"Erdoğan Will Demonstrate his Strength!"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is visiting Northern Cyprus on the 37^th anniversary of the Turkish invasion on 20 July. At the same time, protestors are taking the streets of the divided island.

A banner reading "You give one and take five and without being ashamed you say you nourish us" was posted on the building of the Turkish Cypriot Union of Public Servants (KTAMS). Two of the public servants who posted the banner were taken into police custody. The banner was taken down by the police.

The Yeni Düzen ('New Order') newspaper that is being published in Northern Cyprus announced that there was no decision to prohibit planned protest actions. Permission for protest actions was denied only for the local Ercan Airport. The daily mentioned strong security measures for the route Erdoğan was going to take.

"More a demonstration of strength than a visit"

Yeni Düzen newspaper publications director Tayfun Çağra evaluated the Prime Minister's visit for bianet. In his opinion, PM Erdoğan came to the island both to participate in the ceremony on 20 July and also to demonstrate his power.

According to Çağra, it was not difficult to see that the concern behind this visit was to show the weight of the Turkish Republic in Northern Cyprus. The journalist drew attention to banners featuring "One single heart is beating in our chests" that were posted on the streets. The same slogan was published in newspaper ads. Çağra said that the propaganda for this demonstration of strength started long before the actual visit.

"Erdoğan offended the people of Northern Cyprus"

bianet recalled Erdoğan's utterances about Northern Cyprus and asked journalist Çağra how the people were going to perceive the Prime Minister.

"Erdoğan told the people of Cyprus that he was going to "nourish" them; he said 'We will pay your salaries'. At the same time he asked the President of Northern Cyprus in front of the press how much he earned. This offended the people of Northern Cyprus", Çağra explained. He said that the people expected a message from Erdoğan prior to his visit that would have eased the situation.

"However, the statements given by Erdoğan to Cypriot newspapers [on Monday 18 July] made clear that there is no ease of the situation", Çağra continued. He indicated that the Prime Minister was not going to apologize because he did not see any reason. "In fact these two days will pass as a demonstration of power", the journalist concluded.

"Cypriots want to be one republic"

Erdoğan had told the papers about the people in Northern Cyprus "Neither do you bear children nor do you want us to bring people [to the island]". Çağra commented that there was a constant increase of the population in the northern part of the island.

"The people of Northern Cyprus and the people who settled on the island after 1974 who feel as Cypriots complain about the growth of the population".

Çağla explained, "Our population is increasing. The conditions of medical service at hospitals and education at school are worsening slowly. Under these circumstances, Cypriots cannot take it well if they hear 'you are not bearing children and you are against our sending people'".

"Starting a race to increase the population in Northern Cyprus is not at all the right way to a solution", Çağra criticized.

"Right from the beginning Northern Cypriots have been dreaming about a united Cyprus. Cypriots do not want to live as a province of Turkey but as a single republic", the journalist highlighted. (EKN)