TRNC News Today 3rd October 2013 

PRESIDENT EROĞLU: “THIS IS THE LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEGOTIATIONS AND IT SHOULD BE WELL EVALUATED”

President Derviş Eroğlu stated that this was the last opportunity for the negotiations and should be well evaluated. He also expressed hope for reaching a settlement by Spring 2014.

Speaking during various visits paid to him yesterday (2 October 2013), President Eroğlu stressed that the negotiations which had been continuing since 1968 should be finalized. “Currently, we are in search of a settlement at the negotiation table, but this search has been continuing for a long time. Just like everything comes to an end, the negotiations should also  be finalized”, said Eroğlu, stressing that the negotiations should be resumed within a time-limit. President added that it was possible to reach a viable settlement by taking into consideration the UN resolutions and the realities on Cyprus.

Explaining that all aspects of the Cyprus problem have been discussed up to today and what was needed for a solution was a political will, President Eroğlu said the Turkish Cypriot side had proved its will for a solution; however the Greek Cypriot side did not possess the same will.

Referring to the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiadis’ recent statements with regard to the evolution of the ‘Cyprus Republic’ into a federal republic, President Eroğlu said what the Turkish Cypriot side was in search of was a Federal State or a Republic which the two founding States, by vesting some of their powers, could establish a Federal State or a Republic.

FOREIGN MINISTER NAMİ: “WATER CONFERENCE TO BE HOSTED IN THE TRNC”

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Özdil Nami, received the Cyprus Turkish Businessmen’s Association (İŞAD) headed by Metin Şadi yesterday (2 October 2013).

Speaking during the meeting, the Chairman of the Cyprus Turkish Businessmen’s Association, Metin Şadi, wished success to Foreign Minister Nami in his new duty and stated that he was proud on behalf of İŞAD to see a former chairman of the association as a Minister.

Pointing out that the solution of the Cyprus problem was important for maintaining peace, as well as economic and political stability in the region, Metin Şadi said with this concern, İŞAD was consistently encouraging all the related parties towards a solution. Şadi also expressed support for the steps to be taken in the way of a solution.

For his part, Foreign Minister Nami, expressing pleasure for the courtesy visit of İŞAD, thanked the association for its support  with regard to the foreign policy.

Explaining that there were disagreements between the two sides on how the negotiations would be resumed, the Foreign Minister said the special representatives of the two leaders came together and started to work on a joint text.

Foreign Minister Nami stressed that the negotiation process should again be carried out at the leaders’ level and within a time frame.

Stating that the Foreign Ministry’s lobbying activities were intensively carried out by the representative offices in 20 different countries, including the USA, Özdil Nami said besides the Cyprus issue, the Ministry was also carrying out studies for eliminating the restrictions hampering the country’s trade with the world.

Noting that the Ministry was also taking initiatives for further developing the relations between the TRNC and member countries of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation (OIC), Foreign Minister Nami said a “Water Conference” to be attended by the OIC member countries would be hosted by the TRNC in November this year.

ERTUĞ AND MAVROYANNIS WORK ON A JOINT TEXT

President Derviş Eroğlu’s Special Representative Osman Ertuğ had a meeting with the  Greek Cypriot  negotiator Andreas Mavroyannis  for about  two and a half hours yesterday.

Speaking to the TAK reporter after the meeting, Ertuğ said during the meeting they worked with Mavroyannis  on a joint text which was planned  to be declared  in October after the leaders’ meeting.  Ertuğ added that they would  continue the meeting today.

Ertuğ  noted that UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser to Cyprus Alexander Downer would come to the island today (03.10.2013) and meet  with President Derviş Eroğlu on Friday, 4 October. Stating that Downer was planning  to bring together the Special Representatives  and  their  teams,  Ertuğ said  Downer also had a plan to bring the Special Representatives together at a dinner.

Ertuğ  also noted  that  Downer would make official contacts in Greece before coming to the island.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON GÜMRÜKÇÜ: “A SETTLEMENT IS POSSIBLE UNTIL THE END OF 2013”

Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Levent Gümrükçü, stated that the visits of the special representatives of the two sides in Cyprus can create a negotiation format that could contribute a possible settlement. He  said: “The date is envisaged to be determined together with Greece and the sides in Cyprus at equal level and simultaneously. After negotiations resume, if  both sides show the necessary political will, there is no reason for not reaching a settlement by the end of 2013”

At the press conference in the Ministry on 2 September, responding to a question whether Turkey had a road map regarding the new negotiation process, which would resume on the Cyprus issue, Gümrükçü said that this issue had also been an important agenda item during their meetings in the United Nations, New York.  Pointing out that the stance of Turkey from the beginning was to resume negotiations as soon as possible and finalize it in a determined and effective way, Gümrükçü noted that they have always reiterated the necessity of constructive contribution by the two guarantor States. Stating that Turkey had always had a determined stance on the issue, Gümrükçü added that during the meeting with Greece, a new development, like visits of the special representatives to Athens and Ankara, which has never seen before, took place.

TRAGEDY OF THE  MISSING PERSONS IN TRNC IS ON THE AGENDA OF  PACE

The tragedy of the Turkish Cypriot  people who went missing on 13 May 1964 in Cyprus on  a bus  and  have not been found was brought on the agenda of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

A documentary on missing Turkish Cypriots was shown to the European Parliamentarians and diplomats at an activity organized  during  the  Autumn  Plenary  Session of the  Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe.

Following the screening  of the documentary, a meeting was organized  under the moderatorship  of AK party  MP   who was also a member of PACE  Şaban Dişli,  where the TRNC Parliamentarians  and the relatives of the missing persons  also  attended.

During the meeting, emotional moments were experienced following the projection of the documentary  and the relatives of the missing persons conveyed the tragedy they have  experienced for years to the participants.

The speakers taking the floor during the meeting, expressed their disappointment on the failure of  an effective  investigation  to be carried out  on  the fate of the missing persons  and  asked  firstly  the Council of Europe and  other international institutions to  show  the necessary sensitivity.

Source: TRNC Public Information Office