Front Page Headlines
Tourism in 2020: “Lost year”
Covid-19 which upset the balances all around the world has brought tourism in the country to a standstill. Hoteliers who have been struggling to keep going in a country where there are no tourists have declared 2020 a lost year. While hopes for winter tourism have also been dashed, hopes are now tied to a vaccine in 2021.
- Republican Turkish Party (CTP): “Maraş (Varosha) should be used as a means to motivate a solution”
We are proud. TRNC is 37 years old.
The November 15 Republic Day celebrations started with President Ersin Tatar’s speech yesterday (Saturday). Ceremonies were held at the Dr Fazıl Küçük’s mausoleum and the TMT (Turkish Resistance Organisation) Monument. The celebrations will continue today (Sunday) with the arrival of Turkish President Erdoğan and his accompanying high-level delegation.
- Erdoğan coming to the TRNC today (Sunday) – High-level participation for the TRNC’s 37th anniversary of its establishment.
- Exported citrus to 12 countries – TRNC exported 78.7m kilos of citrus to many countries primarily to Turkey and Russia in the 2019-2020 citrus season.
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All three want the ‘sports’ department
Talks to form a National Unity Party (UBP)-Democratic Party (DP)-Rebirth Party (YDP) coalition have been suspended after the three failed to reach agreement on a date for early elections and the distribution of public offices. UBP General Secretary Ersan Saner who has been tasked with forming the government met yesterday (Saturday) with DP leader Fikri Ataoğlu and YDP leader Erhan Arıklı. A proposal to hold early elections in March next year did not receive the support hoped for. According to information obtained, the DP wing is demanding the Deputy Prime Ministry and Tourism Ministry while the YDP wants the Economy and Energy Ministry. The UBP did not object to this but the parties failed to reach an agreement after all three parties insisted on the Department of Sports, Kıbrıs Insurance and the European University of Lefke.
- Historic visit – Greek Cypriots who couldn’t prevent (Turkish) President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to the island declared mourning.
37th year
Name: KK (North Cyprus); Surname: TC (Republic of Turkey); Currency in use: TL (Turkish Lira); Status: Satellite; Its people: Taken hostage; President: Ersin Tatar by proxy; Address: Mersin 10/Turkey.
- You are a passerby, whereas we are permanent – Erdoğan is coming today. A picnic table is ready for him in Maraş (Varosha).
Main News
Tatar: Time now for alternatives, priority a two-state solution
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar on Saturday said that it was necessary to table new alternatives at the negotiating table, the two-state solution being the priority.
Tatar’s words came during a televised address marking the beginning of celebrations marking the 37th anniversary of the unilateral declaration of the Turkish Cypriot state.
“Negotiations for a federal solution have failed. Now we must sit at the negotiating table with new and outside the box ideas. A two-state solution being the leading model among these alternatives, he said.
Tatar argued that a two-state solution based on sovereign equality was the only realistic and viable solution on the island.
He pointed out that he had conveyed this to the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades during his recent introductory meeting.
“I told him we wanted to make Cyprus an island of peace, to set an example in the region. I told him we do not desire tensions or crisis but that the Greek Cypriot side needed to accept some of the realities on the island, first and foremost that efforts to reach a federal settlement have failed,” he said.
“The most correct thing to do would be for the two peoples who live in two separate states to cooperate. Our Greek Cypriot neighbours should stop dreaming and come to terms with the idea that Cyprus is also our homeland and that Turkish Cypriots also have sovereign rights. Otherwise, everyone will go their own way.”
Tatar said that a solution was not only attainable with the efforts of one side alone.
“We must acknowledge the importance of our Republic and should work to further develop and strengthen our institutions,” he said.
Tatar complained that many Greek Cypriots still dreamed of returning to pre-1974 conditions and to establish superiority over Turkish Cypriots.
He said that conflict and developments in the world, as well as the region, once again highlighted the importance of maintaining strong relations with guarantor Turkey.
“Greek Cypriots will continue their dream of returning to pre-1974 conditions if we break unity or make concessions from our state, our land and security. My efforts are for the preservation of our people’s freedom, sovereignty, prosperity and welfare,” he said.
Tatar said that he was aware of some of the problems experienced in the country but added this was no reason to abandon the state or its institutions.
He added that he will continue to work closely with Turkey in addressing the country’s problems as well as preserving the Turkish Cypriot community’s freedom.
Touching upon his recent meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) Nicos Anastasiades, Tatar said that he had held an open and sincere meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader.
“Maraş (Varosha) should be used to motivate for a solution”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis
Negotiations Process, Property, Territory, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“Maraş (Varosha) should not be used as a means to create tension but to motivate for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus Problem, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) said in a statement issued on Saturday.
CTP stated that the initiative on Maraş (Varosha) can and should only be carried out within the framework of UN parameters, UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and international law.
It stated that any steps to be taken outside this framework will not only harm the Turkish Cypriot side but will also serve to raise tensions on the island.
“The fenced-off city of Maraş (Vaorsha) has an important place in negotiations for a comprehensive federal settlement based on UN parameters. An ‘initiative’ on this issue can be undertaken based on UNSC resolutions and international law. However, such an initiative should be carried out without moving away from the goal of achieving a comprehensive settlement, should be carried out simultaneously with efforts to reach a solution and should be used as a means to motivate for such a solution rather than create tensions,” the CTP statement read.
The party’s statement also said that the first step that needs to be taken is to lift the area’s military status and to reinstate property rights of the town’s former residents via the Immovable Property Commission (IPC).
This should be done in consultation and talks with the UN in line with UNSC resolutions, it added.
The CTP expressed the view that adopting such an approach will demonstrate, in the eyes of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the UN that the Turkish Cypriot community is willing and does act in accordance with international law.
The party also added that to use Maraş (Varosha) as propaganda material will only deepen the mistrust that exists between the two communities thus making it harder for the solution process to succeed.
“The blame of these actions will be placed on the Turkish Cypriot side, forcing the Turkish Cypriot community to pay a heavy price. Let it not be forgotten. Our struggle is for the Turkish Cypriot community to open up to the world, to integrate it with international law and to push for a comprehensive solution,” the statement concluded.
Echoing CTP’s viewpoint, Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit said the steps taken on the fenced-off town should contribute to a comprehensive settlement.
“The steps to be taken in Maraş (Varosha) should not strengthen the perception of the north being a subordinate administration,” Özyiğit said, adding that excluding Turkish Cypriots or their institutions from the process will only strengthen such a perception.
“This is neither in the best interests of Turkey nor the Turkish Cypriots,” Özyiğit noted.
He recalled that the beachfront of the fenced-off town was opened just before the Turkish Cypriot presidential elections without a cabinet decision and since then Turkish authorities like the Konya Municipality have been involved in the area bypassing the Turkish Cypriot institutions.
“Turkish Cypriots will be put in severe difficulty should steps continue to be taken against international law and without complying with the UN resolutions,” Özyiğit said.
Also drawing attention to the efforts to convene the five-party conference, Özyiğit said steps on Maraş (Varosha) will also have negative implications at the negotiations table.
“Maraş (Varosha) must be used to facilitate the efforts for a solution and not against it,” Özyiğit concluded.
TC side offers to treat GC coronavirus patients
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar proposed on Saturday to transfer up to a hundred Covid-19 patients in the south to the north given the spike in the number of coronavirus cases.
The Turkish Cypriot side said it could currently accommodate up to 100 patients in its newly completed hospital in Nicosia.
The Turkish Cypriot Chair of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health Cenk Soydan has relayed the proposal to his counterpart in the south.
The proposal was also relayed to the Greek Cypriot leadership as well as to the UN.
“This is a humanitarian issue not political,” Soydan said, adding that should the Greek Cypriot side accept the proposal this would allow their health system to have a bit of breathing space.
Soydan added that Tatar gives importance to the proposal as it will help improve the environment of trust and collaboration between the two communities.
“This is completely a humanitarian issue that is focused on developing collaboration between the two sides,” Soydan concluded.