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WORLD NEWS Saturday 1 June 2019

1st Turkish Cypriot MEP envisions himself as division healer

By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS divide.
Associated Press Running on the ticket of
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — the communist -rooted
Niyazi Kizilyurek says noth- AKEL party, he stood ac-
ing like it has happened in cused by right-wing Turkish
ethnically divided Cyprus in Cypriot detractors of being
140 years: He is the first Turk- a Greek Cypriot puppet
ish Cypriot elected to the aiming to undermine their
European Parliament, and breakaway state in the is-
he was selected by a pri- land’s north. The state is
marily Greek Cypriot elec- recognized only by Turkey,
torate. which keeps more than
The fact that it’s to a body 35,000 troops there.
representing the citizens of Right-wing Greek Cypri-
the European Union’s 28 ots also eyed Kizilyurek
member states, he says, af- with suspicion, questioning
fords him the opportunity whether he intended to pri-
to reproduce the bloc’s marily promote the narrow
greatest achievement in his interests of Turkish Cypriots,
homeland — forging unity to the detriment of Greek
out of the ashes of war. Cypriots and the sover-
“I see Cyprus as the patrie eignty of the internationally
(homeland) of all Cypriots Turkish Cypriot Niyazi Kizilyurek talks during an interview with Associated Press at his office in recognized Republic of Cy-
and I feel myself respon- Kaimakli a suburb of divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, May 31, 2019. prus.
sible for all Cypriots,” Kizi- Associated Press Cyprus was split in 1974
lyurek told The Associated part of the island aren’t vote including some 80,000 ceived came from Greek when Turkey invaded in
Press from his apartment in eligible to vote, the Euro- Turkish Cypriots who hold Cypriots. the aftermath of a coup
the southern, internation- pean parliament election Cyprus Republic passports The 59 year-old, who has by supporters of union with
ally recognized part of the is one single big vote for but live in the north. Only taught political history at Greece. Although Cyprus
capital, Nicosia. the country’s six seats. All about 5,600 of those voted, the University of Cyprus joined the EU in 2004 as a
Unlike other elections citizens of the internation- however, meaning that since 1995, courted much whole, EU laws apply and
where Turkish Cypriots living ally recognized Republic the larger proportion of the controversy during his cam- benefits are enjoyed only
in the breakaway northern of Cyprus have the right to 25,000 votes Kizilyurek re- paign, on both sides of the by residents in the south.q

Congolese finally pay tribute to late opposition leader

By SALEH MWANMILONGO Joseph Kabila was so en- house arrest, his supporters
Associated Press trenched that his remains jailed and beaten. But after
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) were not allowed to return the seismic shift in Congo’s
— Tens of thousands of after his death in Belgium political climate, he is being
mourners, some of whom of a pulmonary embolism given a farewell befitting
camped outside overnight, in 2017. After Kabila gave a senior statesman, with
gathered on Friday to fi- way to pressure for a new some African presidents in
nally say farewell to Etienne presidential election in Jan- attendance.
Tshisekedi, the Congolese uary, Tshisekedi’s son Felix Pallbearers wearing ties
opposition icon whose son was declared the winner. representing the Congo-
was declared president He vowed that his father’s lese flag carried the casket
earlier this year. remains would come home into the stadium on Friday.
The stadium ceremony to Congo, where he was The flat cap that Tshisekedi
came more than two years the face of the political op- always wore was placed
after the elder Tshisekedi position for decades. atop the casket. The coffin carrying the remains of longtime Congolese opposition
died abroad at age 84. In life, Etienne Tshisekedi His funeral and burial are leader Etienne Tshisekedi arrives at Kinshasa airport Thursday,
His rift with then-president was at times put under set for Saturday.q May 30, 2019. Associated Press