Front Page Headlines
Horrifying
The house collapsed, Raşit Özsağlam died under the rubble; his wife and daughter were injured. The disaster which took place in the village of Yiğitler (Arsos) caught the Özsağlam family in their sleep. Their traditional mud-brick house collapsed in the middle of the night, killing the village’s Mukhtar Raşit Özsağlam and injuring the rest of the family. Özsağlam’s lifeless body was dug out from under the rubble by neighbours.
Mud-brick home collapse, causing a tragedy
Three members of the Özsağlam family were buried under rubble when the second floor of the mud-brick home in Yiğitler (Arsos) village collapsed in the early hours of yesterday morning. Despite all efforts, Raşit Özsağlam, who was also the mukhtar of the village, lost his life after being dragged out from underneath the rubble. His wife and daughter survived with light injuries.
It’s not a government but a catastrophe
The main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) slammed the government during the street protest it staged in Famagusta. CTP leader Tufan Erhürman said the government has dragged the country into chaos, adding that the protests will continue until the government resigns. “The protests will continue until a better government which the Turkish Cypriots deserve comes to office and until we bring peace, solution and a federation,” Erhürman said.
- Eight months for a handgun and three bullets – The court announced its verdict on Ü.M.D., who was arrested while trying to bring a handgun and bullets from south Cyprus to the north.
It’s dark everywhere
While the head of KIBTEK (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) Board of Directors said that the sub-industry quality spare parts used to fix the power generators was causing heavy damage to the station’s machinery, the head of the EL-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority Workers’ Union) said that 4,000 tons of low-quality oil were used.
- Tatar says the two-state solution view drew the world’s attention –The head of the Turkish Cypriot Journalists’ Society Reşat Akar said that the public’s wealth and prosperity will rise with a solution to be reached in Cyprus. He also asked for Tatar’s help to solve problems experienced at the crossing points.
You don’t go to the ambassador, he comes to you
(Hüseyin) Özgürgün gives valuable advice to the National Unity Party (UBP). Özgürgün, who is still living in Turkey, responded to the claims of Turkey’s interference in the upcoming UBP general assembly and to some of the candidates who to be Ankara’s favourites. He said, “Don’t visit the embassy frequently. The ambassador must make an appointment to see you.”
- Police ordered an investigation – The police general directorate has appointed a police officer to investigate the Kutlu Adalı murder.
- The murderers must be arrested – “This Country is Ours” Platform will march for Kutlu Adalı on July 6.
- We will be in New York in September – Ersin Tatar said, adding that (Turkish Foreign Minister) Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will be arriving today.
Main News
Tatar: “The talks stand a better chance of success if our sovereignty is accepted”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Tuesday argued that the negotiations would stand a better chance of success if the Turkish Cypriot side’s sovereign equality were to be accepted. He also said that he favoured the resumption of talks to find a lasting solution to the Cyprus Problem.
In an interview with the Turkish Cypriot news agency, TAK, Tatar renewed his position that Turkish Cypriots would not accept any arrangement which will lead them to be absorbed by the Greek Cypriot community. He also expressed his opposition to any deal that would sever the Turkish Cypriot community’s ties with Turkey.
Tatar expressed the belief that he was on the right track in terms of his Cyprus policies, noting that he has never promised recognition of the north or delivering a solution tomorrow. “In my opinion, if there’s going to be an agreement, it has to be built on strong foundations and must not threaten the future of the next generations,” Tatar argued, adding the agreement to be found on the island would be in everyone’s interest.
“The Cyprus settlement, therefore, must be based on two states,” Tatar stressed, adding that this was the realistic option on the island. Touching on his recent meetings in Brussels, Tatar said he has found the opportunity to share the Turkish Cypriot side’s position with the European leaders as well as the UN Secretary-General.
He argued that the Turkish Cypriot side had successfully relayed its positions vis-à-vis the Cyprus problem despite the ongoing unequal treatment of the two sides. Tatar gave the example of how Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy had refused to be even in the same room with him at a diplomacy forum in Antalya.
“This is unfair because the Cyprus issue is a problem that concerns the two sides and it is not possible to solve it without establishing dialogue,” Tatar said.
Responding to a question regarding the negotiations processes, Tatar argued that the UN parameters need to be revised by considering the realities of Cyprus. He argued that the current parameters for a federal settlement were no longer valid.
Tatar also claimed the UN Secretary-General “says he understands our demands well” and added that Ankara fully backed the Turkish Cypriot side’s position. Responding to a question on the issue of the UNSG Guterres’s proposal to appoint a new special advisor for Cyprus, Tatar said the SG had raised the issue during their recent meeting in Brussels during which a four-point proposal was also discussed.
“We rejected such a proposal as this was very similar to the Guterres framework,” Tatar said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side had made it clear that it would not resume talks from where they left off in Crans Montana.
As for the appointment of a new special advisor, Tatar said that he had questioned the justification of such a move as Guterres’ special envoy Jane Holl Lute was already tasked with exploring whether or not there was any common ground for new talks.
He added that nevertheless, he had told the UN chief that he would evaluate the idea without undertaking any obligations. Tatar also expressed his opposition to the concept of ‘self-governing areas’ which the Greek Cypriot press reported was to be included by the Secretary-General in his upcoming report to the UN Security Council (UNSC).
He said that such a model would ultimately mean two sub-administrations under the umbrella of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) which was unacceptable for the Turkish Cypriot side. Tatar said that there already existed two states in Cyprus which could collaborate.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Chances of talks succeeding is higher if TCs’ sovereign equality is recognized.
>> TCs will not accept any arrangement which will lead them to be absorbed by the GC community or sever ties with Turkey.
>> Solution must be based on two states which is the realistic option on the island.
>> TC side sees no point in the appointment of a new advisor but will evaluate the issue.
>> Concept of ‘self-governing areas’ not acceptable as this would mean sub-administrations under RoC.
Çavuşoğlu flying in to discuss SG’s proposals with Tatar
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and an accompanying delegation will arrive in the north on Wednesday evening to carry out discussions with the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and his negotiations team.
Turkish Cypriot dailies report that UN Secretary-General’s latest proposal on appointing a new special advisor for the Cyprus problem will be tabled by Tatar and Çavuşoğlu during the meetings in addition to discussing other issues on the Cyprus problem.
Erhürman: “Peace & solution are on our door-step”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) continued with its street protests in Famagusta on Monday evening after holding two consecutive protests in Lefke (Lefka) and İskele (Trikomo).
Speaking during the event, CTP leader Tufan Erhürman said the only way in Cyprus is a bicommunal, bizonal federal (BBF) solution based on the political equality of the two communities. He added “peace and solution are on our doorstep,” stressing the CTP had advocated for a solution for 50 years and still believes that federal solution is the only way for the island.
He also said CTP cannot be fooled with slogans of a solution based on sovereign equality or two states.
KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Only way in Cyprus is a BBF solution based on the political equality of the two communities.
>> BBF is still possible in Cyprus.
>> CTP will not be fooled with slogans of a solution based on sovereign equality.
EU must see the realities on the island, AKP Spokesman said
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The Spokesman for Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ömer Çelik on Monday criticized the EU’s stance on the Cyprus Issue, stating the EU Summit conclusions were nothing more than a mirror-reflection of the Greek and Greek Cypriot positions on Cyprus. He called on the EU to see the realities on the island.
Speaking at a press conference held following AKP Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting, Çelik said the conclusions instead should have displayed a “balanced approach towards Turkey and the TRNC.”
Reiterating that the realities on the island were once again disregarded by the bloc, Çelik said: “We are once again underlining the fact that there is a Turkish Cypriot state in Cyprus which has equal status with the Greek Cypriots.”
KEY ACTORS
Çelik (AKP)
>> EU should see the realities on the island.
>> EU conclusions should have displayed a balanced approach towards Turkey & the north.
>> There is a TC state in the north with equal status of GCs.
Return of Maraş (Varosha) to either the UN or GC side is out of the question
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
Member of the Turkish Cypriot negotiation team and National Unity Party (UBP) General Secretary Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu on Tuesday said it is out of the question for the fenced-off town of Maraş (Varosha) to be returned to either the UN or the Greek Cypriot side.
He stressed the reopening process for Maraş (Varosha), which has become a physical symbol of endless federation talks and the status quo, will continue in the best interest of the entire island.
Hasipoğlu issued a written statement stating that “he felt obliged” to issue a statement following reading remarks made by the so-called mayor of Famagusta Simos Ioannou, and about the protest being organized to coincide with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to the north.
“They should be thanking Erdoğan and the Turkish Cypriot leadership instead of staging a protest,” Hasipoğlu argued, adding that it was Ersin Tatar and the Turkish President who had refused to keep the town behind fences and inaccessible.
He urged the Greek Cypriot protestors instead to protest the Greek Cypriot leadership for keeping the town closed for so many years. Hasipoğlu added that the government’s initiative on Maraş (Varosha) has allowed former residents to revisit the town after 47 years.
“It is high time to bring life back to this town instead of keeping it closed,” Hasipoğlu stressed, urging the Greek Cypriots to see the realities on the island instead of chasing a dream and electing so-called mayors for Kyrenia, Güzelyurt (Morphou) and Famagusta. “They should be protesting against the Greek Cypriot leadership for keeping Maraş (Vaorsha) closed for so many years by rejecting all the solution plans to date,” Hasipoğlu concluded.
Sentenced to eight months for attempting to smuggle a weapon from the south
Havadis
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Nicosia Serious Crimes Court announced its verdict on Ü.M.D., who was arrested while trying to smuggle a handgun and bullets from the south to the north.
Ü.M.D had been arrested at the Metehan (Agios Domethios) crossing point in December 2018 when the police found the German-made Sig Sauer brand handgun, its magazine and three bullets hidden in the engine of the vehicle he was driving.
Following the initial investigation, the suspect was released on bail until the court gives his verdict.