TCC Press Review 15 Dec 2021

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

“We are in a deadlock…Can anyone hear us?

Those who borrowed money in foreign currency have reached a point where they have started selling what they own. Those struggling to pay loans are calling on the state to fix the exchange rates.

Kıbrıs

Pain over UBP’s candidates nominated through the party assembly

It emerged that the National Unity Party (UBP) will use the time until the deadline to submit candidacy applications to the Higher Electoral Board (YSK) on December 17 even though all the other parties have identified their candidates, announcing their lists.

Havadis

HP is the key party

People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay during an interview with Havadis, spoke confidently, claiming that the HP will be the key party in the elections. He said HP has learnt its lessons from the past and gone through a period of self-criticism. “The people appreciated it thus the HP is showing a growth trend becoming the key party in the elections,” Özersay said.

Diyalog

What is this ordeal

The price of fuel went up again: 98 Octane petrol went up to ₺11.89 (€.0.72), Euro Diesel ₺11.23 (€ 0.68) and the price of bottled gas became ₺180 (€10.96). Citizens have been complaining that supermarkets who were expecting the prices to go up were refusing to sell bottled gas. They expressed their outrage, “how much more can we bear.”

  • He was tried with lightning speed The Greek Cypriot man Yiannis Statis who unfurled a Greek flag on the monument in Famagusta was given a 10-day prison sentence

Avrupa

The police notified our newspaper of six criminal lawsuits

Following the Turkish Embassy’s initiatives at the Attorney General level, six lawsuits were filed against three of our writers claiming that the articles they had written had “malicious intent” and spread “fear and concern among the public.” Police also said they will make a detailed announcement on the accusations later. The lawsuit is seen as yet another operation being carried out by Ankara against our newspaper. Four cases were brought against Şener Levent, one against Faize Özdemirciler and one against Ali Osman Tabak.

Main News

Çavuşoğlu: Ankara determined to protect TCs’ rights

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

OVERVIEW

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Monday said that a solution in Cyprus could only be possible with the recognition of the existence of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”

Speaking at the Turkish Parliament’s 2022 budgetary discussions on foreign ministry budget, Çavuşoğlu said that they as Turkey continue to do whatever is necessary on the ground and at the table to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“This year, Greece and the Greek Cypriots tried six times to send third country flagged research ships to our continental shelf and each time we prevented them, thanks to our contact with the relevant countries, the presence of our soldiers in the field, namely our armed forces,” Çavuşoğlu said, reiterating that the problems can be resolved through acknowledging the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriots as well as by respecting Turkey.

Touching on the efforts to find a settlement to the Cyprus problem, Çavuşoğlu said that there is no need to make futile efforts by repeating tried and failed formulas. “The sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people must be recognized before a new negotiations process can begin,” the Turkish Foreign Minister stressed.

Referring to the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Çavuşoğlu said that the US and Qatar will not enter the Turkish continental shelf without their permission.

“As for the agreement signed by Qatar and Exxon, no one can enter our continental shelf without our permission, no matter who they are. In addition, no one can enter the areas licensed by the TRNC without our permission” Çavuşoğlu stressed.

“Both countries – America and Qatar – have committed that they will not enter our continental shelf in the fifth parcel,” he said, adding that Turkish Cypriots also have rights in all the natural resources around the island of Cyprus.

“That’s why we will continue our work for the Turkish Cypriot people in the areas licensed by the TRNC until there is equitable sharing of the wealth in these areas” Çavuşoğlu concluded.

Meanwhile, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez on Monday said Turkey has carried out eight drills in the Eastern Mediterranean region and the Oruç Reis seismic research vessel is currently in the region continuing with its research.

“There is no negligence on our part as claimed by some,” Dönmez said, adding that Turkey has no technical issues on hydrocarbons exploration.

Speaking on a programme on CNNTürk, Dönmez also noted that the hydrocarbon activities in the Black Sea region continue as planned. He said Turkey will not be faced with natural gas shortages in the winter period either as his ministry had already signed long-term supply agreements as well as agreements for ad-hoc needs. 

KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
>> A solution in Cyprus can only be possible with the recognition of the ‘TRNC’.
>> Ankara will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect its & TCs’ legitimate rights & interests in the East Med.
>> No need to keep repeating failed methods for a solution to Cyprob.
>> US & Qatar has promised not to enter Turkey’s continental shelf.


Tatar: Australia needs to be impartial on the Cyprob

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Tuesday reiterated his position for a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem, adding that accepting the Turkish Cypriot side’s sovereign equality and equal international status is the only way to launch the official negotiations for a settlement.

Speaking during Australian High Commissioner Sam Beever’s farewell visit to him, Tatar added that the two-state solution based on the collaboration of the two sides is “fair, realistic and implementable.” Tatar also expressed the belief that Australia “needs to be impartial on its stance and approach to the Cyprus problem.

“All attempts to reach a negotiated settlement in Cyprus based on political equality have failed due to the Greek Cypriot side’s objections,” Tatar said, adding that despite all their efforts Turkish Cypriots were still subjected to embargoes and promises of direct trade and direct flights had not been kept.

He also recalled former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had been the most vocal advocate for a two-state settlement on the island.

Tatar also argued that the EU principles were disregarded when the Greek Cypriot side unilaterally was admitted to the EU. “It is time to look at the Cyprus problem from a different perspective instead of demanding the repeat of failed processes over and over again,” Tatar concluded.

KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Two-state solution & recognition of the TC side’s sovereign equality is the only way to launch official negotiations.
>> Two-state solution is fair, realistic, implementable.
>> Australia needs to be impartial on its stance & approach to Cyprob.


Leaders came together at UN’s end-of-year reception

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Newly appointed UNSG Special Representative Colin Stewart on Tuesday pledged to work towards finding “a mutually acceptable way forward” during his term. He was speaking at the reception hosted by the UN at the Ledra Palace attended by the two leaders alongside diplomats and Security Council representatives.

Stewart noted that the venue chosen for the reception, located in the buffer zone, is “a very historic place.” As a newcomer, he added, “it strikes me as very symbolic of the cost of the conflict when we look at what this place must have looked like”.

“I am pleased to be here to continue the good work of my predecessor Elizabeth Spehar, and support what I know is a very important cause for the Secretary-General, and that is to support both leaders in finding a mutually acceptable way forward,” he noted.

This, Stewart added, “is a good end of the year occasion to celebrate what we may have achieved in the past year” and “take comfort in small achievements”. He praised the work of various technical committees, on which he was briefed in the past week, particularly when it comes to pandemic management, education, cultural heritage and communications.

“We count on you to continue to push your people to solve these little problems that affect the everyday lives of Cypriots,” he said addressing the two leaders.

He also reiterated that this was not a formal occasion but rather “an informal opportunity to wish everyone a very happy new year and take stock of some of the achievements that we have had,” adding that “I look forward to more progress in the coming year.”

This was the leaders’ first meeting since their informal meeting with the UNSG in New York back in September.


Bicommunal environmental committee visits Lefke (Lefka)


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot members of the bicommunal technical committee on the environment on Tuesday visited Lefke (Lefka) to inspect issues related to pollution from past mining and quarrying activities in the region.

In a statement on Twitter, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said in addition to the technical committee members, representatives from the EC, UNDP and Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot geologists and local experts attended the visit.

“The educational field visit closed with an open invitation for participants to share practical solutions/ideas for addressing environmental challenges,” UNDP wrote on Twitter, adding that the possible areas for future focus included monitoring air pollution and creating awareness-raising activities to engage the two communities.


Hearing on conscientious objector’s case postponed indefinitely


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

The Turkish Cypriot Supreme Administrative Court (YIM) postponed the hearing into the case of a young Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector who refuses to fulfil his conscription service due to his religious beliefs.

Writing on the developments on social media, New Cyprus Party (YKP) member and also fellow conscientious objector Murat Kanatlı said another young man will be jailed unless the law on mandatory military service is amended. He added that the new law has been collecting dust in the relevant parliamentary sub-committee’s shelves since 2019.

He also noted that the conscientious objectors had so far applied to all the available courts on the island and are still awaiting a verdict on the issue from the European Court of Human Rights.

“This is worse than sentencing him to death,” Kanatlı stressed, adding that the conscientious objector due to his current situation is being denied the right to vote or even open a simple bank account.


Five Syrians detained by the police crossing from south to north


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

Five Syrian nationals were caught on Tuesday while trying to cross from the south to the north through a first-degree military zone.

The police officer informed the court on Tuesday that the suspects, who were caught on December 11, in their initial testimony said they had arrived in the north as ‘irregular migrants.’ However, in cross-examination, the police officer said the suspects confessed to crossing to the north from the south through a military zone. 

The court ordered the suspects to be remanded in custody for a period not exceeding two months until the court announces its verdict on them.

Turkish Cypriot dailies also reported on a separate incident where two Syrian undocumented migrants were discovered in Famagusta on Monday night.

It emerged that the two migrants had arrived in the north from Turkey via boat, stepping foot on the island from an unknown location.

The court ordered the migrants to be remanded for three more days.


GC involved in flag incident given 10-day prison sentence


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

The Famagusta District Court on Tuesday sentenced the Greek Cypriot who attempted to drape a Greek flag on a monument in Famagusta, to 10 days of imprisonment. 

The psychological assessment of the Greek Cypriot individual was concluded after the chief psychiatrist at the Barış Psychiatry Hospital examined him.

The three psychiatrists concluded that the Greek Cypriot man has “criminal responsibility.”

Earlier the Greek Cypriot man had told police that he had carried out the act upon a command he received from Jesus Christ.

He had already been in custody since December 10.


Translate »