TRNC News Today 19th July 2013
EROĞLU: “UN RECOGNIZE LEADERS OF TWO COMMUNITIES AS NEGOTIATORS”
President Derviş Eroğlu has said that the UN recognizes the leaders of the two communities as the negotiators and the negotiations are being carried out by the leaders.
Yesterday (18th July) President Eroğlu received the Turkish and foreign media members who are in the TRNC in order to participate in the 20th of July Peace and Freedom Day celebrations.
Answering the questions of the journalists, Eroğlu evaluated the appointment of a negotiator by the Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Anastasiadis and said that the UN recognizes the leaders of the two communities as the negotiators and the negotiations are being carried out by the leaders.
Indicating that the 20th of July Peace Operation has a vital and historical importance for the Turkish Cypriots, Eroğlu said that the operation was the consequence of the Greek Coup on 15th July 1974 which was aimed to exterminate the Turkish Cypriots on the island according to the Akritas Plan.
Eroğlu told that the Turkish intervention saved both people on the island from being annihilated and buried in mass graves and reminded the words of Makarios in those days saying : “My country is occupied by Greece…The life of both peoples are in danger.”
FOREIGN MINISTER ERK: “VAROSHA IS THE PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION”
Speaking to BRT TV yesterday Minister Erk expressed that Varosha is part of a comprehensive solution.
Erk : “you cannot solve the Cyprus problem by only returning Varosha. The problem is still there. Returning of Varosha is another process and it is a loss of time. Minister Erk said that the Cyprus problem is a power sharing problem 
and also a problem of how to rule the island under a federal roof and added:“First we have to solve the power sharing problem. Then other problems can be solved.”
Mentioning the meeting which will be held between Turkish and Greek Foreign Ministers in Ankara today, Erk said that he hoped that the meeting will accelerate the negotiation process which will start in the Autumn and also encourage the Greek Cypriot side.
Expressing that the Turkish side was ready however the Greek side is not willing for negotiations, Erk hoped that the negotiations would start in autumn and come to an end.
YEKTAOĞLU:“JUSTICE PRINCIPLES OF UN CONVENTION OF MARITIME LAW SHOULD BE BASE OF SETTLEMENT OF EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE”
The Deputy Speaker of the TRNC Assembly, Mustafa Yektaoğlu, stated that justice principles of the United Nations Convention of Maritime Law should be the base of the settlement of the exclusive economic zone.
Yektaoğlu gave a briefing themed “The effects of oil research studies on the negotiation process and in the region” at Gönyeli Municipality Conference Hall in order to inform the 
foreign politicians and journalists invited within the scope of the activities for the celebration of 20th July Peace and Freedom Day.
Yektaoğlu, who has given information on the Cyprus problem, stated that the Greek Cypriot administration concludes all international agreements unilaterally since 1963.
Yektaoğlu expressed that this harms communal negotiations and he exemplified unilateral agreements made on the issues of oil and natural gas research and exclusive economic zone.
Yektaoğlu emphasized that international agreements should be dealt with in such a manner that they will empower the peace and co-operation between the two peoples on the island and said: “Our vision is the co-operation in peace in the Eastern Mediterranean. Petroleum and gas which will be drilled in Cyprus should encourage a quick solution in Cyprus and the energy policies should contribute not to war but to peace. The two peoples on the island should share the natural resources equally.”
BESIR ATALAY AND CEMIL CICEK WILL COME TO TRNC FOR THE 2OTH JULY CELEBRATIONS
Deputy Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic, 
Besir Atalay and Head of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Cemil Çiçek, will come to the TRNC in order to participate in the 20th July Peace and Freedom Day celebrations.
Besir Atalay is expected to come to the country this afternoon (19th July) and Cemil Çiçek on 20thJuly in the morning.
CELEBRATIONS WILL START TODAY
The official celebrations will start today with a 21 gun salute which will be followed by President Derviş Eroğlu’s address to the nation on BRT TV.
Ceremonies will also be held in other towns throughout the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
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EVALUATION OF KALECIK INCIDENT FROM ERK
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Erk, has evaluated the recent accident in which 100 tons of fuel oil spilled into the sea near the coast of Kalecik and spread up near the Bafra Water Treatment Facility due to choppy waters and 
strong winds. Speaking to BRT TV yesterday Minister Erk expressed that it was an unfortunate incident and said that the cleaning up efforts have been continuing. Erk indicated that it will take a few months for the fuel oil to be removed from the sea.
Stressing that AKSA, which is the responsible firm in this incident, will be punished and this shall not be forgiven Erk said: “My desire is not punishment but the price should be paid.”
Erk finally said that the first priority is to clean the oil pollution in the sea and save the living creatures.
TR ENVIRONMENT AND TOWN PLANNING MINISTRY SENT EXPERTS TO EXAMINE THE SEA POLLUTION IN TRNC
TR Environment and Town Planning Ministry has sent experts to examine the sea pollution in the TRNC and to provide help in this issue.
In the statement made by the TR Environment and Town Planning Ministry it was reminded that during transfer of the oil from a
ship to the AKSA Power Plant in the Kalecik region of İskele district in the TRNC a leakage from the pipe occurred due to pressure and caused sea pollution.
In the statement it was also mentioned that two expert teams were sent to the TRNC in order to examine the incident and to provide any help that they can on this issue. Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry, Mehmet Emin Birpınar and an authority from the CED Permit and Audit General Directorate are also in the team. It was also indicated that the bureaucrats will also meet with the TRNC Prime Minister Sibel Siber concerning cleaning of the region.
EXTREME RIGHTISTS MAY BE IN GREEK ASSEMBLY
Results of a poll has depicted that the political stage has changed in South Cyprus.
Greek Cypriot Simerini newspaper published the news under the headline ‘Political Map is changing’ and wrote that the poll made in 
South Cyprus with the participation of 998 persons showed that the political arena has changed.
According to the poll, DISI which is the party in power keeps the first position with 28% and AKEL loses votes and continues to be the second with 16%.
The newspaper also wrote that, according to the poll, extreme rightist ELAM exceeded the 2% threshold for the first time and got the possibility of entering the Greek Cypriot assembly.
Source : TRNC Public Information Office
