Front Page Headlines
Thirty-year prison sentence for murder of woman
Kyrenia criminal court sentenced Yaşar Akdoğan to 30 years in prison for the murder of Akile Nacisoy after it was revealed that Nacisoy did not fall accidently from her balcony in 2016.
- One murder suspect caught – Bilal Ahmed, one of three suspects wanted for the murder of foreign exchange office owner Gökhan Naim in Nicosia, was caught in Famagusta on Friday night.
Bilal Ahmad arrested in police operation
One of the murder suspects of Gökhan Naim was arrested on the day he was buried. Police are searching for the other suspects.
- Youngest Turk to be elected in the US – 19-year-old Hacıbey Çatalbaşoğlu is the youngest American to be elected as Council Member in New Haven, Connecticut.
- We cannot support terrorism in the name of freedom of speech – National Unity Party (UBP) leader Ersin Tatar said there needs to be a limit to freedom of speech.
One out of three murder suspects arrested
Following a successful operation, police arrested Pakistan citizen Bilal Ahmad, one of the three murder suspects of Gökhan Naim.
- 30 years in jail for killing his wife – Court gave its verdict and found Akile Nacisoy’s husband guilty of murder.
One of the murder suspects arrested
Police arrested one of the three murder suspects in Famagusta. Police continue to search for other suspects in Gökhan Naim’s murder.
- He couldn’t escape justice – Akile Nacisoy’s husband found guilty of murdering his wife and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment.
The circle tightens
Two days after the murder of Gökhan Naim, police arrest two Pakistani nationals. The search for two more suspects continues.
Two arrested in murder case
New developments in murder case of Gökhan Nami clouded in mystery. Police distributed photos of suspects to the press.
Main News
EU says crucial for Turkey to remain committed to UN framework
Yenidüzen
Negotiations Process, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The European Union-Turkey Association Council has praised the United Nation’s efforts to resume negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus.
A press statement was issued on Friday 15 March following the 54th meeting of the EU-Turkey Association Council in Brussels
The statement recalled that it remains crucial that Turkey commits and contributes to the process and to a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement within the UN framework, in accordance with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and in line with EU principles and the EU acquis.
Yenidüzen published the statement as reported by the Turkish state-run Anadolu News Agency.
The EU reaffirmed the importance of relations between the EU and Turkey, a candidate country and a key partner, and stressed the importance of open and frank dialogue, within the established framework, in order to address common challenges in areas of joint interest such as migration, counter-terrorism, energy, transport, the economy and trade.
According to the statement, the EU also reiterated its position on good neighbourly relations, by recalling the March 2018 European Council conclusions on the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, and expressed its grave concern over recent statements by Turkey in relation to its planned drilling activities in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
In a joint press conference following the meeting, the EU’s High Representative/ Vice-President Federica Mogherini said that the EU stood in full solidarity with Cyprus when it came to the recent statements by Turkey in relation to its planned drilling activities in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
Mogherini also said that they had discussed the perspectives for the future, eventual resumption of talks under UN auspices on the Cyprus issue.
She reiterated the full availability and readiness from the European Union to accompany and support these talks in any possible and useful manner, whenever the UN will deem it ready to restart.
KEY ACTORS
Mogherini (EU)
>> EU stands in full solidarity with Cyprus regarding Turkey’s planned drilling activities in Cyprus’ EEZ.
>> EU fully available and ready to support talks on Cyprus.
Akıncı held meeting with military officials
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process, CBMs, External Security
OVERVIEW
The majority of TC papers report that President Mustafa Akıncı held a meeting on Friday with the military officials on the progress of demining work on nine minefields on each side. Military top brass informed Akinci that demining work is underway in line with the agreement and in collaboration with UNFICYP officials. In a statement issued following the meeting, the Turkish Cypriot side reaffirmed its determination to implement the agreed CBMs.
Akıncı and Anastasiades had agreed on the demining of nine minefields on each side (18 in total) as a CBM during the 26 February meeting.
According to the reports, Commander of the Turkish Peace Force in Cyprus Major General Yılmaz Yıldırım, Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Brigadier General Tevfik Algan, Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay, the Presidential Undersecretary Gürdal Hüdaoğlu and the President’s Advisor for Security Halil Sadrazam attended the meeting on Friday.