“The north of Cyprus is not only casinos and dirty money,” claimed Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, speaking to a group of Turkish journalists on Wednesday.
Erhürman said: “One of our biggest problems is the shadow economy – in all its forms. But when I talk about a ‘new period’, I don’t mean only in relation to taxation. This country needs a new spirit in its domestic affairs as well. From Turkey, the image they increasingly see is a place associated with casinos, mafia, nightclubs and black money.”
He went on to acknowledge that these problems exist, but that there is more to the north than that.
“Yes, there are problems in these sectors,” he said, adding that the north and the Turkish Cypriot people are not limited to these issues.
Regarding the 33 casinos currently operating in the north, the Turkish Cypriot leader said his position has remained the same for years.
“Is there casino tourism? Yes. Does it bring revenue to the state? It does. But as in all sectors – including construction – there is a limit, a quantity, a saturation capacity.”
Similarly, he raised the issue of property sales to foreigners, saying that limits are needed so that areas do not turn into ‘ghettos’ of foreign residents.
Source: CNA