HISTORY

The Public Information Office was established in 1964 to make the voice of the Turkish Cypriots heard across the world. Greek Cypriots had occupied in 1963 all government departments and institutions of the Republic of Cyprus and continue to do so. Parallel to this they had usurped all means of communication, such as the state Radio, Television, the Cyprus News Agency and Public Information Office. This prevented the voice of the Turkish Cypriots from being heard within and outside the country.

This forcible usurpation of the entire government machinery of the 1960 Republic, which had been established as a partnership, turned the bi-communal Republic into an entirely Greek Cypriot state. In the face of this violent and arbitrary take over, the Turkish Cypriots had no alternative but to form their own departments and institutions in areas under their control.

The then Deputy President of the Republic of Cyprus Dr. Fazıl Küçük had stressed the necessity of establishing a Public Information Centre, in order to inform the world public opinion about events taking place in the island and meet the needs of the Turkish Cypriot people in the sphere of the communication. As a result, Necati Sağer, the TRNC Representative in the UK at the time, was called back to the island to set up the Turkish Cypriot Public Information Centre. The Centre was officially established in 1964 under the supervision of the Deputy Presidency and the General Committee.

The Turkish Cypriot Public Information Centre, which carried out its task under great challenges and lack of personnel, compiled daily news and information, issuing a regular bulletin to make the voice of the Turkish Cypriot people heard in world public opinion. These were produced at the printing house of HALKIN SESİ newspaper, and were distributed to the foreign press in Lefkoşa (North Nicosia), to members of the UN, and to the outside world through the Turkish Embassy in Lefkoşa. A “Special News Bulletin” which was first published and distributed in English on 21 December 1963, was sent to the foreign missions and journalists in order to inform them on the Turkish Cypriot position, regarding the Cyprus problem as well as the political, social and economic life of the Turkish Cypriot people. Publication of the Special News Bulletin ceased in 1986.

Another task undertaken by the PIC was to translate into English the infamous Akritas Plan which had been drawn up by the Greek Cypriots in the early 1960’s. Aimed at destroying the bi-national Republic of Cyprus along with the Turkish Cypriot partner. It was distributed internationally.

The Turkish Cypriot Public Information Centre which provided a channel of communication with the outside world has evolved in the course of time, becoming Public Information Office under the relevant “PIO Law” adopted by the TRNC Assembly in 1988. It continues to serve under this title.