Front Page Headlines
One home, three coffins… indescribable pain
14-year-old Çinar Çobanoğlu, mother Bengü Çobanoğlu, and retired army officer-father İbrahim Çobanopğlu lost their lives in a family tragedy in Geçitkale (Lefkoniko) the other day and were laid to rest yesterday (Saturday). The only surviving child, 18-year-old Eralp Çobanoğlu attended the funeral. He sat at the entrance of the mosque, not approaching the coffins. Çobanoğlu did not lift his head even once, leaving the mosque with the support of family and friends.
Unbearable pain, heart-breaking farewell
Three members of the Çobanoğlu family, whose tragic deaths deeply saddened everyone, were bid farewell in Geçitkale (Lefkoniko) yesterday (Saturday). Those attending the funeral were gripped by sadness as Eralp Çobanoğlu, who lost his father, mother and brother in an instant, wept.
- They want parole conditions in the south to be implemented in the north – The inmates, who started a hunger strike demanding an improvement in the physical conditions of the prison and parole conditions, were supported by their families.
- “The law on the source of assets” is missing – The bill on “mandatory declaration of assets, bribery and fight against corruption,” which was brought to public attention in July 2018 through the official gazette, is nowhere to be found.
The hardest goodbye
While İbrahim, Bengü and Çınar Çobanoğlu, who lost their lives in a family tragedy, were laid to rest with tears, the whole of Cyprus was heartbroken by this unfortunate incident.
- Let it set an example – South Cyprus announced a €450m support package for businesses and employees of private sector establishments affected negatively by the corona measures.
- €267m smuggled to the island –The assets of a Russian millionaire who has ‘Cypriot’ citizenship and his brother have been frozen.
The regime of violence impacts children
The bloody tragedy experienced in Geçitkale (Lefkoniko) brought to the agenda the impact of violence on children. The father, mother and son, who lost their lives in the bloody incident that plunged the entire community into mourning, were laid to eternal rest with a ceremony in Geçitkale (Lefkoniko) yesterday (Saturday). The cry of the family members during the ceremony which Ersin Tatar and some of the ministers attended, saddened everyone. Social Services expert Barış Başel warned that “we should prepare for even worse,” adding that society had to come to terms with the fact that there was a new generation that embraced a culture of violence. He added, “the incident is proof that we are also included in the culture of violence observed in other parts of the world.”
- Çakıcı re-elected as the leader of TKP-YG – TKP-YG (Communal Liberation Party – New Forces) held its second congress. Mehmet Çakıcı re-elected as the party leader again.
- Five local, total 22 positive coronavirus cases in the north, 331 cases and six deaths in the south…
Main News
Denktaş: We should act together with the south
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Democratic Party (MP) Serdar Denktaş on Saturday called for collaboration with the Greek Cypriot side in ending the pandemic on the island.
In a post on social media, Denktaş argued that it will only be possible to recover from the negative effects of the pandemic if both sides worked together and implemented a series of measures simultaneously.
He suggested the two sides implement a joint lockdown in order to allow both sides to “return to normal.”
“Once the pandemic ends, the crossings could then be reopened, paving the way to normality,” Denktaş said.
KEY ACTORS
Denktaş (DP)
>> Two sides must act together & implement simultaneous measures to end the pandemic.
Ankara says it will seize opportunities to end problems with Greece
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog
Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, during a press conference with his Spanish counterpart Arancha Gonzalez Laya on Saturday, reiterated Ankara’s desire to initiate dialogue with Greece to decrease tensions between the two and resolve problems.
Çavuşoğlu added that the problems between Turkey and Greece harmed Turkey’s relations with the EU, noting that this is not something Ankara wanted.
“Ankara will seize any opportunity for dialogue with Greece to end problems,” Çavuşoğlu said, stating that it would be open to talks without any preconditions.
Çavuşoğlu noted, in addition to problems with Greece, developments in the Cyprus issue and the Eastern Mediterranean were also discussed during the meeting with his counterpart.
The Turkish foreign minister will be visiting Brussels on January 21 to meet with top EU officials including High Representative Josep Borell.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also held a videoconference meeting on Saturday with President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
KEY ACTORS
Çavuşoğlu (MFA Turkey)
>> Ankara will seize any opportunity for dialogue to end problems & de-escalate tension with Greece.