Front Page Headlines
20 applications in nine months
The state of our mental health in 2020 and the difference caused by Covid. Around 20,000 people applied to the only psychiatric hospital in the country, the Barış, Ruh and Sinir State hospital in the first nine months of 2020. The chief at the hospital Dr Abidin Akbirgün said that 2020 was very different compared to previous years and that the fear of death and anxiety had risen.
- For our common will! – Those who support democracy, political will and a solution gathered in Nicosia ahead of the second round of the presidential elections. President Mustafa Akıncı and the Republican Turkish Party leader Tufan Erhürman marched together, giving out a joint message.
- ‘They’re not representing us’ –The ‘Not in our name’ initiative formed by a group of Greek Cypriots drew attention to the recent protest staged in Derinya (Dhrenyeia), announcing they were tired of the acts of hatred. In a statement, the group said that a joint struggle was needed for peace.
Choose courage over enslavement
In his address to the nation on Bayrak, the National Unity Party (UBP) candidate Ersin Tatar explained the active policies he will adopt during his term. “Trust me, I will not embarrass you,” Tatar said and asked the people to vote for rapprochement over fighting and to vote for a new future.
- YIM returned citizenships to 174 people – The Supreme Administrative Court (YIM) gave its verdict on the 174 people, whose citizenships were revoked during the four-party coalition term with a cabinet decision. The YIM revoked the decision and returned their citizenship.
- 18,697 people visited Maraş (Varosha) in eight days – There is high interest in the fenced-off town, which reopened 46 years later.
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Disgusting
A man who was recently arrested for molesting his seven-year-old son but later released was caught yesterday (Friday) whilst raping his 14-year-old daughter. He was caught in the act by a police patrol in Derinya (Dheryneia). It turned out that he had been repeatedly raping the girl for some time.
- ‘It would be a disaster for the economy’ – The Greek Cypriot Health Minister Konstantinos Ioannou said that additional measures will be taken following the 198 cases detected in the past two days but ruled out the possibility of a lock-down.
- Gambling illegally –Greek Cypriots who cannot cross over to the north have now turned to the illegal casinos in Pile (Pyla).
Ya herro ya merro (Either…or…)
The election in which election meddling has reached the peak, will be held tomorrow (Sunday). Ankara has always interfered with the Turkish Cypriots’ political will but they have not escalated to this level whereby they meddle in the elections so blatantly. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has personally got involved to remove Mustafa Akıncı from office.
- Stamp the ballot once – Narin Ferdi Şefik, president of the Supreme Electorate Board, warned the voters. The voters who are currently under quarantine will not be able to vote.
- The court revoked the citizenship decision – The Supreme Administrative Court (YIM) revoked the cabinet’s decision on cancelling 174 people’s citizenship.
- 94 cases of coronavirus in the south and five in the north.
- “The struggle towards attaining political will continues” – KTÖS (TC Teachers’ Union) said.
Main News
“They do not represent us”
Yenidüzen
Human Rights, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
An initiative formed by a group of pro-solution Greek Cypriots calling themselves “Not in our Name” initiative issued a statement denouncing the protest held at the Derinya (Dheryneia) checkpoint on October 11.
The group said that they were tired of seeing acts carried out by such groups ‘on behalf of the Greek Cypriot community’.
The initiative pointed out that Cyprus had suffered a great deal due to division and fanaticism.
“Our history has taught us that extremism and fanaticism, in both communities of the island, feed on each other, always against peaceful citizens. This time though, we do not want to let our future and the future of Cyprus be decided by hatred, division and fanaticism,” the statement read.
The group expressed concern over the incident in Dheryneia on Sunday, warning that the beast called extremism and nationalism was being woken up.
“These (people) do not represent us, we want peace on the island, we are tired of living with the burden of hatred, and we are tired of being vulnerable to any spark of fanaticism. We do not want to be living in a country that still suffers from past wounds. We want to work together to heal our wounds for every Cypriot to be able to enjoy this island in a country where our education promotes peace and allows us to look to the future and not to the past, with the values of diversity and coexistence,” the statement added.
We can work together to make this country a better place, it added
The group highlighted that Cypriots needed to work together to give peace a chance.
East Med: Turkey seeks solution-oriented approach by EU
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey on Friday called on the EU to stop threatening the country and adopt a tangible and impartial approach to ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement that Turkey sought to reduce tensions with the bloc, adding that Ankara displayed its goodwill by responding positively to calls for dialogue, citing an earlier statement this month following an EU summit where it said Turkey expected tangible steps from the union.
Arguing that the EU ignored Turkey’s theses and took a biased attitude on the issue, Aksoy went on to say that his country was determined to defend its rights, along with those of the Turkish Cypriot side, in the region.
According to the official, Turkey was not surprised that the EU viewed its determination as provocative, adding that the bloc’s attitude did not encourage positivity between Turkey and the EU and that its language was far from sincere and constructive.
He called on the body to work towards resolving the outstanding issues by respecting the rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side in line with common interests, and to stop yielding to the “spoiled” and “irrational” demands of Greece and the Greek Cypriot side.