NEWS 

National Blood Donation Day 14 June

This week the British Residents Society were invited to the TRNC Presidency building on National Blood Donation Day to receive a certificate of appreciation from President Tatar for the work undertaken on organising blood donor days at the State Hospital.

The certificate was received by Julian Mawdesley, the BRS Health & Welfare Secretary.  Mr Tatar thanked the British expats, not only for their blood donations but for their continued support of the TRNC and community spirit.

Julian said this award was received on behalf of the BRS donor team past and present who give their time freely to organise and help run the donor days.

After the ceremony a tour was arranged of one of the fully equipped mobile blood donation units by the North Cyprus Red Crescent Society.

Further photographs and information will appear on the BRS website Health page soon.

ANNOUNCEMENT

It was with much sadness that we learnt yesterday of the passing of Rustem Tatar, the father of the President, Ersin Tatar.

We would like to take this opportunity to offer the heartfelt condolences from both the Committee and Members of the British Residents' Society to Mr Tatar and his family at this sad time.

NEW COVID-19 VACCINATION CALL CENTER LAUNCHED

The new Covid-19 Vaccination Call Center has been launched today, for residents who have been unable to register for vaccination Appointments via the online application, that was launched recently.

The Telephone Number is 0546 990 1313.

This number has been confirmed by the Health Ministry as being the correct number to use, after initial confusion about what the correct number was.

This number will be available Monday through to Fridays, during normal government working hours.

The Call Center can handle 5 calls simultaneously with a further 10 calls queuing. Calls made in either English or Turkish languages can be handled.

BRITISH RESIDENTS SOCIETY MEETS WITH MR TAHSIN ERTUGRULOGLU - TRNC FOREIGN MINISTER

Peter Wilkins and Mike Diplock met with the TRNC Foreign Minister Mr Tahsin Ertugruloglu recently and took the opportunity to welcome Mr Ertugruloglu back into the same Ministerial position that he had occupied previously.

A discussion then followed which consisted of the following items,

1. Difficulties being experienced by Property Owners and Residency Permit holders, who found themselves outside of the TRNC, without the appropriate documentation to return, yet had complied with all of the procedures necessary to ensure that they held the correct status to reside in the TRNC.

Minister Ertugruloglu agreed that this was an area that needed looking into, and would be looking into the feasibility, of having some sort of verification procedure, where a traveller’s eligibility to return to the TRNC could be checked electronically, rather than having to produce documentation.

2. Repeating a meet, the government ministries opportunity, similar to that held in 2018 at the Acapulco Hotel for BRS members to meet with ask questions and raise concerns with senior officials across a number of different Ministries, that have an impact on an Ex-Pats life in the TRNC.

Minister Ertugruloglu who had previously been instrumental in the setting up of the previous event, agreed that this should be looked at.

3. Allowing all Ex-Pats who are Property Owners, holding Residency Permits to have an entitlement to vote in local elections.

Minister Ertugruloglu felt very strongly that it was essential that ex-pats were given this entitlement and agreed that he would give this proposal his fullest support.

4. Minister Ertugruloglu brought to our attention information that had come into his possession, that outlines potential changes that are being implemented, specifically for holders of third part national passports, i.e., British Passport holders, when crossing into the TRNC from the Republic of Cyprus, when using either of the two border crossing points that are located within the British Sovereign Base areas.

While the changes that were highlighted are due for implementation on the 1st of April, this is currently negated by the inability to fly into the Republic of Cyprus, to return to the TRNC, until possibly the 1^st of May at the earliest.

Following receipt of the details of the changes, we have immediately requested a meeting with the British High Commissioner and are expecting to meet with him w/c 22nd March, to discuss the situation with him further. We will report back on that meeting as soon as it has taken place.

President Ersin Tatar stated that he values expats living in the TRNC because he appreciates their love and support in this country, and has emphasised that a fresh approach can be taken in relation to direct trade and travel between the TRNC and the UK, following the conclusion of the Brexit transition process on January 1, 2021.

The President made the remarks during a virtual meeting which was hosted by the Presidency on Friday evening, with British Residents’ Society (BRS) Chairman Peter Wilkins, Deputy Chairman Mike Diplock and Presidential Foreign Press officer Kerem Haser as the participants. 

“I do not see our expat residents as being any different to the citizens of this country, because I know how passionately they love and support the TRNC,” President Tatar said.

The President said that during the discussions with Mr Raab, he had made specific references to the 10,000-plus expats living in the TRNC – although he said the number of British subjects was much higher - as well as the 300,000-plus Turkish Cypriots living in the UK, when explaining the inhumane isolation and its negative impacts on the country.

He said he wanted to exchange views with BRS officials following his “excellent meeting” with Mr Raab “which was held in a sincere and cordial atmosphere.” 

President Tatar said that he had asked Mr Raab to look into the prospect of the UK forwarding Turkish Cypriots their share of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, so that it could be used for the benefit of expats living in the TRNC. He said Mr Raab had reciprocated by stating that he would give instructions to the relevant authorities to look into the matter. 

The President added: “Turkish Cypriots are also endeavouring to acquire vaccines. Motherland Turkey has so far given the TRNC a total of 40,000 dosages of the vaccine, which means that a total of 20,000 people will be inoculated as there is a requirement for each person to have two shots. . .the EU has also sent us some vaccine dosages which are not enough as we actually  need   at least 500,000 dosages.” 

Indicating that he appreciates the concerns of the BRS officials over the ‘lack of clarity’ relating to a vaccination programme, the President stated that this is due to the fact that “we still have not had enough vaccines dosages imported to the TRNC. We are doing everything we can to speed up the process and are exploring all avenues to get more vaccine dosages to the country, to benefit all residents.”