Northern Cyprus

A new but old page was opened in northern Cyprus during the weekend with National Unity Party (UBP) leader Hüseyin Özgürgün declaring that he has forged a coalition government with the Democratic Party-National Forces (DP-UG) with the support of four independent deputies.

National Unity Party (UBP) head Hüseyin Özgürgün has started his duty as the new prime minister of Turkish Cyprus, after the country's president approved of the new coalition government cabinet in the wake of the last government's collapse earlier this month.

Two Turkish Cypriot political parties announced on April 15 that they are set to form a new coalition government, in the wake of the last government's collapse earlier this month.

National Unity Party (UBP) Chairman Hüseyin Özgürgün said he has signed a protocol to form a new coalition with Serdar Denkta?, chair of the Democratic Party-National Forces (DP-UG).        

Why did the left-right grand coalition of tiny Turkish Cyprus collapse? There are lots of tales but the short answer is quite simple: Gross mismanagement. At a time when Cuba has changed, the Turkish Cypriot left has insisted on remaining loyal to a Stalinist anti-private sector doctrine.

The recent fall of the government in Turkish Cyprus and the parliamentary elections in Greek Cyprus in May could have an impact on the United Nations-brokered peace talks on the divided Mediterranean island, Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Ak?nc? has told the Hürriyet Daily News. 

The Turkish Cyprus has plunged into a political crisis after the president accepted the prime minister's resignation following the withdrawal of the government's coalition partner, amid ongoing peace talks with the Greek Cypriot administration. 

Marriages between Syrian and Turkish citizens increased to almost 3,600 last year, data from the Turkish Statistics Institute (TÜ?K) has revealed, while experts have agreed the resultant social changes were unavoidable, with some stressing the marriages could help socialization between the two cultures and others warning against damages to the institution of civil marriage. 

The left-right grand coalition government in northern Cyprus has collapsed due to its failure to deliver on exactly what it promised to do in the first place: undertake long-overdue reforms and achieve the restructuring of the Turkish Cypriot public administration. Was it a big surprise? Unfortunately, no.

One of Turkish Cyprus' coalition parties has withdrawn from the government in a move that could soon trigger new elections.

National Unity Party (UBP) Chairman Hüseyin Özgürgün said the party decided unanimously to withdraw from the government due to its inability to address the country's economic problems. 

Amid woes in Turkey's tourism sector this year, Tourism Minister Mahir Ünal has said the country wants to attract 1 million tourists from Black Sea neighbor Ukraine this year to compensate.