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UBP rebels hit ‘self-destruct’ button

May 21, 2013, 3:20 am
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Now that the dust has settled on the political turmoil of the past few days, a number of key developments have emerged.

The motion of ‘no confidence’ in the government has been put to Parliament with the required majority of 26 votes. Once this has been accepted next Monday, the government will be toppled.

Along with the motion, a date was proposed of September 29th for early elections. Prime Minister Kucuk countered with a proposal for an immediate election and the election date was set at July 28th.

This is the first time in the history of the TRNC, that members have rebelled against their own party and joined with the opposition to bring down the government.

From now until next Monday, a period of suspense hangs over parliament. The key question is will the 26 signatories hold firm until the motion is passed on Monday May 27th

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Anastasiades may snub Downer’s dinner date

May 21, 2013, 3:36 am
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UN special representative Alexander Downer set up a dinner meeting on May 29th between the two presidents Anastasiades and Eroglu.

It had been his intention that the two leaders meet with him to kick off the latest round of negotiations on the Cyprus problem.

Both leaders had initially accepted the invitation. However the Greek Cypriot President then stepped back saying that he had assumed that the dinner was meant to be a purely social affair. He felt aggrieved that political overtones had crept in and wrote a strong letter of complaint to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon saying that he was reconsidering the invitation.

Now it has emerged that Mr Anastasiades is waiting for a response from the UN before he decides on the dinner invitation. He also wants assurances from Mr Eroglu that discussions will be purely social.

The post Anastasiades may snub Downer’s dinner date appeared first on North Cyprus News | LGC News.

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Eroglu: Dinner is for cordiality and road map discussion

May 21, 2013, 9:03 am
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Turkish Cypriot President Dervis Eroglu stated that the planned dinner between him and President Nicos Anastasiades can take place either on 29th or 30th  May.

Eroglu, who was asked about his expectations about the dinner, said that it this would be an opportunity to create a cordial atmosphere prior to the negotiations and to discuss a road map.

The post Eroglu: Dinner is for cordiality and road map discussion appeared first on North Cyprus News | LGC News.

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UBP rebels to be disciplined

May 21, 2013, 4:01 pm
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Eight rebel UBP members of parliament were referred to the disciplinary committee today.

They include Irsen Kucuk’s opponent for leadership of the UBP, Dr Ahmet Kasif, Turka Tokel , Hasan Tacoy and others.

The ultimate punishment could be expulsion from the party.

Currently a vote of ‘no confidence’ has been tabled by rebel members of the UBP, led by Ahmet Kasif. Parliamentary members will have to wait until next Monday to see the outcome of the motion. If it is successful, the government will fall.

Elections will be held in Autumn this year.

The post UBP rebels to be disciplined appeared first on North Cyprus News | LGC News.

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UBP leadership bites back

May 22, 2013, 2:49 am
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10 rebel members of parliament in the ruling UBP party have been a thorn in the side of the government.

Earlier this week, 8 of the rebels, led by Dr Ahmet Kasif, sided with opposition parties and signed a motion of ‘no confidence’ in the government. This motion will be discussed in parliament on Monday May 27th and if passed the government will be toppled and have to go to early elections.

The party has been quick to react to what it sees as an act of treachery and all 8 rebels will be censured at a party assembly today. The most likely outcome is that they will all be expelled from the party.

The post UBP leadership bites back appeared first on North Cyprus News | LGC News.

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President Eroglu to hold press conference today

May 22, 2013, 2:49 am
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President Dervis Eroglu has scheduled a press conference later today to address the issue of the motion of ‘no confidence’ in the government.

So far he has not commented on these important developments. However, his support of the rebel group of UBP group and the enmity between himself and Prime Minister Kucuk is well known.

There have been many rumours circulating about his involvement in the latest coup attempt and it is hoped that he will clarify his position to the press.

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Tragic accident near Lapta

May 22, 2013, 11:19 am
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A Mercedes ploughed into a cyclist near the monument at Escape beach earlier this afternoon.

Eyewitnesses have suggested that sun may have blinded the Mercedes driver. The cyclist was a foreign woman who had stopped to admire the monument. Her identity has not yet been released.

The post Tragic accident near Lapta appeared first on North Cyprus News | LGC News.

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Shots fired in the capital

May 22, 2013, 11:27 am
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Late this afternoon gunfire erupted in Nicosia. According to police, one shot broke the window of ‘Javal’, a high end jewelers, whilst another hit nearby boutique clothing store ‘Novita’.

Details of the incident are unclear at present, though police are at the scene conducting investigations. No casualties have been reported at this stage.

The incident marks an end to the recent lull in shootings in the TRNC. On the 9th of March, a club managers residence was shot at in the Bogaz area.

The post Shots fired in the capital appeared first on North Cyprus News | LGC News.

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24th May – Power cut Yeni Bogazici to Ambelia

May 23, 2013, 6:12 am
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Building contractors association forced to sell own building

May 23, 2013, 7:41 am
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Less than two years ago the Construction Contractors Association opened their new building on August 5th 2011.

A grand ceremony with many notables attending was held. Some of those present at the prestigious new building in Nicosia, included Prime Minister Kucuk, CTP party leader Yorgancioglu, Finance Minister Ersin Tatar and Health Minister Kasif.

At that time, the president of the Construction Contractors Association, Cafer Gurcafer boasted of a million dollar industry which sustained 90 other sectors in the TRNC.

The funding for the building was financed by the TRNC Co-operative Bank, who took a mortgage on the building as security.

However, despite having an annual income of £200,000, the association did not meet its contracted loan repayments.

Eventually the Coop Bank took the matter to court and won. Now the association has, in a panic, called for a general Assembly and for its members to agree to sell half of their head office.

Many of the contractors opposed this motion because they regarded it as a fire sale. Eventually the extraordinary General Assembly voted against the sale.

In a few days’ time, Ahmet Bastas will be the new head of the association and all eyes will be on him, to see how he resolves this situation.

The post Building contractors association forced to sell own building appeared first on North Cyprus News | LGC News.

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Turkish Cypriot Islamic museum to open

May 23, 2013, 8:10 am
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A new museum will be opened by Prime Minister Irsen Kucuk tomorrow.

The ceremony will take place at 10am in Nicosia.

The museum will exhibit works from mosques around the country, including hand made carpets, some of which are 400 years old, rugs and ornate silver timepieces.

Funding was provided by Turkey.

The post Turkish Cypriot Islamic museum to open appeared first on North Cyprus News | LGC News.

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Rompuy strong supporter of Turkey’s EU entry

May 24, 2013, 1:44 am
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Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Council met with President Gul and then Prime Minister Erdogan in Ankara yesterday.

During his press statements he strongly supported Turkey’s EU membership bid. He commented that EU trade ties with Turkey were already very strong and that the EU block were pleased with the peace negotiations with the Kurds.

Van Rompuy was particularly impressed with the Turkish economy saying that its 5% growth rate of GDP was better than any EU nation. Also public debt at 35% made it the envy of its European neighbours.

Before he was president, Van Rompuy had expressed reticence about possible Turkish membership of the EU. In 2004, he stated “An enlargement [of the EU] with Turkey is not in any way comparable with previous enlargement waves. Turkey is not Europe and will never be Europe.” He continued “but it’s a matter of fact that the universal values which are in force in Europe, and which are also the fundamental values of Christianity, will lose vigour with the entry of a large Islamic country such as Turkey.”

More recently, commenting on the Cyprus issue, he felt that it was essential to find a solution and that the offshore gas discoveries should be a further incentive for a solution.

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Avalanche of new Citizens

May 24, 2013, 1:59 am
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It has been alleged that a well-known tactic for whatever TRNC party is in government, uses its authority to push through citizenship applications before an election. These grateful new citizens then vote for their benefactor.

As soon as early elections were announced, the Council of Ministers has been inundated with citizenship applications.

Since the start of the week, the Immigration department has been processing thousands of applications and has put its employees on overtime.

Rumours are that Prime Minister Kucuk ordered that four thousand new citizens be made. He has denied this but the long queues outside the Immigration office do point to a renewed push for citizenship.

The post Avalanche of new Citizens appeared first on North Cyprus News | LGC News.

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8 rebel MPs expelled from party

May 24, 2013, 8:44 am
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It was always going to happen but the disciplinary committee has made it official today.

The 8 rebel UBP members who signed the motion of ‘no confidence’ against the government have paid with their expulsion from the party.

Prime Minister, Irsen Kucuk has said that he will not contest the motion on Monday May 27th. Instead he will be concentrating on the early elections, scheduled for July 28th.

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Downer dinner date is on again

May 24, 2013, 10:05 am
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UN special envoy Alexander Downer has arranged for a dinner with Presidents Eroglu and Anastasiades. This was scheduled for May 29th and agreed to by both parties.

However, last week, Anastasiades threw a wobbly and backed away from the dinner saying that he assumed it would be a purely social affair and there would be no political discussions.

He voiced his concerns in a letter to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and said that he was awaiting a reply from him directly and not from Downer. He also wanted the date changed to May 30th.

A reply has come, according to spokesman Christos Stylianidis on a radio programme last night. He says that Ban Ki-moon has been agreeable to the new set of conditions demanded by Anastasiades.

To avoid anyone feeling uncomfortable, maybe they will strictly focus on the Eurovision song contests.

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South Cyprus gas exploration plans develop

May 25, 2013, 12:51 am
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South Cyprus Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis has announced his government’s strategy on exploiting natural gas reserves in Cyprus’ EEZ. This includes plans to build a gas liquefaction (LNG) terminal.

The minister, speaking on Thursday before the House Commerce Committee said that the creation of a national hydrocarbons fund was in process under the umbrella of the Finance Ministry.

Lakkotrypis added that Cyprus was now on the energy map according to the European Council. Asked why there had been delays in these processes, the minister said that the process was complex and also pointed to current geopolitical complications as regards the gas finds.

Turkey disputes the rights of South Cyprus to claim the EEZ for itself without reference to the TRNC particularly blocs 5 and 6. Recently Ankara expressed an interest in exploring blocks 4, 5, 6, and 7 for itself.

None of which appears to have stopped the South making its plans. He reaffirmed the government’s position that oil extraction must take place end of 2019 beginning of 2020. Lakkotrypis also said that soon the government will sign a MoU with Houston-based Noble for the LNG.

In his statements, the Minister said that government is considering the merging of the Cyprus National Hydrocarbons Company (KRETYK) with Natural Gas Public Company (DEFA) with the aim to create an optimal organization.

Cyprus entered the natural gas scene in late 2011, when US-based Noble Energy discovered a gross mean of 7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in Cyprus` block 12.

Contracts were signed with the ENI/KOGAS consortium in blocks 2, 3 and 9 within Cyprus’ EEZ and Total for blocks 10 and 11 in the context of the 2nd licensing round.

The post South Cyprus gas exploration plans develop appeared first on North Cyprus News | LGC News.

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Police night club swoop

May 25, 2013, 1:19 am
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Police raids on night clubs are growing in frequency, as another one took place last night.

The ‘Titanic’ night club in Gecitkoy was raided again and six people were arrested in relation to prostitution laws.

The post Police night club swoop appeared first on North Cyprus News | LGC News.

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Fake marriage exposed

May 25, 2013, 1:27 am
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Muhammad Abit came over from Pakistan in 2008 and has been working in the TRNC under a work permit.

In 2011 he went to the TRNC Social Security office and announced that he was married and asked for the TL 2,500 ‘marriage gift’ that is paid out by the State. He produced his marriage certificate showing he had been married in Pakistan and received the payment.

However this story does not have a happy ending.

Mr Abit appeared at Nicosia court yesterday, charged with fraud. He had produced a fake marriage certificate from Pakistan in order to obtain the money.

A keen eyed government official realised that Mr Abit had entered the TRNC in 2008 and had only once left the country, in 2012. This did not reconcile with his story of getting married in Pakistan in 2011.

Mr Abit was found out, even though it was two years after the payment. He has been remanded in custody awaiting a court date.

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UN pointed response to Anastasiades’ dinner reservations

May 25, 2013, 1:42 am
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The Greek Cypriot government has been heavily criticising the UN special advisor on Cyprus Alexander Downer, recently.

Susana Malcorra, who is the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, met with the Greek Cypriot representative to the UN, yesterday.

At the end of the meeting, Ms Malcorra stated that the UN had full confidence in Mr Downer and that they felt he would bring the two Cypriot leaders together for a meal in an appropriate fashion.

The post UN pointed response to Anastasiades’ dinner reservations appeared first on North Cyprus News | LGC News.

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Lawyer outraged by new citizenship avalanche

May 25, 2013, 2:01 am
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A noted lawyer is outraged by the flurry of new citizenships being granted.

Nedime Ozatac was Chief of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of the Interior in 1993 and was responsible for preparing the Citizenship Act for the Ministry.

She is now so outraged by the new citizenships that are being issued, that she has decided to speak to the press. The new citizenships of recent years are in fact illegal and should be cancelled, she says.

Ms Ozatac stresses that the Ministry has been using its powers incorrectly and that the recent spate of granting new citizenship is politically motivated, against the law and should be reversed.

Her Citizenship Act took her 6 months to prepare in 1993. She says that it was passed through the various committees and became law without a single amendment.

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