Front Page Headlines
Here are the decisions
The Committee for Infectious Diseases adopted a series of decisions. The Council of Ministers extended the curfew and restrictions until February 22. In line with recommendations made by the committee, the cabinet decided to allow restaurants to resume takeaway and delivery services between 11am and 9pm. It also said that banks will reopen with minimum staff. The cabinet also allowed Turkish Cypriots studying in the south who won’t be able to resume their education online or need to sit final exams to cross without quarantine requirements. They will need to travel by bus and parents won’t be able to cross.
Lockdown extended by another week
Prime Minister Ersan Saner announced the decisions adopted by the Council of Ministers in light of the recommendations made by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases. While the lockdown is extended until February 22, the cabinet decided to relax some of the measures on restaurants and banks. The restaurants will be allowed to carry out delivery and takeaway services while banks will reopen with minimum staff.
- 21 locally transmitted, 30 positive cases in the TRNC – Health Minister Ali Pilli announced 4,337 tests were carried out in the last 24 hours. He also said 53 people were discharged.
N/A due to lockdown
N/A due to lockdown
Main News
Restrictions & curfew in north extended for another week
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The current lockdown restrictions and curfew in place in the north were extended by the cabinet on Saturday for another week in light of the current epidemiological situation.
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner announced the extension at a press conference following a five-hour meeting with health experts who presented the cabinet with recommendations based on the latest statistical figures. The Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases had recommended the extension of the measures given that daily case numbers still exceeded the number of patients being discharged.
The newly completed pandemic hospital, as well as two wards at the general hospital in Nicosia, are currently full of Covid-19 patients.
The committee said the extension was necessary to prevent a peak in case numbers predicted for March after the UK variant was detected in the north. The cabinet, however, eased some of the restrictions.
Banks will reopen on Monday after being closed the past week but will be operating with minimum staff. While restaurants will be allowed to open for takeaway or delivery services, retail shops which offer online sales will also be allowed to operate between 11am and 9pm.
The full-day curfew on Sundays during which all businesses, except for pharmacies and bakeries, will be closed, remains in place.
Another restriction eased was for Turkish Cypriot students studying in the south. Those who will be unable to resume online education after their schools returned to in-class education or those in the final year of lyceum who need to sit their final exams will be allowed to attend classes in the south without having to enter quarantine when returning to the north.
These students will however need to travel to their schools by arranged school buses and will be required to undergo PCR testing every 7 days. Their parents however will not be allowed to cross.
All other restrictions and rules for individuals wishing to cross north or south remain in place. Only ambulance services are allowed through the Yeşilırmak (Pyrgos) crossing point.
Everyone else, except for staff working for the UN, EU, British Sovereign Base Areas (SBA), the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) and UN peacekeepers, is subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine when entering the north. Those exempted will be required to present a valid PCR test carried out in the last 72 hours.
Tatar claims the two-state model is receiving growing support
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said on Saturday that the Turkish Cypriot side’s position in favour of a two-state solution received more support than given credit.
Speaking during a videoconference with Turkish diplomacy correspondents organised by the Foreign Press Association in the north, Tatar said that international diplomats were now talking about a two-state solution since his election to office.
“Many diplomats agree with us and find our arguments convincing and justified,” he said, adding that a two-state model was the only realistic option that could be discussed at the negotiating table. The Turkish Cypriot leader said that it was obvious both sides in Cyprus had a very different understanding of what a federal settlement entailed.
Furthermore, the Greek Cypriots have no intention of sharing the island’s natural resources or political power with Turkish Cypriots, he said. Tatar added it was out of the question for Turkish Cypriots to agree to a settlement which would force them to be absorbed into a state dominated by Greek Cypriots.
He pointed out the conditions and circumstances in Cyprus have changed in favour of the Turkish Cypriots with a stronger Turkey in the region. Tatar repeated his argument that any settlement other than a two-state solution would not be sustainable in the long run.
Also commenting on the issue of Maraş (Varosha), Tatar said that the fenced-off city was no longer a bargaining issue and off the table. He also noted that the efforts to demilitarise Maraş (Varosha) were continuing with the intention of opening the area to civilians.
Asked about the possibility of annexing the north with Turkey, Tatar rejected the possibility, stating that there was no need for such a move. “We do not need annexation; we are already united and one with Turkey. We are very close. We are not any different from Antalya in Turkey,” he said.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Many diplomats find TC side’s arguments in favour of a two-state solution convincing.
>> Ankara’s support over the two-state model strengthens the TC side’s hand.
>> Maraş (Varosha) no longer a bargaining issue & is off the table.
>> Turkey & the north are already “united” thus no need for annexation.