Erdogan visit to be marked by mass demonstration

Turkish Cypriot supporters of a bicommunal bi-zonal federation were on Thursday busy mobilizing ahead of the Turkish President’s visit to the north on Sunday, that is expected to be marked by large demonstrations.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the leader of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party are expected in the north on Sunday to participate in the celebrations marking the anniversary of the founding of the ‘TRNC’.

The two are expected to visit Varosha, where the Turkish President expressed the wish to have a picnic.

Just days before Erdogan’s visit to the fenced-off town of Famagusta, Turkish and Turkish Cypriot crews are working around the clock to prepare the area ahead of the visit. The crews are undertaking construction work and placing plants at the areas Erdogan is scheduled to visit.

Melvut Cavusoglu in the north

Due to the large number of arrivals from Turkey expected in the north on Sunday, all other flights were cancelled, with the ‘airport’ to only serve VIP flights on the day of Erdogan’s visit.

The visit to the north and Erdogan’s first contact with Ersin Tatar on the island, comes at a time when the north is scrambling to form a new ‘government’, with efforts so far hitting dead ends. As such, Erdogan is expected to be received on the island by Tatar alone.

According to Turkish Cypriot media, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu arrived in the north earlier on Thursday to coordinate Turkey’s visit to the north and Varosha.

Turkish Cypriots getting organized

Turkish Cypriot supporters of a bicommunal bi-zonal federation are reacting to Erdogan’s visit, and scheduling new large demonstrations.

Turkish Cypriot activists have taken to social media over the past few hours to mobilise a demonstration campaign in protest over the idea of a picnic in Varosha. A large demonstration is set to take place in the north at noon on Sunday.

Parties and movements are calling on all Turkish Cypriots to raise their voices against Erogan’s and Bahçeli’s upcoming visit to Varosha, and in opposition to Ankara’s interventions in the local affairs of the Turkish Cypriot community.