Front Page Headlines
How many litres of petrol can you purchase with the minimum wage?
Even though the price of fuel is determined by foreign currency or global market prices, the recent price hikes (in the north) are making life extremely difficult for those with low income. Even though the price of fuel is much higher in the south and the UK, an average individual in both countries can fill their tanks much more than compared to a person who earns the minimum wage in the TRNC. The comparison in prices reveals just how poor both Turkey and the TRNC has become.
We are not able to make a living
The people, who already have been suffering due to the pandemic, have been hit hard with the price hikes. The shopkeepers are waiting hopelessly for the people to shop when the people are not even able to make ends meet due to the constantly rising prices.
A final warning to the government
24 trade unions gave a harsh warning to the government regarding the planned amendments on the labour law and the law regulating employment contracts and labour rights.
- He’s got sovereignty in his bag – President Ersin Tatar will depart from the island this morning to meet with the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) in Brussels.
- The goal is to unite Cyprus – Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit said the TDP has one goal that is to unite Cyprus during a meeting with the Federal Cyprus Movement.
Patients dying while being transported to the hospital
People in Güzelyurt (Morphou) have asked the Turkish Ambassador Murat Ali Başçeri for assistance to complete the hospital in the area. The Güzelyurt Civil Society Platform has sent the Turkish ambassador a letter asking for financial support to finish the semi-completed general hospital in the town. The spokesperson for the platform Şinasi Özdeş who penned the letter points out that many critical patients die while being rushed to the nearest hospital in Nicosia.
You are the terrorist
(Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli) He said Deniz Poyraz, (who was killed at HDP (People’s Democratic Party) in an attack in İzmir) is a ‘terrorist.’ This is insolence!
Main News
Tatar to meet with UNSG Guterres in Brussels
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar is set to meet with UNSG Antonio Guterres on Friday, June 25 in Brussels, Tatar’s office announced on Wednesday.
Tatar, who will depart from the north on Thursday morning to meet with Guterres on Friday, is being accompanied by his special advisor Ergün Olgun, his undersecretary Okan Donangil, Foreign Ministry undersecretary İsmet Korukoğlu and legal advisor at the office of the president Sülen Karabacak.
Tatar, following his meeting with UN Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute on Tuesday, had asked for the UN to maintain its principle of equality between the two sides and had asked to meet with the UNSG after he confirmed with Lute that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades will also be meeting with the UNSG on the sidelines of the EU Summit.
Saner says TCs favour a two-state solution
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner on Wednesday said the Turkish Cypriot community had displayed its political will in favour of two equally sovereign states with equal status in the last presidential elections with Turkey’s strong support.
Speaking at a joint press conference after meeting with Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay in Ankara, Saner said that Turkish Cypriots no longer had the strength or patience to endure another 53 years of fruitless and endless talks to reach a federal settlement which the Greek Cypriot side was insisting on continuing.
“There has been peace on the island since 1974, and the next step is finding the solution agreement,” Saner argued, adding that with Turkey’s support the Turkish Cypriots will be able to make their righteous cause heard all over the world.
Also touching on the Maraş (Varosha) Initiative, Saner said the opening of the fenced-off town was going ahead as planned. He added the initiative is in line with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Also speaking, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay gave support to the Turkish Cypriot side’s position vis-à-vis the Cyprus problem, saying that Ankara is also in favour of a solution based on the two-state model.
Underling that Turkey’s support to ongoing projects in the north will continue, Oktay said: “We together should build a TRNC that would be self-sufficient and stand on its own feet.” Describing his meeting with Saner as fruitful, he said close cooperation and dialogue between the two countries continue on every level.
Drawing particular attention to the ongoing infrastructure projects in the north, Oktay reiterated that Turkey is determined to support Turkish Cypriots toward becoming a self-sufficient state. He said projects in sports, education and health were reviewed during the meeting, noting that Turkey will continue to contribute to the TRNC’s economy that has been negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Özdil Nami on Wednesday slammed Oktay for his remarks made before he met with Saner in Ankara in a social media post.
“If Oktay really wants the best for the TRNC, he should first stop interfering with the elections in the north and then honestly and openly announce that the Cyprus settlement can only be reached on the basis of the UN (parameters),” Nami stressed. He added he will not comment on what Saner had said, urging him to read up and learn what peace means.
KEY ACTORS
Saner (UBP)
>> TCs demonstrated their will for a two-state solution in the last presidential elections.
>> TCs can no longer endure another 50 years of fruitless & endless talks to reach a federal settlement.
>> Maraş (Varosha) initiative progressing as planned.
Oktay (Turkey)
>> Ankara favour’s a solution based on the two-state model.
>> Turkey to continue to support ongoing infrastructure projects in the north to create a self-sufficient ‘TRNC’ that can stand on its own feet.
Nami (CTP)
>> Ankara should first stop interfering with elections in the north if it wants what is best for TCs.
>> Ankara should openly announce that a solution can only be reached on basis of UN parameters.
The goal is to unite Cyprus, TDP leader Özyiğit says
Havadis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit on Wednesday said the TDP has one goal which was to unite Cyprus. He added the main struggle therefore should be directed at reuniting the island with a bizonal, bicommunal federal (BBF) solution based on single sovereignty, single international identity and single citizenship.
Speaking during a meeting with the representatives from the “Federal Cyprus Movement” Özyiğit added BBF is the only feasible and realistic solution model for Cyprus whereas Turkish Cypriot leadership’s two-state solution model will only harm the Turkish Cypriot community in the long run.
“The two sides on the island must display political will towards a BBF solution on the island instead of venturing into other adventures,” Özyiğit concluded.
Ahmet Ertaç speaking on behalf of the movement, said the Federal Cyprus Movement was established to unite people under one roof to reach a federal settlement based on the political equality of the two communities and to stand against the annexation policies currently being implemented in the north.
Ertaç expressed the belief that the movement, which was established in the north, will soon receive support from the south and the international arena as well.
KEY ACTORS
Özyiğit (TDP)
>> TDP has one goal which is to unite Cyprus.
>> Efforts should be directed to achieving a BBF based on single sovereignty, single international identity & single citizenship.
>> BBF is the only feasible & realistic solution model for Cyprus. Other models will harm the TC community in the long run.
Turkey announces NAVTEX in Aegean in response to Greek violations
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
External Security
OVERVIEW
Turkey on Wednesday announced a new NAVTEX in the Aegean Sea’s international waters in retaliation for Greece’s recent NAVTEX announcement that violated the two countries’ bilateral agreements.
Turkey also started exercises in the international waters of the Aegean Sea with the navigation announcements (NAVTEX) dated June 22 to reciprocate the Greek military training that is contrary to the Athens Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Turkey.
The Athens MoU signed between Turkey and Greece in 1988, lays out an agreement between Turkey and Greece not to carry out exercises in the international waters of the Aegean Sea and not to declare a military training area during the busy summer tourism season between June 15 and September 15.