TCC Press Review 21 Dec 2021

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Other lives should not be lost

A tearful father, İrfan Numan spoke to Yenidüzen following the tragic death of his son İlke Numan. “My son had told his friends he would buy me a birthday cake with the money he would be earning from the off-road race,” he said. Just 19, İlke Numan died after being flung from the safety car he was travelling in. They were inspecting the off-road race track before the race when the driver lost control of the vehicle, skidding off the muddy track before flipping over. Now he leaves behind a family and his friends in agony.

Kıbrıs

Head spinning fluctuation (in the value) of foreign currencies

The exchange rates hit a new record yesterday morning following political developments both in Turkey and the world. However, the Lira showed a remarkable comeback following an announcement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last night.

  • €2.5m in grant money to be given European Commission signed 12 new grant contracts for Turkish Cypriots.

Havadis

This is the worst number

TRNC exports amounted to $88.3m as of July 2021 compared to $767.1m imports. Fuel oil is in the first place of imports with a total value of $109,733.319. According to Trade Department reports, there is a seven per cent increase in exports in the period from January to July 2021 compared to the previous year.

  • Turkish lira benefits from backward stepsThe nearly 16 per cent devaluation of the Turkish Lira against the foreign currencies forced Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to take a step back. As a result, the lira quickly recovered.

Diyalog

No excitement

The public shows little interest in the elections that will be carried out under the shadow of the heavy economic crisis. Many, whose primary concern is getting by, are not planning to vote in the upcoming elections. Those who spoke to Diyalog said they did not believe there will be important changes in the country and expressed their lack of trust in politicians.  

  • Pain and tears –11 children martyred in 1974 were laid to rest.
  • She was a courier for €50 – Greek Cypriot A.P who was arrested after being caught smuggling 30gr of drugs from south to north at the Lokmacı (Ledra St) crossing point confessed.

Avrupa

Strong drop in (the value of) foreign currencies

Tayyip Erdoğan who insisted on ‘not increasing interest rates,’ decided to do so in an indirect and ‘coveted’ fashion, shocking everyone. Erdoğan’s statement following the cabinet meeting yesterday resulted in a sharp decrease in the value of the foreign currencies.

Main News

New grant contracts signed by the EU worth €2.5m

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
EU Matters

OVERVIEW

The European Commission (EC) has in the last quarter of 2021 signed 11 new grant contracts for a total of €1.8 million with different Turkish Cypriot civil society organisations providing a direct grant of €700,000 for the Human Rights platform association, the dailies report on Tuesday.

In a written statement issued on Monday, the EC said the EU since 2007 has been providing financial assistance to strengthen the role of civil society in the Turkish Cypriot community to promote EU values and a conducive environment for further development of trust and cooperation between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities.

The assistance which also includes efforts for the integration of the Turkish Cypriot civil society into the wider EU is part of the bloc’s aid programme to support the reunification of Cyprus.

The statement also noted that the 7th Cypriot Civil Society in Action, which have 11 beneficiaries, called for proposals to encourage civil society organisations to pursue meaningful socio-economic change by participating in decision-making and policy implementation, influencing change at the local and EU level while fostering collaboration in the dialogue between the Cypriot communities.

It noted that the projects will be implemented over the next two to three years in areas such as “Access to human rights for vulnerable or minority groups, youth and women empowerment, patients’, employees’ and elderly rights, advocacy on sustainable development goals, waste management as well as environmental literacy and activism.”

The EC, as the statement read, has also signed a direct grant with the Human Rights Platform association that brings together seven rights-based Turkish Cypriot civil society organisations (CSOs) aiming at developing a more just, equitable, democratic and inclusive society.

Planned to be implemented in the next two years, the project will primarily focus on anti-trafficking, refugee rights, LGBTI+ rights, democratic participation in the decision-making process – including freedom of association and freedom of expression, detention conditions and freedom from torture.

The platform will develop synergies and cooperation with Greek Cypriot CSOs and EU CSOs or CSO networks and is open to other rights-based associations interested in joining, the statement said.

The EC has launched seven Cypriot civil society in action calls for proposals, for a total amount of €14 million and one thematic call for proposals Together against Trafficking in Human Beings for €1 million to date since 2007.

By supporting civil society in the Turkish Cypriot community, the Aid Programme assists in the development of a fairer society based on respect for human dignity, human rights, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law, the statement concluded.


Ertuğruloğlu: ‘We haven’t asked for recognition in Pakistan’

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu on Monday said the Turkish Cypriot side maintained its position in favour of a two-state solution in Cyprus based on sovereign equality and equal international status.

Holding a press conference at the “TRNC Representation office” in Islamabad, Pakistan to evaluate his contacts held within the framework of the Extraordinary Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Afghanistan, Ertuğruloğlu underlined that the Turkish Cypriot side had not pressed Pakistan, Azerbaijan or any other country to politically recognize the ‘TRNC’.  

“After the existence of two equally sovereign states is accepted on the island, the issue of political recognition will then be raised,” he said, expressing his happiness over the way Pakistan had received the Turkish Cypriot delegation.

He said they had been received in the same way any representative of a recognized state would be. “Pakistan’s position was proof that the TRNC exists as a state,” Ertuğruloğlu added. The Turkish Cypriot foreign minister also said the international community must give up on its ‘single state’ approach to Cyprus.

“The Turkish Cypriot side will not agree to enter into any form of official negotiations unless the international community accepts the fact that there are two equal states on the island,” Ertuğruloğlu stressed, noting that the Turkish Cypriot side is waiting for the efforts in finding a common ground between the two sides to be concluded.

Also reiterating his known position against the UN peacekeeping mission (UNFICYP) on the island, Ertuğruloğlu said UNFICYP peacekeepers were no more than tourists in uniforms. He added that the Turkish troops are the assurance of peace on the island and not the UN peacekeepers.

KEY ACTORS
Ertuğruloğlu (UBP)
>> TC side maintains in position in favour of a two-state solution.
>> TC side has not pressed Pakistan, Azerbaijan and any other country for political recognition.
>> Political recognition will be raised after the existence of two sovereign states is accepted in Cyprus.
>> TC side will not enter official talks before the international community accepts the existence of two states.
>> Turkish troops, not UNFICYP, are the assurance of peace in Cyprus.


Erhürman: CTP’s stance on Cyprob is very clear & undisputed

Yenidüzen
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman on Monday said the CTP’s stance on the Cyprus problem was very clear and undisputed. “Everyone is aware that the CTP advocates for a bizonal, bicommunal federal (BBF) settlement on the island,” Erhürman stressed, adding that CTP’s candidates all share the same vision.

Speaking during a programme on Kıbrıs TV, Erhürman also noted that the federal solution is the only way for the Turkish Cypriots to integrate with the rest of the world. He also criticized the current Turkish Cypriot administration for its policies which he argued only further alienated Turkish Cypriots from the rest of the world.

“The equality we demand will come with economic equality first,” Erhürman said, adding that the economic gap between the two communities is increasing by the day.

He noted that the EU allocated nearly €30m annually but the CTP believes the EU must give the north more, however stressed the importance of the Turkish Cypriot officials being in close contact with the EU officials.

Meanwhile, another CTP MP Armağan Candan, touching on the economic difficulties, said the current government needed to take steps that will ease the effect of the economic crisis on the public. In a social media post on Monday, Candan said one of CTP’s priorities will be to facilitate the crossings of people and goods through the Green Line.

“The authorities must find ways to make it easier for the Greek Cypriots to cross to the north and the Turkish Cypriots who are employed in the south, to cross to the south smoothly,” Candan said. He said the CTP has the necessary political will to open new crossing points on the island as well.

Candan said the Famagusta Gate crossing in Nicosia will be opened for vehicle traffic to take the burden off Metehan (Agios Domethios). Another crossing will be opened in Haspolat (Mia Milia) for the industrialists to facilitate the crossing of goods. A third crossing is needed in Akıncılar (Louroujina) – Lympia area. This is a demand made by the people living in that area

“The opening of the Akıncılar (Louroujina) crossing will end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots living in that area,” Candan said. “The two communities suffer from the current division on the island and each hole to be opened on the Green Line will develop mutual dependency and will develop the relations between the two communities, making Cyprus a better place to live in,” Candan concluded.

KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> CTP continues to support a BBF in Cyprus.
>> The EU must give the north more financially but it is also important for TCs to be in close contact with EU officials.

Candan (CTP)
>> CTP will take steps to increase trade via the GLR.
>> New crossing points must be opened.


GC woman to remain in police custody for four more days


Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

Nicosia District Court ordered the Greek Cypriot woman, who was detained by the police on December 16, to remain in police custody for four more days.

The police officer in charge of the investigation told the court on Monday that the suspect A.P. crossed into the north from the Lokmacı (Ledra St.) with 30gr of cannabis type drugs. The police officer added that the suspect in her voluntary testimony admitted to being a ‘courier’ and said she was asked to deliver the drugs to an agreed place for a fee of €50.

The court ordered the suspect to be remanded for four more days until the police conclude their investigation.


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