Front Page Headlines
“The virus is aggressive and severe”
Doctors are worried about the rise in case numbers. They have warned that the latest Covid-19 cases are spreading more easily and more aggressively. They’re worried that the virus may have mutated.
- Eight cases, one serious, 15 close contacts at Kyrenia municipality.
- The outbreak at Kyrenia Akçiçek General Hospital is spreading – Seven positive cases including the chief physician. Many contacts.
Strict control
All businesses except for essential services have been closed down as part of coronavirus measures being implemented across the country. All movement between districts has been banned. Police teams set up in each district have stepped up their controls everywhere.
- ‘Younger people shouldn’t think they won’t be affected’ – Dr Şükrü Onbaşı, head of the Intensive Care Unit at the Nicosia Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital, warned that all Covid-19 patients currently receiving treatment in intensive care were young.
Five days not enough, it should be 21
Health Minister Ali Pilli revealed his views following the announcements made by the government. He said that a lockdown of five to ten days will not be enough and that 21 days was needed to bring the numbers down. Pilli added that the goal was to open all sectors by April 1, allowing tourism to resume. He urged everyone to adhere to the rules.
Pilli: 21 days, Saner: 7 days
The doctors’ decisions on the lockdown are going to waste again… Health Minister Ali Pilli said the lockdown should be extended to 21 days to contain the pandemic but Prime Minister Ersan Saner is saying seven days is enough… The pandemic is rapidly spreading all over the country.
- 45 local, 47 positive cases of coronavirus in the north, 119 cases in the south…
Main News
Tatar says UNSC resolution contradicts UNSG’s reports
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Friday said that the latest resolution adopted by the UN Security Council (UNSC) was in contradiction with the latest reports submitted by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on his Good Offices Mission and UNFICYP on the island.
In a written statement issued by his office, Tatar said that the resolution nonetheless would not affect the Turkish Cypriot side’s position during the upcoming informal 5+1 meeting during which a creative, constructive and determined attitude will be displayed.
Expressing his objections to the UNSC resolution (S2021/86) on the Good Offices and the United Nations operation in Cyprus (UNFICYP) (2561/2021), Tatar argued that the resolution, which referred to the repeatedly failed bicommunal, bizonal federation (BFF) as the basis of a solution, prevented the discussion of alternatives that could end the decades-long status quo on the island.
He stressed that the informal meeting’s purpose was to explore whether there was any common ground to launch new talks. He added that the message the resolution gave further encouraged the Greek Cypriot leadership to continue its policy of maintaining the status quo on the island. Tatar said the UNSC also adopted a similar stance on the natural resources issue and Maraş (Varosha).
He said that rather than inviting the parties to start cooperating on the issue of hydrocarbons, the resolution was in effect postponing the handling of the problem that adversely affected security and stability in the region, until after a settlement was reached on the island.
On the issue of Maraş (Varosha), Tatar said the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to move ahead with its initiative on the fenced-off town, which aims at resolving the matter through the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in line with international law.
Tatar repeated the view that past negotiations processes have shown everyone that a BBF is neither realizable nor sustainable in Cyprus which is why, he added, the sides should start discussing a two-state model based on sovereign equality.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry also weighed in on Friday issuing a statement expressing its discontent with the resolution. It argued that the UNSC had once again disregarded its main principle of impartiality by neglecting to seek the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side before extending UNFICYP’s mandate on the island.
The ministry reminded that UNFICYP was able to carry on with its operations in the northern part of the island as a result of the Turkish Cypriot authorities’ goodwill and constructive attitude, adding that an official agreement should be drawn up between UNFICYP and the Turkish Cypriot side to legitimize the UN peacekeeping force’s operations in the north.
It warned that failure to reach such an agreement might force the Turkish Cypriot side to review its good-willed approach towards UNFICYP’s operations in the north. The ministry also repeated Tatar’s viewpoint that insisting on failed methodologies for talks would only lead to new failures.
On the issue of hydrocarbons, the ministry accused the Greek Cypriot side of being responsible for the escalations in tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and urged the UNSC to call for dialogue, diplomacy and collaboration between the sides creating interdependency.
It also noted that the UNSC resolution had failed to mention 223 concrete pillboxes placed along the buffer zone concealing the Greek Cypriot side’s efforts to escalate tension on the island and its enmity against the Turkish Cypriot side.
The ministry criticized the UNSC for failing to mention the difficulties created by Greek Cypriot authorities at crossing points which are aimed at hurting the Turkish Cypriot economy.
It said the disregard of such facts would only further encourage the Greek Cypriot side’s policy of isolating Turkish Cypriots from the international community. The ministry also rejected accusations made in the resolution regarding restrictions of movement of peacekeepers in Akyar (Strovilia) and Maraş (Varosha). It added that the Turkish Cypriot side has always been in favour of establishing direct military mechanisms in line with the relevant UN resolutions.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> UNSC resolutions contradict UNSG’s Good Office mission & UNFICYP reports.
>> Resolution will not affect TC side’s position at 5+1 informal meeting.
>> Reference to BBF as the basis of a solution only encourages GC side’s policy in favour of prolonging status quo.
>> Removes chances of ending the status quo on the island.
>> A BBF solution is neither realizable nor sustainable which is why the sides should start discussing a two-state solution.
Ertuğruoğlu
>> UNSC has violated its principle of impartiality by failing to seek TC side’s consent when extending UNFICYP’s mandate.
>> UNFICYP should draw an agreement with TC side for its operations in the north. Failure to do so will force TC to review its goodwill approach.
>> UNSC resolution fails to mention GC military structures along buffer zone & difficulties created by GC officials at crossing points.
>> TC side rejects accusations made regarding the movement of peacekeepers in the north.
>> TCs always in favour of establishing direct military mechanisms in line with UN resolutions.
Greek national arrested in north
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
A Greek national was arrested and sent to jail on Friday after it emerged that he had been living in Famagusta with an expired tourist visa since November 1, 2020.
The police upon receiving a tip carried out a raid at the man’s residence on Friday. The police officer informed the court that the man had crossed over to north on October 2, 2020, with a 30-day tourist visa but had not left since.
He said the man had been living in the Famagusta since then without having acquired the necessary residency permits. The court ordered the suspect to be remanded for not more than 15 days until his case is tried.