TCC Press Review 23 Dec 2020

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Panic in five villages over local cases

Local cases are popping up everywhere across Mesaoria. Many people who have come into contact with positive cases have been placed in quarantine. A barber and a veterinarian in Akdoğan (Lysi) are the latest to test positive for Covid-19 following a mother and her daughter on Tuesday. A case detected in Nergisli (Genagra) has a large number of contacts. PCR tests are being carried out in the area.

Kıbrıs

Let’s be more careful

The Health Ministry’s Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases adopted additional measures in light of the spike of Covid-19 cases in the country and the growing danger posed by the mutation of the virus in other countries. The ministry also announced that those who do not comply with the rules of wearing a face-mask and maintaining social distancing will be fined.

  • Test rush at the pandemic hospital – The mandatory requirement for employers and employees in the private service sector to carry out PCR tests until December 23, resulted in long queues at the hospital.   
  • 14 local, a total of 21 new Covid-19 cases in the TRNC.
  • Five deaths and 402 coronavirus cases in the South.
  • Chamber of Industry: “Even rumours of a new lockdown will be a blow for the economy.”
  • Social facilities and sports areas closed in Famagusta – Famagusta Municipality implements stricter rules due to surge in Covid-19 cases.

Havadis

Panic over virus mutation

Both the north and the south have adopted stricter measures following reports of a new variant of the virus detected in the UK which is 65 per cent more infectious. Given the new measures, those who have been in the UK, Netherlands, Denmark and South Africa in the past 14 days are banned from entering the north. TRNC citizens arriving from any of these countries will be required to spend 14 days in quarantine.

  • “This is our country, shame on the government” – Turkish Cypriot Public Servants Union (KTAMS) protested the decision to reject Hüseyin Özgürgün’s resignation outside the parliament building.
  • Independent crutch – The motion to launch an inquiry into the presidential elections was rejected with votes from the minority government and the votes from the three “independent MPs.” The motion was rejected 25 to 20.
  • “Only serves to harm the economy” – KTSO (Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry) head Candan Avunduk harshly criticised the Health Minister Ali Pilli’s statement on the possibility of a new lockdown.
  • Mobilised with fear – Due to a surge in the number of cases, Famagusta Municipality has implemented stricter measures in the town.

Diyalog

The cost of the votes against (accepting Özgürgün’s resignation) is ₺886,000 (€94,977)

The UBP (National Unity Party) MP responded to criticism that he has been receiving his salary despite having been living in Istanbul for the past 18 months via social media. Özgürgün said he has been an MP for the past 22 years and had earned the right to retire in 2012. “Had they accepted my resignation I would have been entitled to retire over 33 years of service,” he added. A reliable source from the Finance Ministry told Diyalog that Özgürgün would be receiving a retirement bonus of ₺886,000 (€94,977).

  • Steps against poverty – The lowest pension in South Cyprus has risen from €359 to €710.

Avrupa

This is why they call us paupers

All three (Ersan Saner, Fikri Ataoğlu and Erhan Arıklı) flew to Ankara at three o’clock in the morning for the 13th salaries. The government, which claims it has no problems paying December salaries of public servants, is on its way to Ankara to ask for money for the 13th salaries after being strapped for cash. In addition to talks on the 2021 state budget, a new protocol is also expected to be signed in Ankara… It is not yet known how long the visit will last…The first goal of the economy-focused talks will be the 13th salaries… It is not known what Ankara will be demanding in exchange for money.

  • Heading towards a new lockdown – The pandemic is out of control…(Health Minister) Ali Pilli said more radical decisions including a new lockdown could be implemented from December 25 onwards.
  • Hüseyin Özgürgün: I am entitled to my pension rights – Responding to criticism on continuing to receive his salary without attending the parliamentary assemblies, Özgürgün said his conscious is clear and added: “This is a political reaction…”
  • Motion to launch an inquiry into election meddling rejected – The motion to launch an inquiry into the allegations of interference in the presidential elections was rejected in parliament with votes from the government… Ersan Saner’s proposal to investigate all the past elections was also rejected by the opposition…
  • 402 coronavirus cases and five deaths in the South, 21 cases in the North.

Main News

Tatar plays same tune on desired Cyprob solution model

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar reiterated on Tuesday that he will continue his efforts towards achieving a two-state solution based on sovereign equality and in which the two states can co-exist side-by-side.

Speaking during a meeting with an association responsible for illuminating the ‘TRNC’ flag on the Five Finger (Pentadactylos) Mountains, Tatar said that Ankara fully supported a two-state solution model in Cyprus.

He noted that the decades-old negotiations processes to reach a federal solution have failed so far.

Touching on the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Tatar said Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to collaborate on the Eastern Mediterranean issue.

“The TRNC’s status has increased with Turkey’s determined stance in the Eastern Mediterranean. As a result, the Turkish Cypriots are now stronger. As a separate community with the right to self-determination, we must protect our national cause to live in peace and security under Turkey’s guarantees,” Tatar concluded.  

KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Efforts for a two-state solution which Ankara supports will continue.
>> Turkey & TC side will continue to act together in East Med.


Turkey issues new Navtex for Oruç Reis off Antalya

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy

OVERVIEW

Turkey on Tuesday said that its Oruç Reis seismic research vessel, which had operated in disputed waters in the Eastern Mediterranean, will survey an area off the country’s southern coast until mid-June.

The Oruç Reis will carry out seismic studies in the Eastern Mediterranean together with two other vessels, the Ataman and Cengiz Han.

It has been reported that the research vessel will work in an area off the coast of Antalya, a region unlikely to lead to a dispute with Greece or South Cyprus.

The Navtex covers nearly six months, from December 22, 2020 to June 15, 2021.

The previous Navtex covering an area off the coasts of Rhodes and Kastelorizo had expired on November 29.

Turkey withdrew the Oruç Reis from maritime areas disputed with Greece ahead of two EU summits, leading European Council President Charles Michel to say that the game of “cat-and-mouse” between EU and Ankara must end.


New Covid-19 measures outrage TCs in Pile (Pyla)

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot residents of Beyarmudu (Pergamos) and Pyla on Tuesday expressed outrage over the latest restrictions announced by the Higher Committee of Infectious Diseases in light of the recent spike in locally transmitted cases.

According to the latest decisions, the Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing point has been closed for Turkish Cypriot residents of Pile (Pyla).

Residents wishing to enter the north between December 25-January 3 (both dates included) will be required to enter a 10-day quarantine at a state-monitored facility.

“It is unacceptable to see the crossing closing again for Pile (Pyla) residents,” the village’s Turkish Cypriot Mukhtar Veysal Güden said, warning that the residents of the village will be protesting the latest restrictions.

Güden also claimed that not a single case of Covid-19 had been seen in the bicommunal village.

Reminding that the village had been treated unfairly during the lockdown period in April, Güden demanded fair treatment for the Turkish Cypriots living in the village.

Among other decisions, the committee has decided to ban the crossing of Turkish Cypriot students receiving an education in the south and their families from December 25 to January 3, 2021 (inclusive) during the Christmas and New Year holiday when schools will be closed.

The committee announced a similar ban for Turkish Cypriots working in the south, stating that the workers crossing for work will not be allowed to return to the north without entering quarantine until the end of the New Year holiday on January 3.

However, it stated that Turkish Cypriots who can prove they will continue to work during the holiday period will be allowed to cross daily without having to enter quarantine on the condition they provide written proof from their employers.

These individuals will continue to self-isolate at state-monitored facilities during the evenings.

People working at the British bases and the buffer zone during the same period, will be given special permits so that they can go to work without having to quarantine.

The committee has also made the use of face-masks and social distancing mandatory even in open and semi/open spaces.

All establishments will be required to ensure that customers wear their masks and practice social distancing (a minimum of 1.5m).

A ban of entry in the north has also been introduced for visitors who visited the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands and South Africa in the last 14 days as part of measures to prevent the arrival of a new variant of the coronavirus.   


Police in Famagusta catch more undocumented migrants


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Migration & Citizenship

OVERVIEW

Police in Famagusta detained 12 undocumented migrants on Tuesday night, the third group in as many days.

A police patrol stumbled across the group of 12 migrants from Syria on the road towards the Akyar (Strovilia) crossing point.

Police have taken the migrants to the hospital for medical checks and PCR tests and are continuing their investigation on the case.


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