Front Page Headlines
“Equal status and political equality”
The leader of the main opposition Tufan Erhürman drew attention to the equal status of the two founding states in achieving a federal solution. Erhürman, “We repeatedly asked will we refuse to sit at the table if they don’t recognize the TRNC. We were told that that was not their claim or position. However, the first article of the six-point proposal calls for the UN Security Council (UNSC) to recognize the equal international status of the two sides.”
National wealth turned into ashes
Nearly 12,000 fires were recorded in the past 18 years in our country, causing nearly ₺100m (€10m) in damages.
- We insist on April 2022 for an early election – Prime Minister Ersan Saner said.
- The curfew hours are changing – In view of the additional decisions adopted in line with the coronavirus measures, the night-time curfew will be from 10 pm to 5 am from today onwards.
- Tobacco grown in Karpaz (Karpasia) to be sent to Europe – Tobacco growers in Karpaz (Karpasia) have started to plant their saplings, which will be harvested at the end of June.
People rushed to the Karpaz (Karpasia)
People, who felt suffocated by the coronavirus pandemic but could not travel abroad, rushed to the Karpaz (Karpasia) peninsula during the three-day Bairam (Eid al-Fitr) holiday. However, they were disappointed with the area’s poor infrastructure.
- Insisting on April – Prime Minister Ersan Saner made statements after his quarantine period that will be debated a lot.
He showed the way
Former economy minister Derviş Deniz said that $6m needed to purchase 300,000 doses of vaccine could be taken out as loans from banks. He made serious proposals and warnings to the government which was late in taking steps.
Tatar the inaugurator
Ersin Tatar inaugurated the Buğday Mosque (Church of St Peter and Paul), which was once a culture and arts centre, by performing the Bairam (Eid al-Fitr) prayers. Tatar also changed the name of the place to ‘Sinan Mosque’ and proved yet again he is a true grandson of the Ottomans.
- Here are the records – Avrupa publishes yet another important document…On January 27, 1977, Rauf Denktaş met with Makarios and with UN Secretary-General Perez de Cuellar. We are publishing the minutes of this meeting penned by Rauf Denktaş.
- 31 locally transmitted-38 positive cases of coronavirus in the north, 165 cases in the south…
Main News
The most viable solution model in Cyprus is a decentralized federation, says Erhürman
Yenidüzen
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman drew attention to the equal status of the two founding states to achieve a federal solution in Cyprus.
In an interview with Yenidüzen published on Monday, Erhürman said that the most viable solution model in Cyprus was a decentralized federation that would designate more powers to the constituent states and fewer authorities to the federal government.
He added that such a model would ensure the political equality of the two founding states as well as the institutions within these entities.
Criticizing the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar for his position on the Cyprus Problem, the CTP leader said that Tatar needed to show an effort to incorporate the views and ideas of people who represent the opposition. He said that Tatar’s claim that everyone needed to unconditionally support his views was something unacceptable for his party’s understanding of democracy.
Erhürman also took a swipe at the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, stating his position, contrary to his claims were outside the framework of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
He said that the Greek Cypriot leader continued to take part in the talks without accepting political equality. Erhürman also pointed out that the campaigns in the last presidential elections in the north had not circulated around the Cyprus Problem but more on those who supported Turkey and those who didn’t.
KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Decentralised federation most suitable model for the solution of the Cyprob.
>> Decentralised federation ensures political equality of entities & institutions of these entities.
>> Tatar’s reluctance to seek views of the opposition & his insistence that all support his views unconditionally is unacceptable.
TC producers need at least five years to increase milk output, says Avunduk
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
EU Matters, Economy
OVERVIEW
Candan Avunduk, head of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry said on Sunday that the Turkish Cypriot Hellim (Halloumi) producers at best would need five years before able to achieve the required standards and sufficient milk output needed for exports to the EU.
Speaking to Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK, Avunduk added that Turkish Cypriot producers were not informed well enough about the process for registering hellim (halloumi) by the EU as protection of designation of origin (PDO). “Dreams were pumped rather than the stark reality,” he said.
Avunduk however pointed out that despite all the challenges it had become possible for the Turkish Cypriot producers to export the traditional cheese to EU member states with the amendments made to the Green Line Trade (GLT) regulation.
This he added was a positive gain for Turkish Cypriots if used properly, reminding that the PDO registration will come into force in October 2021.
Avunduk highlighted that the foodstuff, the livestock, quality of the milk, transportation and processing of the milk and the production plants will be subjected to inspection by the authorities. Noting that the situation in the north is not bad at all, adding that 85 per cent of the farms are free of any animal diseases; and that fresh milk is transported to facilities through cold-chain tankers, he said the majority of the production plants comply with the standards; the foodstuff is also in line with the requirements of the PDO registration.
“However, the problem is in the percentage to be used in the production of hellim (halloumi),” Avunduk stressed, adding that the PDO registration dictates using 51 per cent of at least sheep or goat milk in making the cheese.
He noted that the total percentage of sheep milk in the overall milk output is 25 per cent in south Cyprus, however, the north has so far achieved a 15 per cent output.
“Are we able to produce hellim (halloumi) and sell to the EU? Well, according to these percentages, I doubt it,” Avunduk said, adding that both the north and the south need at least five years to increase the sheep or goat milk output to the required levels.
“The two sides must display goodwill on this issue and work towards increasing the sheep and goat milk output to 51 per cent,” Avunduk said, noting that the Chamber is now working on a road map on how to increase the amount.
“On the other hand, the Greek Cypriot Agriculture Ministry will be in charge of the process according to the approved text of the PDO registration and it will be them to appoint the company to carry out inspections,” Avunduk said.
“This is where the problem starts,” Avunduk argued, saying that the appointment of an independent company by the Greek Cypriot Agriculture Ministry violates the agreement reached in 2015 by the two Cypriot leaders.
He, moreover noted that a private company being appointed by the Greek Cypriot authorities will carry out the hygiene controls on top of the Bureau Veritas’ inspections on the production process. Avunduk added that the objections to the controls and the conflict resolutions will be done through a committee however it is not yet identified who will be appointed to that committee and how.
“We hear that the process to establish a committee could be delayed as late as May 2022,” Avunduk argued, noting that the main problems will be caused by political uncertainty during the inspections. He pointed out the olive oil and halva produced in the north has not been allowed to cross to the south due to obstacles created without any legitimate basis in view of the Green Line Trade regulation.
“The Greek Cypriots naturally do not want to share their market with the Turkish Cypriots,” Avunduk said, arguing that in addition to the uncertainties, the Turkish Cypriot producers will likely be faced with bigger problems than that was caused for olive oil.
124,024 doses of Covid-19 vaccines administered to date
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
124,024 doses of coronavirus vaccines have so far been administered in the north with 72,782 receiving two jabs and 51,241 only one so far.
In a statement issued by the Turkish Cypriot Health Ministry on the latest statistics, it is also reported that the vaccination drive is underway for people aged 50 and above with Sinovac and with AstraZeneca for people aged 40 and above.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Cypriot cabinet decisions adopted on Friday, May 14 will enter into force on Monday. In this regard, the authorities relaxed the limitations on the night-time curfew, starting from 10 pm to 5 am. Moreover, if the number of positive cases continues to display a decreasing trend, the day-long curfew on Sundays will also be lifted from May 27 onwards.
The cabinet also allowed live music performances in restaurants, cafes, taverns and implemented a series of hygiene and social distancing rules to be implemented at beaches and pools.
The cabinet also reduced the mandatory quarantine period from 14 days to 10 and broadened the scope of the home-based quarantine, monitored with an electronic tracking device.