Front Page Headlines
Fight over mausoleum
It has been claimed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan intervened after the Mayor of Cosmopolitan Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu said they wanted to finance what is left of the construction of the mausoleum of the late founding president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Council of Ministers headed by Prime Minister Ersan Saner ignored the offer despite the fact it was approved by the Denktaş family. Work on the mausoleum which was to be carried out by the Nicosia Turkish Municipality was halted following instructions believed to have come from Turkey. The government handed over the project to the Evkaf and the Security Forces Command.
- Their temperature will not be recorded, children with symptoms will not be allowed into schools, no mandatory mask rule for those below the age of 6.
School costs are high, parents helpless
Numbered days left before the 2021-2022 academic year starts under the shadow of the pandemic. While the children are very excited to return to school and to be reunited with their friends after a long period, the parents are gravely concerned about how to pay for the list of requirements sent from the schools.
- We condemn! – The Greek Cypriot education ministry first instructed to tear out the page that praises Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and then decided to withdraw the book completely. The decision was condemned by officials in the TRNC and Turkey.
78 families struck by tragedy
As the fight against Covid-19 becomes entrenched, the sudden deaths in our country have become more visible. The people believe the increase in sudden deaths is caused by neglect in other health checkups as a result of the pandemic. 78 people died suddenly and unexpectedly according to data compiled from the police reports from January 1 to September 7. 13 of the 78 deaths occurred either at the hospital or on the way to the hospital. The causes of death for 34 cases were not announced. Blood and tissue samples were collected from the other 34 to identify the cause of death but no statements were made even though months have passed.
- “We are dying because of your neglect” – The Platform for Health Associations highlighted the chaos in the health sector during a protest staged outside the prime ministry and the health ministry. One of the placards carried by the protestors summarized the situation: “We are dying because of your neglect.”
- Imports decreased, exports increased, inflation near 20 per cent – Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce announced its second-quarter for 2021 economic report.
- 69 pharmacies officially added to the system – It is possible to pick pharmacies that have signed agreements with the Health Ministry, from the online portal for Covid-19 tests.
A story for a best seller
Koran Soğancı who slit the lip of his wife who is divorcing him with a knife attempted to commit suicide three hours later by drinking pesticides. The man from Topçuköy (Agios Andronikos) who first injured the woman then held a knife to her throat. If that was not enough he started beating her. Three hours after the incident he tried to kill himself. Soğancı was then taken to Famagusta General Hospital by his neighbours. After having completed his treatment in hospital he was brought before a court in İskele (Trikomo) yesterday.
- ‘Tear it out’ –The Greek Cypriot education ministry instructed for the removal of the section in an Oxford textbook teaching the heroism of Atatürk.
- First, stop Syria – Sedat Peker said he would be arriving in Cyprus.
Other patients neglected due to coronavirus
The Platform for Health Associations highlighted the health crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and said the patients other than coronavirus have been neglected. The platform, which is made out of nine associations, staged a protest, carrying a banner that read: “We want to access medication,” and “We are dying due to your neglect.”
Main News
Instruction to tear the Atatürk page sparks criticisms from the north
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot leadership and opposition condemned the Greek Cypriot education ministry on Wednesday over an instruction to students and teachers to “tear” the page which features Mustafa Kemal Atatürk from the “Oxford Discover Futures 3 Workbook.”
Speaking during a press conference held at the Ercan (Tymbou) airport on his return to the island from Turkey, Turkish Cypriot leader condemned the Greek Cypriot education ministry, stating that the world had accepted what a great leader Atatürk was.
Tatar also recalled the post-2004 period during which the history books were re-written.“In this regard, there had been some mistakes made in attempting to soften or conceal historical truth and facts,” Tatar argued, stressing the importance of knowing one’s history.
“It is necessary to include what’s missing from our books. I strongly believe that the future generations must learn about what had been experienced in Cyprus and what the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo did in the name of achieving their goals as well as the atrocities they carried out against Turkish Cypriots despite international law,” Tatar said, arguing that documenting the facts do not mean the Turkish Cypriot side would give up on its desire to find a fair and a lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem.
“It is possible to find an agreement based on two independent and sovereign states that are equal and will co-exist side by side,” Tatar said.
He also reminded that the Greek Cypriot side after the Annan Plan never softened their history books. “To the contrary, the Greek Cypriot side with pressure from the church, intensified their anti-Turkish Cypriot rhetoric, teaching students that Cyprus is a Greek island,” Tatar concluded.
The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, echoing similar views as Tatar, said the instruction to tear the section in the school book was “the newest example of the Greek Cypriot administration’s racist behaviour.”
In a written statement, the foreign ministry also condemned the Greek Cypriot education ministry decided to withdraw the English textbook following strong reactions to instructions issued earlier in the day to tear out a page on Kemal Ataturk, which it said was unacceptable. “The Greek Cypriot side’s increasing enmity against the Turkish nation has been reflected in the Greek Cypriot education system,” the statement read, arguing that the very same Greek Cypriot mentality is the sole reason for not being able to reach an agreement on the island.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry in its statement said that the decision revealed the radical level of the distorted mentality the Greek Cypriot leadership had towards Turkey and the north. “We strongly condemn this anachronistic, hostile and unacceptable attitude of the Greek Cypriot Administration,” the statement added.
“This latest action of the Greek Cypriot Administration, responsible for the deadlock of the Cyprus issue for years, demonstrates that they do not have tolerance not only to share the power and the wealth, but even to live together with the Turkish Cypriots on the island” the Turkish Foreign Ministry statement concluded.
Turkish Cypriot Education Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu also condemned the decision. “This is an archaic mentality based on enmity,” Amcaoğlu stressed, adding that the Greek Cypriot education ministry’s attitude shows how deep their ignorance and inferiority complexes are.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay in a social media post, condemned the issue, stressing that it will not be possible to erase history by tearing out pages from books. “The disrespect shown for the founder of our republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and to the Turkish nation is clear proof that the Greek Cypriots cannot accept any Turkish presence on the island,” Oktay concluded.
People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay also pointed to the Greek Cypriot media reports on the same issue.
“It is obvious that certain circles in the Greek Cypriot side do not want the students to learn about the possibility of good things in Turkey. They do not want to change the students’ perception of ‘evil Turkey.’” Özersay wrote, adding that it is not possible to hide Turkey’s “brightest face” by prohibiting the students from reading about him.
Main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman also expressed his shock on Twitter. “Such a mentality at this age, such an understanding of education,” Erhürman tweeted in view of the media reports on the Greek Cypriot education ministry’s demands from the teachers.
Democratic Party (DP) leader Fikri Ataoğlu also commented on the issue, asking “Are we going to strike a peace agreement with these people?” In a statement issued from his office, Ataoğlu said the Greek Cypriot administration will not achieve anything by belittling the Turks before the eyes of the Greek Cypriot youth. “I condemn the Greek Cypriot mentality that feeds animosity against Turks,” Ataoğlu concluded.
The issue was brought to the public’s attention when an English teacher posted the alleged instructions in a group on social media. Greek Cypriot secondary education teachers’ union OELMEK has received complaints regarding the incident, while educators took to social media to confirm what had happened.
The media in South Cyprus reported that secondary school teachers were seeking answers from the Greek Cypriot education ministry on Wednesday over the said instruction to English teachers. Head of OELMEK Costas Hadjisavvas, on Wednesday, told the Cyprus Mail that the issue is very worrying, demanding an explanation.
“What concerns us is not only who sent the message, but also who gave the instruction for it to be sent,” Hadjisavvas stressed, stressing that it is not possible for an education inspector to randomly decide on such a thing and that if it happened then it is serious misconduct.
On Monday, September 6, teachers said they had received the urgent email message from the education ministry, asking them to “tear” page 36 from the “Oxford Discover Futures 3 Workbook” before handing them to high school juniors.
In a development on late Wednesday, the Greek Cypriot media reported that the Greek Cypriot education ministry announced it will withdraw the English textbook following strong reactions from both sides of the island to instructions to tear out a page on Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Tatar: GC leader accuses the TC side to save its reputation
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said on Wednesday that a solution in Cyprus can only be based on two independent, sovereign states that existed side-by-side. Speaking at a press conference at Ercan (Tymbou) airport on his return from his contacts in Turkey, Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriot side’s position on the matter was clear.
He also said that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades’ proposal to return to the 1960 constitutional order was neither possible nor acceptable. Providing a summary of his contacts in Turkey, Tatar said that he had found the opportunity to brief representatives of various civil society organisations as well as associations on the latest stage reached on the Cyprus Issue.
“Cyprus is not the old Cyprus. The Eastern Mediterranean is not the old Mediterranean,” said Tatar, pointing out that a solution in Cyprus can only be based on two independent, sovereign states that existed side-by-side.
Regarding the latest proposal made by the Greek Cypriot leader for a return to the 1960 Cyprus Republic, he said, “We as Turkish Cypriots cannot return to the 1960 constitutional order. Asked whether an official meeting could take place with the Greek Cypriot side in the coming days, Tatar said that such a meeting had not been decided yet.
He added that they will be holding meetings amongst themselves as well as with Turkey ahead of his upcoming meeting in New York.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued from his office, Tatar accused the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and his spokesman of “distorting facts to save his reputation.” Tatar recalled that the two leaders had separate meetings with the UNSG in Brussels on June 25.
“During the meeting, UNSG Antonio Guterres had raised the possibility of holding a trilateral and informal meeting over dinner in addition to holding bilateral meetings,” Tatar said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side had accepted should the SG were to extend an invitation.
He noted that additionally special representative Ergün Olgun during meeting UN Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute on August 20, said he is ready to meet with the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis to discuss the logistical arrangements for the dinner meeting in New York.
“Despite the facts, the Greek Cypriot leadership continues to accuse the Turkish Cypriot side to save his reputation and to cover the harsh criticisms he has been receiving,” Tatar concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> A solution in Cyprus can only be based on two independent, sovereign states that existed side-by-side.
>> TCs cannot return to the 1960 constitutional order.
Kalın: “The two-state solution is the most reasonable model”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Presidential Spokesman İbrahim Kalın on Tuesday said the two-state solution in Cyprus is the most reasonable model. Kalın said a two-state model for the long-divided island is the fairest solution and that the EU taking a fair, rational, and impartial stance on the issue would contribute to a solution.
He touched on the Cyprus issue during a meeting with Oliver Varhelyi, who is the EU’s neighbourhood and enlargement commissioner.
Varhelyi and Kalın, during their meeting in Ankara also discussed Turkey’s EU membership process, updating the 2016 deal on migration, cooperation on migration, humanitarian aid, modernizing the Customs Union, visa liberalization and Afghanistan.
The strategic importance of Turkish-EU relations was also highlighted at the meeting, and it was emphasized that a positive agenda should be maintained, according to a statement from the Turkish Presidency regarding the meeting.
KEY ACTORS
Kalın (Turkey)
>> Two-state solution in Cyprus is the most reasonable, fairest model.
>> Adopting a fair, rational & impartial stance on the Cyprob by the EU will contribute to a solution.
DISY leader Neofytou meets with Akıncı in the north
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı and DISY leader Averof Neofytou held a meeting on Wednesday. Akıncı in a social media post said they discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus problem. On the other hand, Neofytou also tweeted about his meeting with the former Turkish Cypriot leader.
“We analyzed the current state of things & exchanged views on the future of Cyprus. I repeated my firm position that the only way towards the solution of the Cyprus problem, lays upon the UN resolutions and the agreed framework of bicommunal, bizonal federation (BBF),” Neofytou tweeted.