This week in North Cyprus >02th -09th May 2005
Entry refused in immigration crackdown.
TRNC officials launched a crackdown on immigration last week. The first few days of the operation saw around 280 would be immigrants refused entry. The crackdown was launched after public fears over recent rising crime levels. Ninety-eight people were sent back to Turkey from Gazi Ma g usa and just over 180 were returned to Turkey from Girne. Security officials met in Girne to discuss escalating concerns over the increasing level of offending in the TRNC. The government is striving to solve the problem of mainland Turks arriving on the island with no money, no employment and no place to stay. There are believed to be 30,000 people currently in the TRNC illegally. In January the Foreigners and Immigration Law was passed meaning anyone arriving in the TRNC with the intention of working must hold a valid passport. If workers are found without the correct documentation, they will be fined and deported back to their original country. Employers found employing illegal immigrants are also to be penalized.
New Government wins vote of confidence
Following days of debating the newly formed government headed by Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, finally won a vote of confidence. On Sunday 08 th May 28 members of parliament voted in favour of the new government with nineteen MP's voting against. Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer thanked MP's and said the new government would work with full collaboration and cooperation with every party willing to lend a hand. The PM said, "We will always welcome criticism and take in account points made by the opposition." The new head of the TRNC government also pledged to work closely with the presidency, the Turkish government and the Press as well as working alongside the opposition that voted against his government at the vote of confidence. Soyer's speech also sent messages to the Greek Cypriot government by saying a solution could only be met based on equality. He commented, "Papadapolous cannot carry on seeing the Turkish Cypriots as a minority. Turkish Cypriots desire peace on the island. They want to enter a new phase where there will be no problems between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, Greece and Turkey . In order to fulfil this aim our government will work hard."
Prime Minister says Turkish Cypriot livelihoods will not be put at risk.
Prime Minister Soyer stressed that the government will not allow the Greek Cypriot administration to threaten the livelihoods and existence of the Turkish Cypriot people, saying that the Greek Cypriot Administration does not have sovereignty over the North and does not represent the Turkish Cypriot people.
Pointing out that a similar attempt to intimidate the Turkish Cypriot people was made by the Greek Cypriot administration in 1994, when electricity shared by both sides was cut off, the Prime minister said that the Greek Cypriot side was resorting to the same tactics to attack the Turkish Cypriot people by filing property cases against them.
The Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer called on the people to remain at ease stressing that every effort to battle the Greek Cypriots legally was being made by the government in cooperation with the Presidential office.
24 hour strike by CTA staff.
Cyprus Turkish airlines (CTA) workers staged a 24hr strike between 11 a.m. on Friday 06th May and 11 a.m. Saturday 07th May. Leaving hundreds of passengers stranded as flights to and from the TRNC were cancelled. Among the cancelled flights were three from the UK.
The strike was called by the airline union 'Hava Sen' in support for demands for improved pay. Negotiations to reach a final agreement on a collective pay deal recently failed. Scuffles broke out as striking workers gathered in Ercan airport when strikers attempted to get into the airport building with a view of disrupting other flights. Riot police were called and several protesters were injured as they were forcibly removed from the airport terminal. Eight strikers mainly CTA stewardesses required hospital treatment. A total of 178 protesters were arrested and were later released after being charged by police in lefkosa.
First 'EUPRO' meeting held.
A meeting of around 200 TRNC estate agents, property developers and others involved in the property business was held on Wednesday 04th May at Girnes Colony Hotel. The meeting was arranged by the European Property association of North Cyprus (EUPRO) and was held to discuss what action should be taken against the "co-ordinated political attack" launched by Greek Cypriots in the South.
Eupro chairman Shelley White and UK director Donald Crawford announced the need to raise money to fight the attack by the Greek Cypriot government against TRNC property owners, estate agents and property developers. Shelley White, a US lawyer now living in the TRNC explained: "First we have the high profile 'Orams' case, then we have the threat of arrest warrants being issued against a TRNC based UK estate agent, next was the banning, by the Greeks of a visit by a UK soccer team to play a freindly against a TRNC representative eleven and then we have London's socialist mayor Ken Livingstone, banning tourism advertising on London's buses." Last week also saw another arrest warrant application for trespass against a Turkish restaurant owner in Famagusta and the publishing by the Greek Cypriot embassy of a list of 'illegal' hotels in the North that included The Colony. The fund is being set up with an aim of reaching a target of £1 million so that a team of top lawyers can be hired and briefed to fight the TRNC cause. The 'war chest' fund currently stands at around £100,000 with a couple of TRNC estate agents making large pledges of cash on the night.
The TRNC government is lending its full support to the association, by assisting in the case against london transport. Finally Mrs White commented that the support from the government "will go a long way in support of our attempts to counter Greek Cypriot legal moves, to frustrate them in their attempts to stop us living a normal life, and their one-sided and inaccurate propaganda."
A further EUPRO meeting is to held this week on Wednesday May 11th at 7pm again at the Colony hotel. This weeks meeting is for all registered Eupro members and the guest speaker will be Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer.
This week's weather in North Cyprus .
A low pressure system this week in North Cyprus will ensure the week will be Hot and sunny, but there is the possibility of some rain at the weekend.
Temperatures will reach 26C on the coast and 30C inland.
Last week's minimum and maximum temperatures.
|
Minimum Temperature |
Maximum Temperature |
Lefkosa |
11.4C |
27.3C |
Ercan |
9.7C |
28.4C |
Gazi Ma g usa |
11.4C |
26.2C |
Girne |
13.5C |
25.0C |
Güzelyurt |
6.2C |
26.2C |
This week's exchange rates.
CURRENCY |
EXCHANGE RATE |
£ Sterling |
2.54YTL |
$ Dollar |
1.34YTL |
€ Euro |
1.73YTL |
£ Cyprus pound |
2.89YTL |
Resources: Cyprus Today and Cyprus Times
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