Day: May 8, 2023

President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides received on Monday House President and President of the Democratic Rally (DISY), Annita Demetriou, with whom he discussed about the Cyprus issue and matters of internal governance. Demetriou said after the meeting that she had sent earlier a letter to her counterparts of EU member states and the Presidents of the European Peoples' Party, informing them about the developments regarding the fenced off area of Famagusta and urging them to defend justice and legality. The House President said she was informed about the actions and representations made by the Republic of Cyprus concerning the properties issue in the fenced off area of Famagusta. In addition, she said she informed the President about the Parliament's and her party's actions on the same matter. Demetriou said they both agree on the goal to resume the Cyprus talks, exploiting every opportunity not only for information purposes, but also for taking specific actions. She added that the President briefed her on the meetings he had recently and on the actions that are being prepared. "It is important to realize that we all have a responsibility both as political forces, but also as individuals, to serve the goal of restarting the negotiations. This is the purpose of our initiatives", she added. Concluding, Demetriou said that they also discussed about internal governance issues, such as law bills that will be tabled in Parliament. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, is often described as a 'ghost town'. UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN. UN Security Council resolution 789 (1992) also urges that with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha. The Turkish Cypriot leadership announced in July 2021 a partial lifting of the military status in Varosha. A few months earlier, on October 8, 2020, the Turkish side opened part of the fenced area of Varosha, following an announcement made in Ankara on October 6. The UN Security Council called for the reversal of this course of action, while the UN Secretary General, in his latest report on his mission of good offices in Cyprus, reiterated his concern over developments in the fenced-off area, noting that the position of the UN on Varosha remains unchanged. The EU also expressed grave concern.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The foreign ministers of Pakistan and India on Friday urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to take collective actions to tackle collective challenges faced by the region and the world. Speaking at the SCO Foreign Ministers' summit at the resort city of Goa in India, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the solution to "collective challenges should be collective action, not a divided reaction." "While our problems may seem immense, I believe as a united human race we have the capacity to not only deal with the challenges but to learn lessons for our collective good, and build in the resilience that will equip us to address future challenges," he said. It is the first trip to India by any Pakistani foreign minister in over a decade. Speaking on challenges posed by climate and terrorism, Zardari said Pakistan was "badly affected" by the twin challenges. "Our planet can only be saved from the ravages of climate change if the international community works in unison. For Pakistan, this is today's problem. We recently faced the greatest climate catastrophe we have ever witnessed," he said. The top Pakistani diplomat urged the SCO member countries that the security problem is their joint responsibility as terrorism continues to threaten global security and "let's not get caught up in weaponizing terrorism for diplomatic point scoring." He also urged the world community to continue meaningful engagement with the interim Afghan government as the situation in Afghanistan presents new challenges as well as opportunities. "After being the playground for great powers, time and time again, we owe it to the people of Afghanistan to not repeat the mistakes of the past," he said. Later speaking to reporters, Zardari said that the onus was on India to build a 'conducive environment for talks' after the Indian government scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, according to the local daily Dawn. Relations between the two nuclear neighbors have been at an all-time low since Aug. 2019, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government scrapped Article 370 and Article 35A of the Indian Constitution, which granted Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir special status and imprisoned several Kashmiri leaders. Subsequently, Islamabad suspended all exports and trade relations and reduced diplomatic ties with New Delhi. He also criticized New Delhi for holding G20 Leaders' Summit in Jammu and Kashmir and said it shows India's "arrogance and violation of international law" as Kashmir is a disputed territory, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. 'Kashmir's special status now a history' Responding to Zardari's comment, India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Pakistan has nothing to do with India holding the G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a press conference on Friday evening, he said: "I don't think there is a G20 issue to debate with anyone. Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will be part of India, and G20 meetings are held in all Indian states and union territories, so it is completely natural that it is held there.' 'There is only one issue to discuss on Kashmir which is when does Pakistan vacate its illegal occupation of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. That is the only issue up for discussion," the minister said. He said Kashmir's special status, which was abrogated in 2019, is now a "history." Earlier addressing the summit, Jaishankar said as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and geo-political upheavals, the world is today facing a multitude of challenges. "These challenges, however, are also an opportunity for member states of the SCO to collaborate and address them collectively. With more than 40% of the world's population within the SCO, our collective decisions will surely have a global impact," he said. He also stated that while the world was engaged in facing COVID-19 and its consequences, the "menace of terrorism continues unabated." "Taking our eyes off this menace would be detrimental to our security interests. We firmly believe that there can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism," he said, adding that the "unfolding situation in Afghanistan remains at the center of our attention." The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a Eurasian political, economic, international security and defense organization. It is the world's largest regional organization in terms of geographic scope and population, covering approximately 60% of the area of Eurasia, and 40% of the world population.

Source: Anadolu Agency

At least 22 people died after a tourist boat capsized in Malappuram district of India's southern state of Kerala, officials said Monday. The incident happened Sunday evening off the coastal town of Tanur and a rescue operation was immediately launched, according to local authorities. "We have recovered 22 bodies, which include women and children. The rescue operation is still ongoing," Moosa Vadakkethil, a senior fire official in Malappuram, told Anadolu by phone. "This boat capsized Sunday evening and the survivors told us that it was overcrowded," Moosa said, adding there were more than 30 people onboard and many were rescued alive. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said he has directed the district administration to coordinate rescue operations, which are being overseen by Cabinet ministers. "Heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and friends," he wrote on Twitter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was pained by the loss of lives due to the boat mishap. "Condolences to the bereaved families," Modi said while announcing compensation to the next of kin of each victim.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Five people were injured in the attack on the vehicle used for announcements for the election campaign in Tarsus, Mersin, the windows of the vehicle were broken and the tires were cut with knives. The meeting of Istanbul's Mayor in Erzurum also witnessed an attack and had to be stopped on Sunday. An attack was made on the Green and Left Party (YSP) vehicle used for the announcements for the election campaign in Tarsus, Mersin with knives and stones yesterday (May 7)

Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reported that the YSP vehicle was attacked by a group of approximately 20 people who came out of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) election office yesterday at noon while waiting in a red light on Atatürk Avenue in the Yenimahalle neighborhood of Tarsus.

Seven party members inside the vehicle were subjected to the cursing and insults of the group and attacked with sticks and knives.

Five of them were injured and the windows of the vehicle were broken while the tires were cut with knives.

One injured party member who spoke to MA said that there was no intervention by the police despite there being many police officers around during the event. Accordingly, the YSP members made a complaint at the Tarsus Police Headquarters against the aggressors after the attack and one of their friends was receiving treatment in hospital.

Attack on Imamoglu's meeting

Yesterday (May 7) the meeting of the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Ekrem Imamoglu in Erzurum also came under attack.

A group threw objects at the bus on which Imamoglu was addressing the people and also threw stones at the people gathered in the square in order to listen to Imamoglu upon which the election gathering had to end and Imamoglu returned to Istanbul

Source: English Bianet

Israeli army forces on Sunday demolished a Palestinian school in the occupied West Bank for lack of a building permit, according to a local official. Hassan Brijieh, the head of the so-called Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission in Bethlehem, said Israeli forces and bulldozers moved into the town of Jibb Al-Deeb, east of Bethlehem city, and demolished the donor-funded school. The school is located in Area C of the West Bank, which is under the Israeli army control and was first demolished by Israel in 2017. Brijieh said the school contains five classrooms and houses nearly 66 students between the first and fourth grades. The Palestinian Education Ministry condemned the school demolition and called on international and legal institutions to shoulder their responsibility towards Israeli violations. Israel widely uses the pretext of lack of construction permits to demolish Palestinian homes, especially in Area C. Under the 1995 Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, was divided into three portions - Area A, B, and C. *Writing by Ahmed Asmar

Source: Anadolu Agency

The number of people who cast their votes has already surpassed the previous election. The number of voters who cast their votes at foreign representations and customs for the May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections was 1 million 599 thousand 152.

In the 2018 election, 1 million 358 thousand 584 people voted abroad.

According to the statement made by the Supreme Election Board (YSK), as part of the voting process that started on April 27th at customs gates and foreign representations, 1 million 490 thousand 727 voters voted abroad, and 108 thousand 425 voters voted at customs.

Voting procedures at foreign representations will continue until May 9, and at customs until 5:00 PM on May 14th.

There are 3 million 416 thousand 98 registered voters abroad

Source: English Bianet

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has appealed for urgent humanitarian aid to Sudan amid the ongoing fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. At least 550 people have been killed and more than 4,900 injured in fighting between the two military rivals since April 15, according to Sudan's Health Ministry. In a statement, the Jeddah-based grouping said OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha 'made an urgent appeal to the OIC Member States, financial and humanitarian institutions and international donors to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to Sudan.' Taha called on the donors and partners to 'focus on the provision of medical supplies and health services to Sudan.' He also appealed for support for 'Sudan's neighboring countries' efforts in hosting the numerous Sudanese and foreign refugees.' The OIC also called for 'the full respect of the humanitarian principles and standards and invited the parties to facilitate the delivery of the humanitarian assistance to those in need in different parts of the country.' Representatives of the Sudanese army and the RSF held their first face-to-face talks in Saudi Arabia on Saturday in an effort to resolve their dispute. A disagreement had been fomenting in recent months between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary force over RSF integration into the armed forces, a key condition of Sudan's transition agreement with political groups. Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021, when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's transitional government and declared a state of emergency in a move decried by political forces as a "coup." Sudan's transitional period, which started in August 2019 after the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir, had been scheduled to end with elections in early 2024. *Writing by Ikram Kouachi

Source: Anadolu Agency

Selma Ates, sister of the assassinated ex-president of Grey Wolves, draws attention to the "network" around the murder, including politicians, parliamentarians, and bagmen, and asks, "What is the power that brings all of them together?" Selma Ates, elder sister of Sinan Ates, the ex-President of Grey Wolves who was killed in Ankara on December 30, 2022, said that nobody from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) visited them or expressed their condolences after the killing of her brother.

Selma Ates talked to journalist Ismail Saymaz. She said that there had been three attempted attacks on her brother already before the murder and that he was threatened. "He and his friends were receiving threatening messages. We were expecting an attack but not something like this. We did not believe that anyone could dare do this. Because we did not think, they had the bagmen do it," Ates told Saymaz.

"Who is behind the Sinan Ates murder?"

Selma Ates says that she cannot answer the question of who was behind the Sinan Ates murder. She says, "I hope that justice will be secured for all that had this done and all involved. There are 22 people arrested now. But I do not believe that the instigators are among them. I believe that the instigators are outside. You can have a drug addict or a bagman do anything when you give him 100 lira."

"My brother's soul is not at ease when the instigators are wandering around, outside. If there are 22 people on the side that we can see, how many are there on the side that we cannot see? There is this network if we should call it such, including politicians, parliamentarians, bagmen; what power can gather all of them together? Who are behind it? Why did they think that Sinan deserved this? The ones who should answer are the instigators."

What happened?

Tolgahan Demirbas, the arrested suspect charged with sharing the location before Sinan Ates was assassinated and fleeing the gunman Eray Özyagci afterward was caught in a house where MHP Mersin MP Olcay Kilavuz was also present during the police raid.

The custody report kept by the police when Demirbas was caught at the house Kilavuz was also present was later lost.

Eray Özyagci, the fugitive murder suspect was caught by the border troops when trying to flee to Greece and then arrested.

There are 21 persons arrested in relation to the investigation.

About Sinan Ates

Sinan Ates became the leader of the Grey Wolves in 2019 following the instruction of MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli. In the period when IYI Party was founded, Ates came out in favor of MHP leadership and criticized those leaving MHP in order to join the IYI Party.

On April 2, 2020, Ates resigned as the president of the Grey Wolves and started to work in the Hacettepe University History Department.

Sinan Ates was born in Dursunbey, Balikesir in 1984 and he studied in Bursa until graduating from high school. He then went to the Gazi University Education Department in Ankara in 2002.

He completed his postgraduate studies at Hacettepe University in Ankara between 2010-2018. Ates was the high school leader of the Grey Wolves in Bursa between 2000-2002 and on the boards of the Ankara branch and headquarters of Grey Wolves between 2002-2006.

He was married and the father of two daughters.

About Grey Wolves

The Grey Wolves are seen as the paramilitary wing of the MHP, the political party supporting President Erdogan's government and making up the People's Alliance together with his AKP.

In 2020 France officially banned the Grey Wolves after a center dedicated to the memory of those who died in the mass killings of Armenians during World War I was defaced with graffiti, including the name of the Grey Wolves.

Earlier last year, the European Parliament called on the European Union and its member states to examine the possibility of adding the Grey Wolves to the EU terrorist list.

In its 2019-2020 report prepared by Turkey rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor, the EP voiced concerns about the group, saying it was expanding to worrying levels not only in Turkey but also in EU countries

Source: English Bianet

The death toll from floods and landslides in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 300, an official said Sunday. 'Deaths from floods and landslides continue to increase and 300 bodies have now been recovered,' said Thomas Bakenga, the administrator of Kalehe territory in South Kivu province, where the affected areas are located. On Saturday, 270 bodies had been recovered. Bakenga said burials of victims in the two most affected villages began yesterday. He said that so far, 142 bodies have been buried in Bushushu village and 132 in Nyamukubi village while 26 are yet to be buried. Hundreds of people were injured and a team of doctors has arrived to care for them, he said, adding that residents, humanitarian organizations and local authorities continue to plead for emergency assistance for the injured and the affected families. Heavy rains fell on Thursday and Friday in Kalehe, causing the Cibira/Cabondo and Nyamukubi rivers to overflow, which led to flooding in villages and the destruction of homes as well as landslides.

Source: Anadolu Agency