Gürcafer: Our right to vaccinate has been usurped by the Greek Cypriot side

Cafer Gürcafer, President of the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association (CTBCA), made critical statements regarding the action that the Economic Organizations Platform (EOP) will carry out at the Metehan Land Border Gate tomorrow.

CTBCA President Gürcafer stated that 25 percent of the vaccine from the EU should be provided to Northern Cyprus, but the vaccine offered so far is far below this figure.

Gürcafer stated that a symbolic action will be carried out to ensure that the EU does not remain silent on this issue and that it will create the necessary pressure to ensure justice.

Gürcafer, as the guest of Pembe Paşaoğluları during the 14^th Hour program broadcast on BRT, stated that the vaccine is the key to turning the wheels of the economy and said, “We cannot open without vaccination, and we cannot more flexibly allow entry from abroad. If there is no vaccine, we cannot be open for tourism,’’ and added, “vaccination comes first.”

Cafer Gürcafer said, “We are constantly meeting with the EU Commissioner. The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce has had contact especially with EU Commissioners. The split is now gradually widening from the point we had arrived at when the numbers were small. The amount we will receive now is an amount to provide some comfort. Therefore, EOP is taking a step towards eliminating this injustice. We are showing a reaction.

“It is necessary to do away with the victim mentality.”

CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer said that the state is very hesitant about vaccination, whereas it is necessary to act decisively on this issue. Emphasizing the need to do away with taking a fatalistic approach, Gürcafer stated that, “As long as we do not do away with the victim mentality, it will not be possible for us to do any good. In today’s world, lobbying and relationships are very, very important. We have expected the vaccine from Turkey, but there is not very solid agreement there. No vaccine is provided on a specific schedule. A certain amount of vaccine is received bit by bit due to ongoing high-level relationships. If we had put our effort into getting the vaccine that we put into other things, the situation would be different now. We acted cowardly and couldn’t make a move. So, we arrived at this point. If the cogs of the economy do not turn, the cost will be unaffordable. A terrible wreckage will come to be”.

“This is a beginning”

Noting that if 60 percent of the society is vaccinated, the gates can be opened without any issues and this initiative could be the lifeblood of the country’s economy. Gürcafer said, “Vaccination is our right; our right to vaccination has been usurped by the Greek Cypriot side. So far, only the 6.3% of the vaccine that the Greek Cypriot side received from the EU has been given to us. This figure should be 25 percent “.

Expressing that the action to be carried out by the EOP tomorrow is a beginning, Gürcafer stated that he could not comprehend the reactions to the action.

Gürcafer said the following:

“Not just us, but every individual who feels as a TRNC citizen, should react the same way as we have. Because; this vaccine is to do with the whole society. It is to do with the wellbeing of the Turkish Cypriot community that is facing a pandemic. We demand this on behalf of the society. What is the harm in this? In my opinion, everyone should support this righteous rebellion. Due to the pandemic, the action will not have too big a crowd. We are limiting the participation to around 30-40 people. Attention will be paid to conditions due to the pandemic, a protest letter will be handed over, a press release will be issued, and the action will conclude. If they say ‘This action should have been a broader action, we should have opened the gates’, this is a separate issue. This action is a short one. But in the coming days, perhaps we should front up to the government with something like an ultimatum and act in concert with a much larger mass of people. The noose around our neck has got really tight. We are on the verge of a social explosion. The warrants are accumulating at the police, and in the courts. All of them will be issued as soon as things get better. The purchasing power of the citizen is falling, the condition of the tradesmen is disastrous. Debts in banks are growing like an avalanche. Politics, on the other hand, is not presenting us with an alternative in this respect.”