TCC Press Review 14 Oct 2021

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

He wrecked, made a mess, and left

The minority government set up by Ersan Saner only lasted for ten months. The government, unable to even achieve quorum in parliament came to the end of the road. Prime Minister Ersan Saner submitted his cabinet’s resignation to President Ersin Tatar yesterday. Both the upcoming National Unity Party (UBP) congress and problems between the junior partners of the coalition brought an end to the government.

Kıbrıs

Election now

Prime Minister Ersan Saner submitted the resignation of the National Unity Party (UBP)-Democratic Party (DP)-Rebirth Party (YDP) coalition to President Ersin Tatar yesterday after struggling with a number of problems ranging from attendance in parliament to the confrontation between the two other coalition partners as well as increasing pressure from the opposition regarding its practices. President Tatar is expected to meet separately with each of the heads of the political parties represented in the parliament. The general consensus among the political parties is to call for an early election as soon as possible.

  • The barbed wire on Hermes street was removed A new step was taken yesterday as part of the gradual reopening of Maraş (Varosha). Workers started to clear vegetation on the road located next to the Famagusta Municipality.

Havadis

Strategic step from Saner

Head of the minority government, National Unity Party (UBP) leader Ersan Saner, who was being threatened by Rebirth Party (YDP) leader Erhan Arıklı of withdrawing from the coalition, submitted the government’s resignation to the president. UBP leader Saner held his coalition partners responsible for the collapse of the government.

  • The spokeswoman gave up too quicklyPresidential spokeswoman Berna Çelik Dopruyol resigned claiming she wants to focus on her private work.

Diyalog

And so it should end

Following the unexpected resignation of the government by Prime Minister Ersan Saner the leaders of all parties in parliament have called for early elections. Saner gave no information to his coalition partners, the leader of the Democratic Party (DP) Fikri Ataoğlu and the leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) Erhan Arıklı before submitting the government’s resignation. “We will not run away from forming a new government if the president gives us the task but I believe it would be best if we had early elections as soon as possible.

Avrupa

Ankara dissolved (the government) it will establish a new one

The government resigned and the call for an early election was made! The government which could not overcome the problem of quorum in parliament finally resigned yesterday. Prime Minister Ersan Saner submitted the resignation of the National Unity Party (UBP)-Democratic Party (DP)-Rebirth Party (YDP) coalition to the President. He said an early election must be called as soon as possible.

Main News

The second phase of Maraş (Varosha) reopening launched

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Havadis, Avrupa
Property, Territory

OVERVIEW

The Turkish Cypriot side on Wednesday began a new phase in the opening up of the fenced-off town of Maraş (Varosha), clearing part of the area it has demilitarised for resettlement by Greek Cypriots who wish to reclaim their properties through the Immovable Property Commission (IPC).

The new access gate will be located on the Anexartessia Avenu connecting the Polat Paşa boulevard and the İlker Karter street next to the current Famagusta Municipality hall.

Reports said that crews were carrying our clearing works in the area on Wednesday morning as the barbed wire has been removed and bulldozers and trucks carrying out road repairs along the avenue. The decision to launch the second phase was taken by the Turkish Cypriot cabinet in July this year. According to the decision, 3.5 per cent of Maraş (Varosha) or an area covering 174,643m2  will be demilitarised and open for settlement on a pilot basis.

The demilitarisation decision was announced on July 20, 2021, by the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and the visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

A police booth has been placed at the entrance of Anexartessia Avenue and the municipal workers throughout Wednesday worked with heavy machinery to clear the overgrown vegetation on the road.

It is not yet known when the public will be given access to the area.


Coalition government collapses as Saner throws in the towel

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Havadis, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing

OVERVIEW

In an unexpected move on Wednesday National Unity Party (UBP) leader and Prime Minister Ersan Saner offered his government’s resignation to Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar after failing to convene parliament for two consecutive weeks.

“I observed that the government could not continue further,” Saner told reporters after conveying the resignation to Tatar, whom he said was assessing the decision.

He said that his party would not turn down the task of forming a new government if the duty was given to them by Tatar but expressed his view that holding early elections would be the better option.

Saner reminded that the three-party coalition with the Democratic Party (DP) and the Rebirth Party (YDP) had been formed ten months ago after the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the People’s Party (HP) shied away from taking on the responsibility of forming a new government.

He said that the coalition since then had successfully managed the economy and the country despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. “The problem of a quorum in parliament, the developments within the two of the three parties in the coalition government and some problems that arose within the government, were the reasons that led us to resign,” Saner said.

Immediately after Saner announced his resignation and withdrawal of his party, the leader of the YDP and Turkish Cypriot Deputy Prime Minister Erhan Arikli said the constitutional procedures would now be followed and time would tell whether a widely accepted government, could be formed. If not, elections would have to be called for December or early January, he said.

In the meantime, the opposition parties in parliament welcomed the decision by the government to resign. HP leader Kudret Özersay, CTP leader Tufan Erhürman and Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit also said that the coalition’s resignation was well overdue and that it had already caused enough damage to the country.

Speaking to Bayrak, CTP leader Erhürman highlighted that the government was only good at wasting people’s time. “Finally they realised that there was no real government,” he said, reminding that the three parties can now only conduct daily and routine responsibilities without employing anyone, granting new citizenships or political favours to anyone.

Erhürman also urged Tatar to swiftly launch his consultations with the heads of the political parties represented in the parliament but pointed out that the best option would be to hold an early election.

HP leader Özersay in his remarks to the press said the “government should have resigned sooner” and argued that Saner tried to delay the inevitable as long as he could due to the upcoming UBP congress. “A date for an early election must be identified as soon as possible,” Özersay said, adding that the HP will support a technocratic government until the election date.

Özyiğit also echoed similar views as the other opposition leaders and said the government’s resignation was expected.

“This is what could be done through interference and pressure,” Özyiğit said, adding that a new process will be launched. He urged the Turkish Cypriot community to assess what had happened in the past ten months carefully. The coalition, with the support of 25 MPs lasted 10 months. Then, after the resignation of a YDP MP Bertan Zaroğlu from the party the coalition’s seats in parliament fell to 24.

The problem of a quorum in the parliament, the ongoing problems with KIBTEk (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) as well as the setting of a date for early elections were the cause of daily confrontation between the government and the opposition the paper said.


Tatar: “TC side is stronger due to its strategic position in East Med”

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Havadis, Avrupa
Energy, Regional/ International Relations

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Wednesday argued the “TRNC is stronger due to its strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean.” Speaking during a meeting with the board members of the International Investment and Business World confederation (ULUSKON), Tatar said the Turkish Cypriot side together with Turkey was working hard to protect its rights and interests in the region.

Expressing his gratitude to Turkey for its assistance and standing by the Turkish Cypriots from the very beginning, Tatar said the Turkish Cypriots who were dispersed on the island and were living as a community, had gained their sovereignty following Turkey’s military operation in 1974.

He reiterated that following his election into office, the Turkish Cypriot side has tabled a new vision for the solution of the Cyprus problem. “Turkish Cypriots will not make any concessions from their sovereignty, security and freedom,” Tatar stressed, claiming that the federal model, which was discussed at the negotiations processes to date, would result in the assimilation of the Turkish Cypriots and distancing Turkey from the island.

Meanwhile, in another statement from Tatar’s office, it is noted that his spokeswoman Berna Çelik Doğruyol has resigned from her post. Doğruyol said she will focus on her academic studies and private business.


Turkish embassy refutes claim that Akıncı is among blacklisted


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Havadis, Avrupa
Governance and Power Sharing

OVERVIEW

Turkish Interior Ministry spokesman İsmail Çataklı refuted the claims that the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı has been barred from entering Turkey.

Çataklı, responding to a question posed by journalist Aslı Aydıntaşbaş on Twitter if it is true that former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı was among the list of people barred from entering Turkey,, said: “This is a lie. Period.”

Following the deportation of Ali Kişmir, head of (Basın-Sen) Turkish Cypriot Press Workers’ Union), Turkish Cypriot daily Avrupa had claimed that most vocal critics of Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan including former leader Mustafa Akıncı were included in the so-called ‘black-list of people barred from entering Turkey.

The daily had published a list of those allegedly on the list which included the former Turkish Cypriot leader.


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