TRNC News Today 14th June 2013
PRIME MINISTER SIBER AND MINISTERS COME INTO OFFICE TODAY
The new Prime Minister of the Interim Government
Sibel Siber is coming into office today.
According to the information given by the Prime Ministry Press and Public Relations Office, Prime Minister Siber will start her mission at 09:00 at the Prime Ministry today.
Siber is the first woman Prime Minister in the TRNC.
Prime Minister Dr. Sibel Siber, Foreign Minister Kutlay Erk, Finance Minister Zeren Mungan, Minister of Interior and Local Administrations Gülsün Yücel, Minister of Labour and Social Security Aziz Gürpınar, Minister of National Education, Youth and Sport Asım İdris, Minister of Public Works and Communications Dr. Ismail Basarir, Minister of Health Nuri Gökşin, Minister of Economy and Energy ATA Ahmet Raşit, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Sami Dayıoğlu, Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture Mehmet Harmanci will participate in the new government.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: “BEGINNING EXPLORATORY DRILLING IN BLOCK 12 IS AN UNFORTUNATE DEVELOPMENT”
South Cyprus’s beginning illegal hydrocarbon exploratory drilling in block 12 in the Eastern Mediterranean which is the so called exclusive economic zone was described as ‘an unfortunate development’ by the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Pointing out that the Greek side’s seismic exploration activities in areas which the TRNC 
government has given license to the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPC) has been learned, the Ministry has evaluated these provocative steps which were turned into a new dimension as an unacceptable approach which is increasing the tension in the region despite all warnings.
It was expressed in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that in the period when the negotiation preparations are continuing, the Greek Cypriots’ negative statements related to their unwillingness towards restarting the negotiations and the continuation of actions increasing the tension between the two sides indicate that the Greek Cypriot side is insincere towards a solution and stability.
The statement stressed that Turkish Cypriots who are the joint owners of the island have also equal and inseparable rights over exploring, drilling and operating natural gas within the sea province of the island like in all issues and it was stressed that violation of Turkish Cypriots’ rights cannot be allowed by creating a fait accompli policy.
HOLLANDE ASKED ANASTASIADIS NOT TO PREVENT OPENING OF CHAPTER ABOUT TURKEY
The leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration, Nikos Anastasiadis, came together with President of France, Fransu Hollande, in Paris
yesterday.
It was stated that the French President Hollande asked Anastasiadis not to prevent the opening of the 22nd regional policy chapter in the Turkey-EU accession negotiations.
Publishing that this chapter will be opened on 26th June, Greek a Cypriot newspaper stated that after the meeting of Hollande and Anastasiadis the Greek Cypriot side replied positively to Paris and will accept the opening of the chapter.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office
