Front Page Headlines
“It’s like I’m living in a vegetated state”
That is how a mother of an autistic child who requires special education feels like during a pandemic. Leman Çolakoğlu, mother of 11-year-old Ada Özdenay shared with us her challenges in raising her son. She said that while most families only have concerns about their children’s academic development her only concern is being able to raise an individual who can meet his own needs.
- Much debated gala held
We want a TRNC that produces and exports its products
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, who is in the TRNC for a working trip, visited the site for the Güvercinlik (Acheritou) Industrial area. Oktay said Ankara wants to reflect Turkey’s exemplary industrial area experience to the TRNC.
- Life will come to a stop on Thursday – Public sector trade unions are preparing to stage a nation-wide strike against the government’s decision to freeze the cost-of-living increment given to public sector employees and pensioners for four months.
- Vaccination will be done based on age groups – National Education Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said the ministry is responsible for everyone at the country’s 271 schools and added the reopening of the schools are being planned with a decision by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases.
Outrage on the streets
The government quietly froze the cost-of-living increment for four months with a decree without paying back the amount if cut off from public sector salaries for the first three months of the year. The public sector trade unions reacted immediately. KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot Public Workers’ Union), KAMU-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Public Sector Employees’ Union), KAMU-İŞ (Turkish Cypriot Public Workers’ Union), GÜÇ-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Customs Officers’ Union), VERGİ-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Tax Department Employees Union) and Turkish Cypriot Nurses and Midwives Union said the government’s decision violates their rights. The trade unions have decided to stage a strike.
- Gala sends a message to Cypriots – The gala event for the “Once Upon a Time Cyprus” drama series, which was broadcast on TRT1 last night, was held with the participation of Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, despite criticisms and pandemic restrictions.
Take measures
The public is fed up with the constant price hikes for basic consumables. Despite the growing unemployment due to the pandemic, prices of basic consumables continue to rise. Members of the public who criticize attitudes and excuses of the store owners who claim the price hikes are because of the rise in foreign exchange rates complain that the rise in prices is not proportional to the exchange rates. They complain, “when the US dollar’s value against the Turkish Lira rises by 10 per cent, we see a 20 per cent rise in prices…sometimes even more.” Ordinary citizens who spoke to Diyalog complain particularly about the rise in meat prices, stating that they are having a difficult time understanding the price hikes. They demand the authorities take measures.
- Meaningful message – Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said, “We want to see a strong, independent TRNC that produces, which can stand on its own feet when we head to the five-plus-one conference.”
TRT spewed out hatred
The first episode of the “Once upon a time Cyprus” drama series filmed by TRT (Turkish state TV) was aired last night on Bayrak and TRT at the same time. The only purpose of the series is to instil feelings of hatred and revenge within our society by distorting historical facts and exaggerating Greek Cypriot brutality. In the end, the series will tell us how Turkey came and saved us.
- KTÖS (Turkish Cypriot School Teachers’ Union) General Secretary Şener Elcil: Tatar-UBP enemy of the public – Interest groups dragged the country’s health and education into chaos for their benefit. Now they are trying to make trade unions and teachers their scapegoats. They have even forced us to beg for vaccines. They are waiting for the vaccines to be donated by Turkey or the Cyprus Republic (RoC). They burdened the economy by hiring more people to the public sector but are unable to find ₺30m (€3.1m) to vaccinate the entire population.
Main News
Opposition MPs slam Ertuğruloğlu over Hellim (Halloumi) PDO remarks
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Economy
OVERVIEW
A war of words took place in the Turkish Cypriot parliament on Thursday between Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu and members of the opposition over the issue of the registration of Hellim (Halloumi) by the EU as a protected designation of origin (PDO).
Addressing MPs during Thursday’s session, Ertuğruloğlu reiterated his view that the EU had tricked the Turkish Cypriots with the PDO registration, claiming that the Greek Cypriots will never approve for the Turkish Cypriots to sell their produce to the bloc.
Ertuğruloğlu’s remarks sparked reactions from opposition MPs who accused him of working against the interests of the Turkish Cypriot community.
Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit, the first to respond to Ertuğruloğlu, dismissed his claims. “You want to erect a new Berlin wall through the middle of Cyprus,” Özyiğit said reminding him that everyone else in the north had welcomed the development concerning Hellim (Halloumi).
People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay also slammed Ertuğruloğlu for his comments, questioning how the EU could have tricked the Turkish Cypriot side when both the president and the foreign minister were from the governing National Unity Party (UBP).
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Teberrüken Uluçay said the PDO registration was an extremely important development initiated by another UBP MP Önder Sennaroğlu, who was then the agriculture minister when the process first began.
Former negotiator and CTP MP Özdil Nami accused Ertuğruloğlu of being unfair on the Turkish Cypriot side and being unfair on the efforts being made to seek international recognition of Turkish Cypriots’ political equality.
CTP MP Fikri Toros accused Ertuğruloğlu of abusing his position as foreign minister, putting his political views, before his duties and responsibilities. Ertuğruloğlu in response lashed out at Toros, stating that his duties were to the state and not the Turkish Cypriot community.
Oktay: “We want a self-sufficient TRNC”
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay on Thursday said Ankara wants a “TRNC that is self-sufficient, that stands on its own feet and to become a place attracts foreign investors.”
Oktay was speaking during a visit to the site in Güvercinlik (Acheritou) where a new industrial zone is being planned just hours before attending the gala event in Famagusta for a new drama TV series “Once Upon a Time Cyprus” to be aired on Turkish state TV.
He said that the economic development of the north can only be achieved through incentive schemes in the private sector. “It is vital for the TRNC to be self-sufficient, independent and strong as the UN-led five-plus-one conference is approaching,” Oktay added.
Oktay moved on to Famagusta where the “Once Upon a Time Cyprus” screening was held. Speaking before the event, Oktay highlighted the importance of the drama series to “show children and the youth the struggles the Turkish Cypriot had to endure.”
“The young people will be able to see and understand what EOKA, Enosis and Akritas Plan mean, especially at a time when we are heading to the five-plus-one Cyprus conference,” Oktay stressed, adding that North Cyprus will become stronger.
Also speaking at the gala event, Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar said the drama series will be crucial in making the Turkish Cypriots’ voice heard globally.
“The drama series will show the struggle waged and the sacrifices made by the Turkish Cypriots to survive and exist on this island,” Tatar said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot community was able to maintain a presence on the island with Turkey’s support.
Meanwhile, the series was received with mixed reactions on Thursday night. Many Turkish Cypriots who posted their views on social media expressed their disappointment with the series, citing numerous historical mistakes, faulty or non-Cypriot accents and poor acting.
The TV drama series set between the 1950s and 1974 focuses on the intercommunal clashes and the plight of Turkish Cypriots. Others criticized the authorities for allowing the gala to be held at a time when strict Covid-19 restrictions were in place for the general public and businesses.
Around 250 people took part in the gala held at a conference hall in Famagusta. Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, Ersan Saner as well as other government officials attended the screening.