Cypriot News Headlines 26.7.11

Cypriot newspaper headlines for July 26th, 2011...Alithia: "Go away both of you" headlines an article about DISY head Nikos Anastassiades speech demanding that President Christofias and DIKO president Marios Garoyian resign and take responsibility for the tragic explosion at Mari naval base.

In other news, the electricity authority is making gigantic efforts to reduce electricity blackouts in the wake of the explosion on July 11th.

Simerini: "We wrote off our allies for the sake of Iran and Syria," headlines an article saying that it was the government's intention to return the confiscated munitions to Iran, despite all pressure to the contrary, says the paper, citing secret documents from the Foreign Ministry.

Phileleftheros: 'Pasydy blocking measures' headlines an article saying that government employee union PASYDY has serious objections to the government's plans to cut public spending through austerity measures.

Xaravgi (communist party paper): 'Investigation begins' headlines an article about an investigation into the explosion at Mari naval base. First witnesses are expected on August 22 and the outcome by the end of September. In other news, the paper reports that there is a shift towards renewable energy sources amid an energy crisis caused by the explosion at Mari.

Turkish-Cypriot news headlines July 26th, 2011 (source PIO).
 
Kibris reports that intensified reunification talks started yesterday with the discussion of the chapter of Governance and Power Sharing.

In statements at his office after the meeting, Dervis Eroglu said: “We mutually submitted our proposals and discussed on these proposals. We were not able to completely conclude the issue."

Eroglu added that yesterday they discussed the issues of “Public Service Committee”, “Public Administration”, “Foreign Relations”, “Agreements with Foreign Countries” and similar issues under the chapter of Governance and Power Sharing.

“I could say that we covered a lot of distance and many convergences were achieved but these issues have not been concluded”, said Eroglu pointing out to the importance of the main issues under the chapter of Governance and Power Sharing.

Eroglu noted that they will continue to comply with the principle of “secrecy” after the request of the UN Secretary – General in Geneva. He said they will continue to search for ways of reaching an agreement until October by carrying out the negotiations under the principle of secrecy.

Kibris reports that Mehmet Cakici, leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), has said that the latest by the end of the week his party will file the necessary complaint to international institutions for the violence used against demonstrators during the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s visit to north Cyprus.

Cakici said that the “Security Forces Command” and the “Police Director’s Office” are those responsible for the incidents. He said the attacks by police on demonstrators were planned.

Cakici said that during their meeting with Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister raised the issue of the population and the necessity of the Turkish Cypriots having four children each.

According to Cakici, Erdogan said that the trade unions have no right to go on strike anywhere they wish and that the trade unions which are not member of the International Labor Organization (ILO) should not be taken into consideration. Cakici noted that he responded to Erdogan that all their trade unions are member of ILO and that he should try to understand the trade unions which demand the existence of the Turkish Cypriot community, instead of reacting against them.