Çise Mevlit, President of the CTP Youth said that the challenge of ensuring housing and livelihood is deepening the uncertainty about the future of the Turkish Cypriot youth.
She said, also, that the difficulty of identity acquisition for individuals born out of mixed marriages is growing to become an issue.
“Ensuring economic stability and respecting the right to identity will rejuvenate hope and enhance the overall welfare of society”, she mentioned specifically.
About the issues that the Turkish Cypriot youth is facing as well as the consequences of the unresolved Cyprus issue, we had the chance to discuss with Çise Mevlit, President of the CTP Youth, in an exclusive interview at the Voice International.
Question: What are the main problems that the youth in the North have to face these days?
Çise Mevlit: In the northern part, young individuals are confronted with significant challenges such as housing and livelihood concerns. These difficulties deepen uncertainties about their future, compelling the young population towards migration paths. Another critical issue is related to individuals born out of mixed marriages and their processes of identity acquisition. Deprived of the fundamental human right to obtain an identity, these individuals feel marginalized within society. This situation diminishes their sense of belonging and shakes their faith in the homeland. To address this sensitive issue promptly and effectively, citizenship procedures should be initiated without delay. Respect for human rights will strengthen social cohesion and facilitate the integration of these individuals into society.
In conclusion, the problems faced by the youth are intertwined with the fundamental issues of society. Ensuring economic stability and respecting the right to identity will rejuvenate hope and enhance the overall welfare of society. In this context, a healthy economic structure and respect for human rights are critically important for the future of Cyprus. CTP believes that a solution to the Cyprus problem can be achieved through negotiations within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. We advocate for a solution that ensures the political equality, security, and prosperity of both communities. I do not find it correct to separate our issues; fundamentally, all our problems are the same, and our struggle is shared.
Question: For the last many years, the economy in the North seems to get worse by the day. How does this affect the youth, especially students and young parents?
Çise Mevlit: In the north, as young individuals, we are grappling with economic challenges that are shaped by vital issues such as the depreciation of the Turkish Lira, difficulties in owning or renting housing, and unemployment. These economic hardships stand out among the fundamental problems that deeply affect not only the youth but the entire community. Small interventions against the economic crisis prove insufficient to uproot the problems. In this context, transitioning to a stable currency is considered a short-term solution that could contribute to the revitalization of the economy. However, for a lasting solution in the medium and long term, a fair and sustainable resolution of the Cyprus problem is necessary.
The increase in the unemployment rate has heightened the difficulties for young people to find employment in their fields of education. This situation has led many young individuals to pursue jobs outside their expertise, either abroad or in the south. The Turkish Cypriot community has become significantly dependent on Turkey for economic support, which is an unacceptable situation. This dependence has limited the economic development of the community and left it vulnerable to external political pressures. In the short term, the Turkish Cypriot community has the capacity to stand on its own feet, as demonstrated during the periods when the CTP was in government. Looking at this data, transitioning to a stable currency should be followed by collaborative efforts to become a self-sustaining community and break free from external pressures. I believe that a comprehensive and permanent solution following this approach will address our problems effectively.
Question: How do you, as CTP Youth plan on solving these major issues?
Çise Mevlit: First and foremost, we propose a currency-indexed system to achieve economic stability. Indexing not only all goods and services but also salaries and salary-related payments to foreign currency in the north of Cyprus can provide resilience against economic fluctuations. While this suggestion generally involves a solution that could be possible with the resolution of the Cyprus problem, we aim to develop transitional strategies to maintain and enhance the well-being of the youth during the ongoing resolution process. In this process, we plan to develop projects to strengthen young people’s access to education and employment opportunities, enhance economic independence, and support sustainable growth. Additionally, we will make efforts to strengthen and diversify the local economy to reduce the economic dependency of the Turkish Cypriot community. Within this framework, our goals include supporting young entrepreneurs, creating new job opportunities, and promoting innovation. We believe that all these steps will play an effective role in securing the future of the youth in the north of Cyprus and enhancing the overall welfare of the community.
Question: Since 2017 we are experiencing the longest negotiation gap in the history of the Cyprus issue. What are the dangers of the continuation of the status quo?
Çise Mevlit: The most significant danger of the continuation of the status quo is the permanence of division. Moreover, as time passes, the divergence of the two communities in terms of ideas and common goals poses the greatest obstacle to developing a shared social culture. It should be noted that the cost of the lack of a solution is significant for both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots. Greek Cypriots should also consider that the longer the issue remains unresolved, the more adversely they will be affected over the years.
Question: What kind of bicommunal activities does CTP Youth organises or take part in?
Çise Mevlit: CTP Youth has been collaborating with EDON, another prominent organization, for many years. EDON has consistently been the primary partner in our bicommunal activities. CTP and EDON share the belief that the solution to the Cyprus problem can be achieved through negotiations within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. We advocate for a solution that ensures the political equality, security, and prosperity of both communities. Within this framework, we continue to organize joint activities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to unite Nicosia, the last divided capital in Europe.
Kallis Antounas-Voice International 2023
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