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Our adventures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue....
Yesterday we were supposed to be doing the annual charity walk across the mountain to Karsiyaka. Guess what, it was cancelled due to more heavy rain and also some serious damage to the roads over the mountains from the recent storms. The suggestion is that it will now take place at the end of March. Saturdays headline is, " Natural disaster is worst flooding in living memory". The Turkish troops were put on alert as the torrential rain continued. The deluge tore down bridges, flooded homes and business premises, breached dams and brought TRNC to a standstill. The amount of rain that fell reached 18cms in the 24 hour period to midnight. There were landslides across some of the highways that run close to mountain sides closing a number of main roads. Guess our little newly created river was small in comparison to the problems of others and at least we were able to divert the flow. Other news includes a heart operation for our chaplain at St Andrews Church, the Rev Michael Houston. We understand that he is recovering well and we wish him a speedy full recovery. The building contractors are still threatening the government with action should their demands not be met. (see last weeks posting). I personally don't see how this government can overcome the worlds financial crisis all on it's own and solve their problem of little or no business. Despite their cries for help they continue to build empty shops, that are far in excess of anything that is ever likey to be needed here, unless the population quadruples over the next couple of years. Does anybody recall discussions about the Treaty of Guarantee signed in 1960 by Greece, United Kingdom and Turkey. This treaty was the agreement under which the island was to be governed and the signature parties were supposed to support and if necessary intervene should things not work out. The Greeks forced a change to the constitution in 1963, then in 1974 they sparked a military coup that ousted President Makarios. The British did their ostrich trick and buried their heads in the sand, which they have continued to do ever since and the finally Tuirkey intervened to allow their own people to live in a sort of peace ever since. Now the Greek Cypriots have passed a resolution in their parliament, that The Treaty of Guarantee, which is still technically effective, should be scrapped. Will somebody please tell me "What chance peace talks" whilst this political stupidity goes on.
The midweek paper is starting to ask, "Who's to blame" for the scale of the disaster, caused when we were deluged with rain for almost 36 hours. OK we had an excessive amount of rain, but the environmentalists are wanting to know who allowed building in riverbeds, or who turned a blind eye to it. President Talat says that greed is to blame, with people building in riverbeds and on flood plains for their own financial gain. One of the most serious consequences was in Lefkosa State Hospital, where seven people died after a power cut caused by the flooding. The basement where back up generators were housed flooded, making these useless also, leaving vital medical equipment without power. The Health Ministry first of all said that deaths were due to natural causes and then later admitted that two buildings on the hospitsl complex were built on a riverbed without any environmental or ground study. The Orams are once again heading back to court, because their legal team is challenging the Court of Appeals decision. So once again we need to watch this space. The mayor of Lefkosa is threatening to resign if he is not given funding and permission to demolish houses built on riverbeds etc. Now correct me if I am wrong, but should the local authority not be involved in agreeing to planning consent! One of the leading poiticians in the south has admitted that the recent resolution, scrapping the Treaty of Guarantee was wrong. He claims that the timing was all wrong and that such intervention could backfire in the event that the current peace talks failed. He said that the blame game, in the aftermath of the talks ending unsuccesfully, could point the finger directly at the South. Is it possible that the South are now finally getting it wrong? Easyjet and Jet2 are set to launch low cost flights from the UK to Paphos this summer. This could be interesting for anybody coming over, but you have to bear in mind the time and cost of the 3 hour journey to Paphos.
Early start for me this morning. Charles and Yvonne needed to be at the airport for 6 o'clock as they are flying to Stansted and then on to Aberdeen, to visit Charles's son, so I went with them and brought their car back home. This reduced the numbers for The Layabouts night out. Pat is also in UK, Andrew and Sue are involved in the Theatre Lambousa show due to be on next week, so five of us went to The Green Palace in Karsiyaka. Worth it all round, my T-bone steak was delicious.
Joan and I walked across the border in Lefkosa today, sort of an obligation on my part as next week is Joan's birthday and so far I had not bought anything. Problem was solved with some new shoes and a new sweater plus a nice lunch in an old town area tavena. Whew, another let off and maybe some brownie points.
Yesterdays newspaper is leading with the very important decision coming out of the ECHR. Greek Cypriots must apply to the TRNC Immovable Property Commission (IPC) for compensation or the return of land, prior to any settlement on the island. The IPC was born out of a call by the ECHR for an effective local remedy to tackle the claims on property in Northern Cyprus. A panel of 17 judges in the ECHR agreed that the IPC is an appropriate domestic body, with access to all the relevant information and was clearly the more appropriate forum for sorting out the very complex matters of ownership etc. and then deciding on appropriate levels of compensation. Already almost £40 million has been awarded in compensation since the IPC was launched in 2005. Now with this decision coming out of the European Court, Greek Cypriots have no option but to proceed through these channels. This decision should radically change the attitude to property issues here and maybe give a much needed boost to the future development of the TRNC. Meanwhile the two presidents are still talking and trying, they say, to reach a mutual compromise solution. These talks will of course be suspended at the end of March when our president will be heavily involved in the elections. Should he of course fall by the wayside then it will probably be a case of going back to the drawing board with any new man, so in short don't expect too much too soon. Lots of accusations of blame for the damage caused by the recent heavy rains being thrown around. In particular the protests are coming from the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Union. They are quite adamant in saying that there members could not be responsible for dumping in ravines, building on river beds etc. They claim that it must have been illegal contractors. Interesting to note that 12 years ago this union had 20 members, today there are 460 members. As one of the Opinion journalists, tongue in cheek, suggests, these must all be qualified in architectural design, construction and engineering. So exercise great care out there, the fast buck merchants are still around and the for sure do not have the necessary qualifications.
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