Front Page Headlines
“An investigation should be opened immediately, direct contact established with Turkey”
Growing calls from parliament and the community regarding allegations on the ‘Kutlu Adalı murder’ and ‘drug trafficking. Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman: “There is no statute of limitations in criminal law. We need to take action by contacting the police and chief prosecutor’s office. The president needs to convene the Republic Security Council. President Ersin Tatar: “There is no need to create tensions. Whatever is necessary should be done but there is no need to raise tensions just because of a video. I will instruct the Chief of Police to launch an investigation into the matter. Peoples’ Party (HP) Kudret Özersay: “The incident should be investigated by Turkish officials. The agreements signed between the TRNC-Turkey allow this.”
- Shopkeepers express outrage: “Enough, open the crossing points”
The TRNC will benefit from the opening of the crossings
According to economists, the opening of the crossing points between the north and the south could turn the economic crisis into an opportunity for North Cyprus due to the weak Turkish lira against foreign currencies.
- The shopkeepers staged a protest for the ‘immediate opening of crossings.’
- Ali Kamacıoğlu became the new president of KTSO – The new management board elected during the 35th general congress of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce held its first meeting yesterday and appointed Ali Kamacıoğlu as the president of the chamber.
“Get rid of this scum”
Sedat Peker’s words on Kutlu Adalı’s murder caused tension in the parliament. The opposition put pressure on the government and the Prime Minister said, “We will do whatever is necessary.” Peker’s words that he had sent his brother to kill Kutlu Adalı upon instructions by Mehmet Ağar and Korkut Eken and that Cyprus was at the centre of the cocaine trade caused a tremor in the north. The opposition insisted that the government take action whereas the People’s Party (HP) filed a complaint with the police.
- Open the crossings immediately – The shopkeepers have lost their patience over the government’s stance on the crossing points. The Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans staged a protest with the participation of their members in the old town in Nicosia.
- “Do whatever it’s necessary” – President Ersin Tatar invited police commissioner Ahmet Soyalan to discuss the allegations on Kutlu Adalı’s murder.
“Open the crossings”
Shopkeepers in the Arasta pedestrian shopping street marched to the Lokmacı (Ledra) crossing point and gave a message to the leaders. The protest organised by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans (KTEZO) was supported by the CTP. They shouted the slogans “Open the crossings immediately” KTEZO General Coordinator Hürrem Tulga said none of the authorities had knocked on their doors for the past 15 months. KTEZO president Mahmut Kanbar drew attention to the problems experienced by shopkeepers, calling for the immediate opening of the crossings.
The legendary colonel turns out to be a murderer
Korkut Eken who was said to have shown ‘extraordinary courage’ during the July 20, 1974, military operation, has proved his ‘extreme’ success by arranging the assassination of Kutlu Adalı.
- Tatar ordered Soyalan – Following Sedat Peker’s announcements, Ersin Tatar ordered the Chief of Police Ahmet Soyalan to do whatever is necessary. Soyalan was also the police officer in charge of the murder investigation in 1996.
- CTP submitted a motion to the parliament – 12 MPs from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) submitted a motion to the parliament to form an investigation commission on Kutlu Adalı’s murder.
- KTOEÖS: Uncover the secrets – The 25-year-old secrets must be revealed, the Secondary School Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS) said.
- HP filed a complaint with the police – People’s Party (HP) filed a complaint with the police regarding the allegations of Kutlu Adalı’s murder.
Main News
Allegations on Kutlu Adalı’s murder continues to dominate north’s political agenda
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The reactions and the debates on the video posted by gang leader Sedat Peker on behind Turkish Cypriot journalist Kutlu Adalı’s murder dominated the political agenda on Monday. Despite the ruckus on social media and the flood of statements made by opposition leaders Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar dismissive of the allegations.
Speaking on a web TV programme, Tatar said there was no need to create tensions on the issue and that whatever necessary action was needed would be taken. Later in the day, he called the Chief of Police Ahmet Soyalan to his office. “I have no doubts the police general directorate will carry out the necessary legal initiatives on the matter,” Tatar said, adding that he had full confidence in the police.
Addressing parliament earlier on Monday, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner refrained from uttering Sedat Peker’s name when touching upon the issue. He said he had discussed the matter with the attorney general and police chief.
Meanwhile, on Monday morning, the People’s Party (HP) filed an application with the police on the allegations that surfaced regarding Kutlu Adalı’s murder in Peker’s video.
In a post on social media, HP leader Kudret Özersay highlighted the need to reopen the “inconclusive murder investigation” following the latest claims made by Peker. He reminded that Sedat Peker’s brother Atilla Peker was already placed under police custody in Turkey after his involvement was revealed on the latest Youtube video.
Özersay also urged the authorities to utilize the provisions of the “Judicial collaboration agreement between Turkey and the TRNC” to seek testimonies from those detained in Turkey and to launch new investigations.
The HP leader said that they have also asked the police to investigate the allegations of international drug trafficking. Özersay raised the same issues during his address in parliament on Monday.
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman on Monday said he had applied to the Office of the Speaker of the Parliament to appoint a commission to investigate the murder and to give access to the meeting notes kept by the Turkish Cypriot parliamentary commission tasked to investigate Kutlu Adalı’s murder in 1996.
Addressing parliament, the CTP leader drew attention to Peker’s claims on the murder, reminding the government that the police general directorate and the attorney general’s office can launch a murder investigation based on Peker’s video.
Echoing similar messages, Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit urged the relevant authorities to reopen the murder investigation swiftly. “The current police commissioner was the police officer tasked with the investigation of Kutlu Adalı’s murder in 1996,” Özyiğit said, adding that Ahmet Soyalan was well informed of the case.
Meanwhile, Fikri Sağlar, who was a member of the commission tasked to investigate both the Susurluk accident (political scandal) as well as Kutlu Adalı’s murder, said it is not possible to achieve any outcomes on the murder investigation unless steps were taken in Ankara.
Speaking on Genç TV on Monday morning, Sağlar said the murders were carried out as a result of the triangular relationship established among the mafia, politicians and the state.
He also noted that the weapon used in Adalı’s murder was also sent from Turkey. Sağlar said the commission’s investigation on the Susurluk scandal had them to Adalı’s murder at the time and the commission had visited the north upon an invitation by former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.
“The investigations were carried out as much as it was permitted,” Sağlar stressed, adding that various circles stopped the investigation from being taken further. Sağlar also noted that the money-laundering activities had been transferred to the north when the casinos were closed in Turkey. He also said as part of the investigations on the Susurluk scandal, it was also revealed that the mafia had helped Asil Nadir escape from the UK in exchange for 17.5m USD.
“There are now serious allegations however it is not possible to reach any conclusions in (north) Cyprus unless steps are taken in Turkey,” Sağlar said, expressing his pessimism as well that no steps will be taken in Ankara.
“I have my suspicions that any steps will be taken in Ankara because the regime has changed. Authorities in North Cyprus – contrary to the past – has become an extension of the AKP. Mehmet Ağar who is at the very centre of the allegations is now one of the most important figures in the AKP,” Sağlar concluded.
The crossings must be reopened immediately, KTEZO demands
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Shopkeepers of the Arasta pedestrian strip located at the end of the Lokmacı (Ledra) crossing point staged a demonstration on Monday demanding the reopening of the crossing point.
The demonstration was the first of two protests being organised this week by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans (KTEZO). The protest was supported by members of the main opposition CTP.
General Coordinator of KTEZO Hürrem Tulga and Chamber President Mahmut Kanber read out a press statement before marching towards the Lokmacı (Ledra St.) crossing point. The shopkeepers chanted slogans and held banners that read “Open the crossings now.”
Tulga pointed out shopkeepers in the area were struggling economically for the past 15 months due to the closure of the crossing points. Criticizing the government on its pandemic management, Tulga said they were unfair on the shopkeepers.
“The KTEZO maintained its silence by keeping in consideration the public’s health however the government displayed more concern for the hotels than the retailers,” Tulga stressed, questioning the government’s priorities.
Kanber, for his part, noted that the KTEZO had tried to point the government in the right direction during the pandemic, but that the crossings had remained closed due to due to lack of planning and foresight by the authorities.
He also noted that the government has prioritized the opening of the Ercan (Tymbou) airport before the reopening of the crossings. “However, the crossings are equally important to establish a relationship between the members of the two communities and it is not an economic issue on its own,” Kanber concluded.
In the meantime, the Mayor of the Nicosia Turkish Municipality (LTB) Mehmet Harmancı held a meeting with US Ambassador to Cyprus Judith Gale Garber on Monday.
In a social media post on Monday, Harmancı said they had exchanged views on the developments on the Cyprus problem and the issue of the crossing points. Harmancı also announced that he will be holding a videoconference meeting with the Greek Cypriot Mayor of Nicosia, Constantinos Yiorkadjis in the coming days to discuss the reopening of the crossings.
“We will also propose establishing rapid test centres at the crossing points during the meeting,” Harmancı said. The US Ambassador for her part reiterated that they will continue with their efforts encouraging the members of the two communities for a solution in Cyprus.
Meanwhile, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) on Monday called on the government to resign for being unable to produce remedies for the shopkeepers, retailers and the artisans.
Pointing to the KTEZO protest, the CTP in a written statement, said the government has not done anything substantial to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the economy or to assist the small and micro enterprises in their economic strife.
“The UBP (National Unity Party) – DP (Democratic Party) – YDP (Rebirth Party) coalition is displaying the same callous attitude they do on everything else with the issue of crossings as well,” the CTP argued, adding that the reopening of the crossings should have been government’s top priority at the moment.
“The reopening of the crossings is vital to bring relief to the struggling retailers,” the CTP said, noting that the bicommunal technical committee on health already outlined how the crossings could be reopened.
“If the shopkeepers are out on the streets protesting the government, there is only one thing left for the cabinet to do now. Resign!” the CTP concluded.
On the other hand, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner said there the bicommunal technical committee on health was close to reaching an agreement for the reopening of the crossing points. Speaking in parliament on Monday, Saner said the crossing points will reopen very soon.
“The committee members during their meeting today (Monday) could not agree on one issue that is about problematic crossings,” Saner said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot authorities are also continuing with their preparations for the reopening.
“The problem is not on our side,” Saner said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side does not have any issues against the reopening of the crossing points.
Meanwhile, Kıbrıs sought the viewpoints of economists Zeren Mungan and Okan Veli Şafaklı regarding the reopening of the crossings. Mungan, who also served as finance minister in the past, said the reopening of the crossings would have a significant and positive impact on the north’s economy.
“I believe the weak Turkish lira against the Euro is an advantage for the north,” Mungan said, adding that the crossings should be reopened with the necessary health measures in place.
Echoing a similar message, Şafaklı said the economic crisis in the north could be reversed positively. “The economic crisis can be turned into an opportunity for the north with the opening of the crossings,” Şafaklı said, adding that the government should have focused on the reopening of the crossings before launching the ‘closed-circuit tourism’ model.
Şafaklı also noted that the tourism ministry should be active with various organisations and activities such as festivals once the crossings are reopened.
Tatar: Two-state solution is vital for the security of the TCs
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar on Monday said that a federal settlement based on single sovereignty was a ploy that would downgrade the Turkish Cypriot community to minority status, cutting off ties with Turkey.
“The two-state solution based on the cooperation of the two sides was vital for the security and the well-being of the Turkish Cypriot people,” he argued.
Tatar who received the members of Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) youth branch, also claimed that since his election into office, the relations between the north and Turkey have improved. Pointing out that “the bond between the two countries was unbreakable,” Tatar said the struggle being waged on Cyprus needed to be passed onto future generations. He also stressed the importance of acting together with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Great responsibilities fall upon us in defending our national interests,” Tatar stressed, adding that he was “extremely pleased with the support given by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to a two-state solution in Cyprus.”
Özyiğit announces intention to run for TDP’s leadership one last time
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit on Monday announced his intention to run for the party’s leadership at the party’s upcoming general congress “for one last time.”
Speaking during a programme on Bayrak, Özyiğit said he wants to fulfil one last goal for the TDP. “I want to see the TDP entering the parliament with a strong group as a result of the first elections,” Özyiğit said, recalling that the party had won the mayorship for the Nicosia Turkish Municipality (LTB) twice and Mustafa Akıncı was elected with TDP’s support.
Özyiğit added the TDP will become the key in defining the next coalition’s formation and in defining the future of the north. The TDP leader noted the date for a general congress has yet to be identified but it will be held in the coming months.