Front Page Headlines
‘’What kind of a place is this? A sultanate?
The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman directed strong criticisms to both the government and President Ersin Tatar during his address at the ceremonial opening of the new parliamentary year. “You brought six draft bills to parliament and passed 74 governmental decrees. You destroyed parliament’s reputation. This is a disgrace. Is parliament not the representation of a state’s sovereignty?” he said.
- 23 of the chipped tags on the sheep belong to the south – A team from the veterinary department during routine inspections at a slaughterhouse in Çihangir (Epicho) detected that 23 of 53 animals were smuggled from the south.
- Fire scare at Alevkayası (Alevga) – The proximity of the fire to a shooting range raised concerns. A fire-fighting helicopter was called to assist efforts.
Open the parliament to call for an election
The new legislative year for the parliament commenced yesterday. The common theme in the political party leaders’ statements was ‘early election.’ The parliament will convene on Monday again, but it is still unknown whether there will be the required quorum to open the session.
- North Cyprus is effectively not part of the EU – A court in Germany rejected giving ‘school assistance’ to a family, whose children go to schools in North Cyprus. The court rejected the family’s argument that “the administration in North Cyprus is not internationally recognized however the north is part of the Republic of Cyprus, which is an EU member state.”
New crossing points need to be opened
The lifting of test requirements at crossing points pleases both sides. The increase in visitors raised hopes of shopkeepers in the Lokmacı/Ledra Street area. Speaking to Diyalog, many business owners in the area said that most of the tourists who crossed over to the north spent money on souvenirs or dining at cafes and restaurants. The coordinator for the Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans Hürrem Tulga called on the authorities to open new crossing points.
- The federation of sheep – It was detected that 23 of the 53 sheep brought to the slaughterhouse had been smuggled from the south. Two persons were arrested.
- A show of force – The 61st anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) was marked once again under the shadow of Greek flags.
We plant trees so the soldiers can burn them
Villagers from Kalavaç (Kalyvakia) are fed up with the military drills. A fire broke out in the military zone located south of Alevkayası (Alevga) on the skirts of the Kyrenia mountain range. The fire that lasted for two days reached the meadows of Kalavaç (Kalyvakia). The villagers are outraged with the fires that are caused by the gunnery exercises carried out by the armed forces.
Main News
Tatar reiterates his arguments against the RoC on Independence Day
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said on Friday that the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) had effectively transformed into a Greek state despite having originally been founded as a partnership republic made up of the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities.
In a written statement issued by his office on Friday, Tatar lashed out at Greek Cypriot authorities marking the 61st anniversary of the RoC. He said that the Greek Cypriots after seizing control of the state in 1963, not only changed the RoC Constitution but also changed its anniversary from August 16 to October 1.
“This is yet another proof that the RoC has turned into a Greek Cypriot controlled state,” Tatar stressed, adding that there will also be official ceremonies throughout the day expressing their alliance with Greece.
“The main target in all of the statements during ceremonies and the military parades will be the TRNC and Turkey,” Tatar said, arguing that such display, provocations, and hostility only served to hurt any prospects for a settlement on the island.
Tatar also recalled that during his latest meeting with UN Secretary-General (UNSG), he had urged the Greek Cypriot leader to agree to dialogue for a settlement on the island while reiterating the Turkish Cypriot side’s position based on a two-state model based on the sovereign equality of the two sides.
“However, as always the Greek Cypriot side displayed its irreconcilable attitude once again,” he stressed, adding that the Greek Cypriot leader proposed to return to the 1960 constitutional order which had been changed by the Greek Cypriots.
“The Greek Cypriot side once again revealed their true intentions of making the Turkish Cypriots a minority in a Greek Cypriot controlled state with their proposal of returning to the 1960 republic,” Tatar stressed, reiterating that it is out of the question for the Turkish Cypriot side to accept such a proposal.
“The realities on the island are obvious…A two-state solution based on the sovereign equality of the two sides is the only possible way forward for a solution and we will change our position,” Tatar concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> RoC has effectively become a GC state.
>> Displays of solidarity with Greece, provocations & hostility only serves to hurt prospects of a settlement.
>> Out of the question for TC side to accept a return to 1960 constitutional order.
>> Two-state solution is the only way possible.
TC MFA slams Christodoulides for remarks against Turkey
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry on Friday slammed the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides for his recent remarks against Turkey. It said that the Greek Cypriot foreign minister’s claims made against Turkey were just another example of the Greek Cypriot side’s usual disrespect and insolence against Turkish Cypriots aimed at concealing its hostile attitude.
In a statement issued, it added that Christodoulides has exceeded his authority by claiming that Turkey has adopted an “aggressive” position in the region.
Christodoulides in an interview with the Associated Press (AP) in New York had accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of “attempting to promote a new Ottoman empire in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East,” and added that such an approach to geopolitics could adversely impact regional security.
He also pointed to the aggressive Turkish behaviour not only in Cyprus but in Syria, Iraq, Libya and other Arab countries in the region, claiming “the militarization of the Turkish foreign policy is of great concern for all the countries in the region.”
Refuting all the claims made by Christodoulides, the statement said the Greek Cypriot is the one which was acting aggressively in the region and which refused to share power and wealth.
“Contrary to the claims, the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey in goodwill and constructive attitude have done their best to settle the Cyprus issue,” the statement read, pointing out that the Greek Cypriot side has rejected every solution plan and rejected both the presence of the Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots’ right to self-govern.
“The accusations made by the Greek Cypriot foreign minister are nothing but being double-faced,” the statement stressed, arguing that the Greek Cypriot side is responsible for escalating tension on and around the island.
“We urge the Greek Cypriot side, which prefers hostility and insolence instead of dialogue and diplomacy to adopt some discretion and act sensibly,” the statement concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Ertuğruloğlu (UBP)
>> Christodoulides’ remarks is an example of usual intolerance against TCs.
>> GC FM exceeded his authority by accusing Turkey of adopting an ‘aggressive’ position in the East Med.
>> TC side & Turkey have done their best in goodwill to settle Cyprob.
>> GC side is responsible for escalating tensions.
>> GC should adopt discretion & act sensibly.
Ankara: Greek maritime zone claims against int’l law
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Including maritime jurisdiction areas in the defence agreement signed with France is a violation of international law and unacceptable, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ambassador Tanju Bilgiç said on Friday.
“It is vain for Greece to hope that it can make Turkey accept these claims, which are also questioned by the international community, through anti-Turkey military alliances, harming the NATO alliance,” Bilgiç stressed, adding that these are futile attempts.
“Such futile attempts will further strengthen our determination to protect the rights of both our own and those of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas,” Bilgiç said, arguing that Greece’s policy of armament as well as isolation and alienation of Turkey, instead of cooperation, is a problematic policy, which will threaten regional peace and stability and undermine not only itself but also the EU, which Greece is a member of.
Meanwhile, it is announced that the 63rd round of the Consultative Talks between Ankara and Athens will be held on October 6, 2021, in Ankara.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> Inclusion of maritime jurisdiction areas to a defence agreement signed with France is a violation of international law & unacceptable.
>> Such attempts will only strengthen Turkey’s & TC side’s determination to protect their rights in Aegean & East Med.
>> Greece’s policy of armament & isolation of Turkey is a problematic policy that threatens peace & stability.
Support growing for the reunification march in Derinya (Deryneia)
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
‘This Country is Ours’ Platform and the Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP) have announced they will participate in the march in support of a solution and reunification in Cyprus on Sunday, October 3 in Derinya (Deryneia).
In a statement issued on Friday, the platform said they will take their place in the area allocated for the rally in the southern part of the Derinya (Deryneia) crossing following the reading out of a press statement in the north.
“Despite the efforts of those who are trying to obstruct the negotiations process in order not to solve the Cyprus problem, we urge every peace-loving Cypriot to attend the march,” the platform said, reiterating that an independent united federal Cyprus is the only future for the island.
Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP), on Friday, argued those responsible for creating the Cyprus problem will not be able to solve it and the unsuccessful intercommunal talks that have been underway for 53 years is proof of this fact.
In a statement issued by the party to show support for the reunification march to be held on October 3 in Derinya (Deryneia), the KSP said the Cyprus problem can only be solved with the struggle waged by the people against the imperialists.
“The Anglo-American imperialism, which also manages the UN, has created the Cyprus problem and does not intend to solve it,” the KSP argued, urging the Cypriot communities to join the struggle against the imperialists for peace on the island on Sunday, October 3.
Pro-unification parties have called on Turkish Cypriots to march in support of a solution and reunification in Cyprus on Sunday, October 3 in Derinya (Deryneia).
In a statement issued on September 28 by New Cyprus Party (YKP) board member Murat Kanatlı, the march is being organized by the YKP, United Cyprus Party (BKP), Federal Cyprus Movement, Left Movement and Peace and Democracy Movement and supported by AKEL.
Sheep smuggling from the south
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Two men were arrested on Friday for smuggling sheep from the south and for trying to forge earmarks and pass the sheep as if they are registered with the Turkish Cypriot Veterinary Department.
Informing the court on the case, a police officer said the smuggling case was revealed by a senior veterinarian employed at the slaughterhouse in Cihangir (Epichio). The veterinarian on duty at the slaughterhouse decided to investigate the chipped tags on the sheep’s ears and revealed that 23 of the 53 animals brought to the slaughterhouse had Greek Cypriot registered microchips on them.
The livestock breeder from Kırıkkale (near Tymbou) village and the veterinarian from Vadili (Vatili) village have been arrested. The court remanded the two suspects for three more days until the investigation by the police is concluded.