TRNC News Today 28^th May 2015

Leaders met for the third time

President Mustafa Akıncı and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades met for the third time within the framework of Cyprus negotiations today. The Leaders’ meeting started in the buffer zone at 09:30am this morning. Negotiations resumed on 15 May 2015 after 7 months break, the leaders had a social meeting on 23 May 2015 and walked through both sides of Nicosia.

Attending yesterday’s meeting of negotiators, UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide said that good development has been achieved in the Cyprus negotiations. Detailed information was not given to the press about the meeting of negotiators.

Erdoğan: “We will not leave our rights we gained from being a guarantor country”

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said “I have to say this clear, we will never leave our rights gained from being a guarantor country”. President, Erdoğan answered questions about the agenda during a live broadcast on NTV. On expression of “An air is blowing on dropping down guarantor states and putting EU into a guarantor position” regarding the Cyprus Problem, Erdoğan said: “It’s not a fair approach, it’s impossible to accept this because first the EU failed on its own mission. How are we going to trust its justice? There is no such right. Here 3 countries have the right to be guarantors, England, Greece and Turkey. The EU doesn’t have such a right and has not given some financial rights to North Cyprus. For example, we attended meetings in Switzerland. Verheugen attended those meetings on behalf of EU but at the end of the meetings, EU did not give the necessary support. South Cyprus was accepted into the EU although they voted “no” for the Annan plan but North Cyprus was not accepted into the EU although their “yes” votes for the Annan plan. We cannot forget these facts. Because of this we have to secure everything here for our brothers and sisters in North Cyprus”.

Nami: “It is not possible for the areas to have mines”

Turkish Cypriot Negotiator Özdil Nami stated that the military gave a briefing to them on the issue of mines and it’s not possible for the areas showed on given maps to have mines, adding “Even at some points, there are buildings and fields which have been ploughed for years”.

Nami said metal mines do not have 40 years of life, and plastics may last longer. It is not possible for anti-personnel mines at the surface not to explode up to today, however anti-tank type mines which can explode when loads on it may be buried into deeper soils. Nami said he has been working with authorities related to this issue and soon operations will start. “Our military officials are examining these with UN. I hope this positive atmosphere which began continues. After this study browsing activity will begin.”

Özdil Nami who spoke to Er Meydanı programme of Genc Tv said regarding the new negotiation process “We are hopeful for the future. Both leaders are talking about a common vision without pressure from anyone. I hope this positive atmosphere which has started carries on. As President Akıncı said, what’s most important is to reach a good result.”

Akıncı received Peacock and Cerboni

President Mustafa Akıncı received Australian High Commissioner Trevor Peacock and Italian Ambassador Guido Cerboni. During the two meetings held at TRNC Presidency, Foreign Relations Coordinator of Presidency Deniz Birinci was also present.

No statements were released regarding the meetings; however the press was allowed to take photographs.

Support from Turkish and Greek Cypriot political parties to negotiation process

Within the framework of routine meetings organized by Slovakia’s Embassy in South Cyprus, some Turkish and Greek Cypriot political parties who met yesterday, stated their support for the new negotiation process. Political parties wished the negotiation process to be crowned with a fair solution beneficial for both communities, stating that they are ready to contribute to the process.

CTP-BG, UBP, DP-UG, TDP, BKP and YKP attended the meeting from TRNC, and all political parties except the green party attended the meeting from South Cyprus.

EDEK “ Fake emotions and impressions”

With the reason of a fake dialogue and co-existence cultures creating non-existent and fake emotions, EDEK will never attend the meeting of traditional Turkish and Greek political parties organized by the Embassy of Slovenia at Ledra Palace any more. As a reason for leaving, EDEK Leadership put forward the argument of “these meetings having fake dialogues and co-existence culture creates non-existent fake emotions and impressions”. According to Greek Cypriot Politis newspaper, EDEK showed the activities of Barbaros Hayreddin Pasha seismic research ship as a reason for not attending the meetings for some time, stating that they attended the meeting yesterday to “salute the flag” and to explain the reason for the decision not to participate any more. EDEK leadership believe that the Ledra Palace meetings really are not creating consensus prerequisite between the two communities and are endless meetings.