TCC Press Review 28 Oct 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Fear of infection at schools

Reports of cases in primary and secondary schools both public and private have raised fears. While families and teachers are worried, the health ministry is on standby. The education minister on the other hand remains silent. Health Minister Ali Pilli told Yenidüzen that tests were being carried out at all schools and that they will decide according to the results whether or not to suspend in-class education. So far two teachers and four pupils at primary schools as well as two pupils and two teachers at secondary schools have tested positive for Covid-19. Those who came into contact with the individuals are being isolated. The numbers of cases are believed to be higher than officially announced. The teachers’ unions are angry at the health and education ministers, stating that their approach will lead to the shutting down of schools again. The head of the Department of Primary School Education Hakkı Başarı says that they are continuing to take precautions while the head of the Department of Secondary Education said they were following the process seriously.

  • The first meeting on November 3 – Ersin Tatar and Nicos Anastasiades to come together for a social meeting on November 3.
  • First hirings for Maraş (Varosha). They will be hiring watchmen for the beachfront.

Kıbrıs

Low yield this year

The annual olive harvest continues. The olives are picked off the trees one by one. Crushed olives, which is a must-have on our tables are being prepared and people rush to the olive mills to collect olive oil from their harvest.

  • Tatar and Anastasiades to meet on November 3 – United Nations Peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) announced that President Tatar and the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades have agreed to an informal meeting on November 3.

Havadis

Early election with a four-party coalition

New government models are being discussed as a result of the reaction growing to Ersin Tatar, who refuses to resign from his post as prime minister following his election as president and who wants to leave the government to National Unity Party’s (UBP) control. The UBP is solely focused on its upcoming congress.

  • The informal introductory meeting to be held on Tuesday – UNFICYP announced President Tatar will be meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades on November 3.
  • The finance ministry does not have any financial problems – Turkish Cypriot Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu announced that the ministry took a loan of ₺199m (€20.4m) in 2020 and all the payments are being made on time.

Diyalog

How much tax did the prominent figures pay in 2019?

We are publishing a section of the names in a ‘special list’ following high demand from the public. The people are curious to find out how much the most popular names and firms in the TRNC paid in taxes in 2019 after the figures were published in the official gazette. Diyalog newspaper on the first day published the list of top ten establishments and individuals before publishing the list of all the names. We are publishing a separate list today consisting of well-known lawyers, businessmen and journalists.

Avrupa

Eroded

Erdoğan: The world is envious of us… Is it possible not to be envious? $ DOLLAR: ₺8.22; € EURO ₺9.72; £ STERLING POUND ₺10.75

  • 181 cases in the south and 10 positive cases in the north…

Main News

Two leaders to meet on November 3

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Newly-elected Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades will meet for the first time on November 3, it was announced on Tuesday.

According to a statement issued from the office of the UN Spokesman in Cyprus, the informal meeting will take place under the auspices of the Special Representative/Deputy Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar, in the Chief of Mission’s residence in the United Nations Protected Area at 7 pm.

“Ms Spehar looks forward to hosting Mr Anastasiades and Mr Tatar for their first informal meeting together as the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities,” the statement concluded.


Erhürman dismisses two-state solution as a viable option

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman on Tuesday said a federation was the solution model stated clearly in UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

He said that a two-state solution would require the recognition of the TRNC which could only be possible through a change in UNSC resolutions.

In a post on social media, Erhürman commented on the remarks made by Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar at a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Monday.

Dismissing prospects of a two-state solution, Erhürman said that it was necessary to explain how such a solution could be realized before placing it before the public as a viable option.

“This is not enough. One must explain how bizonality and constitutional principles which are vital for safeguarding the Turkish Cypriot peoples’ existence, in terms of property and population will be protected in a two-state formula,” he said.

The CTP leader also said that further explanation was required as to how it will be possible to open up to the world when the Turkish Cypriot community abandons its will for a solution on the basis of UNSC resolutions which form the very foundation of its demands for the lifting of economic, sports and cultural embargoes.

“It is not enough to say that years of federation talks have failed and that the Greek Cypriots do not want a federation. The important thing is to base your claims that the alternative will bring a swifter solution and will protect the peoples’ rights and interests before and after a solution is reached, on solid arguments,” he said.

He said that Tatar needed to clarify these issues to the public before declaring a federal solution a ‘fairy tale’.


Era of attacking Turkey & the Cyprus cause is over, says Çelik

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Energy, Governance and Power Sharing, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

“The term at the TRNC presidency which targeted Turkey and the Cyprus cause is over,” Justice and Development Party (AKP) Spokesman Ömer Çelik said on Tuesday.

Speaking following the AKP Central Executive Board meeting, Çelik said that a new era, one based on positive relations with Ankara, had begun with the newly elected Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar.

“Mr Tatar’s emphasis on solution models that are based on the realities on the island gives us the reassurance that the rights and interests of the TRNC both on the island and in the Eastern Mediterranean will be protected,” Çelik said.

He added that Tatar’s words also indicate that the Turkish Cypriot side will no longer allow the Greek Cypriot side to use the negotiations processes as a delaying tactic.

Touching on Turkey’s hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Aegean seas, Çelik accused Greece of insisting on its maximalists demands.

“The Oruç Reis seismic research vessel is 130km away from Turkey’s coast but 440km from Greece. Even some prolific international law experts in Greece note that their state is in the wrong,” Çelik noted.

The spokesman reiterated that Turkey is protecting its and Turkish Cypriots’ rights in the Blue Homeland while advocating for diplomacy and negotiations.

“If Greece were to give up on its attempts to pull a fait accompli, the door to negotiations is always open. Ankara will not be the side abandoning the table…But Turkey will not refrain from giving the appropriate response against impositions,” Çelik concluded. 


TC members of bicommunal committees continue to resign


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
CBMs, Governance and Power Sharing

OVERVIEW

More Turkish Cypriot members of bicommunal technical committees appointed by former Turkish Cypriot president Mustafa Akıncı resigned on Tuesday in protest of what they claim to be anti-democratic election results and the hijacking of the political will of the Turkish Cypriot community.

The Turkish Cypriot members of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Gender Equality were the latest to resign, stating that they could not work with the newly elected president Ersin Tatar

The committee members, Mine Yücel, Ömür Yılmaz, Derya Beyatlı, Umut Bozkurt, and Mine Atlı in a letter sent to the Office of the President said the committee was established to elevate the struggle against discrimination based on gender and gender-based violence for communal and inter-communal peace.

The Turkish Cypriot members also noted that the UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1325 clearly states that struggle against discrimination based on gender and violence are vital elements in building intercommunal and communal peace.

“The technical committee, which was established on this premise, had contributed on one hand to the negotiations processes carried out between the two leaders and on the other hand worked towards developing the culture of peace and justice at a communal level,” the members stressed.  

Pointing to the outcome of the leadership elections in the north, the members argued that the political will of the Turkish Cypriot community had suffered direct interference during the elections.

It said that the interference had undermined Turkish Cypriot democracy and the community’s understanding of justice.

“There is no basis under the current conditions of which the Turkish Cypriots have been stripped of their political will, for us to continue working for the Technical Committee on Gender Equality. Therefore, it is not possible for us to continue with our duties,” the members said.

The members highlighted they will continue to work towards reinstating human rights, social justice, equality and democracy in the northern part of the island and will continue to work towards building a fair and lasting peace in Cyprus.

The Turkish Cypriot members of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Culture had submitted their resignations on Monday. 


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