Front Page Headlines
“No one showed us any sensitivity”
Following last weekend’s fatal traffic accident which drowned the country in sorrow, the Amasyalı family spoke to Yenidüzen. Uğur Amasyalı who lost his brother and his brother’s wife in the accident complained that no one showed his family any sensitivity. “We are grief-stricken by this incident but the politicians chose to keep their distance from this horrific incident.
- “No change in ENI’s drilling programme” – This time the Greek Cypriot energy minister spoke.
- “My hope is that the region achieves peace as soon as possible” – (Tufan) Erhürman issues a statement on military operation [in Syria].
- MEP (Niyazi) Kızılyürek opens office in the north.
Dentkaş’ mausoleum should be completed before November 15
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar and a delegation from the National Unity Party (UBP) visited the grave of founding president Rauf Denktaş. Denktaş is also the founder of UBP. Tatar’s observations refuelled discussions on the mausoleum. Tatar said the mausoleum and the surrounding landscaping must be completed before November 15 Republic Day celebrations.
- Support continues to pour in for operation “Peace Spring” – (Teberrüken) Uluçay: “Our hope is that the operation is completed as soon as possible. (Sibel) Siber: “We hope that the operation reaches its goal as soon as possible with the fewest number of casualties. (Tufan) Erhürman: “I express hope that the region achieves peace in the shortest period of time. (Serdar) Denktaş: “I hope the operation ends with the fewest number of casualties.” (Dimağ) Çağıner: “We support the Turkish nation.” (Ergün) Olgun: “A legitimate operation.” (Tahsin) Ertuğruloğlu: “We stand by the Turkish Armed Forces.” (Candan) Avunduk: “I have no doubt the Turkish forces will be victorious.”
- The difference between an immigrant and a refugee explained to the media – Kıbrıs Postası is among the invitees to the conference on refugees in Ankara.
My reputation is tarnished
Businessman Bulut Akacan, on trial for assaulting Erhan Başay and Zeki Asımoğlu, testified in court on Friday. He said his life has been ruined since 7 January.
- Traffic continues to claim lives – While the trauma of the horrific traffic accident on Nicosia-Famagusta highway, which resulted in the death of three people and serious injury, is still fresh, news of another fatal accident came from the Kyrenia-Morphou road. Greek Cypriot driver of the vehicle (…) ran over Hüseyin Aşık, who was walking on the side of the road. Aşık became the 26th person to die in a traffic accident in 2019.
Fighting over “who is going to be a candidate”
The disagreement between the two coalition partners on who is going to run for president reached a new height on Friday. National Unity Party and the People’s Party (HP) are making different statements to keep the issue in the spotlight. Kudret Özersay’s latest statement claiming that the government would collapse if both he and Tatar were to become candidates has outraged many UBP members.
Warning of strike action
11 organisations that expressed support for all sorts of measures to be introduced to prevent illegal workforce and violence, are opposed to restrictions being introduced to people over the age of 60. Civil society organisations are opposed to restrictions for visitors over the age of 60 under the new regulation on residency permits and visas. The organisations threatened to stage strikes and protest actions if the article in the regulation is not amended.
He couldn’t say no to the war
Here are all those who have expressed support to a bloody war. Know their faces well. The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman announced his views regarding Turkey’s “Operation Peace Spring”. Erhürman who posted a statement on social media expressed hope that the operation will be completed with the minimum number of casualties and for the region to achieve peace as soon as possible.
- Support from Uluçay as well –Speaker of Parliament Teberrüken Uluçay who is from CTP also expressed support to Turkey’s operation in north-eastern Syria. Uluçay said the operation was carried out for Turkey’s security.
Main News
Greek Cypriot driver accidentally kills pedestrian
Kıbrıs, Havadis
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The weekend was marked with another fatal accident, adding to the growing list of people killed on the roads.
Hüseyin Aşık was killed in a traffic accident on Friday night when a Greek Cypriot driver accidentally ran him over as he was walking on the side of the road near Karşıyaka (Vasilia).
According to witness accounts, the driver informed the authorities before running to help Aşık, who at first was conscious and responsive to those who rushed to help him.
The papers reported that “a few minutes later, he lost consciousness and died on the spot.”
Police charged the Greek Cypriot man with reckless driving and manslaughter. The papers report that the site of the accident was pitch black and that the street lights were not working.
Hüseyin Aşık is the 26th person to die in a traffic accident this year.
Burcu: Tripartite meeting in second half of November
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot side said Friday a tripartite meeting between the leaders of the two communities and the UN will take place next month.
President Akıncı’s spokesman Barış Burcu in a written statement said that the meeting will most likely be held in a European city in the second half of November.
He added that Akıncı was ready to take part in a constructive attitude.
Erhürman breaks silence on Operation Peace Spring
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman on Friday broke his silence on Turkey’s military operation into northeastern Syria.
Erhürman and several other political leaders had come under criticism from the government for not openly expressing solidarity and support to the operation launched by Ankara to establish a safe zone along its southern eastern border with Syria.
“I hope that the operation will be concluded as soon as possible with the fewest number of casualties so that peace may come to the region,” Erhürman posted on social media.
He said that he was deeply saddened to hear reports of civilian casualties which included children.
“I would like to express my sympathies with the families of those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to those injured,” he added.
Meanwhile, messages of support to the operation continued to pour in on Friday, some surprisingly from CTP.
Speaker of the parliament Teberrüken Uluçay expressed his hope that the operation is completed as soon as possible with the establishment of the safe zone. Former speaker of the parliament Sibel Siber, in her message, said: “We hope that the operation reaches its goal as soon as possible with the fewest number of casualties.”
“I hope the operation ends with the fewest number of casualties,” former leader of the Democratic Party (DP) Serdar Denktaş said.
Former negotiator Ergün Olgun expressed his support for the military operation against the threats to Turkey’s territorial integrity. He added that it is a legitimate operation and urged everyone to support Turkey in its efforts. Former foreign minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu expressed his support for the military operation and said: “Victory will be with Turkey.”
Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers Association president Dimağ Çağıner said the operation “Peace Springs” is a legitimate operation, which Turkey is forced to carry out for its national interests. “We support the Turkish nation,” Çağıner concluded. Candan Avunduk, president of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry, said: “I have no doubt the Turkish forces will be victorious.” He urged everyone to unite behind efforts to fight against terrorism.
KEY ACTORS
Erhürman (CTP)
>> Syrian operation should be concluded as soon as possible with the fewest number of casualties so that peace may come to the region.
>> The news of civilian casualties which included children is heartbreaking.
Uluçay (CTP)
>> The operation should be completed as soon as possible with the establishment of the safe zone.
Siber (CTP)
>> The operation should reach its goal as soon as possible with the fewest number of casualties.
Denktaş (DP)
>> The operation should end with the fewest number of casualties.
Çağıner (TC Hoteliers Association)
>> The operation “Peace Springs” is a legitimate operation, which Turkey is forced to carry out for its national interests.
Avunduk (TC Chamber of Industry)
>> No doubt the Turkish forces will be victorious.
>> Everyone to unite behind efforts to fight against terrorism.
AKEL MEP opens office in north
Yenidüzen
EU Matters, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Niyazi Kılızyürek who is the first elected Turkish Cypriot MEP has opened a contact office in north Nicosia.
A reception was held on Friday evening at the office located just a few hundred meters from the Ledra Palace crossing point.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar, representatives of the EU Commission and EU parliament and ambassadors of foreign countries hailed the opening of the contact office.
AKEL General Secretary Andros Kyprianou was among the guests who attended the opening reception.
In a short speech at the event, Kızılyürek pointed out that Cyprus remained divided and vowed to work until a lasting solution is reached.
The contact office aims to bring the two communities closer, to allow Turkish Cypriots easier access to EU programmes, to inform the Turkish Cypriot community of Kızılyürek’s work and to make Turkish an official EU language.
Kızılyürek’s assistance Derya Beyatlı will be in charge of the day-to-day affairs of the office.