Front Page Headlines
“That summer night was terrifying, a disgrace”
He was a 14-year-old boy, the first person to see Kutlu Adalı’s lifeless body after the murder. Years later Erinç Aydınova spoke of the terrifying scene he witnessed as a young boy. “I saw my name mentioned in the report prepared by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). I read the file. It wrote that I was scared that night and that I refused to talk. It’s not accurate. I told the police about the white car I saw that night,” Aydınova said.
Four people arrested as part of the ‘bribery’ case within the police
The TRNC was rocked by a new scandal. One of the leading businessmen in our country Tekin Arhun together with police chief constable Ali Savaş Altan and two others were arrested on charges of “violation of privacy” and “encouraging witnesses to give a false testimony.” The development had a bomb effect.
- 38 per cent of the businesses reduced the number of employees during the pandemic – KTEZO (Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans) evaluated the results of its survey on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on businesses.
- Traces of cocaine found in the blood of a six-year-old girl – The incident was revealed when the owner of a lab in south Cyprus approached the police.
- The parliament to investigate Kutlu Adalı’s murder – The parliament will form an investigation committee to investigate the new allegations on the murder of journalist Kutlu Adalı.
25-year-old shame
Following the revelations made by Sedat Peker, the murder of Kutlu Adalı, which has remained unsolved for the past 25 years, is now back on parliament’s agenda. The parliament with a unanimous vote approved the motion submitted by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) to establish a committee to investigate the murder.
- The case that shook Nicosia – Well-known businessman Tekin Arhun, Police Chief Constable Ali Savaş Altan, computer expert Nurettin Arapsoy and Şener Levent’s close friend İsmail Karaböcek were arrested in the “coercing the witness” case, which the owner of Afrika (Avrupa) newspaper Şener Levent is also involved in.
- Revelations that are almost like confessions from Eken – Former soldier Korkut Eken, who is a key person in the murder of Kutlu Adalı spoke providing new clues.
- Last representatives of an era are passing away – 87-year-old Nicos Rolandis, who had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism under the Spiros Kyprianou and Glafcos Clerides governments passed away.
- The measures bankrupted the shopkeepers – Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans shared the findings of the research entitled effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the businesses with the public.
- All restrictions will be removed on June 10 – As a result of the decrease in the number of positive cases in South Cyprus, the night-time curfew will be from midnight to 5 am from Saturday onwards.
Such a shame
A large number of the old and historic buildings in Nicosia’s walled city are crumbling and on the brink of collapse due to negligence and lack of maintenance. Residents complain that the buildings pose a health and safety hazard. Many complain that history is disappearing before their very eyes.
The January 22 mob seeking revenge
Four people were arrested as a result of a recording of a phone call. A secretly recorded call has revealed the truth…Erkut Hafız, who allegedly had given a car to Ali Savaş Altan as a bribe, said ‘I brought the car (from the UK) at cost-price for him and did not file any complaints to the police about him.’ The police arrested Ali Savaş Altan, Tekin Arhun, İsmail Karaböcek and Nurettin Arapsoy for recording the telephone call secretly.
- Korkut Eken: I don’t know Adalı – Korkut Eken refuted the claims made by Sedat Peker’s brother Atilla Peker about travelling to Cyprus to kill Kutlu Adalı. Eken said: “I don’t even know Adalı.”
Main News
TC parliament adopts motion to investigate Adalı’s murder
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot parliament on Thursday unanimously approved a motion submitted by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) to investigate the murder of Turkish Cypriot journalist Kutlu Adalı.
Speaking in parliament ahead of the vote, CTP leader Tufan Erhürman urged the police to deepen the investigation and to inform the Turkish Cypriot parliament of its findings. “Not acting upon information constitutes a violation and it is the crime of negligence,” Erhürman stressed, adding that there is no status of limitation on such crimes.
The CTP leader also urged the authorities in the north to get in touch with the Turkish authorities in line with the ‘Judicial Collaboration Protocol’ agreement in force. He said there were allegations and new claims were being made, all of which needed to be investigated.
“We do not have a closed file before us – not from the police’s point of view nor parliament’s,” Erhürman concluded.
Echoing similar viewpoints, People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay told parliament on Thursday that the formation of a commission to investigate the murder case was the right way to proceed. He however reminded that two similar commissions had been appointed in the past to investigate Kutlu Adalı’s murder, both of which had not concluded their inquiries because vital documents had been withheld.
Özersay also noted that the HP had applied to the Turkish Cypriot Interior Ministry asking for the immigration records of those who visited the north at the time of the murder. He also urged the government to give out a strong, confident and coherent message that “no matter what happens or who calls, the government is determined to take the investigation further.”
Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit on Thursday also underlined the importance of uncovering those responsible for carrying out the murder. Özyiğit, referring to the statements by former officials and those in power, said the police force must be given strong support to continue with its investigation.
He also expressed his hope that the efforts to form a commission in parliament to investigate the murder would be concluded soon to solve the case. “The tutelage regime must be annulled in the north,” Özyiğit stressed, adding there has to be democratic governance to be included in international law.
“This can only be done through a federal solution,” Özyiğit concluded.
In the meantime, AKEL MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek raised the issue at the European Parliament in a written question submitted to the parliament. Noting that Turkey has been interfering in the domestic affairs in the Turkish Cypriot community for many years, Kızılyürek highlighted that “North Cyprus has turned into Turkey’s backyard.”
“The Turkish Cypriots demand for the murder investigation to be revived,” Kızılyürek said, recalling that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had convicted Turkey of not carrying out an effective investigation on the murder in its October 12, 2005, dated verdict.
He, however also pointed out that the investigation will not likely yield any results because the Turkish Cypriot police fall directly under the authority of the Turkish armed forces. “What would the European Commission do not to leave the Turkish Cypriots, who are EU citizens at the mercy of Turkey?” Kızılyürek asked in his written question submitted.
A forced agreement would lead to a conflict, Tatar argued
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Thursday reiterated his position in favour of a two-state solution on the island. In an interview with the Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK, Tatar said the two-state model will ensure a balance not just between the two communities but between Turkey and Greece on the Cyprus Issue and the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Even if the Turkish Cypriots were to be admitted in the EU following the two-state solution, it will not be possible to disrupt the balance established,” he argued. Tatar also argued that the Turkish Cypriot side advocates for a sustainable, lasting, comprehensive and fair agreement on the island.
“In our opinion, the key to achieving all that is through a two-state model in which the states will have equal sovereignty and co-exist side by side,” Tatar said, adding that this is the best option for both Turkish and Greek Cypriots.
“Until today, until we put forth this concept when the negotiations failed, the Greek Cypriot side continued on its path as the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ (RoC) and the Turkish Cypriot side remained as the unrecognized community,” Tatar stressed, adding that it is not possible to achieve any outcomes as long as the imbalance at the negotiating table continues.
He reiterated that the efforts to find a federal solution on the island have been exhausted and recalled that the final attempt was the Cyprus conference held in Crans Montana. “We as the Turkish Cypriots do not want to wait for another 50 more years,” Tatar said, arguing that despite what the opposition claims, the Turkish Cypriot side’s new position will bring forth better days for Turkish Cypriots.
“The Turkish Cypriot side can’t give up on its position,” Tatar stressed, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side’s position is based on the realities on the island.
Responding to a question, Tatar noted that the diplomatic efforts after Geneva are underway, adding that the UN Special envoy Jane Holl Lute will be visiting Ankara and Athens next week. He said the UN had proposed a ‘bottom-up’ approach during the five-plus-one meeting in Geneva.
Tatar spoke at length about the process, as he saw it, at the informal Geneva summit. He focused in particular on a so-called ‘bottom-up’ approach, which he suggested was promoted or advocated by the UK.
Explaining the ‘bottom-up’ concept, he said it provides for two sovereign states existing side by side, two sovereign “peoples” – a joint structure under other jurisdictions, such as foreign relations.
“Naturally, the concept of sovereign peoples alone does not satisfy us. We insist on two separate states. If you cede sovereignty to the centre [the central government], you will beg the centre to give you sovereignty…so I believe that this format, this ‘bottom up’ approach is progress as far as we’re concerned,” he said adding that this approach had disturbed the Greek Cypriot side.
“I want to stress, when we say ‘cooperation’ [between the two states], I mean we can work on all matters – from exploiting natural resources, to foreign relations, environmental and water policies, crime,” Tatar added.
“Even though the date for the next five-plus-one has not been identified yet, I need to reiterate that the Turkish Cypriot side will not refrain from attending any meeting,” he said. Tatar however added that the Turkish Cypriot side’s six-point proposal must be accepted for the official round of negotiations to commence.
He also highlighted the importance of consent, stating that an imposed settlement on the island will only lead to new conflict. The Turkish Cypriot leader also noted that he has sent a letter to UN Secretary-General and to the leaders of the EU countries explaining the Turkish Cypriot side’s position in detail and how they wish to manage the way forward.
“It is time to reopen the crossings,” Tatar said, pointing out that the number of positive cases across the island had dropped significantlu. “However the Greek Cypriot side is waiting for the parliamentary elections to be completed before taking any steps on the issue of the crossings,” Tatar said, recalling that it was the Greek Cypriot side that initially closed the crossings for economic reasons.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Two-state solution will ensure a balance not just between the two communities but between Turkey & Greece on the Cyprus Issue & East Med.
>> TC side advocates for a sustainable, lasting, comprehensive & fair agreement in Cyprus.
>> The key to achieving this is a two-state solution where the two states will have sovereign equality and co-exist side by side.
>> ‘Bottom up’ approach proposed by UN works in favour of TC side, however TC side not satisfied with being classified as a sovereign community.
>> TC side will attend the next 5+1 meeting but its six-point proposal must be accepted for the official round of talks to commence.
>> Time to reopen crossings has come.