Front Page Headlines
“Everyone is dying to work on the other side”
Ülfet Akdeniz who works as a cook in a restaurant in the south of Cyprus spoke to Yenidüzen. She said that more and more people were eager to work in the south. “I too just started working there,” she said. Several people working at the car insurance offices at the Metehan (Agios Dhometios) crossing point said that there was a significant increase in the number of people who issued car insurances in order to drive back and forth to their new jobs. They say that more and more people will opt for working in the south.
The fire of the foreign currencies cannot be put out
The Turkish Lira continues to lose ground against foreign currencies ahead of this Thursday’s critical announcement by the Turkish Central Bank on interest rates. One US Dollar on Monday traded at ₺14.55; Euro at ₺16.40; and Sterling Pound at ₺19.20. The new high in the exchange rates continues to worry the public about their future.
- The election campaigning period will start on December 28 – Today is the deadline for the political parties to identify their candidates for the upcoming early elections. Applications will be submitted on Friday, December 17.
We are worse than Papua New Guinea
The Turkish lira continued to plummet against foreign currencies. The Turkish lira is now worth less than some of the world’s smallest economies and their currencies. The currency used in Papua New Guinea is now four times stronger than the lira.
- Vaccination age dropped to five in the south – Greek Cypriot council of ministers announced new measures due to the ‘Omicron’ variant yesterday.
Big race
105 of the 350 candidates running in the January 23 elections are women. The highest number of female candidates are from the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Social Democracy Party (TDP). There are 17 female candidates from the TKP and 16 from the UBP. The other parties, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the Peoples’ Party (HP) and the Social Democratic Party (TDP) each have 15 candidates. The Democratic Party (DP) has 14 female candidates while the Rebirth Party (YDP) has the lowest number with 13. Political observers believe that female candidates attract more voters.
The Bar Association is more relentless than the government
The Bar Association objected to the government’s decision to postpone the court orders on non-performing loans and applied to the court to revoke the decision. The people are shocked by the Bar Association’s decision and attitude.
- Corona measures protested in the south.
Main News
Borrell: EU in solidarity with the GC side on Maraş (Varosha)
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Property, Territory, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday said the foreign ministers of the EU member states agreed to consider the possibility of measures against those involved in activities in the fenced area of Maraş (Varosha), but also called for confidence-building measures (CBMs) on Famagusta to help bring closer a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Speaking after the foreign affairs council (FAC) in Brussels, Borrell said that among other issues on their agenda was the impact of the unilateral actions taken last July by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots in Maraş (Varosha) that violate the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
“We presented an options paper and we agreed to evaluate those options on the table which will also include the creation of a specific sanctions regime focusing on persons and entities with direct involvement in the opening of part of Maraş (Varosha) after last July,” Borrell said.
The Committee of the Permanent Representatives at the EU (Coreper), he added, will follow up “on this important issue” based on what the FAC discussed on Monday.
Borrell stressed that it was essential that Turkey seriously reengages in the UN process and refrains from any action that would further deteriorate the situation on the ground.
Borrell said that the FAC considers that creating the conditions for an environment conducive to a solution remains crucial, and “that CBMs with regards to Maraş (Varosha) are of key importance and will help to the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus issue”. He also added the rest of the EU member states once again expressed their solidarity with the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) and expressed their support to the UN process.
KEY ACTORS
Borrell (EU)
>> EU members agree to consider the possibility of measures against those involved in the process to reopen Maraş (Varosha).
>> Essential that Ankara reengages in the UN process & refrains from actions that will deteriorate the current situation.
>> CBMs on Maraş (Varosha) are of key importance & will help the comprehensive solution of Cyprob.
>> EU members express their solidarity & support to the RoC.
Exxon, Qatar Energy to ‘stay out’ of Turkey’s East Med jurisdiction, says Çavuşoğlu
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Energy
OVERVIEW
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Monday said the United States and Qatar have assured Turkey that ExxonMobil and Qatar Energy will stay out of its continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu’s remarks come just days after the companies were given an energy exploration license in disputed waters.
“No matter who they are, they cannot enter our continental shelf without our permission,” Çavuşoğlu told parliament during his ministry’s budget talks.
“Therefore in this accord on Section 5, both countries – the United States and Qatar – have guaranteed that they will not enter our continental shelf,” he said, adding the companies will remain south of Turkey’s declared continental shelf.
YSK: Election campaigns will be launched on December 28
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Higher Electoral Board (YSK) on Monday reminded all the political parties that the campaigning period for parties will begin on December 28.
In a statement issued, the YSK also reminded the political parties that the deadline to submit applications for candidates is Friday, December 17. The YSK said the final list of candidates following eligibility assessment, will be announced on December 26.
The electoral board also reminded the election prohibition period is in force and will last until the day after the elections, until January 24.
During the election prohibitions, it is banned to recruit or employ anyone nor the authorities in power can promote or give any sort of increment to anyone.
Granting new “TRNC” citizenships are also prohibited during this period. Officials are not allowed to distribute, allocate or lease any state-owned or private properties during this period. The law on election prohibitions also prohibits the candidates from attending any type of ceremony, including inaugurations.
Court orders GC involved in flag incident to remain in police custody
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Famagusta District Court on Monday ordered the Greek Cypriot who attempted to drape a Greek flag on a monument in Famagusta to remain in police custody for an additional day so that police could conclude a psych evaluation to determine the condition of his mental health. od for the Greek Cypriot who wanted to unfurl a Greek flag extended by one more day.
Earlier he had told police that he had carried out the act upon a command he received from Jesus Christ.
The Greek Cypriot individual who attempted to unfurl a Greek flag on a monument on Famagusta’s main roundabout had already been in custody for three days since December 10
The police informed the court on Monday that two psychiatrists had already examined him but the chief psychiatrist at the Barış Psychiatry Hospital also needs to examine him before concluding the official report on the suspect.
MHP MP applauds “Turkish Aegean” tourism campaign, demands one for Cyprus too
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Ahmet Erbaş on Monday expressed his pleasure in seeing the Turkish Tourism Organisation’s new publicity campaign entitled “Turkish Aegean” and said he wants to see similar campaigns for Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean.
“These areas must not be left to Greece,” Erbaş, who is one of the key figures interfering in the Turkish Cypriot leadership elections in 2020, stressed.
Addressing the Turkish parliament on the Turkish Tourism Ministry’s 2022 budget, Erbaş said tourism must be included in national policies as it dictates the country’s reputation.
Erbaş also noted that the MHP is pleased with the establishment of the Organisation of the Turkic States (formerly known as the Cooperation Council of Turkish Speaking States). “We hope to see the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) being invited to the Organisation’s next meeting and we desire to see the member states to politically recognize the TRNC as soon as possible,” Erbaş concluded.