Front Page Headlines
Parliament was opened by the opposition, the government disappeared!
The government has said the opposition was also responsible for convening parliament. It was the opposition that achieved a quorum. The government was nowhere to be seen.
- Uncertainty over PDO – PDO registration for Hellim (Halloumi) in the north is on standby.
The only way is to produce
The business community points out that the country’s economy is not sustainable and adds that the only way to avoid exorbitant prices is production. They add that income levels of the public must also be increased to strengthen people’s purchasing power. The business community also warned that the retail prices will be increased further as a result of the price hike in the fuel oil prices.
- Today is the first anniversary of the opening of Maraş (Varosha).
Fighting over land allocation in parliament
At the first parliamentary session following its ceremonial assembly, the coalition partners of the minority government fought with each other over land allocation. The state land that the Rebirth Party (YDP) wanted to give to a person by hiding from the National Unity Party (UBP) caused tension in the parliament.
A 30-day deadline for return of property
The ‘Kyrenia Court’ in the south ruled that Turkey should pay four Greek Cypriots €30m in compensation for loss of use. The ‘court’ also ruled that the four properties in question must be returned to their owners within 30 days. Even if the ruling is not recognized by Turkey or the TRNC, this paves the way for the Greek Cypriots to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Speaking on behalf of his clients, lawyer Simos Angelides said that he will follow the procedures followed in the ‘Orams’ and ‘Âposotolides’ cases.
- They are developing, we are growing poorer – The unemployment figure in the south has dropped to 11,324. It has risen to 14,950 in the north.
TRNC gave Turkey an empty check (of ₺17m (€1.7m) and Turkey took it
Is this a Turkey – TRNC joint production? It emerged that Prime Minister Ersan Saner’s ₺17m (€1.7m) given to the victims of the forest fires in Turkey were all lies. Kudret Özersay said: “The news on Prime Minister Saner presenting (Turkish VP) Fuat Oktay with the money collected in the north is all a lie.” He said there is no money. They only talked to the Chambers of Artisans and Shopkeepers, Commerce and Contractors Association but there is no money. And they made a show with the money they did not collect. This is unbelievable!”
Main News
Çağatay says new UN envoy needed for implementation of CBMs
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, CBMs
OVERVIEW
People’s Party (HP) MP Erek Çağatay on Thursday said new confidence-building measures (CBMs) can only be implemented following the appointment of a new envoy, who will have the same mandate as the previous envoy Jane Holl Lute.
Evaluating the latest developments in the Cyprus problem during a TV programme, Çağatay argued that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to capitalise on the gap created when the UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute left her post.
“The Greek Cypriot side wants the appointment of a special envoy for the negotiations to continue from the point the process had been left off, based on old conditions,” Çağatay argued. He noted that the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) must appoint a new envoy to continue from where Lute had left off and to continue to seek common ground between the two sides.
Çağatay also said the latest meetings in New York revealed that the two sides were not close on achieving common ground. The HP MP also ruled out the possibility of resuming negotiations from where they left off in Crans Montana.
“The negotiations process cannot continue after the disappointment experienced in Crans Montana as if nothing happened,” he stressed, adding that it later emerged that the Greek Cypriot side had sat at the table intending to prolong the status quo on the island.
Çağatay argued that the Greek Cypriot side used the negotiations processes as a tool to maintain its international recognition, its EU and UN membership as well. “Now we see the Greek Cypriot side wants to see the appointment of a ‘special envoy’ for the process to continue but this is not possible,” Çağatay said, adding that the HP had been arguing that it is not possible to reach a different outcome with the old system.
He said it is vital to develop different policies that are proactive and creative to reach a federal settlement and to initiate possible venues of collaboration even before the solution. Çağatay recalled that the Turkish Cypriot leadership has submitted a proposal during the five-plus-one meeting, which in part contains HP’s position on collaboration.
“However, the Turkish Cypriot side also imposed a precondition of recognition of its sovereign equality to its proposal, pushing itself into a tight corner. Even if the Greek Cypriot side were to accept coming to the negotiations table, it is not possible to discuss anything due to the precondition,” Çağatay concluded.
Later on Thursday, Çağatay, speaking in parliament said that the time had come to question the methodology of the Cyprus negotiations process. “We as the HP believe that we have to focus on collaboration before a solution to reach a solution,” he said, adding that the methodology in the process must be changed in order not to make the same mistakes as before.
He stressed the importance of coming up with proposals that the other side will accept and reminded that the UNSG wants to start the dialogue between the two sides with different opinions and ideas even if it does not solve the problem.
Also addressing the parliamentary assembly, Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu said the Turkish Cypriot side will not enter into official negotiations as long as the inequality between the two sides remains. “Cyprus issue at its core is a status problem,” Ertuğruloğlu said, reiterating his view that the Greek Cypriot side is being regarded as the ‘official state’ whereas the Turkish Cypriot side as a ‘community.’
He argued that the Turkish Cypriot side’s new vision is aimed at eradicating the inequality between the two sides. “We are ready and willing for the negotiations between the two states,” Ertuğruloğlu said, arguing that the Turkish Cypriot community will not have its state under a federal roof.
He said there are two states on the island whether recognized or not and they must shape the future of the island. “If there is going to be a partnership as a result of the negotiations, it has to have a strong basis and that basis is sovereign equality,” Ertuğruloğlu concluded.
HP MP Jale Refik Rogers on Thursday reiterated her criticisms of Tatar during her address in the parliament. “Tatar has yet to take any steps to be the voice of the north or its people when he travels abroad,” Rogers argued, adding that his trips have so far been ‘cultural ones’ even though he travels as the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community.
Reminding that the AdaPass (safe pass) system has yet to be harmonised with the systems in Turkey or South Cyprus, Rogers said the university students are forced to apply for a digital pass through the Greek Cypriot health ministry. She added otherwise the students are treated as if they have not been vaccinated against coronavirus at all.
KEY ACTORS
Çağatay (HP)
>> CBMs can only be implemented following the appointment of a new envoy, who will have the same mandate Lute.
>> NY revealed that the two sides are not close on achieving common ground.
>> Talks cannot resume from where they left off in Crans Montana.
>> GC side is using negotiations to maintain its international recognition.
>> Different policies which are proactive & creative are needed to initiate new ways of collaborating.
>> Not possible for sides to move the process forward with the TC side’s precondition.
>> New methodology required in the talks.
Ertuğruloğlu (UBP)
>> No official talks as long as inequality between two sides remains.
>> Cyprob is a status problem.
>> TC side is ready & willing for talks between two states but will not accept a federal settlement.
Rogers (HP)
>>TC leader Tatar has yet to serve the TC community.
Initiative to reopen Maraş (Varosha) marks first year
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
Friday marked a year since Turkish Cypriot authorities in the north and Turkey initiated the process to partially reopen the fenced-off city of Maraş (Varosha) dubbed as the Maraş (Varosha) initiative.
Since its partial reopening on October 8, 2020, after remaining closed for decades in the wake of Turkey’s 1974 military operation, the town has attracted people from both sides of the divide as well as foreign tourists despite objections and protests from the Greek Cypriot leadership as well as the international community.
Over 200,000 people have visited the open section so far, two main streets and an 800m stretch of the town’s beachfront and nearly 2,000 people on Sunday, October 4. So far 3.5 per cent of the town has been converted from a military zone to a civilian zone following the initiation of a second phase in July 2021.
The Bilal Ağa Masjid located within the town was also opened for worship on July 20, 2021, as part of a PR campaign being deployed by Turkish Cypriot authorities to back up their claim that the area once belonged to the Evkaf administration and that property was unlawfully transferred by the British to individuals.
The Turkish Cypriot authorities are currently working on a formula to allow former residents to return to the area through the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) which is recognized by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as an effective domestic remedy in settling property disputes on the island.
BKP is ready for a peace alliance
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
İzzet İzcan, leader of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) on Thursday said the pro-federal solution circles must “act swiftly, and stand strong against the threat of annexation.” Speaking during a meeting with Left Movement, İzcan stressed: “the barbed wire that divides the country into two must be removed to reunite the island.”
He added the BKP is ready to ally for peace, urging for the circles believing in the federal settlement to come together under the same roof and to act together in solidarity.“It is our duty and responsibility to protect our people at times when the Turkish Cypriot community is being disregarded,” İzcan said.