By ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
The island of Cyprus is a place of common history and shared geography, divided by ethnic violence.
The conflict ignited through “Turkishness” and “Greekness” has left thousands of people without children, homes, and property.
We still live under conditions of a ceasefire…
Our youth are involuntarily conscripted for military service.
They are emigrating.
It is extremely dangerous for an individual in the north or south of Cyprus to face discrimination solely based on their ethnic identity.
Particularly harassment, oppression, and violence!
Fortunately, for the past 20 years, there have been mutual crossings with no significant incidents.
Respect is mostly observed.
The two communities are doing business, producing together, establishing friendships, and getting married.
They work side by side, march together at joint rallies, and spend vacations together.
Last year, 6.6 million crossings were recorded.
This is an outstanding figure!
***
There has been no serious incident of violence since that young man whose head was brutally smashed with a rock; [Translator’s note: reference to Tasos Isaac who was killed by Turkish far-right ultranationalists in Deryneia in 1996]; despite the provocations of some fanatics on both sides of the island, the communities have maintained their cooperation, friendship, and solidarity.
In recent days, a young girl claimed to have been subjected to violence in the south, arrests were made regarding this, and the investigation is ongoing.
It’s not like crime or criminals don’t exist.
They exist.
We’ve been through a lot.
Our island is not as safe as it used to be…
Especially with the uncontrolled influx of population…
The rate and variety of crimes are increasing…
We are aware of these.
However, we need to protect and watch out for each other.
In a fragile place like Cyprus, ethnic unrest should never be allowed…
It was announced that police made arrests and launched an investigation following this recent incident.
This is important!
***
There is another danger: Hate communication. Unfortunately, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is being used for that…
In the event of tensions between the two communities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately gets involved.
With eagerness!
But what does it do if there is friendship or cooperation?
Then there is deep silence…
There are so many shared beauties, activities, production, and efforts in the country of Cyprus…
When that is the case, the “TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs” is nowhere to be seen!
But as soon as there is tension, they immediately exacerbate the situation…
The reason for this is the minister’s shame.
Because he was not elected by this community, he was not appointed by his party, but he was placed in that seat through directives and instructions.
He reflects his anger and complexes onto others.
He wants to make people forget about the betrayal to the Turkish Cypriots’ struggle for “self-determination and to elect their own leaders” by using the language of hatred…
***
Our homeland and our future are shared.
Our geography and history unite us…
Let’s protect and watch out for each other, and not allow ethnic discrimination…
Let’s also be vigilant against hate communication.
Russian Play and Population Policy in Kyrenia
[Photo insert: Photograph from Russian play staged in Kyrenia]
A Russian theatre performance was staged in Kyrenia, by foreign directors and actors who have settled in our country…
The play was directed by Elya Gilman, who received the “Best Female Director” award in five different categories at the Cannes World Film Festival.
We have such gems among us…
In fact, there is a second play coming following the children’s play titled “Pippi Longstocking,” this time for an adult audience…
There is now a significant Russian population in our country…
How beautiful is Cyprus with its multicultural state…
As long as we maintain high standards…
I wholeheartedly congratulate the “Kyrenia Municipality Theatre Communities”…
***
There is one dimension of the population issue that is under control.
And then there is the dimension that is out of control!
That is the alarming part…
Because it is unplanned and unregulated…
Workers who come on “student permits” have become the new favourites of the labour market…
Skilled workers who hold Republic of Cyprus IDs run off to work in the south to earn euro salaries…
But what about those who cannot cross to the south?
They are helpless and unemployed…
Another problem caused by the uncontrolled population is the strain on the schools, the hospitals, traffic, and chaos… Once again, the root cause is the absence of planning!
It’s ultimately “lack of management”!
After all, there is no competent “director” in this aspect of the matter!
“The Invisible President” (!)
The performance of Ünal Üstel’s government is abysmal!
I say this based on data and research; the level of satisfaction even among his own supporters is plummeting.
Trust in a “prime minister” has possibly reached its lowest point in history.
Perhaps that’s why they decided to make him “invisible” during the election campaign! Neither their photos nor their bodies and statements come side by side with Ali Başman… [Translator’s note: UBP’s candidate for an upcoming by-election]…
What’s more, there is common talk of Ali Başman being “Ünal Üstel’s candidate” within the party…
The fact that Üstel was not actually “elected” in itself creates mistrust.
As if that’s not enough, in an environment where unemployment is at its most pressing, he shares lists with his “partners” of people he plans to hire, gaining a reputation for “following up on favours”.
That’s when he becomes “visible”!
“We’ll go bankrupt if the Pound reaches ₺7.5”
[Photo insert: A cartoon of the Dollar and Euro mocking the Turkish Lira]
“Will the pound reach ₺7.5?
If it does…
According to the bosses, we’re ruined!”
These are the words I wrote in 2018.
We had a dinner meeting with the management of the Chamber of Commerce.
This was what they told me!
Yesterday morning, the British Pound was bought at ₺26.35 and sold at ₺27.35.
It reached 29 in the morning…
Interestingly, these people still don’t talk about the “transition to the Euro.”
Even those who were in management that day are advocating a future based on the “Turkish Lira”!
How much more do they want us to sink?
Source: SHARED GEOGRAPHY, COMMON FUTURE: LET’S PROTECT AND WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER
