Fact: The Turkish Cypriot pro-solution camp believes that any new Cyprus negotiation process should have predetermined timeframes and clear consequences of failure to have a chance of success.
Fact: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has invited Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar to meet him in New York on April 5. Tatar was unable to travel to Brussels for a meeting, so the New York meeting was scheduled instead. Tatar will inform Guterres that he does not accept a federal solution to the Cyprus problem.
Fact: Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar stated that Israel “is not our enemy” and that the country has become a brand destination in education and tourism.
A municipality in the north is set to hold a census, breaking ranks with the current ‘government’ policy of calculating populations via projection and avoiding censuses. The mayor of the combined Lapithos, Karavas, and Myrtou municipality announced the move, stating that a comprehensive census will be organized to better understand the population structure in the region and direct municipal services according to demands and needs. Turkish Cypriot ‘MP’ Serhat Akpinar believes the north’s population to be a million, while the official estimate is around 400,000.
Ziya Ozturkler denied allegations of taking bribes from a university in relation to the ongoing “fake diploma scandal.”
Leontios Ierodiakonou, in his analysis of the Cyprus problem, focuses on the Crans-Montana talks in 2017. Mustafa Akinci, elected Turkish Cypriot leader in April 2015, and Nicos Anastasiades, the Cyprus president, both showed a willingness for a settlement, leading to a positive climate and meetings in Mont Pelerin (2016) and Geneva (January 2017). The UN Secretary-General’s report from September 28, 2017, highlighted convergences on many issues, including the exchange of maps for the first time. The Crans-Montana conference on June 30, 2017, saw the introduction of the “Guterres framework,” which proposed the abolition of the Treaty of Guarantee and the unilateral right of intervention, and discussed the withdrawal of foreign troops. However, disagreements persisted, particularly regarding the role of Turkey in a future monitoring mechanism. Anastasiades’ behavior at the conference, questioning proposals and showing reluctance to negotiate, contributed to the talks’ collapse. Despite this, the Greek Cypriot side later expressed a willingness to resume negotiations from where they left off at Crans-Montana. Akinci’s proposal on April 30, 2018, for a “strategic agreement” based on the Guterres Framework was not responded to by the Greek Cypriot side. Ierodiakonou criticizes the decision-making process in Cyprus, suggesting a more collective approach to national issues.
The construction of an electricity cable between Turkey and the north is seen as marking a new era, according to Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar. This statement was made after an Iftar meal in Istanbul, attended by various dignitaries including Turkey’s Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and Turkey’s ambassador in Nicosia Metin Feyzioglu. Tatar highlighted the support from Turkey in bringing big ideas to life in the north, such as the completion of a water pipeline in 2020 and investments in infrastructure and communication. He emphasized the ongoing efforts to make the TRNC worthy for future generations and stated that Turkish Cypriots remain an integral part of Turkey. Yilmaz spoke of the historical ties between Turkish Cypriots and Turkey and mentioned the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus peace operation. He also referred to the construction of a new ‘presidential’ palace and ‘parliament’ building in Ayios Dhometios, expected to be completed by November, and the commencement of feasibility studies for the planned electricity cable. Additionally, both Tatar and Yilmaz praised Murat Kurum for his contributions, particularly in the opening of Varosha. The local elections in Turkey are scheduled for March 31, with Kurum challenging the incumbent mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
The Turkish Cypriot community is facing a scandal involving fake university diplomas and corruption, which has now affected the security forces’ command. Lieutenant Colonel Özgür Alp was remanded in custody for using a fake diploma for promotion within the Turkish military. The fake diploma was claimed to be from the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University in Morphou. A high-ranking police officer, Serif Avcil, was also arrested over a fake diploma. This scandal is part of larger issues involving the KSTU university in Morphou, with allegations of embezzlement and fraud through fake student registrations and diplomas. The university is owned by Levent Uysal, a deputy in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Celebi Ilik, involved in the scandal, used fake diplomas for civil service promotions and is facing charges related to forgery. Uysal attempted to obtain a €45 million loan from Swiss IntaCapital bank with fake documents in 2022 but avoided judicial proceedings by getting elected to parliament in May 2023. Turgay Avci, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot higher education watchdog Yodak, is under investigation for possibly having a fake diploma. There are also allegations against Dunya Baris Universitesi for operating illegally and investigations into irregularities in a real estate purchase by Altinbas Holding. Ali Altınbaş and Sofu Altınbaş were detained in September 2020 for involvement in a fuel profiteering network and accused of establishing a criminal organisation, aggravated fraud, and forgery.
Serif Avcil, the bodyguard of Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, claimed he lost his phone on the way to the police station, according to police sergeant Bilger Koral. Avcil was arrested and had his second court hearing where it was revealed he registered for a master’s degree at Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University on June 5 last year, but the university’s records showed his enrollment date as February 2, 2022. Fake course grades were entered for Avcil, allowing him to graduate top of his class on June 19. He also claimed to not know where his diploma certificate was. Avcil was given a further six-day remand for not assisting the police by hiding evidence. Dervish Refikler, general secretary of the north’s higher education accreditation authority, was also in court for taking bribes related to the accreditation of KSTU’s medical school. Items including laptops and a diploma were seized from Refikler’s house, and he too was given a further six-day remand.
Maria Angela Holguin, the United Nations Secretary-General’s personal envoy, is meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides on Saturday morning. Holguin arrived at the Presidential palace at 9.35am for her second meeting with Christodoulides this week. She is expected to leave Cyprus on Sunday, having also met twice with Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar. During her current stay on the island, she has met with political parties from both sides, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO), both Nicosia Mayors Constantinos Yiorkadjis and Mehmet Harmanci, and various civil society groups. A close associate of Holguin is expected to remain on the island after she departs to act as her “eyes and ears.” The date of her next visit to Cyprus has not yet been confirmed.