Front Page Headlines
‘Deadlock over (master) plan’
Efforts to reach an agreement over the Famagusta-İskele (Trikomo)-Yeniboğaziçi (Agios Sergios) master plan has failed once again. There are claims once again that uncontrolled development is taking place. A new committee was set up to deal with the master plan. The municipalities once again rejected the plan, the City Planning Department gave the municipalities more time to consider.
- Former Turkish Ambassador to Nicosia Kaya Türkmen: “They wanted me to be a governor, not an ambassador”
New crisis in the DP
Tensions within the Democratic Party (DP), which started with Koral Çağman’s resignation as labour minister only to be reappointed to the post, escalated to new levels within the party. Afet Özcafer, who resigned from the party told reporters at a press conference “I have lost my faith in my party and do not believe we can move forward with such unprincipled behaviour.”
- Discourteous behaviour – Osman Ertuğ, a senior adviser to President Ersin Tatar evaluated the Greek Cypriot leader’s remarks on revoking the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) passports belonging to Turkish Cypriots whom he believes oppose a federal solution. He said: “No one including the Greek Cypriot leadership has the means to measure who is more in favour of a solution.” Ertuğ also said Anastasiades’ attitude was wrong, rude and discourteous.
Eyes turned on the municipality
Gürkan Yağcıoğlu, head of the Chamber of Civil Engineers (IMO) spoke to Havadis regarding the permit process for the “Famagusta Sewage Plant and Network improvement” project. The Famagusta Municipality, which is responsible for launching and concluding the tendering process, continues to remain silent over the issue.
- Özcafer resigned from the DP – Democratic Party (DP) General Secretary Afet Özcafer who was nominated to become labour minister after following Koral Çağman’s resignation, resigned from the party when Çağman was reappointed. She said: “I’m not upset. I am only sad for my country.”
- The same should also be applied to those advocating for Enosis – KTÖS (Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union) General Secretary Şener Elcil reminded Republic of Cyprus (RoC) officials considering reviewing the citizenship rights of those in the north advocating a two-state the RoC constitution and the Treaty of Guarantees.
This is not how it should be
Health Minister Ünal Üstel who spoke to Diyalog said that there was a need for ten doctors and 20 nurses to speed up the vaccination process. He complained that they were not receiving any support from the Finance Ministry. Üstel said that they had plenty of vaccines at hand but were experiencing difficulties in administering the vaccines due to staff shortages.
- Everyone must be vaccinated – The Greek Cypriot administration announced that they will be no lockdown due to an increase in daily case numbers.
Disgusting
Devlet Bahçeli used unacceptable insults against Mustafa Akıncı. Poor Turkey is left in the hands of such a person! Akıncı said: “It is out of the question for us to stoop low enough to this level of political indignity. However, one other thing is out of the question and that is we will not remain quiet against attempts to spread to the north the antidemocratic empire of fear created in Turkey.”
- Punish those advocating for Enosis along with the secessionists – KTÖS General Secretary Şener Elcil said both those advocating Enosis and partition must be treated the same, adding that “both are violating the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) constitution as well as the Treaty of Guarantees.”
Main News
TC & Turkish MFAs condemn EU statement on Maraş (Varosha)
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
The Turkish side swiftly reacted to a statement issued by High Representative Josep Borrell on behalf of the EU on Tuesday condemning Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders’ unilateral actions on partially opening the abandoned resort of Maraş (Varosha).
In a written statement, Borrell had said that the EU welcomes and stands by the UNSC statement issued last week. “The EU equally calls for the immediate reversal of these actions and the reversal of all steps taken on Varosha since October 2020,” Borrell stressed, warning that the bloc’s foreign ministers will consider actions against Turkey at their next meeting if Ankara does not reverse its actions.
The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry responding to Borrell’s statement, said the EU as always, was displaying its biased attitude and disregarding the Turkish Cypriot community.
“The bloc must comprehend the fact that Maraş (Varosha) is located within the territory of the TRNC and the decisions adopted on the fenced-off town are taken by the TRNC government,” the ministry stressed, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side did not make any moves on Maraş (Varosha) until September 2020 so as not to hinder efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement on the island.
“Nonetheless, following 50 years of negotiations and the Greek Cypriot Side’s rejection of all solution plans tabled to date, it has become unavoidable to take steps on Maraş (Varosha), which has turned into the symbol of status quo,” the statement read, adding that the confidence-building measures (CBMs) proposed on the fenced-off town were also rejected by the Greek Cypriot side.
Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side’s decision to reopen a small portion of the fenced-off town had been well received by the Greek Cypriot community, the ministry said the Turkish Cypriot side will respect international law and property rights despite the distortion of the facts by the EU.
“The Greek Cypriot side wants to imprison the Turkish Cypriots to the negotiating process forever while they advance with the comfort of the status quo,” the statement read, arguing that the EU, which has failed to keep any of its promises to the Turkish Cypriot community was preventing any initiative or move that would contribute to the north’s economic development.
The ministry also argued that the Greek Cypriot side’s irreconcilable attitude was the result of the bloc’s biased stance in favour of the Greek Cypriot side. “The EU sooner or later will have to accept the fact that recognizing TRNC’s sovereign equality and equal international status is required to reach an agreement on the island,” the statement concluded.
Tanju Bilgiç, a spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, also condemned the EU statement issued on Tuesday. “This and similar unrealistic statements, ignoring the Turkish Cypriot people, and reflecting only the views of the Greek Cypriot side, have no value or validity for us,” Bilgiç said in a statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Accusing the EU of displaying a biased position, Bilgiç also stressed that such attitude within the pretext of membership solidarity and concerns of a veto would not be helpful for the solution any problem. Bilgiç, in addition to reiterating Ankara’s full support for the Maraş (Varosha) initiative, urged the EU to comprehend that the decisions on the fenced-off town are taken by the Turkish Cypriot authorities.
KEY ACTORS
Ertuğruloğlu (UBP)
>> EU as always is adopting a biased stance against TCs.
>> Decisions taken on Maraş (Varosha) are adopted by the TC government.
>> TC side took decisions on Maraş (Varosha) only after decades of failed attempts to achieve a comprehensive solution.
>> Maraş (Varosha) will be carried out in respect of international law & property rights.
>> The EU will eventually have to accept the fact that a solution is only possible through the recognition of sovereign equality & equal international status.
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> Such unrealistic statements do not have any value or validity.
>> Ankara fully supports Marşa (Varosha) initiative.
>> EU should comprehend that decisions on Maraş (Varosha) are taken by TC authorities.
Former TC leader Eroğlu supports Maraş (Varosha) initiative
Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot side, in an attempt to deflect responsibility on the Greek Cypriot side, on Tuesday continued its attempts to garner public support for the Maraş (Varosha) initiative since the UN Security Council (UNSC) issued a statement calling on Turkish Cypriot officials and Turkey to reverse its decision to open 3.5 per cent of the fenced-off town and opening a 5km2 residential area for resettlement.
In this regard, former Turkish Cypriot leader Derviş Eroğlu, who had been silent since the October 2020 elections said that the current ‘ghost town’ state of Maraş (Varosha) was the result of the UN’s and Greek Cypriot side’s mistakes.
Defending the move, Eroğlu said that the Maraş (Varosha) initiative will revive the abandoned town allowing former residents to return. The former Turkish Cypriot leader also said that previous efforts to reach a federal settlement on the island had been exhausted.
He said that the relevant parties should instead focus on ways of developing collaboration between the two states on the island in light of the realities. Eroğlu noted that he had also spent considerable time and energy on reopening the fenced-off town during his term from 2010 to 2015.
“We wanted direct flights and the removal of the trade and sports embargoes on the north to be lifted in exchange for Maraş (Varosha) but the Greek Cypriot side had flatly rejected all our proposals,” Eroğlu said. Eroğlu concluded by declaring support to the current Turkish Cypriot leadership and the government and urged to continue to work on the Maraş (Varosha) Initiative with determination.
Akar expresses support for a two-state solution
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday that there was no meaning in wasting time trying to negotiate a settlement that has proved to be unsuccessful over the last five decades.
“The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkey have made up their minds. There are two independent equal and sovereign states in Cyprus. Everyone needs to accept and come to terms with this,” Akar said during a visit to the 2nd Army Forward Command Post and the 6th Mechanized Infantry Division Main Command Post, where Turkish troops in the north of Syria are dispatched and commanded from.
Reminding that the Greek Cypriot side had rejected the 2004 UN-sponsored Annan Plan, Akar said that negotiating a federal settlement would be nothing more than a waste of time.
On the issue of hydrocarbons, Akar reiterated Ankara’s desire to see a fair distribution of the region’s natural resources. He added that nothing could be achieved in the region by excluding Turkey or the Turkish Cypriot side.
“May I remind everyone that the Republic of Turkey is a guarantor state in Cyprus. Regardless of the other guarantor countries do or not do only binds them, however, Turkey is determined to fulfil its obligations and responsibilities within that framework,” Akar said.
KEY ACTORS
Akar (Turkey)
>> No point in wasting time to negotiate a federal settlement after five decades of failed attempts.
>> Turkey & the north have made up their minds in terms of a two-state solution.
>> Ankara desires a fair distribution of natural resources in the East Med.
>> Turkey continues to fulfil its obligations as a guarantor state.
Akıncı lashes out at MHP leader Bahçeli
Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı lashed out at Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli after being the subject of a new barrage of insults from the Turkish politician.
Noting that Bahçeli has carried his insults to a new high, Akıncı said on Tuesday he will not stoop down to Bahçeli’s level by responding.
“We will not remain silent against attempts to spread the antidemocratic empire of fear created in Turkey to (north) Cyprus. These experts in insults who are devoid of any ideas and opinions cannot silence us,” Akıncı wrote in a post on social media.
Long-awaited resignation from the DP finally comes
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Democratic Party (DP) General Secretary Afet Özcafer on Tuesday announced her resignation from the party following the political turmoil over attempts to appoint her as a replacement for Koral Çağman who had resigned as labour minister.
Listing the reasons for her resignation at a press conference held in Nicosia, Özcafer told reporters how Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner had rejected her appointment to the post and how the government was violating both the constitution and other laws but delaying early elections.
She also complained that her party, particularly DP leader and current Tourism and Environment Minister Fikri Ataoğlu failed to stand by her. Özcafer noted that she was resigning not because she was not made a minister but because she had lost faith in her party and undemocratic practices within the DP.
Çağman had resigned from his post as labour and social security minister on June 25 claiming that he did not want to further tarnish his reputation or his political career, only to be reappointed on July 15.
Two undocumented migrants caught trying to cross into the north
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Four undocumented migrants, who had made their way to the south four years ago were caught while trying to cross into the north through a military zone on July 23.
The police officer in charge of the investigation informed the court on Tuesday that the two Syrian migrants admitted to travelling to the southern part of the island on a boat from Turkey four years ago and had been working at construction sites since then.
He added that the two migrants were then caught by the soldiers on guard while trying to cross to the north. The court remanded the suspects for one more day until the prosecution can prepare the case.