Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS GAIN PRIORITY OVER CYPRUS PROBLEM FOR TURKISH CYPRIOTS

The Cyprus Problem is the second most important issue for Turkish Cypriots, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey conducted in North Cyprus.The latest study suggests that the international credit crunch is the great concern of both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots living on the island.

According to the survey conducted to assess the views of Turkish Cypriot people’s views within the European Union, Turkish Cypriots perceive the economic crisis as the biggest problem.

The survey carried out by KADEM in North Cyprus between the 6th of October and the 6th of November 2008 on a sample group of 500 individuals revealed that a majority of Turkish Cypriots believe that their biggest problem is the economic crisis, pushing the Cyprus Problem down to second place.

The previous two surveys had put the Cyprus Problem as the most important problem for the Turkish Cypriot people.
Life satisfaction levels of Turkish Cypriots continued to fall the Standard Eurobarometer also revealed.
Only 51% of Turkish Cypriots who participated in the study said they are satisfied with their lives.
According to the survey, unemployment came as the third biggest problem for Turkish Cypriots after the Cyprus Issue.
Top on the ranking for individual problems are the economic situation, inflation, unemployment, the education system and the health system.
Similarly, 53% of Turkish Cypriots participating in the study thought that the environment was in a bad condition and was a growing problem.
45% of Turkish Cypriots participating in the survey said that their purchasing power had dropped when compared to the last 5 years while 76% stated that they found it difficult to pay their bills at the end of each month.
Turkish Cypriots also complained about the cost of living with 75% of the survey noting that the situation on this issue was bad in North Cyprus.
Similarly, 66% and 60% of Turkish Cypriots thought energy supplies in the TRNC as well as the execution of public administration matters were bad.

The survey also revealed that the majority of Turkish Cypriots believed that the economic situation and employment will worsen over the next 12 months.

When taking into account the last three barometer survey’s there has also been an increase in the level of trust in the EU among Turkish Cypriots.
Forty-seven percent of Turkish Cypriots stated that they trust the EU.Only 44% said they trusted the UN.
Fifty-three percent of Turkish considered that the full implementation of the acquis communautaire in the North would be a good thing.

[halil]

Cypriots on both sides have trouble paying their bills By Marianna Pissa

THE GLOBAL financial crisis is the main concern of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and three out of four people on both sides say they find it hard to pay their bills every month.T
The news was revealed yesterday in the latest Eurobarometer survey, which was carried out in the Autumn of 2008.

“Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are worried about the economic situation in Europe, but believe that there will be fewer problems in Cyprus,” said Androulla Kaminara. “Also Cypriots say they have problems paying their bills, and both communities believe that the economic crisis and inflation will be their biggest problems.”

From the figures provided, 67 per cent of Greek Cypriots and 76 per cent of Turkish Cypriots say that they have difficulty paying all the bills at the end of the month. Regarding their purchasing power, 78 per cent of Greek Cypriots believe it has decreased. This is the highest percentage recorded in the EU27.

The two main problems of concern to the citizens of Cyprus were the rise in prices with 46 per cent saying they were worried bout it. Some 80 per cent of Greek Cypriots are unhappy about energy prices because of the successive increases in the price of crude oil since the summer of 2008.

After prices and the economy, most Cypriots were concerned about crime.

The study was conducted between October 8 and November 2, almost one year after the accession of Cyprus to the euro zone, and during a period in which the global economy was entering a deep crisis.

Despite the overall satisfaction with their lives at 85 per cent, the overwhelming majority of Greek Cypriots, 78 per cent, are not satisfied with the cost of living in Cyprus.

Turkish Cypriots, according to the survey, appear to be unhappier than they have ever been.

Only 51 per cent of Turkish Cypriots said they were satisfied with their lives. The Turkish Cypriot community’s level of satisfaction with life has shown the biggest decrease – 14 per cent in recent years – than any other EU citizens.

At 98 per cent the Dutch are the most satisfied with their lives.

Four out of ten Greek Cypriots consider Cyprus’s EU membership positive. Forty per cent of respondents believe that EU membership is a good thing, 37 per cent are not sure, while 21 per cent believe that it is a bad thing.

But Turkish Cypriots continue to believe their voice as individuals or as the Turkish Cypriot community is not taken into account in the European Union. Some 58 per cent believe this.

The overwhelming majority of Greek Cypriots have excellent knowledge of EU institutions, but in general Cypriots say that they are not well informed regarding the EU budget.

One in three believes that the EU budget should be spent on economic growth as their first option. As their second option, 45 per cent said that they would like the EU budget to be spent on public health.

“Both communities have more confidence in EU institutions. There are many similarities, although there is a difference in the percentages of the two communities”.

The report also referred to the main societal issues dominating Greek Cypriots media during the period the study was carried out,” said Kaminara.

These included the global economic crisis, high electricity prices, the effects of the crisis on the stock markets and various aspects of the Cypriot economy, the negotiations between President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, the scandal in Greece involving investments by the Vatopedi Monastery, the effects of the drought on the agricultural sector in Cyprus and the aid provided by the government, the debate for the ban of smoking in public places in Cyprus, the continuous flow of illegal immigrants arriving through the north areas and the attempts of activists to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.




Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

[Oracle]

Things can only get worse for the Turkish .....

Good!!

[insan]

Things can only get worse for the Turkish .....

Good!!

Be happy dear and expect some good progress in favour of ur race. I'm sure u will be the happiest woman of the world the day u hear all Turkish descendent people removed on the surface of planet earth. See u then, if ever ur life time let's u.

ill mentality: everything regaridng Turks r bad, everything regarding Hellenes r good. Their Gods sent them to planet earth as a special race against the opposite will of the only God we know.

[Oracle]

Don't get hysterical and exaggerate dear, just to get a sympathetic response.

You know the reality lies in the fact you stole land from 200,000 GCs ...

No more, no less!

If you can live with that ... what does it make you?

[insan]

Don't get hysterical and exaggerate dear, just to get a sympathetic response.

You know the reality lies in the fact you stole land from 200,000 GCs ...

No more, no less!

If you can live with that ... what does it make you?

By feeling how excited u were with the news of economical sitution of north ı got a prima-facie evidence of ur mentality, dear. We didn't steal land from 160.000 GCs(40.000 refugees returned their homes - see kypros.org). It was the inevitable consequence of events of 63-74. When the leadership of 2 communities agree on a just solution, the agreed amount of refugees will return their properties, others will be compensated or given TC land in South or offered alternative properties in North or south. There's no need to get hysterical and over exaggertae this property issue. All that is involved we have approximately 75 years of lifetime. Nothing worths to lament.

I love u dear :*





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[turkkan]

The study dosent say what the response was among the different age groups. I would suspect that among the younger generation the cyprus prob would not be in the top three issues they care about.