TRNC News Today 20th May 2013
EROĞLU REPEATS HIS EXPECTATION ABOUT A ROAD MAP
President Derviş Eroğlu stated that the dinner which has been planned to be held on 29th of May together with the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos 
Anastasiadis may be held on 30th of May.
According to the statement of the Presidency’s Press Office, Eroğlu answered the questions of the journalists following the 19th May ceremonies and said that the mentioned date was proposed by the UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor for Cyprus, Alexander Downer. Eroğlu said regarding the dinner: ‘I hope the meeting establishes a sincere atmosphere before the negotiations and we reach an agreement on a road map’.
19th MAY, COMMEMORATION OF ATATURK, YOUTH AND SPORTS DAY HAS BEEN CELEBRATED
19th May, the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day was celebrated yesterday with ceremonies throughout the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
The first ceremony of the day was held in front of the Atatürk Monument in Lefkoşa. The day’s events continued with the main ceremony at the Atatürk Stadium in Lefkoşa where President Derviş Eroğlu and the Minister of National Education, Youth and Sports delivered speeches, followed by a cortege of youth from secondary schools and performances of various dance shows.
PRESIDENT EROĞLU: “YOU ARE NOT ONLY THE ASSURANCE OF OUR FUTURE BUT TODAY’S MOST VALUABLE POTENTIAL”
Calling to the youth of our country, President Derviş Eroğlu said: “I am fulfilling my duty with the power you give me. We have been continuing our studies with good intentions and a constructive attitude to reach an agreement on the basis of the realities of the island for creating an island of peace.”
Pointing out that the Turkish side’s aim is to reach a settlement as soon as possible, President Eroğlu wished the Greek Cypriot side to have the same opinion with the Turkish side.
Stressing that he is aware of the problems of the people and youth especially the issue of unemployment increasing day by day, Eroğlu said that there are also some constitutional and legal works which should be done and there are some steps which should be taken by the Government Eroğlu said: “I am sure about the future of my country. Turkish Cypriots will overcome the difficulties and reach better days together with motherland Turkey.”
In his message given on the 19th May, the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, Eroğlu made a call to the youth and said ‘You are not only the assurance of our future but today’s most valuable potential. You are our most valuable asset’.
ERDOĞAN SAID ‘TRNC SOLUTION’; OBAMA APPROVED
According to the Greek Cypriot Newspaper Haravgi, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan mentioned that there is a chance for a solution in Cyprus and the US President approved him by giving a nod.
The newspaper also stated that Turkey and her allies try to exert pressure on the Greek Cypriot Administration to work for a solution of the Cyprus issue and wrote that Obama did not mention anything about the Cyprus issue at their joint press meeting with Erdogan however he approved by giving a nod when Erdogan talked about ‘an important opportunity for reaching a solution in Cyprus’.
PRIME MINISTER KUCUK MET WITH DAVUTOĞLU
Prime Minister İrsen Küçük met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in New York. Prime Minister İrsen Küçük’s contacts with the UN and US officials as well and future steps to be taken were discussed during the meeting.
Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, said that he had taken up the Cyprus issue in detail during the meeting he had earlier with his US counterpart, the US Secretary of State, John Kerry. He said that concrete proposals had come up during his meeting with Mr. Kerry for creating momentum to the solution 
process in Cyprus.
At the meeting of Küçük and Davutoğlu it was reiterated that 2013 was the best time for a solution in the Cyprus issue and the importance of the dinner which TRNC President Dr. Derviş Eroğlu and Greek Cypriot Administration Leader Nikos Anastasiadis will come together was underlined.
On the other hand it was pointed out that Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, will be visiting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the coming days and Prime Minister İrsen Küçük said that the timing of the visit is very important and they will be happy to host Mr. Davutoğlu in the TRNC.
PRIME MINISTER IRSEN KŰҪŰK BACK TO TRNC
TRNC Prime Minister Irsen Küçük returned to the TRNC after completing his contacts in the United States of America.
Prime Minister Küçük returned to the TRNC at 15.15 p.m. on Sunday 19th May and he was welcomed by the government officials and party members.
ONE MORE STEP IN ‘PROJECT OF THE CENTURY’
Construction of the water pipeline of the ‘TRNC Water Supply Project’ which will connect Turkey and the TRNC under the sea has begun.
According to the statement made by the TR Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, within the scope of the project, the water will be carried by perched pipes 250 meters below the sea surface which is a method that will be applied for the first time in the world.
TURKISH STREET SIGNBOARDS DESTROYED IN LARNACA
It was reported that Turkish street signboards in an old Turkish Cypriot neighborhood in Larnaca were destroyed or removed by unidentified people.
National People Front (NPF) warned almost a 
month ago that they would remove the Turkish signboards in order to replace them with Greek names.
Under the headline: “Turkish Signboards were destroyed… Larnaca Police are searching for criminals’ the Greek Cypriot newspaper ‘Fileleftheros’ published that unidentified persons destroyed the signboards by bending and spraying paint the previous night in an old Cyprus Turkish neighborhood in Larnaca.
OFFICE OF UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES MADE A CALL TO SOUTH CYPRUS TO BE LIABLE FOR REFUGEES
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) criticized the Greek Cypriot Administration who will be liable regarding 
the refugees who came from Syria and came to South Cyprus.
The Greek Cypriot ‘Politis’ newspaper wrote that UNHCR wanted South Cyprus to take active precautions with regard to the support of the refugees who requested political asylum. ‘Politis’ also published that an emergency plan should be prepared in case of an increase in the number of refugees who left the neighbouring country which is at war.
SOUTH CYPRUS WORK ON BUYING OFF SHORE SHIPS
Pointing out that developing the opportunities for the assurance of their ‘Rights of Independence’ in so called ‘Exclusive Economic Zone-EEZ’ which was unilaterally declared by the Greek Cypriots was their priority, the Greek Cypriot Defense Minister, Fotis Fotiu, stated that they were working on buying two offshore patrol ships within this framework.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office
