YUSUF KANLI

Difficult decision for Turkish Cypriot electorate YUSUF KANLI

Difficult decision for Turkish Cypriot electorate

Conservative, leftist or centrists, irrespective, it will be rather difficult for the Turkish Cypriot electorate to decide among 11 candidates for the presidential vote on Oct. 11. Though only a few days are left before the voting day, all polls indicate that the ratio of undecided is as high as 40 percent of the electorate.

October 05 2020
First presidential debate in North Cyprus YUSUF KANLI

First presidential debate in North Cyprus

The world must have been watching the presidential debate in the United States Tuesday evening. At an earlier hour, Turkish Cypriots, not only those on Cyprus but those living in Turkey, United Kingdom, and elsewhere – thanks to the satellite transmission capability – were mostly focused on the first-ever debate ahead of the rescheduled Oct. 11 presidential elections. Five of the leading candidates were on the stage at Genç TV studios, while the sixth one, Prime Minister Ersin Tatar, was the guest of Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.

September 30 2020
Turkey is Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan is Turkey YUSUF KANLI

Turkey is Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan is Turkey

In 1994, I was in Baku when the ceasefire was declared and bloodshed stopped at the Armenia-Azerbaijan war over Nagorno-Karabagh. The previous two years, together with a small group of Turkish journalists, I was touring off and on the Nagorno-Karabagh and the surrounding Azerbaijani provinces, witnessing immense human trauma unleashed by the Armenian aggression. It was a very sad experience. Hundreds, thousands and eventually over 1.5 million Azerbaijani citizens were forcefully uprooted from their settlements, condemned to become displaced or as was the case at Hojali and many other settlements who became victims of a genocidal pogrom.

September 28 2020
Exploratory talks YUSUF KANLI

Exploratory talks

Turkey and Greece engaging in talks is great because as long as the two countries are engaged in either “exploratory” or “result-oriented” talks, it does not matter much as the hope of resolution of the problems lies in dialogue rather than war. Yet can we expect a resolution to any of the outstanding or new problems between the two countries anytime soon? Possibly yes, if and when the two countries realize or made to understand that they have a far bigger interest to offset the pain of compromise on any heading.

September 23 2020
Time to say new things YUSUF KANLI

Time to say new things

Even though for the time being eastern Mediterranean tensions were replaced with direct, covert, discreet talks and bargain of various sorts, it must be clear to everyone that seeking peace or resolution in installments will not be possible at all.

September 21 2020
Turkish Cypriots must make a choice… YUSUF KANLI

Turkish Cypriots must make a choice…

Not only Turkey, Cyprus or Greece, but the entire world has also been trying to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual and communal health issues have dominated everything. Economies of most countries have taken a deep dive, crippling the capabilities of all countries in their fight against the pandemic where all are facing a serious and existential threat.

September 16 2020
The widening rift in Turkish Cyprus YUSUF KANLI

The widening rift in Turkish Cyprus

First postponed in April because of Covid-19, Turkish Cyprus’ presidential elections will now go ahead on Oct. 11, circumstances permitting. The wounds inflicted during the prolonged election campaign, however, may have long-term and rather dangerous consequences.

September 14 2020
Right to first strike YUSUF KANLI

Right to first strike

Governments make decisions on all issues but before making a decision, good administrators know the merit of listening to experts and taking note of their evaluations. Military issues, defense of the country, decision to go for war and such should not be left solely to the civilians. On the other hand, no one should forget the saying that goes, if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

September 09 2020
Maraş and Varosha… YUSUF KANLI

Maraş and Varosha…

Varosha, the once splendid holiday resort suburb of Famagusta, has been in a deserted state since the 1974 Turkish intervention. In Turkish the name of the suburb is Maraş, the home of Turkey’s one of most delicious and famous ice cream.

September 07 2020