This week in North Cyprus > 11-18 April 2005
Landslide victory for New President.
Turkish Cypriots went to the polls on the 17 th April to select a new president. The retiring leader Rauf Denkta s had held the TRNC presidency for 29 years. The newly elected leader is Mehmet Ali Talat who was previously the Country's Prime Minister.
Mr Talat, whose Republican Turkish Party (CTP) won the recent parliamentary election was expected to win the presidency and did so with 55.6% of the votes. Dervi s Ero g lu ( UBP ) was Talats nearest rival winning just 22.7% of the votes. The CTP coalition government partner the Democratic Party came in third with 13.2%.
Talat a pro-Europe supporter has lobbied tirelessly for the re-unification of Cyprus . Casting his vote at his local polling station Mr Talat said, "Today is a turning point". "We have to solve the Cyprus problem and we have to do it with the Greek Cypriot community".
The election turnout was the lowest in history with just 69.5% of those eligible to vote turning out. A majority vote of over half the cast votes was required to eliminate the need for a second round.
After the votes had been counted, the victorious Mr Talat said the people had reiterated their support to solution and peace.
The CTP have appointed Ferdi Sabit Soyer acting president of the party and will soon decide on the next Prime Minister.
European Commission welcomes election result.
A statement published by the EU commission said of the newly elected president Mehmet Ali Talat "His success confirms the strong desire of the Turkish Cypriot community for reunification and full integration into the EU. The commission expects that this result will create favourable conditions for a resumption of talks under the aegis of the UN in view of a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue". The statement also said that it hoped that there would be a quick adoption of the proposals of financial assistance and special conditions for trade. The statement was released late on Sunday evening commented that the proposals were seen as a way of ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community.
President Denktas bows out.
The TRNC's president of 29 years finally retired this week making way for a new 'post Denkta s era. An era that no one really knows what it will bring or what it will mean to the Turkish Cypriots.
Mr Denktas said that there was nothing he would miss about the country's top job. He admitted that he felt relieved after years of being cast as the main obstacle to reunification. Mr Denktas commented "that was a very heavy burden on me, because the policy I followed was the policy of the people that elected me and of Turkey, I was not dictating, I was not directing, It was a just effort for peace and understanding". On Friday morning the retiring president held a farewell party for his staff at the presedential residence. Mr Denktas said his proudest moment had been to declare independance for the Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus. He still believes that the Greek cypriots want to drive out any Turkish speaking presence on the Island saying "I stood against them when I was 21, now I am 81 I am still standing against them".
Defiant London mayor still sticking to his guns.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone now faces a legal challenge over the Transport for London's decision to ban adverts for tourism in North Cyprus. The TFL originally stated that the advertisements were banned as they could cause "serious offence" to a large section of the public, meaning the Greek Cypriot community. The authority have now come up with a political objection stating that the English registered company trading as the North Cyprus Tourism Centre (NCTC) are simply a front for the TRNC tourism ministry. The NCTC have given the TFL until Wednesday 20th April to lift the ban or face an application to the courts for a judicial revue. The TFL claim they cannot be sued in court because "a body known as the TRNC" is an illegal regime and therefore "has no lawful interest in tourism in Cyprus". Ken Livingstones lawyers now justify the ban by the fact that the TRNC "is not internationally recognised and that Turkeys occupation of North Cyprus is considered internationally to be illegal" In a letter to the NCTC they also claim that due to the TRNC not having rights to th e soveriegnty over the North of the republic of Cyprus then it cannot offer tourism in the area. A spokesman in London for the North Cyprus Tourism Centre said the letter had "astonished them" adding that "they never said anything of this when they took our money last year". They added that "the British government and the EU were working to lift the ban on direct flights and ending the economic isolation of the North, Tourism is the key to that. Ken Livingstone seems to have aforeign policy which is not that of Britain but of North Cyprus."
EU prepares to play active role in search for Cyprus solution.
A EU source in Brussels said a special advisor would be appointed to explore issues in the search for a solution to the Cyprus problem. The source revealed that the EU would like to be more actively involved in issues that have a direct relevance to EU legislation. The spokesman made it clear that the Cyprus problem would still be "hammered out" under the watchful eye of the UN. The source said that it had been bad news for the EU when the Greek Cypriots had overwhelmingly voted no in last years referndum on the Annan Plan. The EU hope that following the recent parlimentary and presidential elections confidence building steps would be taken. Co-president of the joint EU-Turkey parliamentary commision, Joost Lagendijik said after a meeting in the TRNC with the Prime Minister that the Turkish Cypriots continued isolation was unacceptable.
This week's weather in The TRNC.
After a cloudy and chilly start to week, the weather promises hotter temperatures than usual for mid-April. With light cloud for most of the week, temperatures are expected to reach 25-27C inland.
Last week's minimum and maximum temperatures.
|
Minimum Temperature |
Maximum Temperature |
Lefkosa |
10.2C |
32.2C |
Ercan |
8.4C |
33.3C |
Gazi Ma g usa |
11.2C |
26.2C |
Girne |
12.5C |
25.0C |
Güzelyurt |
6.6C |
33.8C |
This week's exchange rates.
CURRENCY |
EXCHANGE RATE |
£ Sterling |
2.54YTL |
$ Dollar |
1.35YTL |
€ Euro |
1.73YTL |
£ Cyprus pound |
2.87YTL |
Resources: Cyprus Today
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