Üstel: TRNC Is A Safe And Peaceful Country

Speaking to BRT, Üstel addressed security and traffic issues. He criticised the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) for calling an extraordinary parliamentary session without first obtaining data from the security authorities.

Üstel warned that creating a negative perception of security could harm tourism and higher education, two of the TRNC’s key economic sectors.

“SECURITY IS MEASURED BY FIGURES, NOT PERCEPTIONS”

Üstel said security should be assessed through figures rather than perceptions, adding that he regularly held meetings with the Police General Directorate and the Security Forces Command and received the necessary information and data.

Criticising the CTP’s decision to call an extraordinary parliamentary session on security and traffic, Üstel claimed that the opposition had not requested any information or data from the security authorities before making the call.

“How can you call Parliament to an extraordinary session on security without obtaining any information or data from the commander of the Peace Force, the Security Forces Command or our police force responsible for internal security?” Üstel asked.

He said security, as a matter of public sensitivity, should be addressed on the basis of concrete data.

“THIS PERCEPTION COULD HARM TOURISM AND EDUCATION”

Üstel criticised the discussion of security during the peak tourism season and a period when university enrolment was beginning.

He argued that calling Parliament to an extraordinary session without presenting any data or information and creating the impression that there was a security crisis could damage the TRNC’s international image.

Üstel said tourism, education and construction were the TRNC’s leading sectors and warned that a negative perception created around security could directly affect them.

“People want data,” Üstel said, thanking the police and security forces for successfully ensuring public safety.

“THERE IS POLITICAL STABILITY, SECURITY AND PEACE IN THE COUNTRY”

Üstel said his government had established political stability and that internal and border security were among its priorities.

He outlined investments and recruitment in the security sector since his government took office.

Üstel said 468 personnel had been recruited to the police between 2015 and 2020, while 1,104 firefighters, civil servants and police officers had been recruited since the current government won a vote of confidence in May 2022.

He said recruitment would continue, adding that the figures demonstrated the importance his government attached to the Police Organisation.

Üstel also said Türkiye and the TRNC had invested in vehicles, equipment and technology to strengthen security, while investments in the police force’s technological and technical infrastructure were continuing.

“8,235 CRIMES WERE RECORDED IN THE TRNC”

Üstel said a total of 8,235 crimes of various types had been recorded in the country since his government took office.

Putting the TRNC’s population at around 500,000, Üstel claimed that 20,805 crimes had been recorded in the same period in the south of Cyprus.

He questioned whether similar extraordinary parliamentary sessions had been held in the south based on those figures, arguing that security was being used for political purposes in the TRNC.

“SECURITY IS BEING TURNED INTO AN ELECTION ISSUE”

Üstel maintained that the TRNC was a safe country and said security-related efforts should not be turned into political issues.

“The TRNC is a safe country, but they are trying to turn it into an election issue for political purposes. It is unfair to all our efforts. It is unfair to everyone who has served this country and contributed to its struggle for existence,” Üstel said.

He said anyone seeking information on security could approach the relevant institutions.

“Anyone who wants can come and ask for the data. The Police Organisation and the Security Forces are there; their doors are open,” he said.

Üstel said the government would continue making every effort to ensure that people could live in peace and security and that necessary infrastructure investments would continue.

“SUCCESS RATE IN SOLVING CRIMES IS 99.5%”

Üstel said the Police Organisation had achieved a 99.5% success rate in identifying perpetrators.

He said suspects were identified in most cases within a short period of time, claiming that the rate in the south of Cyprus was not even 50%.

Despite the challenges faced by the Police Organisation, Üstel said it had achieved a 99.5% success rate and added that work was underway on new legislation to enable the force to operate more effectively and efficiently.