Varosha hotel sales could just be the start

By Esra Aygin

May 7, 2023

Commentators in the north say the three properties reported to be sold this week could lead to legal amendments so more could follow

Hotels on the beach front in Varosha

The agreement made for the purchase of three hotels in Varosha between a Turkish Cypriot businessman and their Greek Cypriot owners appears to have no validity and is most probably an attempt to push for legal amendments in the north to open the way for the sale of properties in the fenced-off city.

A Turkish Cypriot newspaper recently reported that a Turkish Cypriot businessman bought the Cleo Hotel, the Golden Seaside Apartment Hotel, the Aegean Hotel and two apartment building floors in Varosha from their Greek Cypriot owners.

However, lawyer Murat Metin Hakkı, who specialises in property cases, clarified to the Cyprus Mail, that the agreement between the Turkish Cypriot businessman and the Greek Cypriot owners stipulates that the ownership of the hotels will be transferred to the businessman only if the Immovable Property Commission (IPC), which is the sole authorised body to approve Greek Cypriot property sales in the north, approves the sale within one year.

“If it is not approved by the IPC within a year, the agreement will be null and void,” Hakkı said.

In fact, IPC chairwoman Növber Ferit Vechi confirmed that they received an application on Thursday regarding the sale of the hotels. She clarified that no sale transactions had yet been made through the commission and added that the application was sent back due to missing documents.

Hotels in Varosha

However, the IPC, which is recognised by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as a domestic remedy to property issues in Cyprus arising from the island’s division, has no jurisdiction over military areas in the north including Varosha, lawyer Murat Metin Hakkı said.

Another way such a property sale could be possible is through a law known as the ‘Acapulco law’ – because it enabled a Turkish Cypriot businessman to buy part of the Acapulco resort in Kyrenia from its original Greek Cypriot owner – that allows the Greek Cypriot owner of a property to reach a sales agreement with the current user and long-term lease holder, according to Hakkı.

However, “this law doesn’t apply to the agreement in question, since the buyer is not a current user and a long-term lease holder of these properties,” he added. “There is no way the commission can approve this agreement since it involves a military area and is not in line with any local law.”

Even though the sales agreement appears to have been certified by a notary in the Republic, “this has nothing to do with the substance of the agreement,” Hakkı said. “This is merely a certification of the signatures on the agreement. And the related apostille is the certification of the certification by the notary. None of these constitute official approval of the content of the agreement… Therefore, this agreement has no legal basis whatsoever and is invalid. It’s nothing but writing on ice.”

This, of course, is only true if the current status of Varosha and the current laws remain unchanged.

Hakkı believes the reason for making a sales agreement, which, under existing laws, is invalid, may be to push for the change in the military status of Varosha and make the necessary legal arrangements to allow property sales by Greek Cypriots to Turkish Cypriots in the fenced-off city.

Researcher Mete Hatay agrees. “This is not even a shenanigan,” he says. “This is a cunning way of forcing the authorities to enable such sales, financially and legally”. The buyer “is presenting this as a national cause and saying ‘look, you wanted to Turkify Varosha! The Greek Cypriots are ready to sell all, so do something.’”

In fact, the Turkish Cypriot businessman quoted in the newspaper on the sale emphasised that he has “earned territory for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” and called the move a “great step” for the breakaway republic.

“The position of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Varosha is very clear,” the businessman said. “I don’t expect to be faced with any problems.”

Feeding the doubts, secretary general of the National Unity Party (UBP), which is the major party of the ruling coalition in the north, Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu in statements to a newspaper on Friday, suggested a “special Varosha law” may be considered.

The fenced-off city of Varosha has remained a forbidden military zone since August 1974 when its Greek Cypriot population fled from the advancing Turkish army. It is among places to be returned to its lawful former Greek Cypriot inhabitants under the control of the future Greek Cypriot constituent state within the framework of a comprehensive federal solution on the island. However, the Turkish government, with the Turkish Cypriot administration, has partly opened around 3.5 per cent of Varosha since 2020 despite UN resolutions prohibiting the move. Turkish and Turkish Cypriot authorities have since been vocal about plans to take forward the “Varosha opening.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, commenting on the developments said earlier this week: “We are encouraging Turkish Cypriots and our own citizens to buy if the owners want to sell. It is very important for Turks to take possession of these properties… And we see that the Greek Cypriot people support our policy.”

Lawyer Hakkı confirmed the same Turkish Cypriot businessman is in the process of signing agreements with Greek Cypriot owners regarding the sale of six other hotels in Varosha.

“The majority of the Varosha refugees are tired of the status quo,” Hakkı said. “They are inclined to just sell their properties.”

https://cyprus-mail.com/2023/05/07/varosha-hotel-sales-could-just-be-the-start/

Intervention in north’s Famagusta elections

By Esra Aygin

December 11, 2022

The fight for mayor is not simply a local election, it is about Varosha and Turkish control

A section of the opened-up Varosha

Two Famagusta mayor candidates simultaneously withdrew from the upcoming municipal elections 24 hours after announcing their candidacy, prompting widespread conviction that Ankara is once again meddling in the elections in the northern part of Cyprus.

Both current mayor Ismail Arter and independent candidate Cem Dana were right-wing candidates, and their withdrawal favours the candidate of the ruling coalition National Unity Party UBP. The two independent candidates would have divided the right-wing votes and given a boost to opposition Republican Turkish Party CTP’s candidate.

Ismail Arter

“It is definite that there has been an intervention,” said opposition CTP’s deputy Erkut Şahali. “And it was a very effective intervention.”

The ruling UBP, Democratic Party DP, Rebirth Party YDP coalition has not been shy about stating that Famagusta is more important than the other cities because of the plans to open fenced-off Varosha.

In fact, speaking at a gathering in Famagusta earlier this week, head of UBP and the ruling coalition Ünal Üstel said they would “bring about the full Varosha opening together with Turkey”.

The ghost town of Varosha is among the places to be returned to its lawful former Greek Cypriot inhabitants under the control of the future Greek Cypriot constituent state within the framework of a comprehensive federal solution on the island. The Turkish government, in 2020 opened a part of Varosha to visits despite UN resolutions prohibiting the move. Turkish and Turkish Cypriot authorities have since been vocal about plans to take forward the “Varosha opening”.

“The Varosha opening is at the axis of the…policy we have developed with Turkey,” said YDP’s Erhan Arıklı shortly after the withdrawals by the Famagusta candidates. “What would happen to our Varosha opening if someone, who is against this national policy…took over?… How could Ismail Arter or Cem Dana shoulder the responsibility of losing the Famagusta municipality and hampering the Varosha opening?”

“Evil Alliance” was the headline of Bugün Kıbrıs. “The regime in Ankara made the right wing join in support of a single candidate with the aim of being able to pursue new tensions in Varosha.”

“They will sacrifice Varosha” was the headline of Ozgur Gazete.

Former senior judge Tacan Reynar took to social media criticising the intervention. “The biggest concern that led to the intervention in Famagusta is CTP winning this city,” he posted. “Because in that city, there is the prospect of looting… Some are salivating and waiting for Varosha. All this is because of that planned looting.”

Cem Dana

The statements by the two withdrawing candidates, whom according to journalist Serhat İncirli were threatened, strengthened suspicions.

Current Famagusta mayor Arter, when announcing his decision, talked about “intense political activity in the last 24 hours”, and said he was withdrawing “in order not to create problems and grievances for the political parties that my voters belong to”.

Dana on the other hand, said: “I took this decision in light of our national cause, and our national policy that we are pursuing together with our motherland, the Republic of Turkey.”

Reports of an intervention by Ankara were never denied, but rather legitimised by the statements of the Turkish Cypriot administration. Visibly happy with the withdrawals, Üstel thanked Arter, who “has always supported our policies on the Cyprus problem, which we pursue together with our motherland Turkey, and who did not shy away from saying ‘nothing is important when national interests are at stake’.”

“I am pleased to hear that he has withdrawn his candidacy,” Üstel said about Dana, adding that this election is not simply a local election. “Dana has taken into consideration the projects that we have tabled for Famagusta, and our foreign policy we pursue through a common understanding with Turkey. I commend him for not insisting.”

The municipal elections are scheduled for 25 December 2022.

The withdrawals took place two days after the new Turkish ambassador Metin Feyzioğlu arrived in the northern part of Cyprus, and many believe this was not a coincidence. Feyzioğlu is one of the architects of the ‘Varosha opening’.

In fact, Turkish politician and intellectual Veysi Sarısözen wrote that Feyzioğlu has been sent to Cyprus by Turkish President Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party AKP with a special mission. “As part of this mission, he will first seize Varosha,” Sarısözen said.

Back in 2020, when Feyzioğlu was the head of the Turkish Bar Association, he had organised a meeting on the “Legal, Political and Economic Aspects of the Varosha Opening” in the fenced-off city. The then-Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı was not invited to the meeting, where Feyzioğlu had argued that “North Cyprus has sovereignty over Varosha.” “The Varosha opening will serve as the solution of the Cyprus problem,” Feyzioğlu had said.

Later in the year, days before the election for the Turkish Cypriot leader, in a move widely seen as an attempt to sway results against former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, Turkish President Erdogan and Akinci’s rival Ersin Tatar announced the opening of part of the sealed-off city of Varosha.

On the day of the opening, Feyzioğlu tweeted: “Only the Turkish nation can decide on the future of closed off-city of Varosha. And it did. Varosha is now open. I am proud to have been part of this big dream… We still have a lot to do.”

And last weekend, a few days after the withdrawal of two mayor candidates, Metin Feyzioğlu visited Varosha and tweeted: “Varosha is under the sovereignty of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”

UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN. Resolution 789 (1992) also calls that, with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha.

An investigation on allegations of Turkey’s interference in the 2020 elections for the Turkish Cypriot leader had revealed shocking details of threats, pressures, and blackmailing against incumbent leader Mustafa Akinci, as well as other candidates and journalists. The report, published last year, by a team of civil society representatives, lawyers and researchers details blatant interference by Ankara in the elections in favour of right-wing politician and current Turkish Cypriot leader Tatar.

https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/12/11/intervention-in-norths-famagusta-elections/

Lukewarm response to Greek Cypriot policy shift in north

Esra Aygin 

Although the recent confidence building measure (CBM) proposals by the Greek Cypriot leadership are being widely discussed and debated on the southern part of the island as well as the international community, they have hardly drawn the attention of Turkish Cypriots.

In a policy shift earlier this month, the Greek Cypriot leadership announced that it would be focusing on CBMs with Turkish Cypriots and Turkey, which have a much greater international backing from key players, instead of pushing for sanctions against Turkey. 

As part of the new policy, the Greek Cypriot leadership set out CBM proposals that include Turkish Cypriots handing over the fenced-off city of Varosha/Maras to the United Nations to open it to resettlement by its legal owners; transferring the operation of the Tymbou/Ercan airport to the UN to open it to international flights; and putting the customs services in the Famagusta port under EU authority to facilitate trade with the outside world. In exchange for agreeing to opening up the northern part of Cyprus to international trade and flights, the Greek Cypriot leadership wants Turkey to implement the additional Ankara protocol, by opening its ports and airports to Cyprus-flagged ships and allowing Cyprus planes to enter Turkish airspace.

“These are very important steps that would lift the isolation of Turkish Cypriots, ease their suffocation and bring them closer to both the Greek Cypriots and the world,” said International Relations expert Dr. Ipek Borman. “In the hiatus that we are in, these would render Tymbou/Ercan, Famagusta and Varosha/Maras joint living and working spaces. Discussing and concluding them would be to the benefit of the whole of Cyprus.” 

Right-wing Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar categorically rejected the opening, saying the equal sovereignty of Turkish Cypriots should first be recognised. But, except for statements of support by some Turkish Cypriot opposition parties and trade unions, there is no real discussion on the CBM proposals in the rest of the community. 

“The Turkish Cypriot community sees the peace processes indexed to big bangs,” says PRIO Senior Researcher Mete Hatay. “The peace process has been caged into the concept of ‘nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.’ When it is not a formal negotiation process aimed at a comprehensive settlement, it is not convincing.” 

According to Borman, there also are other reasons related with the desperate situation the Turkish Cypriots find themselves in. She argues that the loss of faith in a solution; the economic crisis in the northern part of Cyprus; the constant blow to Turkish Cypriots’ politics, identity and culture coming from the north; and the structural problems that have recently manifested themselves in brutal criminal incidents; do not allow for a political space for issues of bi-communal nature to be discussed. 

“There is an existential crisis in the Turkish Cypriot community,” says Borman. “People are concerned about finding work, finding food, finding a space to live. They are suffocating, and therefore, they are just holding on to palliative measures that just saves the day. There is no space to focus on the bigger picture.” 

Another important reason why the CBMs were not an issue in the northern part of Cyprus, is the Turkish Cypriots’ the lack of confidence in the government of Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, according to Borman, who says: “People have no confidence in Anastasiades because of everything that happened in the past and believe these proposals are aimed at just saving face. Therefore, they see it as a futile process.” 

Although the Greek Cypriot leadership has been holding discussions with international actors on the CBM proposals, these have not yet been formally presented to the Turkish Cypriot side, which may be another factor that prevented serious discussion on them. 

“Nobody really knows what exactly these proposals are,” says Turkish Cypriot journalist Sami Ozuslu. “We read about them in the Greek Cypriot media, but we don’t know any details. This makes people question them.” 

A seasoned diplomat, who took part in previous peace processes with former Turkish Cypriot leaders Mehmet Ali Talat and Mustafa Akinci, underlines we are at a turning point in the Cyprus problem and these CBMs have the potential to change Turkey’s attitude and make “damage control.” 

“We are losing Varosha/Maras, Ercan/Tymbou is becoming a domestic airport of Turkey. We are rapidly moving towards permanent partition,” said the diplomat. “This is why it is very important that these proposals are prepared, tabled and discussed seriously… Turkey will either benefit from these CBMs and enter the election period in 2023 with a European perspective – and therefore not do anything crazy in Cyprus- or these CBMs will fail and Turkey will enter the election period with further crazy steps in Cyprus.” 

 

https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/02/27/lukewarm-response-to-greek-cypriot-policy-shift-in-north/

Turkish Cypriots Reject Ankara's Steps in Varosha

Esra Aygin 

Thousands of Turkish Cypriots are protesting Turkey’s unilateral actions in Varosha ahead of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s scheduled visit to the island where he plans to have a picnic in the fenced-off city. 

 

Last month, a beachfront and the Demokratia and Kennedy avenues within Varosha were opened to visitors between certain hours. Varosha is a town in the northern part of Cyprus, which has been fenced off as a forbidden military zone since 1974, when its Greek Cypriot population fled from the advancing Turkish army. It is among the places to be returned to its lawful former Greek Cypriot inhabitants under the control of the future Greek Cypriot constituent state within the framework of a comprehensive federal solution on the island. Recently however, Turkey has been vocal about plans to open Varosha under Turkish Cypriot control despite United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting the move.[1] The UN Security Council recently called for a reversal of the decision to open the coastline in the fenced-off area of Varosha in Famagusta and to adhere to UN resolutions. The Council expressed concern over Turkey’s actions and called on the parties to avoid any unilateral action that could raise tensions on the island. 

 

In an unprecedented joint action, a total of 62 Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot civil society organisations, trade unions and political parties made a statement protesting Turkey’s unilateral steps in Varosha. Such initiatives undermine “not only the peace process and regional stability, but also the relations between our communities,” the statement said. 

“Fait accompli initiatives of a forced and unilateral nature feed into the nationalistic narratives and groups on both sides of the divide, increase the chances of political retaliations and further poison the climate, which is already damaged, especially after the interruption of crossings.” 

Referring to the planned picnic by Turkish President Erdogan, the statement said: “Adding insult to the injury, the celebratory nature of this initiative, built as it is on the painful memories of the legal residents of Varosha, pains our conscience.”

 

Turkey’s plans about Varosha were expedited last month during the election period for the Turkish Cypriot leader. In a move widely seen as an attempt to sway results against former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, Turkish President Erdogan and Akinci’s rival Ersin Tatar announced the opening of part of the sealed-off city of Varosha for visits days before the election. 

 

Tatar became the Turkish Cypriot leader in elections marred by serious accusations of intervention by Ankara in his favour. During a joint press conference with Tatar in his first visit to Ankara as the Turkish Cypriot leader, Erdogan suggested having a picnic in Varosha on 15 November, which is the anniversary of the unilateral declaration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is only recognised by Turkey. 

 

A number of civil society organisations are planning demonstrations against Erdogan’s visit. 

 

On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu arrived in the northern part of Cyprus to prepare the grounds for Erdogan’s visit, he said on Twitter. Intensive work in the part of Varosha, where the picnic is planned is continuing with lawn and trees being planted, landscaping work being done and asphalt being laid. 

 

Turkish Cypriots have been increasingly vocal against Turkey’s intervention in their elections and plans about Varosha. In a demonstration last week, thousands of Turkish Cypriots marched in the streets of the divided capital Nicosia calling for an end to Ankara’s interventions and control in the northern part of Cyprus, and for free will and democracy. 

 

“Ankara get your hands off our collars” and “Democracy, not submission” were some of the slogans the crowd chanted. Among banners, were those in protest of Turkey’s unilateral steps in Varosha. “No picnic over others’ pain” read a popular banner.  

 

Thousands of Turkish Cypriots on social media have also adopted the frames “No Place for Picnic” and “No Picnic Over Pain.” There is also widespread use of hashtags referring to Varosha such as #rızamyok (I don’t give consent)  on social media. Many Greek Cypriots, clearly moved by the posts of Turkish Cypriots are commenting and thanking them for their support. 

 

“Turkish Cypriots have shown huge empathy on the streets and on social media to the Greek Cypriots,” said Okan Dagli from the Famagusta Initiative, one of the signatories of the joint statement. “It is the first time Greek Cypriots are feeling such a strong empathy and solidarity by Turkish Cypriots.” 

 

 

 

 

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[1] UN Security Council Resolutions 550 (1984) “Considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the United Nations” UN Security Council Resolution 789 (1992) urges “That, with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha.” With the new attempts to open the fenced-off city on 9 October 2019, the UN Security Council discussed the issue of Varosha in closed consultations and subsequently issued a press statement in which they recalled the importance of the status of Varosha as set out in previous Council resolutions, reiterating that no actions should be taken in relation to Varosha that were not in accordance with those resolutions and stressing the importance of implementing the Council’s resolutions.

Turkish Cypriots vote amid serious election meddling by Ankara (UPDATED with Akinci death threats)

ESRA AYGIN 

 

Turkish Cypriots are going to the polls on Sunday to elect a leader amid serious accusations of intervention in the elections by Ankara, death threats, a charade of opening the fenced-off city of Varosha and a collapsed coalition. 

 

According to latest polls the current Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci is leading the polls followed by Republican Turkish Party CTP’s Tufan Erhurman and National Unity Party UBP’s Ersin Tatar. 

 

“No matter what kind of intervention or steering is done, Turkish Cypriot people will act with their own mind and conscience, and exercise their free will at the polls,” said Akinci during a TV programme earlier this week. “On 11 October the people will make a decision and not others.” 

 

During a live TV programme on Friday evening, Akinci stated that he received death threats from Turkish officials to withdraw his candidacy. By an official of the Turkish government I was told that “not becoming a candidate would be better for myself and my family,” Akinci said. 

 

The allegations of election meddling by Ankara began with reports of Turkish officials visiting villages and telling voters not to vote for Akinci. The Turkish Cypriot leader and Ankara have been at odds mainly over the solution of the Cyprus problem. 

 

“The latest developments have showed once again how problematic our current relationship with Turkey is. Some think they are entitled to intervene in the Turkish Cypriot democracy and elections. They are saying ‘I can elect your president… The Turkish embassy is calling clubs, associations and asking for a list of their needs,” continued Akinci. “Some deputies from Turkey are visiting villages and telling people not to vote for me… This behaviour is opening deep wounds in the conscience of Turkish Cypriot people.” 

 

On Tuesday, in a move seen widely as an attempt to favour one candidate against Akinci, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and National Unity Party candidate Ersin Tatar – who was the head of the Turkish Cypriot ruling coalition at the time - announced that a part of the fenced off city of Varosha would be opened to visits. The joint press conference was carried live by the Turkish Cypriot state TV with the subtitle: “Fenced-off city of Varosha is opening.”

 

The announcement, which came during a ceremony initially planned to mark the completion of the repair works on the water pipeline that carries water from Turkey to Cyprus, was widely condemned by the other candidates as well as the United Nations Security Council. 

 

“This is a disgrace for our democracy” Akinci stated. “This organization…aimed at providing an advantage to one of the candidates constitutes another dimension of the intervention in our elections… I am sure the Turkish Cypriot people will give an answer to this with their free will.” 

 

“The unilateral decision to allow civilian access to some parts of the fenced city Varosha is not only a violation of the UN Security Council resolutions which suggested transferring the area under the UN control but also Turkey's attempt to interfere in the Turkish Cypriot elections that will take place this weekend,” said the multi-communal peace movement UniteCyprusNow in a written statement. “From what we understand from yesterday's developments, the decision for partial opening aimed to bypass the elected leader of the Turkish Cypriots and to take a position in favour of UBP candidate Ersin Tatar.”

 

On Thursday, a beachfront and the Demokratia and Kennedy avenues within the fenced-off city were opened to visitors only between certain hours. Around 2,000 people were allowed to enter the abandoned town and use the beach. Access to most of Varosha still remains off limits and naming this move as ‘opening Varohsa’ is largely deceptive. Varosha is a town in the northern part of Cyprus which has been fenced off as a forbidden military zone since 1974, when its Greek Cypriot population fled from the advancing Turkish army. It is among the places to be returned to its lawful former Greek Cypriot inhabitants under the control of the future Greek Cypriot constituent state within the framework of a comprehensive federal solution on the island. Recently however, Turkey has been vocal about plans to open Varosha under Turkish Cypriot control despite United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting the move.[1]

 

The decision to partially open Varosha to visits, led the junior partner People’s Party HP of Kudret Ozersay to withdraw from the coalition arguing that Tatar was exploiting Varosha for election gains. Ozersay, who has been calling for Varosha to open under Turkish Cypriot administration, said he was not informed about the move and did not agree with the way the partial opening took place. 

 

The UN Security Council early on Saturday called for a reversal of the decision to open the coastline in the fenced-off area of Varosha in Famagusta and to adhere to UN resolutions.

The Council expressed concern over Turkey’s actions and called on the parties to avoid any unilateral action that could raise tensions on the island. 

 

The disagreement between the Turkish Cypriot leader and Ankara over the nature of a solution deteriorated further earlier this year when Akıncı, in response to a question by the British newspaper The Guardian on the possibility of Turkey’s annexation of the North, said: “It’s a horrible scenario.” The Turkish Cypriot leader was relentlessly criticised and, some would say threatened, by Turkish officials.

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described Akıncı’s comments as “very unfortunate,” while Çavuşoğlu said Akıncı is “unreliable” and accused him of “supporting terrorism.” Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said Akıncı’s attitude would “not be tolerated,” while Erdoğan’s chief advisor Yiğit Bulut wrote they would “fight with the last drop” of their blood against a fait accompli in Cyprus. Among other statements, were calls “to go to Cyprus and work so that he doesn’t win” and “blow him up like one of the PKK leaders.” AKP senior official Metin Yavuz said Akıncı “needs to be a man before he can be a leader.” Yavuz added, “If it weren’t for us, you couldn’t have even become a trashman, let alone becoming a president.”

 

It has been revealed that in an effort to remove Akıncı, Ankara in early August, invited Turkish Cypriot right-wing party leaders to encourage them to agree on a joint candidate to compete against the Turkish Cypriot leader. However, there was been no agreement. It has also been revealed that the Turkish ambassador in the northern part of Cyprus invited a number of deputies to his residence to garner support for Tatar. Photographs published in the media have also shown that Tatar met with the media advisor of Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, who is allegedly working for Tatar in his election campaign. Tatar also paid two unexpected visits to Ankara in the week leading to the elections where he was promised cash injections to the Turkish Cypriot economy. There have also been reports of a spate of phone calls and visits to leaders of local communities in the north offering help with solving localised problems in exchange for votes supporting Tatar.

 

“In none of the elections until now have there been so much intervention,” Akinci said during a TV programme last week… Certain officials saying they are acting on behalf of Turkey are doing everything they can to have a certain candidate elected and to have the current president lose the elections. They are doing this openly. Without feeling the need to hide it… The Turkish embassy has turned into an elections headquarter… The embassy is doing nothing else but working for the elections.”

 

I am disappointed that not all candidates are able to say that “this is an intervention and we don’t want this to happen,” said another candidate Serdar Denktash. “We want to freely exercise our democratic rights. But we are witnessing that there are unbelievable interventions in these elections.” 

 

In the face of accusations of election meddling the Turkish embassy in the northern part of Cyprus made a statement denying the allegations and saying that opposing Turkey has been adopted as an election strategy by some candidates. The statement said it is unacceptable that Turkey is being used as an election tool.”  

 

A total of 11 candidates are running in the elections. 

 

 

 

 

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[1] UN Security Council Resolutions 550 (1984) “Considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the United Nations” UN Security Council Resolution 789 (1992) urges “That, with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha.” With the new attempts to open the fenced-off city on 9 October 2019, the UN Security Council discussed the issue of Varosha in closed consultations and subsequently issued a press statement in which they recalled the importance of the status of Varosha as set out in previous Council resolutions, reiterating that no actions should be taken in relation to Varosha that were not in accordance with those resolutions and stressing the importance of implementing the Council’s resolutions.

Turkish Cypriots vote amid serious election meddling by Ankara

 ESRA AYGIN 

 

Turkish Cypriots are going to the polls on Sunday to elect a leader amid serious accusations of intervention in the elections by Ankara, a charade of opening the fenced-off city of Varosha and a collapsed coalition. 

 

According to latest polls the current Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci is leading the polls followed by Republican Turkish Party CTP’s Tufan Erhurman and National Unity Party UBP’s Ersin Tatar. 

 

“No matter what kind of intervention or steering is done, Turkish Cypriot people will act with their own mind and conscience, and exercise their free will at the polls,” said Akinci during a TV programme earlier this week. “On 11 October the people will make a decision and not others.” 

 

The allegations of election meddling by Ankara began with reports of Turkish officials visiting villages and telling voters not to vote for Akinci. The Turkish Cypriot leader and Ankara have been at odds mainly over the solution of the Cyprus problem. 

 

“The latest developments have showed once again how problematic our current relationship with Turkey is. Some think they are entitled to intervene in the Turkish Cypriot democracy and elections. They are saying ‘I can elect your president… The Turkish embassy is calling clubs, associations and asking for a list of their needs,” continued Akinci. “Some deputies from Turkey are visiting villages and telling people not to vote for me… This behaviour is opening deep wounds in the conscience of Turkish Cypriot people.” 

 

On Tuesday, in a move seen widely as an attempt to favour one candidate against Akinci, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and National Unity Party candidate Ersin Tatar – who was the head of the Turkish Cypriot ruling coalition at the time - announced the partial opening of the fenced off city of Varosha. The joint press conference was carried live by the Turkish Cypriot state TV with the subtitle: “Fenced-off city of Varosha is opening.”

 

The announcement, which came during a ceremony initially planned to mark the completion of the repair works on the water pipeline that carries water from Turkey to Cyprus, was widely condemned by the other candidates as well as the United Nations Security Council. 

 

“This is a disgrace for our democracy” Akinci stated. “This organization…aimed at providing an advantage to one of the candidates constitutes another dimension of the intervention in our elections… I am sure the Turkish Cypriot people will give an answer to this with their free will.” 

 

“The unilateral decision to allow civilian access to some parts of the fenced city Varosha is not only a violation of the UN Security Council resolutions which suggested transferring the area under the UN control but also Turkey's attempt to interfere in the Turkish Cypriot elections that will take place this weekend,” said the multi-communal peace movement UniteCyprusNow in a written statement. “From what we understand from yesterday's developments, the decision for partial opening aimed to bypass the elected leader of the Turkish Cypriots and to take a position in favour of UBP candidate Ersin Tatar.”

 

On Thursday, a beachfront and the Demokratia and Kennedy avenues within the fenced-off city were opened to visitors only between certain hours. Around 2,000 people were allowed to enter the abandoned town and use the beach. Access to most of Varosha still remains off limits and naming this move as ‘opening Varohsa’ is largely deceptive. Varosha is a town in the northern part of Cyprus which has been fenced off as a forbidden military zone since 1974, when its Greek Cypriot population fled from the advancing Turkish army. It is among the places to be returned to its lawful former Greek Cypriot inhabitants under the control of the future Greek Cypriot constituent state within the framework of a comprehensive federal solution on the island. Recently however, Turkey has been vocal about plans to open Varosha under Turkish Cypriot control despite United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting the move.[1]

 

The decision to partially open Varosha, led the junior partner People’s Party HP of Kudret Ozersay to withdraw from the coalition arguing that Tatar was exploiting Varosha for election gains. Ozersay, who has been calling for Varosha to open under Turkish Cypriot administration, said he was not informed about the move and did not agree with the way the partial opening took place. 

 

The UN Security Council early on Saturday called for a reversal of the decision to open the coastline in the fenced-off area of Varosha in Famagusta and to adhere to UN resolutions.

The Council expressed concern over Turkey’s actions and called on the parties to avoid any unilateral action that could raise tensions on the island. 

 

The disagreement between the Turkish Cypriot leader and Ankara over the nature of a solution deteriorated further earlier this year when Akıncı, in response to a question by the British newspaper The Guardian on the possibility of Turkey’s annexation of the North, said: “It’s a horrible scenario.” The Turkish Cypriot leader was relentlessly criticised and, some would say threatened, by Turkish officials.

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described Akıncı’s comments as “very unfortunate,” while Çavuşoğlu said Akıncı is “unreliable” and accused him of “supporting terrorism.” Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said Akıncı’s attitude would “not be tolerated,” while Erdoğan’s chief advisor Yiğit Bulut wrote they would “fight with the last drop” of their blood against a fait accompli in Cyprus. Among other statements, were calls “to go to Cyprus and work so that he doesn’t win” and “blow him up like one of the PKK leaders.” AKP senior official Metin Yavuz said Akıncı “needs to be a man before he can be a leader.” Yavuz added, “If it weren’t for us, you couldn’t have even become a trashman, let alone becoming a president.”

 

It has been revealed that in an effort to remove Akıncı, Ankara in early August, invited Turkish Cypriot right-wing party leaders to encourage them to agree on a joint candidate to compete against the Turkish Cypriot leader. However, there was been no agreement. It has also been revealed that the Turkish ambassador in the northern part of Cyprus invited a number of deputies to his residence to garner support for Tatar. Photographs published in the media have also shown that Tatar met with the media advisor of Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, who is allegedly working for Tatar in his election campaign. Tatar also paid two unexpected visits to Ankara in the week leading to the elections where he was promised cash injections to the Turkish Cypriot economy. There have also been reports of a spate of phone calls and visits to leaders of local communities in the north offering help with solving localised problems in exchange for votes supporting Tatar.

 

“In none of the elections until now have there been so much intervention,” Akinci said during a TV programme last week… Certain officials saying they are acting on behalf of Turkey are doing everything they can to have a certain candidate elected and to have the current president lose the elections. They are doing this openly. Without feeling the need to hide it… The Turkish embassy has turned into an elections headquarter… The embassy is doing nothing else but working for the elections.”

 

I am disappointed that not all candidates are able to say that “this is an intervention and we don’t want this to happen,” said another candidate Serdar Denktash. “We want to freely exercise our democratic rights. But we are witnessing that there are unbelievable interventions in these elections.” 

 

In the face of accusations of election meddling the Turkish embassy in the northern part of Cyprus made a statement denying the allegations and saying that opposing Turkey has been adopted as an election strategy by some candidates. The statement said it is unacceptable that Turkey is being used as an election tool.”  

 

A total of 11 candidates are running in the elections. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] UN Security Council Resolutions 550 (1984) “Considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the United Nations” UN Security Council Resolution 789 (1992) urges “That, with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha.” With the new attempts to open the fenced-off city on 9 October 2019, the UN Security Council discussed the issue of Varosha in closed consultations and subsequently issued a press statement in which they recalled the importance of the status of Varosha as set out in previous Council resolutions, reiterating that no actions should be taken in relation to Varosha that were not in accordance with those resolutions and stressing the importance of implementing the Council’s resolutions.

Clashing claims over Varosha

By Esra Aygin

1 September 2019

Despite the hype, few believe Turkey is sincere about letting the Greek Cypriot residents of Varosha return

Lifeless, deserted hotels lined up alongside the beautiful turquoise waters. Shattered glass, frameless windows, crumbling mossy walls, rusty iron rails, vegetation springing up from cracks in the concrete. This is all that remains of what was once a wealthy town bustling with tourists.

On Thursday, a group of Turkish Cypriot and Turkish journalists was allowed to enter the fenced-off city of Varosha, which has remained a forbidden military zone since August 1974 when its Greek Cypriot population fled from the advancing Turkish army.

“Sorrow in closed Varosha,” posted journalist Cenk Mutluyakali on his social media page. “How did you have the heart to do this to such a beautiful place?”

“My heart is torn out,” lamented Fatma Kismir.

The media visit, led by deputy head of the Turkish Cypriot ruling coalition Kudret Ozersay, came shortly after a team of experts began a scientific inventory in Varosha earlier this month.

Journalists, accompanied by army personnel, were allowed to get off the bus that took them around city at three locations only. Trespassing, filming and taking photographs in or around Varosha would normally be punishable with up to 15 years in prison.

“Our plan is to gradually turn Varosha into a civilian area taking into account human rights and international law, and in a manner which is suited to the conditions of the 21st century,” Ozersay told journalists at a luxurious military recreational facility situated in the middle of the ghost town. “We don’t think it is reasonable or logical to keep this place as a military area with facilities enjoyed by only a few.”

Ozersay was talking about plans to lift the military status of Varosha in stages, give it a special status under Turkish Cypriot control and start reinstating individual property rights through the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in the northern part of Cyprus, a source close to the matter said.

Work to record the immovable and movable properties, including relics, icons and strongboxes is continuing, while efforts to assess infrastructure like electricity and roads will begin soon, Ozersay added, underlining that they want to move as quickly as possible.

Under its current military status, the IPC has no jurisdiction in Varosha and cases concerning Greek Cypriot properties there are piling up in front of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

“There are over some 500-1,000 applications regarding Varosha,” said the source. “We had to do something. Paying compensation is not a solution. How many hundreds of properties are we going to pay compensation for? How many millions of euros are we going to pay for ruins? Who will benefit from this?”

The IPC was established in 2005 to offer an effective domestic remedy for Greek Cypriot properties in the northern part of Cyprus through restitution, compensation and exchange. However, in 2017 the ECHR ruled that proceedings at the IPC were “protracted and ineffective”.

Most recently, in a case concerning the ineffectiveness of the IPC by KV Mediterranean Tours, which owns property in Varosha, the ECHR has given the Turkish side until November 4 to submit its remarks.

It may not be a coincidence that last week, after a meeting with the head of the Turkish Cypriot coalition Ersin Tatar, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talked about new plans for Varosha and rendering the IPC effective.

In a recent interview that may shed light on the reasoning behind the plans for Varosha, Daryal Batibay, Turkey’s former permanent representative to the Council of Europe, said: “The IPC may propose [to the Greek Cypriot applicants] the return of their properties in Varosha… By doing this, it would reinstitute individual property rights and be considered as an effective domestic remedy by the ECHR … Moreover, the Turkish Cypriot economy would benefit greatly from the reconstruction of Varosha.”

Regarding the loss of use, Batibay said: “There is no way we can pay compensation for the loss of use for hotels in Varosha since 1974. But alternative solutions may be found like providing them with free electricity and water for a certain period, offering tax exemptions or giving them permissions to operate casinos.”

Talking to journalists on Thursday, Ozersay chose his words carefully, saying that the former Greek Cypriot residents of Varosha are their interlocutors and stakeholders but also talking about the rights of Evkaf – the Turkish Cypriot religious foundation that claims to own the majority of properties in the abandoned city.

“If the Evkaf has a claim, it will take this to the IPC just like everyone else,” the source asserted. “The committee will evaluate the evidence and decide who will get the property back and who will be compensated.”

Although very few even among Turkish Cypriots seem to give credit to Evkaf claims over Varosha, appeasing it may turn out to be not as straightforward, as the Islamic foundation has recently been publishing full-page newspaper notices, producing clips, and campaigning and lobbying about Varosha.

Not everyone is convinced, however, that Ozersay and the ruling coalition are sincere about letting the Greek Cypriot residents of Varosha return.

“There are no clear answers,” says journalist Mutluyakali. “It seems that the main objective is to enable IPC to have jurisdiction over Varosha, to give the Greek Cypriot owners the chance to apply to have their property back. But will they ever be allowed to return? It’s not clear yet. This move seems more about looking like doing something but not doing anything, instead of not doing anything and leaving Varosha as it is.”

Whether this is an effort to evade legal repercussions, a publicity stunt, an election ploy or a genuine step to serve justice and return Varosha to its longing Greek Cypriot owners remains to be seen.

“When a town dies, many people die,” wrote Mutluyakali in his column in Yeniduzen on Friday. “That many dreams, that many memories die. When a town dies, a thousand dreams die. As I was returning from Varosha, I only could think of one word: Sadness…”

https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/09/01/clashing-claims-over-varosha/

Beautiful Stories 1- From Varosha to Paphos

We need to start telling the beautiful stories

We - Turkish and Greek Cypriots - have lived through bloodshed, fear, pain, loss and longing. We have been pulled apart, divided and scattered to different corners of this island. We have been poisoned with nationalism, hatred and enmity for decades; and we forgot that we were once brothers. And we have told about and heard all the ugly stories… 

There are beautiful stories on this island too. Stories of our common past; our friendship, love and solidarity that flourished amidst the hardest of times; beautiful stories in the making right here and right now… Beautiful stories that prove Cyprus can be one again… And I believe it’s time that we start telling these beautiful stories… 

By Esra Aygin

Sergis Hadjiadamou, a 17-year-old boy at the time, was shocked when an American Embassy vehicle pulled up in front of his house in Paphos, loaded with his late father’s long-lost artwork.

It was almost 20 years since his family had fled Famagusta in 1974 leaving everything – including the invaluable statues and paintings of Andis Hadjiadamou – behind.

“My mother immediately recognised the sculptures; she was in tears,” recalls Sergis. “It was like a revelation; like a message from my father from beyond this world saying ‘I am here, I am looking out for you’.”

Baki Bogac, a Turkish Cypriot architect and sculptor, had entered Andy’s art studio in the closed-off city of Varosha in Famagusta in 1982 as part of a team assigned with making an inventory of the properties.

“As soon as I stepped into the studio, I knew these were not ordinary works,” says Baki, his eyes lighting up with passion.

I thought to myself: ‘How would I feel if this studio was mine and I had to abandon it?’ And I immediately knew I had to save as many pieces as I could.”

Entering the city was forbidden – as it is today – except for those on official duty, who had to be escorted by military personnel.

“It was risky, yes,” admits Baki. “But I didn’t care. I had to get them to their creator.”

Baki managed, with the help of a couple of his friends, to covertly carry as many pieces as possible into their vehicle and covered them with the big rolls of maps they had handy.

Among the piles of broken glass and scattered paper on the studio floor, Baki also found an exhibition catalogue, which had the picture of one of the sculptures he had just saved, with the name of its creator.

“I had the name I had to look for, but I had no means of contacting him,” says Baki. “So I kept the artwork in my home’s storage, hoping that one day I would find a way to return them.”

Communication and crossings between the northern and southern parts of the island were almost impossible before 2003.

In 1992, Baki sought the help of the American Embassy, which was the organiser of a bi-communal exhibition that included his art.

“There are two kinds of people,” he says.

“Those, who grow as big as the obstacle they are faced with and go beyond it; and those who become smaller in the face of the obstacle and perish.

“I have always belonged to the first group. When the Americans saw my determination, they decided to help.”

One morning in 1993, unfortunately three years after Andy had passed away, an American Embassy vehicle delivered all the artwork Baki had managed to collect from the Varosha studio, to his family.

“I was astonished,” says Sergis.

“When you are 17, you don’t understand something like this right away. Greek Cypriot education had created in my mind these monstrous creatures called ‘Turkish Cypriots’ and this incident initiated a process in my soul, which is still going on.

“My soul is changing so rapidly, exploding. I am questioning. Why? Why Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots have come to be like this? And up to today, I still don’t know what is going on. I still don’t know what is dividing you and me.”

For Baki, receiving the telephone call from the American Embassy informing him that the artwork had been delivered to Andy’s family was a huge relief.

“I found peace,” says Baki. “A great burden was lifted off my shoulders.

“Maybe he did not see his artwork being returned, but I am sure he felt it,” Baki said.

“Some days, after long hours in my studio cutting and carving stones, I can no longer lift my hands. And whenever that happens, I suddenly feel something lifting me up, giving me strength. I named that sudden flow of strength ‘Andy’.”

Baki was only able to meet Sergis and the rest of Andy’s family after 2003 when the travel restriction on the island was lifted.

“When I visited their house in Paphos, Andy’s wife showed me to a room,” recalls Baki. “She said: ‘This room was built for Andy, but he never got to use it. Now it is yours’.”

Sergis remembers being shocked when he first saw Baki.

“I was expecting a big, muscular guy,” he says with a soft smile.

“We are talking about a Turkish monster! Very bad people! But he was short, gentle, he was wonderful. He was nothing like what they told me. This guy was amazing.”

As part of the Paphos 2017 European Capital of Culture, Sergis has organised an exhibition titled ‘Risky Travels’ that will display the returned artwork of Andy along with the sculptures of Baki.

“I am doing this for Baki more than my father,” he reveals. “This is my way of thanking him.”

The ‘Risky Travels’ exhibition is at Palia Elektriki cultural centre in Paphos until June 4.