Front Page Headlines
“Why did the ammunition explode? Explain!”
Retired general Salih Cengaver Cem spoke to Yenidüzen about the ammunition depot explosion, questioning the cause of the blasts.
- Dr Dinos Ramon applying to the European Court of Justice for his property in İskele (Trikomo)
Even though the disaster is over, its effects are still being felt. Arapköy (Klepini) residents still frightened
Residents of Arapköy (Klepini) share their emotions, fears and experiences regarding the explosion at the ammunition depot. In their comments to Kıbrıs Postası, they said they feared for their lives and they panicked.
- The centre of dense forests in the north located within a military firing range – Cemil Karzaoğlu, Director of the Forestry Department warned.
- Financial cooperation protocol published in Turkish Official Gazette
The word fear fails to describe feelings
Residents of Çatalköy (Agios Epiktitos) said it was impossible to describe what they experienced. The word fear doesn’t even come close to describing feelings. Both environmentalists and tourism sector representatives point out ammunition depots must not be located near residential areas.
- Governments inadequate in finding solutions to problems – Lawyer Hasan Esendağlı, head of the Turkish Cypriot Bar Association, said improving the judicial services is not among the priorities of the government.
Alarm bells for education. No teachers, no books and no infrastructure.
Lessons at primary schools to commence on Monday and secondary schools on Tuesday. KTÖS (TC Teachers’ union) and KTOEÖS (TC Secondary School Teachers’ Union) drew attention to the problems at public schools. KTÖS GS Şener Elcil said the schools will start lessons without adequate infrastructure, shortage of teachers and books.
- Failure in safety measures – Retired colonel and explosives expert Öcal Dallı said ammunition depots will continue to exist on the island unless there is lasting peace. He said the entire responsibility regarding the ammunition depot lies with the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus.
Sector in crisis
Economic crisis not only affects new car sales but hits used car sales as well. Used car sales down by fifty per cent.
- ‘Tensions rise’ – Greek Cypriots are discussing the attack on the Turkish flag and photograph of Denktaş. The new flag hoisted in place of flag stolen by Greek Cypriot teenager from Akdoğan (Lysi) primary school.
No to importing Turkish judiciary to our country
The Turkish Cypriot Bar Association opened the judicial year with a press statement. Chief Judge Hasan Esendağlı evaluated the judiciary in Turkey and the judiciary in our country. Esendağlı said that the current state of the Turkish legal system shows us the situation we shouldn’t be in.
Main News
Lute sends an encouraging letter to Akıncı
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President Mustafa Akıncı received an encouraging letter from the UN secretary-general’s envoy Jane Holl Lute, Akinci’s office announced on Friday.
In her letter she stated her recent consultations held in Cyprus have allowed serious steps to be taken, allowing a continuation of the peace effort.
“I am grateful for the confirmation of the continued personal commitment of the Turkish Cypriot leader in trying to agree on terms of reference,” she wrote.
She concluded by expressing a desire to set a new meeting as soon as possible.
Töre: Stolen flag incident not a simple case of theft
Kıbrıs Postası, Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Cypriot Parliament Zorlu Töre said on Friday that the incident in which a Turkish flag and a photograph of late Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktaş was stolen from a primary school in Akdoğan (Lysi) by a Greek Cypriot teenager should not be seen as a simple case of theft.
He described the incident as a vile attack against the freedom and independence of Turkish Cypriots
Töre argued that Greek Cypriots who attend church services in the North under the pretext of religious freedoms should be watched closely at all times.
The leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP) Bertan Zaroğlu on Friday said that Greek Cypriots should not be allowed to hold church services in the North until the Greek Cypriot teenager responsible for the incident is handed over to the Turkish Cypriot authorities and tried for his crime.
In a written statement, Zaroğlu complained that the Turkish Cypriot authorities had not protested the incident as they should have.
He argued the arrest warrant issued for the teenager was a weak and inadequate measure.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should introduce standards to the issue of holding church services in villages. Such relations should be subject to the principle of reciprocity as it is in relations between states. So the number of church services in the North should be equal to the number of religious ceremonies held in mosques in the South,” he added.
Zaroğlu said that the foreign ministry should announce that no church services will be permitted in the North until the teenager is handed over and tried.
“The flag is not just a piece of cloth. It is the honour of a nation and a state, a symbol of freedom and sovereignty. I invite the government to be more serious on this issue,” he said.
KEY ACTORS
Töre (UBP)
>> Flag incident should not be perceived as simple theft.
>> Incident a vile attack against sovereignty & independence of TCs.
>> GCs attending/holding church services in the North should be watched closely at all times.
Zaroğlu (YDP)
>> Standards on holding church services should be introduced.
>> Church services should equal number of ceremonies held in mosques in the South.
>> No church services should be allowed in the north until the teenager is handed over & tried.