TRNC News Today 25th October 2013

EROĞLU: “GREEK CYPRIOTS ARE PURSUING AN ATTITUDE AIMED AT EXTENDING THE TIME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS”

President Derviş Eroğlu said that the Greek Cypriots were pursuing an attitude aimed at extending the time of the negotiations.

During a meeting with Günther Tielebörger, Mayor of Kandel, Germany and his delegation, Eroğlu gave information about the beginning of the Cyprus issue and the latest phase reached. Eroğlu stated that it was the Turkish Cypriot side that had always made efforts to reach a settlement and accepted the Annan Plan on the 24th April 2004 referendum.

Referring also to the negotiation process, Eroğlu said that the Greek Cypriots saw the Turkish Cypriots as the side needing to reach a settlement, and pursued an attitude aimed at extending the time of the negotiations.

FOREIGN MINISTER NAMİ: “WE HAD VERY FRUITFUL CONTACTS”

Minister of Foreign Affairs – Özdil Nami, who was in Strasbourg for a series of contacts came together with the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Stefan Füle.

Speaking to Cyprus Turkish News Agency (TAK), Foreign Minister Nami stated that within the framework of his contacts in Strasbourg, he also met with the Chairman of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Hannes Swoboda, Co-Chair of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Member of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Sir Graham Watson, Vice-Chair of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Sarah Ludford, German European People’s Party (EPP) Group Member and Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Elmar Brok as well as the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament Miguel Angel Martinez, Alejo Vidal-Quadras and Laszlo Surjan.

Pointing out that during his contacts in Strasbourg, he observed that the interest of the European officials in the Cyprus issue has increased; Foreign Minister Nami said he conveyed the Turkish Cypriot side’s request for equal treatment to both peoples in Cyprus. Nami underlined that this request was responded to positively by the EU.

Nami noted that during his contacts, he also put forward the Turkish Cypriot side’s view towards the resumption of the negotiations under the UN Secretary General’s good offices mission.

Explaining that the issue of the Turkish Cypriots’ representation in the European Parliament was also taken up, Nami said they reminded the promise given to the Turkish Cypriot side to the effect that this would be taken up by the EP Presidency before the end of this year. He added that the EU was continuing its studies on the issue.

Nami stated that the problems with regard to the Green Line and Financial Aid regulations and ways to eliminate them were also discussed during the meetings. Foreign Minister Nami added that he came together with Vice-Chairmen of political groups, Heads of National Delegations and Co-ordinators of Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.

Foreign Minister Nami returned to the TRNC, last night (24th October).

Source: TRNC Public Information Office