Medical aid under the shadow of the Covid-19: A political crisis among the leadership in North Cyprus

Abstract

ABSTRACT Accepting Greek Cypriot administration’s (Republic of Cyprus) medical aid by the Turkish Cypriots during COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020 has caused a conflict in North Cyprus print media. During the pandemic, medical aid has been provided by Greek Cypriot administration with the initiatives of the President of the time in North Cyprus, Mustafa Akıncı. The Prime Minister of the time in North Cyprus, Ersin Tatar opposed to this medical aid. This study focuses on the most circulated two North Cyprus newspapers’ (Kıbrıs and YeniDüzen) discourse regarding the aid. The medical aid sent by the Greek Cypriot administration (Republic of Cyprus) is important for developing mutual trust and enhances the already existing networks between the two sides in the island. The reactions to this aid are also important due to approaching Presidential elections in North Cyprus since both the President and the Prime Minister were candidates in the elections. The study presents the results of Critical Discourse Analysis conducted for analysing the news stories related to the medical aid under the light of Social Capital Theory put forth by Robert Putnam.