Berova named acting transport minister after Arikli’s dismissal

Kyrenia, Cyprus. Ozdemir Berova was named Turkish Cypriot acting ‘transport minister’ on Friday, temporarily replacing dismissed minister Erhan Arikli, while three senior officials in the same ‘ministry’ were also relieved of their duties.

Berova, who has served as ‘finance minister’ since 2024, may hold the acting post until September 12 at the latest under the north’s laws.

Senior officials dismissed

Berova’s signature appeared alongside those of Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman and ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel on a document announcing the dismissal of ‘transport ministry’ undersecretary Enver Ozturk, director Mustafa Ambar and ports department director Emsal Emirzadeogullari.

Arikli was relieved of his duties on Wednesday, three days after a passenger ferry sank off the coast of Kyrenia, killing at least 12 people.

Investigation concerns

Ustel said Arikli’s removal was intended to ensure police and judicial authorities could investigate “without leaving any room for doubt” or concerns over conflicts of interest.

He said the decision was not a political move against the YDP, which Arikli leads, noting that the coalition partners had governed together for four and a half years and that both the DP and YDP had contributed to the government’s achievements and reforms.

However, Ustel said that “we cannot allow the shadow of suspicion to arise during the investigation process”, while stressing that no official relieved of duties could be declared guilty before a judicial verdict.

Coalition and families’ response

Arikli withdrew YDP support for the ruling coalition, leaving it with an effective majority of three seats in the legislature.

He had faced strong criticism from families of people missing after the ferry disaster, with scores waiting outside Kyrenia’s new port for information about their relatives.

Several family members had demanded that Arikli travel to Kyrenia to meet them. He did not do so before his dismissal on Wednesday evening and did not join the YDP delegation that visited families at Kyrenia port on Thursday and Friday evenings.