Arıklı Criticises Sucuoğlu Over Traffic Cameras and Kyrenia Port Funding

Criticising some of Sucuoğlu’s statements since taking office, Arıklı described as “a complete disaster” his assessment that the state had suffered losses because of AI-powered traffic cameras.

Arıklı argued that the Court of Auditors’ report had not been examined adequately, claiming that no information had been sought from the Director of the Traffic Department or the Private Secretary, whom he said was familiar with the issue.

He explained that traffic cameras detect violations and transmit the resulting data to the ministry’s main server. The real problem, he argued, lay in software and certain shortcomings within the police force that affected the conversion of these records into fines and the delivery of notifications.

“Instead of blaming the system, get to the root of the problem and do what is necessary. That is exactly what we were doing,” Arıklı said.

“MY REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR KYRENIA PORT WAS NOT MET”

Addressing the lighting and rehabilitation of Kyrenia Port, Arıklı said he had requested the necessary funding during budget discussions while serving as minister, but the Finance Ministry had not approved the request.

Arıklı called for his speech on the matter in Parliament to be reviewed, arguing that while no funding had been allocated for the project during his tenure, Sucuoğlu was now receiving resources for the same purpose. He described this as a double standard.

Arıklı said the situation was not something to be proud of but rather a cause for embarrassment, directing his criticism at the government’s treatment of its coalition partners.

ARIKLI ALSO RAISES ISSUE OF OFFICIAL VEHICLE ALLOCATION

Arıklı further claimed that he had not been provided with an official vehicle for approximately two years on the grounds that no vehicle was available, but that one had been allocated to Sucuoğlu the day after he was appointed minister.

Describing this as another double standard, Arıklı argued that these examples demonstrated the National Unity Party’s (UBP) attitude towards its coalition partners.

He said parties considering forming a coalition with UBP in the future would take such treatment into account, concluding his statement with the word “Vesselam.”