TRNC News Today 18th July 2013
PRIME MINISTER SIBER: “NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN”
There was an environmental catastrophe at the AKSA Power Plant at Teknecik in Karpaz while transferring fuel oil from a ship to the power plant the night before. According to the statement made a leakage occurred due to pressure in the flexible hose and 100 tons of fuel oil was released into the sea in 15 minutes.
Environmental Catastrophe in Kalecik was also on the agenda of the Council of Ministers. Prime Minister Siber pointed out that cleaning 
works were being carried out in the region and said that necessary precautions should be taken in order not to have such accidents again.
Indicating the work which was carried out by the Minister of Tourism and Environment related to the petroleum leakage, Siber said that according to the investigation there were also other leakages on 12 March and 1 July 2013 in Teknecik.
Siber also said that the Police did not allowed the ship to leave the port and added that the effects of such catastrophic events were long term effects therefore TRNC coasts were closed to dirty investments such as petroleum filling plants.
Prime Minister Siber also reiterated that they have started studies in order to rent a helicopter for the forest fires. Siber also underlined that heavy punishments should be in force in order not to live with such catastrophies again.
FOREIGN MINISTER ERK WILL BRIEF FOREIGN MEDIA AND POLITICIANS
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kutlay Erk will brief 
the foreign media members and politicians who will come to the TRNC for the celebration of the 20thJuly Peace and Freedom day.
According to the statement made by the Public Information Office the briefing will start at 10:00 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and can be followed by also the local media members.
Minister Erk will also brief the foreign politicians at 12:00 at his office in the Ministry and local media members are allowed to film before the briefing.
YILDIZ : “WE SHALL SEARCH FOR OIL AND GAS ALSO IN SOUTH CYPRUS”
The Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Taner Yıldız, said that they will search for gas and oil also in South Cyprus.
Expressing that the search will start in the Mediterranean Yıldız said: “We are planning to make seismic studies also in South Cyprus in an area of 10 thousand 500 kilometres. The first area of study of our Barbarous Hayrettin Paşa ship will be in South Cyprus.”
During the reception of the Director of International Energy Agency, Maria Van Der Hoeven in the Ministry, Yıldız answered the questions of the media members. Making statements regarding search of oil and petroleum, Yıldız said that search activities have been continuing also in the Black Sea.
GREEK FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER IS GOING TO TURKEY
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Greece Evangelos Venizelos will go to Turkey on 19 July.
According to the statement issued by Turkish Foreign Affairs Ministry, Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will exchange views on Turkish – Greek relations with Venizelos during his visit to Ankara.
It was also stated in the statement that Davutoğlu will share Turkey’s opinions on regional and international issues with Venizelos.
BITTERSWEET RAMADAN AT DIVINE LIGHT OF MEDITERRANEAN “HALA SULTAN TOMB”
Ramadan in “Hala Sultan Tomb” which is in South Cyprus and is the tomb of Ümmü Haram Binti Milhan who was known as “Hala Sultan” by the Muslims is bittersweet.
Hala Sultan Tomb which is near the Salt Lake in Larnaca spiritually influences everyone who visits the place. However citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus face difficulties when they want to visit and pray there because of the difficulties with the check points.
Hala Sultan Tomb, which remained in South Cyprus following the 1974 Peace Operation, is left to its fate. The tomb was restored between the years of 2002-2005 with the insistence and common initiatives of the TRNC and United Nations. Hala Sultan Tomb has been turned into a museum by the Greek Cypriot Administration and the Muslims started to perform in the Hala Sultan Tomb only after an imam was appointed in 2008.
GREEK CYPRIOT NATIONAL COUNCIL DETERMINES ANDREAS MAVROYANNIS TO BE NEGOTIATOR
The decision of Greek Cypriot National Council, which convened under the head of leader of the Greek Cypriot administration Nikos Anastasiadis yesterday, by which Andreas Mavroyannis is determined to be the negotiator of the Greek Cypriot side had a extensive coverage in the Greek Cypriot press.
Greek Cypriot daily and other newspapers stated that the meeting of National Council which was planned to be held over two days remained limited to one day.
According to the Greek Cypriot press Secretary General of AKEL Andros Kiprianu stated that his party argued against the appointment of a negotiator.
Kiprianu added that the negotiator should be the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration who is elected in the capacity of leader of the Greek Cypriot community.
Stating that the appointment of a negotiator will provide an opportunity to the Turkish Cypriot side to turn towards the same attitude, Kiprianu pointed out that this will depreciate the value of the negotiation process.
Source : TRNC Public Information Office
