Front Page Headlines
Polemics over Maraş (Varosha)
President Ersin Tatar said that the claims made by Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman that he had no knowledge of what was going on in Maraş (Varosha) were not true. Erhürman was quick to respond: “We were not alone when this conversation took place.” Tatar: “It is obvious that Mr Erhürman intends to exploit the steps (to open Maraş/Varosha) taken for the service of humanity, our country and people. He should make his views on Maraş (Varosha) clear to the public.” Erhürman: “We were not alone there. The other party leaders were witnesses to our conversation. I am ready to face Mr Tatar on a TV channel of his choosing to discuss Maraş (Varosha).”
- Cypriot leaders Tatar-Anastasiades meet for the first time – UN: “The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere”; Tatar: “We hope to resume these talks based on a two-state formula”; Anastasiades: “Tatar wants to discuss alternative solution options”
- Hands Across the Divide women’s group: ‘Macho male egos instead of a peace process’
- Kudret Özersay speaks to The Guardian – “I fear a real crisis is coming if the involvement of the Turkish Cypriot authorities is excluded.”
Time to table new ideas
President Tatar met with the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades over an informal meeting yesterday (Tuesday). In a statement on the meeting, Tatar said: “We see the five-party conference as an opportunity to table new ideas and approaches outside of the current framework.” He added it is time to table new ideas. In a statement issued after the meeting, the UN drew attention to the fact that both the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades have responded positively to the five-party meeting. Speaking after the meeting, Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades said the meeting was held in a cordial environment. He pointed out the importance of responding positively to the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Guterres’ proposal for a five-party conference.
- British Pound exceeds ₺11 (€1.10) – The US Dollar increased its value against the major currencies in global financial markets while it lost its strength against the assets of the developing countries. The TRNC was negatively affected when the Turkish Lira could not keep up with this rise.
Starvation on our doorstep
The plunge in the value of the Turkish Lira against foreign currencies has ruined the lives of the people, who are already struggling with economic hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic. One US Dollar is over ₺8.54, one Euro is ₺10 and one British Pound is over ₺11.
- Agreed on the five-party conference – President Tatar and the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades met at an informal meeting at the official residence of Elizabeth Spehar, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus.
- Tatar denied (the claims), Erhürman pointed to witnesses – President Tatar denied claims by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman that he was not aware of the developments in Maraş (Varosha).
No problems
Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said that the state needs ₺850m (€86.2m) to pay double salaries in December. Amcaoğlu said that payments were on track despite the economic crisis in the country. In addition to the ₺500m (€50,7m) needed to pay normal public sector salaries for December, there was an additional ₺350m (€35.5m) needed for the 13th month (end-of-year bonus) salaries. However, he said he did not expect any difficulties in finding the money required.
- The five-party conference will be determining – Tatar and Anastasiades expressed their intentions at their first meeting.
- Their journey ended short – Six Cameroonian students were caught at Beyarmudu (Pergamos) village. “We were going to go to the refugee camp in the south because we ran out of money,” they said.
Green light to five-party conference
Ersin and Nicos were introduced to each other under the auspices of the UN. In the statement issued following yesterday’s (Tuesday) meeting, it was stated that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar met for the first time as the Greek Cypriot community leader and the Turkish Cypriot community leader.
- Supposedly they aim to tame the union – Tatar is taking Elcil to the courts. Ersin Tatar is outraged with the statement given the other day (Monday) by KTÖS (TC Teachers’ Union) General Secretary Şener Elcil…The acting leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) Ersan Saner said they will take “fallacious claims and insults to the courts.”
- 174 cases of coronavirus in the south and six in the north
Main News
Leaders, in their first encounter, back five-way UN meeting
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The leaders of the two communities on Tuesday agreed to support the possibility of a five-party meeting under the auspices of the UN to resolve the Cyprus Issue.
The newly-elected Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar met with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades late Tuesday at a United Nations compound in Nicosia for an informal meeting.
It was their first encounter since Tatar was elected as president in the north last month.
Tatar and Anastasiades “expressed their determination to positively respond to the UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) commitment to exploring the possibility to convene an informal five-plus-United Nations meeting, in a conducive climate, at an appropriate stage,” the spokesperson of the UN mission on the island said in a statement following a two-hour-long meeting.
The statement said that the two leaders have found the opportunity to “get to know each other and to have their first informal exchange of views in a cordial atmosphere.”
Speaking upon his return to the presidential palace, Tatar said he has found the opportunity to put the two-state solution on the agenda and stated that his positions were towards this direction.
He, however, said that they had not gone into the details as it was only an informal meeting without the presence of their negotiating teams.
“I have told Mr Anatasiades that as the two peoples sharing the same island side-by-side must collaborate to live in peace,” Tatar said, adding that “the two sides respecting the other’s equal status, should go into a constructive dialogue to establish a relationship based on collaboration.”
He pointed out that the negotiations processes to reach a federal solution since 1977 had failed to achieve the desired outcome.
“It is necessary for the two sides to focus on the reasons for failure and to start thinking out of the box to facilitate a realistic conclusion that will be a win-win model for all,” Tatar said.
He also noted that the Turkish Cypriot side is supportive of confidence-building measures (CBMs) and comprehensive collaboration mechanisms.
Tatar also reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side’s hydrocarbon co-management proposal is still on the table.
“The said proposal will contribute significantly for the establishment of a collaboration mechanism based on collaboration and mutual welfare,” Tatar argued.
Tatar also noted the issues of Maraş (Varosha), and the embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot community had also come up during the meeting in addition to the hydrocarbons.
Touching on the resumption of the negotiations process, Tatar said he believed strongly that the time had come to table new ideas such as sovereign equality.
“Instead of being stuck in the same place, we believe adopting a forward-looking attitude with sustainable measures that will meet with the needs of our island and our region, would be more beneficial,” Tatar stressed.
Tatar underlined that the five-plus-UN conference would be an important opportunity for the Turkish Cypriot side to table new ideas.
He also noted that the Cyprus issue is the joint cause of the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey.
“It is vital for the Turkish Cypriot side to closely cooperate on the details of the Cyprus issue as well as on the upcoming five-plus-UN meeting and to manage the process ahead,” Tatar concluded.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Bicommunal Peace Initiative – United Cyprus issued a five-point statement pointing out that a federal solution on the island is the only viable model.
The bicommunal group has called on the two communities to overcome the negative political atmosphere created by the leaders across the divide.
“Cyprus is too small to partition and that reunification in a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF) with political equality as defined by UN resolutions is the only available option for a peaceful future,” the statement read.
The bicommunal group urged the two leaders to resume the negotiations process from the point it had been left off in Crans Montana, specifically on the basis of the Guterres framework.
The initiative also called on the two sides to declare an “immediate moratorium on hydrocarbon exploration” activities to create the essential space for negotiations to reach mutually acceptable arrangements.
On the issue of Maraş (Varosha), the group called on the UN Secretary-General to implement the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on Maraş (Varosha) and open the way forward for a bicommunal technical committee of experts and representatives to plan and develop the fenced-off town under the supervision of the UN to return the properties to its pre-1974 inhabitants.
The initiative, as its fifth point, urged the authorities across the divide to open all the crossing points to revitalize trade across the divide to mitigate the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic while implementing necessary measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19.
“In addition to the opening, the bicommunal technical committee on health must also be empowered to enhance its cooperation and strengthen its collaboration in all fields to fight against the pandemic,” the statement concluded.
The bicommunal women’s group, Hands Across the Divide also issued a statement on Tuesday expressing concern about the attitude of male leaders which it said preferred the rhetoric of “war drums” rather than mutual respect and understanding which would lead the island to a promising future.
The group said that it was apparent that the male politicians were bypassing women’s connection to the island as a whole and ignoring both their memories and feelings.
“Our demand from the decision-makers is to co-operate to overcome the wounds of the past and move our country forward into a promising shared future. Instead of a peace process, we observe prevailing macho male egos, competition, stubbornness, and antagonism,” the statement read.
The group said that Cyprus was not a profit-based company but the homeland to all Cypriots.
“As women of Cyprus, we have lost faith in your political abilities. It is now high time to demand from you to give us our equal space in decision making and the ruling of this country. We demand a participatory negotiation table with wider representation. We demand our voices be heard and our perspectives are taken seriously into consideration in all aspects of the negotiation process”, the group said.
The group said that excluding women from the frontline was the violation
of basic democratic rights and that they demanded to be heard.
“Turkish Cypriot, Greek Cypriot and all women on
the island will extend hands above the barbed wires to ensure that
reconciliation and co-operation are taking place now and in the future until
the final settlement of the conflict has materialized,” the statement
concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Two-state solution brought to the agenda at the meeting.
>> Two sides should collaborate to live in peace.
>> The two sides should respect the other’s equal status, should go into a constructive dialogue to establish a relationship based on collaboration.
>> It is necessary for the two sides to focus on reasons of a failure & to think out of the box to reach a realistic conclusion that will be a win-win model for all.
>> TC side supports CBMs & creation of comprehensive collaboration mechanisms.
>> TC side’s hydrocarbon co-management proposal is still at the table.
>> The time has come to table new ideas such as sovereign equality.
>> We believe adopting a forward-looking attitude with sustainable measures that will meet with the needs of our island & our region.
>> 5+1 UN conference would be an important opportunity for the TC side to table new ideas.
>> Cyprus issue is the joint cause of the TC side & Turkey.
>> It is vital for the TC side to closely cooperate on the details of the Cyprus issue & 5+1UN meeting & manage the process ahead.
Bicommunal Peace Initiative – United Cyprus
>> A federal solution on the island is the only viable model.
>> The two sides should overcome the negative political atmosphere.
>> Cyprus is too small to partition & reunification in a BBF with political equality as defined by UN resolutions is the only available option for a peaceful future.
>> The two leaders should resume the negotiations process from the point it was left off in Crans Montana, specifically on the basis of the Guterres framework.
>> The two sides should declare an “immediate moratorium on hydrocarbon exploration” activities to create the essential space for negotiations to reach mutually acceptable arrangements.
>> UNSG should implement the UNSC resolutions on Maraş (Varosha) & open the way forward for a bicommunal technical committee of experts to plan & develop the town under the supervision of the UN to return the properties to its pre-1974 inhabitants.
>> The authorities on both sides should open all the crossing points to revitalize trade across the divide to mitigate the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Hands Across the Divide
>> The decision-makers should co-operate to overcome the wounds of the past& move our country forward into a promising shared future.
>> Decision-makers should abandon prevailing macho male egos, competition, stubbornness, and antagonism.
>> We demand a participatory negotiation table with wider representation.
>> We demand our voices be heard & our perspectives are taken seriously into consideration in all aspects of the negotiation process.
The debate over handling of Maraş (Varosha) rages on
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Property, Territory, Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The war of words between President Ersin Tatar and the opposition regarding who has control over the opening of part of the fenced area of Maraş (Varosha) continued on Tuesday.
Tatar refuted the claims made by the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman that he did not know what was going on.
Erhürman and former Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay, grilled Tatar on Monday, expressing shock as to how developments were evolving and how the Turkish Cypriot authorities had been excluded from the process.
Both claimed even Tatar himself had no idea of what was going on.
Tatar, in a written statement issued by his office on Tuesday, hit back at the allegations.
He said that contrary to Erhürman’s claims, he was informed of the visit of the Turkish Minister of Environment and Urban Development as this was part of the initial agreement reached with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“The Turkish Minister visited the fenced-off town in line with an agreement reached in Ankara to assess the infrastructure needs in the parts opened for public access initially and for the town in its entirety,” Tatar noted.
As for Erhürman’s claims, Tatar said he responded with “sincerity” to the questions posed by Mr Erhürman during the meeting held in his office on Saturday with leaders of the political parties represented in the Turkish Cypriot parliament.
“We are determined in taking the necessary steps towards reopening of Maraş (Varosha) in the coming period,” Tatar stressed and added, “It is clear that Mr Erhürman is trying to exploit our decision to reopen the fenced-off town for humanity, for our country and our people.”
Tatar urged Erhürman to first clarify his position on Maraş (Varosha) and share his views publicly.
“The decision to open Varosha through the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) for the pre-1974 residents, is the right move and justified especially given the Greek Cypriot side’s attitude towards a comprehensive settlement and the relevant European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decisions,” Tatar stressed.
He also said it is out of the question for him not to know the details of the Turkish Environment and Urban Development Minister’s visit to the fenced-off town or the planned steps to be taken in Maraş (Varosha).
“It is not in the best interest of our country or of our people to attempt to distort what I had said,” Tatar concluded.
Nonetheless, the CTP leader was quick to respond, stating that there were witnesses at Saturday’s meeting to what had been discussed.
“Mr Tatar claimed my statement on the developments in Maraş (Varosha) is not true. We were not alone in that meeting. The other political party representatives also witnessed what you said,” Erhürman said.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Erhürman concluded by noting that he will not prolong the debate any further to protect and respect state etiquette.
Earlier in the day Tatar’s office said he was suing the head of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union (KTÖS) Şener Elcil for libel.
Elcil had asked Anastasiades in a written statement, among other things, whether he had no problem sitting at the same table with Tatar knowing that the partition of the island was an offence and he was in favour of a two-state solution, thus describing partition.
Elcil said that the 1960 agreements on the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus forbid union with other states or partition.
Tatar’s office said legal measures would be taken against Elcil because his statements do not respond to reality and discredit Tatar.
Meanwhile, Özersay expressed concern over developments in Maraş (Varosha).
“We had put forward careful plans to reopen Varosha in a way that is considerate of the needs of former inhabitants, in line with international law and keeps the international community informed of what’s going on, but the way this was done was terrible … for the sake of Mr Tatar’s election campaign,” Özersay told the UK daily, The Guardian.
“This is a turning point for north Cyprus, especially if Turkish involvement compromises our democratic process like this again,” he added.
He said that the issue suggests that a larger crisis, the fight for hydrocarbon reserves, is on its way.
“Which actors will be part of that process, and whether we will end up negotiating over it or fighting over it, is yet to be determined. But I fear a real crisis is coming if the involvement of the Turkish Cypriot authorities is excluded. It is for the benefit of all to respect the democratic will of the Turkish Cypriot people,” he said.
Dizdarlı latest to resign from bicommunal committees
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs, Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Dr Bülent Dizdarlı has also resigned from his post at the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health, the dailies report on Wednesday.
In a social media post, Dizdarlı said he had decided to quit his post of 12 years even before the Turkish Cypriot leadership elections.
“Even if we could not achieve our ultimate goal over the dozen years, we nonetheless have achieved a lot,” Dizdarlı said and concluded by noting that his conscience is clear after having transferred the institutional memory of the committee to his colleagues continuing.