Front Page Headlines
‘Our political will has eroded. We need to hold early elections’
CTP (Republican Turkish Party) MP Dr Sıla Usar said that the latest developments have eroded the political will put forward in the January 2018 elections. İncirli said that there was a need to hold early elections.
- ‘Peace for our future’ – Youth marched for peace.
We were shaken!
According to data from the Meteorology Department, an earthquake at a magnitude of 5.8 was recorded in the Mediterranean. The tremors, which were felt in Cyprus, caused fear and panic.
- Two murder suspects returned to the South – Two Syrian suspects, who had been serving a prison sentence in the TRNC, were handed under UN observation to Greek Cypriot officials upon their request claiming that the Syrians had committed murder
- No one given the mandate yet – President Ersin Tatar has met with the leaders of the National Unity Party (UBP), People’s Party (HP) and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) the other day (Friday) and met with the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (TDP), Democratic Party (DP) and the Rebirth Party (YDP) yesterday (Saturday).
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The oil and gold-rich TRNC shuts its borders
The government which announced that all those entering the country will have to enter a seven-day quarantine said that the state will not be paying for quarantine expenses, even for its citizens. According to the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases latest decision, the country which is seeing perhaps one of the lowest numbers of coronavirus cases in the world has practically shut its borders not only to tourists but its citizens as well. Even those wishing to visit the island for a day will be placed under quarantine for a week and everyone will be required to cover the cost of the isolation period. Many people called Diyalog newspaper yesterday (Saturday) to express their anger over the latest decisions. Many families of students flying back for the New Year holiday complained that their children had already paid for their PCR tests and had decided to fly back based on rules announced earlier. They said that the last-minute changes had made things difficult for them.
- €1.2bn will be spent – Greek Cypriot administration hands over management of Larnaca port to a private investor.
- It was felt in all areas – The 5.8 earthquake that took place in the Mediterranean caused panic in Cyprus.
Just the time
Turkish Cypriot youth, who organised via social media, marched for peace in north Nicosia. It is just the time for peace without making any discrimination based on religion, language, race or gender. The Social Democratic Party (TDP), the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Youth branch, the Left Movement and the Revolutionary Communist Union supported the march. The group which gathered at Dereboyu (Shakespeare Ave.) marched to the Lokmacı (Ledra St.) crossing. The protestors while marching by the office of the president on the way, chanted the slogan ‘Freedom not submission.’
- 369 positive coronavirus cases and two deaths in the south, 14 positive cases in the north.
Main News
Two murder suspects returned to south through technical committee
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
CMBs, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Two Syrian murder suspects, aged 22 and 25, believed to be main suspects in a murder in the south last April were handed over to the Greek Cypriot authorities through the UN on Saturday.
The exchange which was arranged by the bicommunal Technical Committee on Crime and Criminal Matters was announced in a statement issued by the Office of the President.
The statement said that the two men, 22-year-old Walid Al Moustafa and 25-year-old Tarek Haj Halaf were handed over after completing a prison sentence in the north for illegal entry.
The two who fled to the north were arrested as they were caught trying to enter Turkey illegally.
The Turkish authorities had then deported them back to the north where they were tried, found guilty and sent to prison.
“It has been decided to return the suspects to the Greek Cypriot authorities upon their request after the suspects concluded their jail term,” the statement read.
The Greek Cypriot authorities had put forward a request for the return of the suspects through the bicommunal committee on crime, the statement noted.
It also highlighted that it was the Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar’s desire for collaboration on criminal matters to continue.
“The TRNC officials expect the Greek Cypriot administration to display the same constructive approach on suspects and criminals who commit crimes in the TRNC and flee to the Greek Cypriot side,” the statement concluded.
Peace march held in Nicosia
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis
Human Rights, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
A hundred or so young Turkish Cypriots marched through the streets of the northern part of Nicosia on Saturday calling for peace in Cyprus.
The “Peace March” which began at the Mehmet Akif Avenue (Shakespear Avenue) and ended at the Lokmacı (Ledra Street) crossing was supported by the Left Movement, the Social Democratic Party (TDP), the Republican Turkish Party’s (CTP) youth branch and the Revolutionary Communist Union.
The young demonstrators chanted “We want freedom not submission” as they walked past the presidential palace.
A statement calling for peace and reunification was read out at the end of the march.
The statement highlighted the importance of a peaceful settlement in Cyprus for the future of the island’s youth.