EU seeks isolation deall to avert Turkey disaster
Cyprus crisis:New initiative
DIPLOMATIC drive to end the economic isolation of North Cyprus has been launched by Finland,which holds the European Union Presidency,in the hope of averting a crisis between Turkey and the EU later this year.
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Toumioja said yesterday he was holding intensive talks with Turkey,South Cyprus,Greece and other interested parties to try to unblock an EU deal to open direct trade with the Turkish Cypriots and convince Turkey to open its ports and airports to traffic from South Cyprus.
“We have just a few weeks to see if we can get it done or not,” he said in an interview. “My sense is that none of the parties is saying “No,”but no-one is saying “Yes” yet, either.”
While all sides saw an interest in achieving a result, “the chances are probably more against it than in favor, but we are making a real effort,” he added between meetings on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly session.Mr Tuomiaja declined to give details of the initiative but EU diplomats said it also involved steps designed to satisfy the Greek Cypriots, such as a reopening of the blocked port of Gazi Mağusa under international supervision.
Ankara has refused to meet an obligation under its EU customs union to open its ports to shipping from Greek Cypriot-administered “Cyprus” unless 25-nation bloc makes good on a pledge to end the economic isolation of North Cyprus.
New Cabinet set to be unveiled today
THE new political leadership of the TRNC is expected to be unveiled today.
A new Cabinet will be drawn from senior ranks from senior ranks of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the newly formed Freedom and Reform Party (ÖRP) which have agreed to form a coalition.
According to reliable sources, the Prime Ministry,Interior,Finance, Health, Labour and Social Security, National Education and Culture, Transport and Public Works and Agriculture ministries will be controlled by CTP. Their partners will take the Deputy Prime Ministry and Foreign Affairs and Economy and Tourism portfolios,plus that of Environment and Natural Resources which will be established after the Cabinet is approved by President Talat,probably today.
In the new government, it is certain that the Ministry of Youth and Sports will be abolished, and turned into an under secretariat within Education. Agriculture and Forestry will be divided in to two. Despite no official statement from either party,the names most likely to enter the new Cabinet are becoming clearer.
Although ÖRP leader Turgay Avcı announced on September 8 that none of his MPs would take ministerial positions,it is almost certain that he will become the new Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister.
According to informed speculation, Enver Öztürk will become Tourism and Economy Minister and GAU vice-president Asım Vehbi will take the environment and natural resources portfolio.
Record fine for Talat GP Appearance slammed
THE decision to fine Turkish sporting bodies for President Mehmet Ali Talat’s appearance at last month’s Turkish Grand Prix has been slammed by human rights group Embargoad!
The FIA World Motor Sport Council fined the National Sporting Authority of Turkey (Tosfet) and the organizers of the organizers of the Turkish Grand Prix (MSO) $5 million this week after President Talat was invited to present the winner’s trophy.
Tosfed and MSO were charged with acting in beach of FIA Statutes, the International Sporting Code and the 2006 Formula One Sporting Regulations and a special hearing on Tuesday found against them on all counts.
Greek Cypriot objections led to the action after Mr Talat was referred to on television as the President of Northern Cyprus.
Embargoad!’s campaigns and communications officer, İpek Özerim, said the record fine highlighted the double standards and hypocrisy affecting Cyprus.
She said: “We are disappointed that the FIA has pandered to the political pressures of the Greek Cypriot administration.”
“At a time when the world is supposedly trying to end the international isolation of North Cyprus, here is yet another example of the discrimination the Turkish Cypriot people and their democratically elected leaders face........”
“While Greek Cypriots in the South can participate in all international events, Turkish Cypriots in the North must be satisfied with being invisible bystanders.”
TRNC Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer also rapped the decision, saying the FIA had proved that the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people was inhumane, undemocratic and unethical.
Speaking on BRT television, he said the Turkish Cypriot people’s will to unite with the world- a democratic right for all – had been “fined”. The FIA had also harmed friendship among peoples and the culture of sport.
NADIA BRUNTON: Memorial in village she loved
ALASTING tribute was paid to long-term Karaman resident Nadia Brunton, who died in November, when a commemorative sundial was unveiled in the her honor at the village church on Wednesday.
Nadia, who was 83, devoted much of her life to the upkeep and restoration of Karaman – and particularly its church, for which she was the custodian and leading fundraiser over many years.
The Friends of Karaman Church decided to erect a permanent memorial to her and eventually the idea of a sundial was agreed upon.
A member of the Friends, Ray Hollett, carried out extensive research in the UK to locate a suitable manufacturer. His search paid off and the commission for a brass sundial was given to Silas Higgon of Herefordshire, whose name is also discreetly imprinted on the dial for posterity.
The memorial sundial, inscribed with the words “Nadia Brunton,who devoted many hours to this church”, was unveiled by İlkay Feridun, Director of Antiquites, who was accompanied by Mine Fedai from the Tourism and Economy Ministry, which is responsible for Karaman, and Conrad Derviş from the Girne Castle office of the Antiquities Department. A crowd of around 80 villagers and visitors watched the simple ceremony.
Mrs Feridun paid tribute to Mrs Brunton and spoke of how she had helped to bring Karaman up to a standard equal to European communities which, she said, was without parallel in North Cyprus. “We have a lot to thank her for,” said Mrs Feridun, “even though she thumped on ministerial desks when they didn't’t act fast enough for her liking.”
Nadia Brunton spent more than 35 years in Karaman and had a legendary encounter with the first Turkish troops to reach the village in the 1974. As the wife of a senior British army officer she greeted them and quickly set up in the church square.
As she formed the heavily-armed soldiers into an orderly queue, they must have been surprised at the nature of their warm welcome in what had been a former Eoka stronghold.
University crisis looms as student numbers slump
UNIVERSITIES in North Cyprus are facing a funding crisis, with 65 per cent of expected foreign students having failed to register for the new academic year.
Some 10,000 overseas students were expected to come to the TRCN this year, mainly from Turkey, but only 3,500 have so far enrolled from Turkey –the lower st number in 10 years- compared to 8,000 last year. An expected 3,000 strong enrolment from “third countries” has,however, been achieved. The shortfall in number could be critical for both universities and the country as a whole, with estimates that an average Turkish student spends about $10,000 in North Cyprus in a year.
Urgent talks are taking place between the government and university rectors to try to avert a major crisis.
Education Ministry undersecretary Erdoğan Sorakın claimed the main reason for the drop in numbers was confusion caused by many students being unaware of the points level needed to gain entry to their chosen courses.
Competition arising from the launch of new universities in Bulgaria, offering cut-price courses to attract Turkish students; and the opening of 15 new universities in Turkey were also factors, as were increases in the cost of living in the TRCN,brought about by exchange rate and rent rises.
Mr Sorakın: “ We are liaising with the government and the rectors as to what solutions we can find for the problem. We are opening two more dates for enrolments, one at the end of September and are confident there will be many more students coming forward.”
Looking to the future of the higher education sector, Mr Sorakın said: “Our aim is to increase the total level of students from 41,000 to 60,000. We will encourage more students to come here by building more accommodation hostels and we are working on other plans to attract youngsters here.”
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