Front Page Headlines
It’s neither the price hikes, the pandemic nor poverty! Their only problem is the ‘UBP (National Unity Party) congress’(!)
Rebirth Party (YDP) leader Erhan Arıklı spoke raising tensions both within the government and the UBP. The YDP leader threatened to withdraw from the coalition if Faiz Sucuoğlu wins the UBP congress. He said his party would not remain in a coalition with a prime minister whose relations with Turkey are not good. Arıklı’s statements both raised tensions among the coalition partners and reignited the debate on the UBP’s internal elections.
- CTP to stage a protest at İskele (Trikomo) – “We do not want military bases”
Gelincik (Vasili) cooperative investigation on irregularities
The Cooperative Companies’ Registrar upon receiving information, wanted to look into the accounts of the Gelincik (Vasili) development cooperative however the general secretary of the cooperative refused to comply. As a result, the registrar relieved the head of the Board of Directors of the Gelincik (Vasili) Cooperative from duty, seized the cooperative and filed a complaint with the police.
- The constitutional court annulled the governmental decree to freeze the cost-of-living increment.
Cost-of-living shock to the government
The constitutional court revoked the governmental decree to freeze the cost-of-living increment. The court announced its decision on the lawsuit filed by six trade unions on the governmental decree. Head of KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot Public Servants’ Union) Güven Bengihan said the court had ruled that the government could not introduce such a decree by by-passing parliament. He also said that such governmental decrees could only be utilized in exceptional cases and the best interest of the public.
- Sovereignty is the precondition of official negotiations – President Ersin Tatar will meet with the UN Secretary-General at 12:20 pm in Brussels.
- “We will be on the streets until the government which was established by orders, resigns” – The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) staged its first protest in Lefke (Lefka).
- 2,500 citizenship in six months – This Country is Ours Platform protested the government’s citizenship policies outside the interior ministry building.
Crisis again
Arıklı, indirectly pointing the finger at Sucuoğlu, said his party will withdraw from the government if he wins. His remarks caused a ruckus. Arıklı’s remarks were met with fierce reaction from within the UBP. Prime Minister and UBP leader Ersan Saner said, “It’s important to be careful when making comments on the UBP.” Faiz Sucuoğlu on the other hand said he has no problem with Turkey. While Health Minister Ünal Üstel described Arıklı’s remarks as unfortunate, the UBP’s other candidate Hasan Taçoy said that Arıklı had received a post he couldn’t even dream about thanks to the UBP.
- €150m worth investment –Two hotels being constructed in mixed village of Pile (Pyla), one five stars, the other four stars.
- Mitsubishi hasn’t been found – Police are still looking for the accomplice of O.T accused of stealing a Greek Cypriots’ car in the south.
2,500 citizenships in six months
The granting of citizenships are continuing at an unprecedented pace. The only provision implemented in the agreements signed with Turkey is the one on citizenship. “This Country is Ours” Platform, in a protest outside the interior ministry, emphasised the pace of granting citizenships has intensified, adding that 2,500 people have been given citizenship in the past six months.
- Tatar shared a photograph in Brussels – Here is the TRNC delegation, who will meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Illustrated with a photograph). Tatar, who shared the photo with the TRNC representative Damla Güçlü in Brussels also captioned the photo saying: “Our Brussel’s Ambassador.” Tatar will meet with Guterres today.
- Cost-of-living allowance cannot be frozen – The Constitutional Court ordered.
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 the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Brussels on Friday. Speaking to reporters at Ercan (Tymbou) airport on Thursday morning before departing for Brussels, Tatar repeated his view that any new negotiations on the Cyprus Issue must be for a two-state solution based on sovereign equality and the cooperation of the two equal states.
Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot people will never accept an imposed settlement or coerced into accepting a solution, Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriot side was waging a great struggle to protect the equality of the Turkish Cypriot people.
“It has become clear that an agreement will not be reached in Cyprus as long as the talks are not carried out between two equal states,” he said. Reminding that Turkey fully supported the Turkish Cypriot side on this issue, Tatar said the Turkish Cypriot side’s policy was clear.
“Our position is clear. We demand that our sovereign equality and international equal status is recognized. The TRNC will continue to exist with its institutions and establishments,” he said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side was expecting the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to grant Turkish Cypriots their rights and be fair.
Tatar’s Special Representative Ergün Olgun, his Undersecretary Okan Donangil, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary İsmet Korukoğlu and his legal affairs advisor Sülen Karabacak are accompanying Tatar during the visit.
In a separate statement from Tatar’s office, it is announced that the two will meet at 12:20 pm Brussels time.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Any new talks must be based on a two-state solution & carried out between two equal states.
>> TC side demands recognition of equality & international equal status.
>> UNSG should grant TCs their rights & be fair.
Turkey submits written observations on two GC cases filed at ECHR
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
The court cases regarding the Greek Cypriot properties in the north questioning the effectiveness of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) established in 2006, before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) continue as scheduled.
The Turkish Cypriot dailies, citing Greek Cypriot media reports, note that Turkey in response to two applicants complaining about the protracted length and ineffectiveness of the proceedings before the IPC for two properties – one in Maraş (Varosha) and another one near Ercan (Tymbou) airport, has submitted written observations.
The applicants, who are represented by acclaimed lawyer Achilleas Demetriades, will have time until September 2 to reply. According to media reports, one of the two cases is for a property located in the fenced-off town of Maraş (Varosha) and the case also involves the Evkaf Administration of Cyprus, which claims to be “the real owner of the town.”
Maraş (Varosha) to contribute to tourism revenues, says Ataoğlu
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Tourism Minister Fikri Ataoğlu on Thursday said Maraş (Varosha), as a ‘dark tourism’ site, will contribute positively to the north’s tourism revenues.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the recently opened section of the fenced-off town, Ataoğlu added his ministry is working together with the Famagusta Municipality on various activities to attract more tourists to the town. He noted that up to a thousand people visit the area daily and that an increase has been observed since the reopening of the crossings. Ataoğlu also said that information pamphlets will soon be made available for visitors.
Ataoğlu expressed the belief that Maraş (Varosha) will be the key points for tourism revenues this summer season, adding that once the common-use areas are opened following cleaning and repairs, the people will be able to spend more time in the town.
Ataoğlu also visited the ongoing restoration works at the Bilal Ağa Masjid (Mosque), which will soon be opened for worship.
Coalition grants citizenships at an unprecedented pace amid reactions
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
“This Country is Ours” Platform slammed the coalition government on Thursday over its policies on citizenship. The Platform argued that the coalition government has intensified its efforts to grant new citizenships and the latest figure of 2,500 newly granted citizenships was proof of this.
Reading a press statement on behalf of the Platform, Güven Bengihan, head of KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot Public Servants’ Union) said population was being transferred to the north to change the demographic structure and political culture.
“The Platform will heighten its struggle to protect the Turkish Cypriots’ political will against the government’s attempts to hand it over to Ankara through changing the demographic structure in the north,” the Platform concluded.
Sorakın: Tatar will drag the TC community back to the ’50s
Yenidüzen
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) staged the first of its street protests against the minority government and the Turkish Cypriot leadership’s policies on the Cyprus problem in Lefke (Lefka) on Wednesday.
Speaking during the protest, CTP General Secretary Erdoğan Sorakın said the CTP was determined to continue with its protests until the “appointed” National Unity Party (UBP)-Democratic Party (DP)-Rebirth Party (YDP) resigned.
“Following a presidential election tainted with interference, there is now a cabinet formed with interventions as well,” Sorakın argued, adding that the government was trying to exert pressure on the Turkish Cypriot community with its anti-democratic practices, disregarding the country’s laws and democracy.
“We will never accept the regime in the north established with Turkey’s political tutelage,” he said, urging the Turkish Cypriots to join forces to stand against the government. Also touching on the Cyprus issue, Sorakın said the Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar is not an elected leader but “an appointed one.”
“Tatar, who is in office now by disregarding the Turkish Cypriots’ political will, has put forth a political project to take the community back to the 1950s,” Sorakın said. He warned that the gains achieved during the negotiations process up until today will be lost as a result of Tatar’s policies.
“The CTP rejects attempts to alienate the Turkish Cypriots from the world and will continue its struggle until a federal settlement is found on the island,” Sorakın concluded.
Works on the Zouhouri mosque underway
Yenidüzen
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Works on the Zouhouri mosque area complex in Larnaca are underway and a team of Greek Cypriot & Turkish Cypriot conservation workers are doing flooring and woodwork, UNDP tweeted on Thursday. The UNDP also noted that the members of the bicommunal technical committee on cultural heritage observed the ongoing conservation works at the mosque.
Moreover, the Turkish Cypriot chair of the committee Ali Tuncay posted on Facebook on Thursday that the members also visited the Alaminyo (Alaminos) village and the mosque located at the village. Tuncay said the committee is also planning to carry out conservation works at the Alaminyo (Alaminos) mosque, which is in poor condition.
He also added the graves of five Turkish Cypriots killed during the intercommunal clashes will be repaired alongside the conservation works to be carried out at the mosque.