Front Page Headlines
Buying a home has become impossible
The latest drop in the value of the Turkish Lira against foreign currencies has brought the construction and real-estate sectors to a grinding halt. Sales have dropped drastically. Sector representatives warn that the current situation cannot continue as it is and call on authorities to find urgent solutions.
- 15 migrants in Sadrazamköy (Livera): Tragedy – They spent the night in the forest. They asked for food and water from the locals.
Loss of business at serious levels
KTEZO (Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans) General Coordinator Hürrem Tulga says retailers are suffering from lack of business. He says their situation is worse than how things were in March 2020. “If the situation continues as it is without any improvement, the retailers will close shop soon,” Tulga warned.
- “The federation talks failed despite excessive concessions” – National Unity Party (UBP) candidate Ersin Tatar said. He added, “Nothing was achieved during the 46 years of negotiations to reach the federal solution within the UN parameters.”
- The number of cases 35 years ago which was 218 has now reached 1388. The number of judges, however, remains at eight – Narin Ferdi Şefik, head of the Higher Electoral Council explained why citizens should vote in favour of the constitutional amendments.
“They are shooting us in the foot”
Sami Özuslu, head of the Turkish Cypriot Journalists’ Association, evaluated the election process from the viewpoint on the media. He warned about the interference in the work of the media. Özuslu stressed the association reacted to the statement issued by the Turkish Embassy on election interference. “In our opinion, the embassy’s statement was a threat to the freedom of media in the north,” Özuslu said.
- Supreme Court crushed under the burden of cases – Narin Ferdi Şefik, president of the Supreme Court, explained her reasons to support the constitutional amendments. She urged the voters to be informed on the proposed amendments first before choosing how to vote.
They are getting sick and dying
The salty well water is not only making humans but the livestock sick as well. The water shortages being experienced in the country is not only affecting people but the health of animals as well. Livestock breeders, unable to find fresh-water, have been forced to provide salty well water for their animals. What is worse is that they purchase the water for ₺10 (€1.1) per ton in comparison to freshwater during which they used to pay ₺4 (€0.44). The head of the Turkish Cypriot Livestock Breeders’ Association Mustafa Naimoğluları says that many of the animals have either fallen sick from the water used or their daily milk production has gone down.
- Five-party conference guaranteed – It has been claimed that the German Chancellor Angela Merkel supports the idea of solving the Cyprus Problem in a package which includes the problems experienced by Turkey and Greece.
No (to constitutional amendments) if Article 10 is not included
The number of cases at the Supreme Court increased from 218 to 1388 in 35 years. Those who are unable to prevent the rise in the crime rate want to increase the number of judges, presenting the proposed amendments to the public’s vote in a referendum on October 11. Nonetheless, the provisional constitutional article 10, which has become “permanent,” that gives power to the armed forces over civilian authority, remains unchanged. Therefore, the public has found the proposed constitutional amendments to be inadequate. The community also demands the authorities to find ways to reduce and prevent crime instead of increasing the number of judges.
- How about the prosecutor? – We want to ask Narin Ferdi Şefik, who said the judges will not make their decisions with political biases or under pressure, about the prosecutors’ office? If the prosecutors’ office does not make decisions under political pressure, how is it possible that the mob attempted to lynch the newspaper owners were only charged with “intent to inflict damage a building.”
Main News
EU submitted to GC side’s blackmailing
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“The EU has submitted to the blackmailing from the Greek Cypriot administration,” Turkish presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın said on Sunday.
Speaking on Turkish public broadcaster TRT, Kalın evaluated the outcome of the EU Summit.
“The EU conclusion is not adequate from our viewpoint because the language used there is one that submitted to the blackmailing from the Greek Cypriot administration,” Kalın stressed.
He added Turkey and Greece never abandoned the negotiations table because the exploratory talks that will soon commence and will continue from the point where the process had stopped.
“Ankara will make all the effort for peaceful resolution of the issue,” Kalın noted and recalled that Ankara and Athens had previously agreed on a date for the launch of the exploratory talks but when Greece announced its agreement with Egypt, the negotiations were called off.
Kalın noted that Turkey and Egypt occasionally collaborate on various issues.
“It is necessary to keep the communication channels open. I believe it is necessary to explore areas of collaboration with Egypt because even if we do not approve of the current regime there, Egypt is an important country and Ankara is ready and willing to collaborate with every actor that has a constructive approach,” Kalın concluded.
In another development, Deutsche Welle’s Turkish edition reported on Sunday that Turkey renewed its previously announced two navigational telexes (Navtex).
Oruç Reis seismic research vessel, as a result, has set sail on its new mission. The research vessel anchored off from the Antalya Port and is now waiting for new orders in the open-sea.
In the meantime, Turkish Naval Forces Command Office of Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography (ONHO) announced a warning message stating that the Greek Navtex “is partially situated in the Turkish Navtex service area,” and added that it is “transmitted by an unauthorized station.” ONHO urged the other vessels in the vicinity to be cautious.
The Turkish Navtex’s will be valid until October 20.
KEY ACTORS
Kalın (Turkey)
>> The EU has submitted to the blackmailing from the GC side.
>> The EU conclusion is not adequate from our viewpoint because the language used there is one that submitted to the GC side’s blackmailing.
>> Turkey & Greece never abandoned the negotiations table because the exploratory talks that will soon commence.
>> The negotiations will continue from the point the process had stopped.
>> Ankara will make all the effort for peaceful resolution of the issue.
>> Ankara is ready & willing to collaborate with every actor that has a constructive approach.
Planned Turkey-Greece NATO talk delayed due to technical reasons
Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
External Security, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The planned coordination meeting between Turkish and Greek delegations at NATO headquarters on Monday has been delayed due to technical reasons.
On Thursday, NATO had said that a military de-confliction mechanism for the neighbouring nations’ Eastern Mediterranean disputes had been established following a series of technical meetings between the military delegations of Greece and Turkey at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels, it said.
The mechanism is designed to reduce the risk of incidents and accidents in the Eastern Mediterranean and includes the creation of a hotline between Athens and Ankara to facilitate de-confliction at sea or in the air, it added.
The Turkish and Greek military delegations have agreed on “general principles” in NATO talks, Turkey’s Defence Ministry also said following NATO’s announcement.
Both nations’ militaries have held a series of NATO-hosted technical talks, starting from Sept 10.
The meetings were planned after a phone call between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in early September.
15 Syrian migrants detained
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
15 irregular Syrian migrants who arrived by boat at a beach near Sadrazamköy (Livera) early on Saturday, were apprehended by police on Sunday, the dailies reported.
Police had launched an investigation after finding an abandoned speedboat at the beach.
The 15 Syrian migrants, who are between 15 and 38 years of age, were found hiding in a forest area near Sadrazamköy (Livera).
Reports said they spent the night in the woods and that some of them had walked to the village, asking for food and water.
According to a police statement, all 15 men were placed in police custody for unlawful entry into the north after undergoing health checks.
It is reported the police investigation is still underway on the case.