Arikli: Opposition Is Staging an Election Show, Public Trusts Turkey

Speaking to Kıbrıs TV, Arikli argued that the opposition is engaging in political “showmanship” ahead of elections and stressed that cooperation with Turkey should be viewed in strategic rather than commercial terms.

Arikli said Türk Telekom had not come to Northern Cyprus for profit, noting that the company is owed 48 million dollars but has never made this an issue. “They have not raised the matter of money even for a single day,” he said, adding that the partnership should be understood as a strategic cooperation rather than a business transaction.

Responding to opposition claims that a “foreign company” is being brought into the sector, Arikli said all necessary precautions regarding data security had been taken. He stressed that data would remain in the country and that the system would be established locally. “This is our red line,” he said.

Arikli underlined that transferring data abroad would not be possible, adding that legal regulations also prevent any export of data. He described allegations that Turkey might seek access to the personal data of Turkish Cypriot citizens as “unnecessary conspiracy theories.”

“Why would Turkey need our data? There is no need for so many conspiracy theories,” Arikli said, recalling that existing legal cooperation mechanisms already exist between the two countries in cases of judicial necessity.