TCC Press Review 17 Sept 2021

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

50,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines are being returned

While the world talks about access to vaccines, a large quantity of the EU approved AstraZeneca vaccines which are soon to be expired are being returned to the south even though vaccine coverage in the north has remained a little over 50 per cent. While the majority of people prefer the Pfizer BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, an initiative has been launched to return the 50,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

  • Lessons were held at the amphitheatre with 47 students!

Kıbrıs

Both the masjid and the cinema hall are converted into prison wards

Director of the central prison, Metin Bilmem, who attended the ceremony for the opening of the 2021-2022 judicial year at the Nicosia Heavy Crimes Court, said there were currently 592 inmates at the central prison, which has a capacity of 454. He said the prison wards were not enough to house the inmates.

  • Production and exports are vital for TRNC economyAli Kamacıoğlu, President of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KTSO) said.

Havadis

The prison is crammed full

483 crimes were committed and 305 traffic violations were filed at the courts in Nicosia from January 1 to September 16. 71 people have applied for release benefitting from the supervised liberty right. The prison went over its capacity. The cinema hall and the masjid were converted into wards.

  • The industrialists hopeful of the New YearAli Kamacıoğlu, President of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KTSO), evaluated the first 100 days of the new management board at a press conference. He declared the year 2022 as a year for production and exports.

Diyalog

New crisis

The Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority’s (KIBTEK) tender to purchase fuel was obstructed this time by the injunction obtained by Avcıoğlu. While the debate over the use of low-grade fuel at the Teknecik power plant continues, the tender launched by KIBTEK on September 20 to purchase 150,000 tons of fuel oil to meet this year’s need has hit another hurdle, this time by the court injunction obtained by the authority’s former Peoples’ Party (HP) representative Yusuf Avcıoğlu. Avcıoğlu is demanding that changes be made to the list of conditions required when launching tenders for the procurement of fuel. Speaking to the Diyalog newspaper, Economy and Energy Minister Erhan Arıklı criticized the move, warning that the country could be left in darkness.

  • Very sad According to the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) we are returning 50,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines donated by the EU without using them.

Avrupa

What has been purchased is not fuel but poison

Çatalköy (Agios Epiktitos) and Esentepe (Agios Amvrosios) Municipalities together with Green Peace Movement and Esentepe (Agios Amvrosios) Environment Protection Association staged a protest at Teknecik (power plant).

  • I am against the idea of a Justice Ministry in our countrySpeaking during the ceremony for the opening of the new judicial year, president of the Supreme Court Narin Ferdi Şefik said she was opposed to the idea of setting up a justice ministry and pointed to the importance of not politicizing justice…

Main News

Tatar slams British High Commissioner Lillie over interview to GC daily

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Thursday reacted to British High Commissioner Stephen Lillie’s interview with Kathimerini echoing similar views expressed earlier in the week by Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner and Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu

In a statement issued from his office, Tatar said Lillie’s remarks were parallel to those of the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades thus violating the principle of impartiality. “It is understood that the UK is seeking to protect its interests and its sovereign base areas rather than focusing on reaching a sustainable agreement based on the realities of the island,” Tatar stressed.

He added that the Turkish Cypriot side expected the British diplomat to approach the Cyprus issue with a realistic viewpoint and be impartial. Tatar said that the UK was fully aware of the reasons why previous negotiations failed to achieve a positive outcome.

Recalling the UN Secretary-General’s earlier remarks, the Turkish Cypriot leader said it was clear that the Cyprus issue could only be solved through creative and new ways that are outside the known boundaries of the status quo.

“In this respect, the Turkish Cypriot side has tabled its solution vision based on two states with sovereign equality and equal international status,” Tatar said, urging the relevant sides to free themselves of the prejudices of the past and approach the matter with an open mind.

Tatar also said that it was indisputable that an imposed solution in Cyprus would not work and urged outside actors who sincerely wanted to contribute to efforts to reach a solution to maintain an equal distance to the two sides.

Meanwhile, Tatar, speaking to Turkish news agency Anatolia on Thursday, reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side has not and will not change its position vis-à-vis the Cyprus problem in New York. He recalled the Turkish Cypriot side had submitted a six-point proposal during the informal five-plus-one meeting in Geneva.

“We insist on sovereign equality and equal international status aspects of the proposal to be accepted,” Tatar stressed, arguing that he was waging a national struggle. He pointed out that the only feasible model in Cyprus is a two-state model, reminding that the talks to reach a federal settlement have failed due to the Greek Cypriot side’s attitude.

Noting that the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) has turned into a Greek Cypriot controlled state, Tatar said he will not allow any solution model that includes single sovereignty on the island. “The single sovereignty will eventually transform the island into a unitary state structure,” he claimed, reiterating the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposal must be accepted before the launch of official negotiations.

“Our position, which is detailed in the six-point proposal submitted in Geneva, is clear. The Turkish Cypriot side’s sovereign equality and equal international status must be accepted for the official round talks to be launched. A UN Security Council decision is needed,” Tatar said, adding that he will not refrain from attending any informal talks until then.

Tatar said he, Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu and the Turkish Cypriot negotiation team will be travelling to New York on September 18 for meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). He said he will also be meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu there.

Tatar, responding to a question on his meetings in New York, said there is a possibility of a trilateral meeting with Anastasiades and the UN Secretary-General among meeting with other heads of states.

In a separate statement on Thursday, Tatar criticised the Greek Cypriot leadership for leaking the possibility of holding a joint meeting. The Turkish Cypriot leader said it was wrong for the Greek Cypriot leadership to leak this information until the UN had sent an official invitation to both sides.

He added that the UN Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar had called him to say that the Secretary-General was planning on extending an invitation to both community leaders for a meeting on September 27.

 “The Greek Cypriot leadership, by leaking this meeting to the press not only violated diplomatic ethics but revealed its true intentions of using such opportunities for political manoeuvre,” Tatar said. He concluded by reiterating that he will attend such an informal meeting should he be invited to reiterate the Turkish Cypriot side’s position tabled in Geneva.

Anastasiades on Thursday confirmed that a trilateral meeting on the Cyprus issue will be held in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Speaking to reporters in Athens, Anastasiades noted that he will have a working breakfast with the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York, without specifying the exact date.

KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Lillie’s remarks parallel with those of Anastasiades & a violation of impartiality.
>> Cyprus issue can only be solved through creative & new ways that are outside the known boundaries of the status quo.
>> Other actors must abandon their prejudices & approach the issue with an open mind.
>> An imposed solution in Cyprus will not work. Other actors who sincerely wanted to contribute to efforts to reach a solution must maintain an equal distance to the two sides.
>> TC side will not change its position in NY.
>> TC side will continue to insist on a two-state solution based on sovereign equality & equal international status.
>> Two-state model is the only feasible option on the island.
>> Official talks cannot begin until the TC side’s demand for sovereign equality is accepted.
>> Leaking of trilateral meeting before an official invitation is a breach of diplomatic ethics.


Tatar received Maronite rep Yiannakis Musas

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Thursday received Maronite community representative Yiannakis Musas. Tatar during the meeting said he will listen wholeheartedly to suggestions on introducing measures that will ease the lives of members of the Maronite community living in the north.

Speaking during the meeting, Musas, who said the Maronite community now lives in Karpaşa (Karpasia) and the Koruçam (Kormakitis) villages, invited Tatar to the ceremony to mark the completion of the renovation and restoration works at the St. George Church in Koruçam (Kormakitis).


Kızılyürek says he will raise the English textbook issue at EP

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights, EU Matters

OVERVIEW

AKEL MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek said on Wednesday he will table a discussion at the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education about the Greek Cypriot Education Ministry’s handling of the English textbook with a reference to Kemal Atatürk and the call on teachers to tear that page out.

Raising the issue whilst addressing the European Parliament on press freedom in Hungary, he pointed out that education is already a problematic issue in Cyprus.

He also recalled his earlier remarks that the education reforms in line with the EC directives must be implemented swiftly. Kızılyürek said the situation concerning education on both sides of the island is not at all good.

“The Cypriot education minister has instructed the teachers to tear a page he did not like from textbooks,” Kızılyürek stressed, urging for immediate measures to be implemented. “We have to ensure that the EU member states comply with and respect EU’s basic values,” Kızılyürek concluded.


CTP: “50,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to be returned  


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security, CBMs

OVERVIEW

The main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) said on Wednesday 50,000 doses of the EU approved AstraZeneca vaccines will be returned to South Cyprus because of their approaching expiry date.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the CTP argued that the decision was adopted due to the slow-progressing vaccination drive in the north.

Highlighting the government’s failures in managing the pandemic, the CTP said that the low vaccination coverage rate which stood at 55 per cent was not plausible. The party also argued that those who received two doses of Sinovac vaccines at least six months ago must receive booster jabs.

“Given the number of people who got the Sinovac jabs, the population ratio on the vaccination campaign is a lot less than announced,” the CTP argued. The main opposition also pointed out that the vaccination for individuals aged 12 to 18 has stopped.

Nonetheless, Education Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu on Thursday announced that 15,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines were delivered to the health ministry. He said that the vaccination of secondary school students will continue.


KTSO working on the issue of Hellim (Halloumi) exports


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Economy

OVERVIEW

The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry announced on Thursday that was working to increase Hellim (Halloumi) exports and has intensified its efforts to bring local production to EU standards in line with the product designation origin (PDO) registration of the Cypriot cheese.

In a press conference organised by the KTSO to evaluate the first 100 days in management, President of the chamber Ali Kamacıoğlu said they were working together with the Turkish Cypriot Ministry of Agriculture to increase the daily sheep and goat milk output.

He also noted the Hellim (Halloumi) inspection board has been revived to ensure high-quality production. “We have prepared an action plan together with the Chamber of Commerce, EU Coordination Centre and the Agriculture Ministry to bring the dairy sector to EU standards in line with the PDO registration; to increase the raw milk output and to eradicate animal diseases,” Kamacıoğlu highlighted.

He also said the chamber is also working on olive oil exports. Kamacıoğlu concluded by underlining that the Chamber’s new management has declared 2022 a year of local production and exports. He said the new board has directed its efforts in this direction.


Queer Cyprus applies to Ombudsperson’s office on hate speech


Yenidüzen
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

Queer Cyprus Association has filed a complaint with the Ombudsperson’s office against the Turkish Cypriot Education Ministry concerning a teacher, who used hate speech against the members of the Association.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the association said they had yet to receive a response from the education ministry despite having filed the complaint four months ago.

The association reminded that an institution is obliged by law to respond to such queries within 30 days and that hate speech on sexual identity and sexual orientation, has been included in the penal code in March 2020. It said the members of the association had been subjected to hate speech since the pride march organised in May 2021.


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