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“It can be solved if there is a will to do so”
Speaking to Yenidüzen, former President Mehmet Ali Talat said the latest allegations and confessions that surfaced on the Kutlu Adalı murder presents a great opportunity to crack the case. He said that Turkish Cypriot politicians needed to launch an initiative on the issue.
Life will become even more expensive
The devaluation of the Turkish Lira against foreign currencies, the decision to freeze the cost-of-living allowance increment (for the public sector) for March, April, May and June, price hikes in barley, fuel oil and bottled cooking gas has already put the people in greater economic difficulty. Economists and representatives of the business sector, who spoke to Kıbrıs have unfortunately drawn a bleak picture for the near future.
- Let’s open the crossings simultaneously – Prime Minister Ersan Saner said the TRNC is ready for the reopening of the crossing points and called on the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades.
- When the crossings closed, the Arasta (pedestrian shopping area) died – Shopkeepers in Arasta, the shopping district of the old town in north Nicosia, spoke to Kıbrıs, about their demands for the reopening of the crossings.
- South Cyprus heading to the ballot boxes today – South Cyprus is focused on the parliamentary elections today. The results of the election to identify new MPs will be announced at 11 pm.
Hopes exhausted
Many shops and businesses in the tourism city of Kyrenia are up for sale. Many business owners, who have been without work for over a year due to the pandemic are forced to sell their businesses or rent them out to other businesses. Speaking to Diyalog, shopkeepers in Kyrenia say that the authorities have lost this summer season as well after failing to take action on time.
- PCR every three days – Prime Minister Ersan Saner called on the Greek Cypriot side to simultaneously open the crossing points tomorrow. He however set the conditions under which this can happen.
- Then state by those affected –The Greek Cypriot administration has provided €700,000 in financial support for businesses located along the Green Line and which have been affected negatively.
Citizenship for ₺10,000 (€962)
The police arrested four people based on a recorded telephone conversation, but it refuses to investigate another recording which is about passport fraud. A recording circulating on social media exposed those who were negotiating over citizenship and passports. A woman, whom we identified as working at the Civil Registration Office, is heard saying: “The amount we had identified is not that much at all. We ask for ₺10,000 (€962) … You can tell (the client) ₺13,000 (€1,250) and earn ₺3,000 (€288) per passport…”
- Permanent UAV base in the TRNC – The efforts to convert the Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) airport to a permanent base to station armed and non-armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are continuing.
- I didn’t know I was sent to kill Kutlu Adalı – Sedat Peker’s brother Atilla Peker continues his revelations. He said: “Thank God, I don’t have Adalı’s blood in my hands.”
- Elections in the south – General elections will be held in the south today. 557,589 voters will elect 56 MPs from 658 candidates. The voting starts at 7 am.
Main News
Saner calls for simultaneous reopening of crossings on May 31
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner on Saturday said the Turkish Cypriot side was ready to reopen the crossings points as of May 31, calling on the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades to agree to reopen the crossings simultaneously.
During a visit to Lefke (Lefka), Saner said the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to allow the entry of Greek Cypriot to the north from May 31 onwards on the condition they provide a negative PCR or rapid test obtained in the last three days.
“The Turkish Cypriot side is ready however on one condition. We want all the crossings to be reopened at the same time,” Saner reiterated. Also touching on the Cyprus issue, Saner reiterated his position in favour of a two-state solution on the island.
“The Turkish Cypriot side displayed its position in Geneva that it will not allow another 53 years from the Turkish Cypriots to be stolen,” Saner said, arguing that peace had been established on the island in 1974. He said the Turkish Cypriot side’s position on the Cyprus problem is clear and the Maraş (Varosha) initiative is also part of it.
Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) to become a permanent base for Turkish UAVs
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
External Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish media reported on Saturday that the Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) airport will become a permanent military base for the Turkish military’s armed and non-armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Citing a report by Turkish dailies, Turkish Cypriot media also reported that the new base on the island will be inaugurated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on July 20. According to Turkish media, the Turkish UAVs had been using a military airport in Dalaman, Antalya as the permanent base and had been utilizing the Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) airport as a stop-over base since December 16, 2019.
The decision to convert the Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) airport to a permanent military base was taken after Ankara had signed a maritime agreement with Libya.
Erdoğan on May 19 had said he will be in North Cyprus to attend the ceremonies to mark the July 20 military intervention. He also said he will give “a strong message to the entire world” during his visit, adding that “Ankara’s determination will be seen by all.” The Turkish president had pointed out that there are two airports in the north.
“The first one is the Ercan (Tymbou) airport, which is known by all. The second one had been there, but we are upgrading it and will have a new name soon. This airport is the one that accommodates our armed and non-armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),” Erdoğan said. He also noted that Turkey has stationed its UAVs in the north to be prepared for any possible attack in the region.