Frank and Joan's news for 17 January 2010 in Northern Cyprus

Frank and Joan's Adventures in Northern Cyprus

Our adventures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue....

According to yesterday's newspaper, the end is in sight for the Orams. The legal ruling from the London Court of Appeal will be given on Tuesday next. Both sides already know the court findings but are legally bound not to disclose the result before Tuesday. Still therefore speculation abounds. Today's Cyprus Mail suggests that the whole thing could once again be referred back to Luxembourg as EU law cannot apply here until there is a settlement on the island.

The biggest piece of news today is the signing of The Economic and Cooperation Protocol between Turkey and TRNC. This agreement is in return for all the financial support that has and is still being given by Turkey. The whole is to be implemented by end 2012 and is aimed at cutting government spending, overhauling the country's infrastructure, improving utility supplies and boosting industry.
Some of the measures which have got opposition parties bleating, are

the privatisation of the Electricity Supply Company and CTA, among others. Also the government is planning a restructuring of the stupid summer working hours, when government workers etc only attend for around 4/5 hours per day. This in a time of new offices and air conditioning. Also there are plane to cut the salary payments and to block all recruitment. I have always said that the time to do the nasty things to try to straighten this country's economics out is in the first year of office and it looks as if it may be happening. They also will need to reduce the power of the unions here if they are to succeed. Interesting times ahead.

Reunification of the island is not moving forward at all it would seem. The first phase of the new intensive talks has concluded without any significant announcements. Should the second phase talks, to be held on 25,26 and 27 January, also conclude without result, then it is very likely that President Talat will have snookered any chance of re-election in April.

The likely replacement will be the current Prime Minister and he is already saying that because past agreements have always ended in rejection, the Turkish Cypriots no longer entertained hopes of a solution. He says that his vision, if the talks do fail, is a mutually agreed separation. In other words, similar to the division of Czechoslovakia in to the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This should of course include recognition around the world.

General stuff in the paper says that this has been declared the warmest winter for 30 years and have to admit that Joan and I have only this week put our electric blanket on the bed. Having said that the week ahead looks very bleak, with rain, rain and more rain forecast until the end of the week. So that lets me off the rest of the hedge cutting for a little while.