KEY ACTORS
Kalın (Turkey)
>> Turkey sees the upcoming EU summit on recent tensions in the East Med as an opportunity to reset relations between Turkey-EU relations.
>> The EU must produce proposals & a timetable to work on a road map together.
>> There is a willingness on the part of many EU member countries.
>> The EU countries cannot expect Turkey to accept everything or do everything the bloc says.
>> It must be a mutual process & the other member states must deliver their responsibilities as well.
>> Ankara & Athens have agreed to launch exploratory to overcome disputes with Greece over the contested maritime claims.
>> The talks would continue where they left off & focus not just on issues of continental shelves & maritime limits but islands & airspace.
>> There is a positive atmosphere between the Turkish & French presidents.
>> The two leaders have agreed to try & find ways to minimize their differences.
>> All these things will produce a more positive agenda & a more positive atmosphere between Turkey & France.