TRNC News 5th May 2016 - Green light from EU for Turkish citizens

Green light from the EU Commission to the Turkish citizens’ visa-free travel

The European Union (EU) Commission took a recommendation decision which proposes the abolishment of visas for all Turkish citizens in the event of the fulfilment of all remaining conditions by end of June latest.

The EU Commission has announced its third report regarding the implementation of the road map on Visa Liberalization Dialogue between Turkey and the Union.

First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans said: “Turkey has made impressive progress, particularly in recent weeks, on meeting the benchmarks of its visa liberalisation roadmap. There is still work to be done as a matter of urgency but if Turkey sustains the progress made, they can meet the remaining benchmarks.”

Stating that they proposed to the European Parliament and Council of the European Union to lift the visa requirements for the citizens of Turkey while travelling to the Schengen countries, Timmermans stated that Turkey needs to take more urgent steps in 5 fields including anti-terrorism law.

In the event of the abolishment of visas, Turkish citizens will not need a visa for travelling to Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece by the end of June.

Çavuşoğlu: “Turkish citizens deserve visa-free travel to Schengen region”

Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that the citizens of the Republic of Turkey deserve visa-free travel to the European countries, Schengen region. Çavuşoğlu added: “Turkey is a country which keeps her promises. The EU should keep its promises as well”.

Regarding the recommendation of the EU Commission which predicts lifting of visas for Turkish citizens, Çavuşoğlu reminded that the EU and Turkey signed a new agreement on 18 March 2016, and freedom of visa will be applied at the end of June within the framework of this agreement.

Turkish Foreign Ministry: “Our citizens are at the nearest point to travel to EU countries without a visa”

Turkish Foreign Ministry welcomed the EU Commission’s proposal for applying freedom of visa for Turkey and stressed that Turkish citizens are at the nearest point to travel to European countries without a visa.

In the statement, it was noted that the decision of the European Commission which is the result of the decisive and devoted works of Turkey is very satisfactory.

It was stated : “Henceforth, the resolution process will continue within the body of the European Parliament and the EU Council, and in the meantime, our works will continue within the framework of the Road Map. We wish the approval process which has been started by the European Parliament and the EU Council to end with success.”

Sinirlioğlu in the TRNC

Undersecretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Feridun Sinirlioğlu arrived in the TRNC last night to hold a series of official contacts.

Sinirlioğlu will meet with President Mustafa Akıncı, Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün and Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu today.

Özgürgün: “We support the negotiations”

Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün said that they support the Cyprus negotiations conducted by President Mustafa Akıncı together with Turkey.

Speaking to AA correspondent after the new coalition government took office, Prime Minister Özgürgün stated that they support the negotiation process conducted by President Akıncı together with Turkey and added that they have wanted a solution in Cyprus for years.

Özgürgün said, “The UBP government never falls into a disagreement with the President in order to reach a solution in Cyprus in every sense.” Stressing the importance of the Greek Cypriot administration’s attitude towards a solution, Özgürgün said, “It is not possible for President Akıncı to encounter an obstacle due to the government, on the contrary the Greek Cypriot administration is the obstacle for a solution on the island.” “A solution can be reached immediately in Cyprus if a mentality is formed which accepts our internationally recognized equality in Cyprus based on the UN parameters with bi-zonality, political equality of the two people and equal status of the two constituent states. But the main point is that the Greek Cypriot side does not accept our equality and they do not want Turkish presence on the island.” If the Greek Cypriot side wants an agreement as much as we do, I believe a solution can be reached.”

Prime Minister Özgürgün also said, “Turkey’s full and effective guarantee is an absolute must for us and it is our red line.”

CTP: ‘Normalization” which will be in favour of all parties in Cyprus is only possible with the final solution of the Cyprus problem”

Republican Turkish Party (CTP) stated that the latest developments clearly showed once again that the “normalization” which will be in favour of all parties in Cyprus is only possible with the final solution of the Cyprus problem.”

In the written statement of the CTP it was stated that the visa-free travel was recommended by the European Commission for Turkish citizens for visits to the European Union member countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland except Ireland and the United Kingdom therefore, the Turkish citizens will be also enabled with this decision to travel without visas in South Cyprus as well.

In the written statement of the CTP, the importance of such a recommendation given by the European Commission was also stressed.

Annual meeting of the European Federation of Salaried Doctors will be held in the TRNC

The annual meeting of the European Federation of Salaried Doctors (FEMS) which is held in different cities of Europe every year will be held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus this year for the first time. The meeting will be held with the organization by the Cyprus Turkish Medical Association (KTTB) at the Acapulco Hotel in Girne.

In the statement on behalf of the board of directors, KTTB President Dr. Filiz Besim stated that the Cyprus Turkish Medical Association received the full membership right to the European Federation of Salaried Doctors in October 2014 and added that the annual meeting of the FEMS will be held in the TRNC for the first time.

The conference is being organized with the participation of experts from 8 different parts of Europe. Different speakers from Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern Europe will make speeches on the implementation of eight different health systems in Europe.

The conference will continue for 3 days. Guests will also find an opportunity to discover the TRNC with a rich social program which is being organized for the participants.

Classical music concert under the auspices of Bi-communal Cultural Technical Committee

Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot young musicians will give a concert under the auspices of Bi-communal Cultural Technical Committee tonight and they will perform Antonio Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”. During the concert, the work of the art of photographers from both communities will be exhibited.

President Mustafa Akıncı and his wife Meral Akıncı, Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Anastasiades and his wife Andri Anastasiades will also attend the concert. The concert will be held at Paphos Gate Pallas Theatre in Nicosia, South Cyprus. Within the framework of the social and cultural activities, the leaders attended a theatre play together in Limassol last summer for the first time, and they also attended a concert at Mağusa Othello Castle.