Front Page Headlines
“Unemployment and bankruptcies on the rise
The head of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans Mahmut Kanber who spoke to Yenidüzen drew attention to the bleak situation in the country. He said that unemployment was on the rise and the number of businesses that shut down is growing by the day. “There are many people who have exhausted all hope,” he said, warning of an explosion of social problems. Kanber said they were discussing ways with their counterparts in the south to reopen the checkpoints as soon as possible in order for commercial activity to recommence. He added that retailers would be more obliged if their electricity bills were paid for ten months rather than receiving support payments worth ₺10,000 (€1000). “People in the south are better off than we are, and the level of prosperity is higher. The value of the currency is also much higher than ours. Their cheap spending is our gain which is why the crossing points need to open immediately.
- Can someone explain on which points disagreement remains – Why don’t the crossing points open asks Republican Turkish Party leader Tufan Erhürman.
- The country is up in flames – 800 dunams (80 hectars) of land between Dikmen (Dikomo) and Taşkent (Vouno) scorched. A fire broke out in a scrap yard in Haspolat (Mia Millia). Two people were injured in a fire which broke out at a home in Boğazköy (Bogazi).
- Ali Kamacıoğu’s term at the Chamber of Industry begins.
Our land will become fertile
TRNC state and government officials together with Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay and Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli attended the inauguration ceremony of the newly completed irrigation tunnel, which will end the water problems experienced in the agriculture sector. A ceremony was held for the ₺277m (€27.7m) worth “TRNC water-supply irrigation tunnel” project in Güzelyurt (Morphou) yesterday. The irrigation tunnel which is 5,7km in length and 4.2m in width will supply water to nearly 74 per cent of the arable land.
- Those who have abandoned the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, played dumb and deaf when it came to action – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan participated in the inauguration ceremony for the “TRNC water-supply irrigation tunnel” project and said: “Our goal is to develop and strengthen the TRNC.”
He gave ‘strong messages’ to the Greek Cypriots
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that it was not possible to form a common future with a mentality that let alone political power, rejected sharing a hospital with Turkish Cypriots. The Turkish president who attended the inauguration of the underwater irrigation tunnel via video conference said, “Our efforts are for the TRNC to develop and grow stronger as well as for Turkish Cypriots to have a brighter future. Pointing out that the Cyprus Problem remains unresolved because of the Greek Cypriots stance, he gave messages which drew attention on both sides of the divide.
- They failed again –The Greek Cypriot side announced that a common ground or understanding could not be reached for reopening the crossing points.
- 800 dumans (80 hectars) turned to ashes. A fire which broke out between the Dikmen (Dikomo)-Taşkent (Vouno) road spread quickly destroying ancient olive trees.
- We inhaled poison – A dark cloud of smoke blanketed the sky as a result of a fire which broke out in the Haspolat (Mia Milia) industrial zone.
Oktay’s favourite is a terrorist
The man that played the lead role in the January 22, 2018 mob attack (on then Afrika) became the favourite for Turkish officials. Mehmet İpek, the mob leader, was in the forefront among those welcoming Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay at Ercan (Tymbou) airport. Meanwhile, when the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who participated in the inauguration ceremony for the irrigation tunnel through a video link, said “Ya Allah bismillah,” those in Cyprus pressed the button. Erdoğan said: “Those who handed over Turkish Cypriots’ rights behind closed doors, played deaf and dumb when it was about delivering and taking action.”
- 91 positive coronavirus cases and one death in the south, 25 cases in the north…
Main News
Erdoğan expresses satisfaction over Tatar’s stance on Cyprob
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday expressed his satisfaction over the Turkish Cypriot leadership’s position in favour of a two-state solution. Addressing participants via video link at the inauguration ceremony of the newly completed irrigation tunnel built within the framework of the water pipeline Project, Erdoğan said that said Ankara fully backed Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and his policies on the Cyprus Issue.
“I would like to congratulate Mr Tatar for the stance he adopted in Geneva,” Erdoğan said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side had made its position clear that there needed to be two states in Cyprus. The Turkish president pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot side tabled new, reasonable and realistic proposals regarding a settlement on the island.
He said that the international community continued to see TCs as a minority rather than focusing on a just solution on the island. “The Cyprus Problem remains unresolved as a result of the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigence and spoilt attitude. The Greek Cypriots have run away just as we grew close to a solution,” Erdoğan said, adding that it was not possible to reach an agreement with the Greek Cypriots who even refused to share their hospitals with Turkish Cypriots.
Erdoğan said that any new negotiations process needed to be based on two states, stating that Turkey will never allow the rights of the TCs over energy resources in the East Med to be usurped.
“Nobody can make the Turkish Cypriot side pay for the price of non-solution in Cyprus. Any negotiation process to take place in Cyprus should be between two states and not two communities. The negotiations should start after TCs’ sovereign equality and equal status are recognized,” he said. Praising the water pipeline Project and its latest leg, the Turkish president said the tunnel will boost the north’s economy and agriculture sector.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay who also attended the ceremony said that the irrigation tunnel was a tangible indication regarding the support Turkey has been providing to the north.
“This accomplishment makes us happy and proud. It is crucial for TRNC to become self-sufficient by increasing olive, fruits and grain production and thus its exports. [..] the water distribution line today will help irrigate an area of 20,000 dekar in Güzelyurt (Morphou) plain,” he said.
Oktay also met with mayors of villages and towns in the Mesaria region where he gave the same messages.
KEY ACTOR
Erdoğan (Turkey)
>> Any new talks need to be based on two states & should start only after sovereign equality of TCs’ is recognized.
>> Turkey will never allow the rights of the TCs’ over energy resources in the East Med to be usurped.
>> TCs cannot be made to pay the price of the non-solution.
Nicosia municipalities seeking ways to assist process of reopening crossings
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Mayor of Nicosia Mehmet Harmancı announced via social media on Saturday that contacts with the Greek Cypriot Municipality of Nicosia for the reopening of the crossing points, particularly the Lokmacı/Ledra St. crossing point have been going on for some time.
Harmancı said that despite the fact that reopening of the crossing points was an issue outside the jurisdiction of the two municipalities, he and his Greek Cypriot counterpart were seeking ways to collaborate on the issue, through EU assistance, including carrying out rapid tests for those wishing to cross.
He added that the issue will be discussed at an online meeting this Tuesday. “We are determined to take steps that will ease all positive steps,” Harmancı posted.
The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman on Saturday said that the authorities need to explain to the public exactly what the disagreements are concerning the reopening of the crossing points.
In a post on social media, Erhürman asked, “Is someone going to explain to us with wording that we can understand what exactly is that the two sides cannot agree on?”The CTP leader also highlighted the importance of reopening the checkpoints as soon as possible within the framework of measures to be decided upon by health experts.
Also commenting on the issue, the leader of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Cemal Özyiğit harshly criticised Turkish Cypriot officials for “creating excuses not to reopen the crossings.” Speaking during a HaberKıbrıs web TV programme, Özyiğit said the crossings remained closed despite the fact that the number of cases in the south has dropped significantly.
He also pointed out that the statements made by Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar’s Special Representative Ergün Olgun contradicted each other.
“Saner’s claim on Greek Cypriot side being in the red category in terms of the number of cases is no longer the case,” Özyiğit said, adding that there are many Greek Cypriots waiting to cross to the north especially in the favourable exchange rates between the Euro and the Turkish lira.