TRNC News Today 31st October 2013

FOREIGN MINISTER NAMİ RECEIVES ASSOCIATION OF MARTYRS FAMILIES AND WAR VETERANS

Minister of Foreign Affairs Özdil Nami received the Association of Martyrs Families and War Veterans headed by Ertan Ersan yesterday (30th October 2013).

Speaking during the meeting, Foreign Minister Nami expressed his pleasure for the visit of the Association. Stating that he was aware of the sensitivities of the Association. Nami said institutional relations between the Foreign Ministry and the Association would continue.

Pointing out that the Foreign Ministry would provide the necessary support to the issues put forward by the Association, Nami said the Ministry would closely follow these issues and the door was always open to the Association.

For his part, the Chairman of the Association – Ertan Ersan, thanked Foreign Minister Nami for receiving the  members of the Association. Pointing out that the Association was closely following the studies of Foreign Minister Özdil Nami, Ertan Ersan said they were well aware of the difficult process being experienced in the Cyprus issue.

Noting that Foreign Minister Nami had the necessary knowledge, ability and experience for overcoming the difficulties, Ersan wished Nami success in his works.

Stating that the Association would publish the 8^th volume of the book entitled “Martyrs Never Die Album” in ‘21st December Martyrs Week’; Ersan wished there would not be wars anymore.

Referring to the Turkish Cypriot martyrdoms in South Cyprus, Ersan requested support from Foreign Minister Nami on the issue.

DOWNER COMING ON MONDAY

The UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor – Alexander Downer is coming to the island on the 4th November 2013.

According to the Greek Cypriot press, Downer will stay in Cyprus until the 8th of November and will meet with Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and President Derviş Eroğlu on 6th of November.

Downer will have meetings with Special Representatives Osman Ertuğ and Andreas Mavroyannis together and separately.

The Greek Cypriot press claimed that Downer’s main aim was to make the necessary preparation for the joint statement that will lead  the way to the leaders meeting. It was also claimed that the visits of Mavroyannis and Ertuğ to Ankara and Athens would become clearer after the agreement between Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministries.

Greek Cypriot press also stated that the Greek Cypriot side was expected to make a proposal regarding the joint statement.

PRESIDENT EROĞLU: “THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF CYPRUS IS INCREASING”

Delivering the opening speech of the symposium named “Neo-Liberal Transformation: Its Dimensions and Consequences” organized by the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, European University of Lefke, President Derviş Eroğlu recorded that the latest developments experienced in the region the TRNC was located, displayed how  destructive  the issue of  distribution of scarce natural resources could be.

President Eroğlu continued: “The hydrocarbon reserves existing around the Cyprus Island, instead of playing a catalytic role in solving the problem, caused the Cyprus problem to become more complicated because of  the Greek Cypriots’ wrong attitudes.

Five years ago, there was no such matter in the Cyprus issue. However, the way of sharing this resource has become an issue of discussion today. This discussion is going to be more complicated due to the intervention of an increasing number of  countries”.

Stating that the strategic importance of the island was increasing day by day, Eroğlu added that the strategic importance further  escalated the problems. Eroğlu continued: “The important actors of the world politics are not contributing to change the status quo, which causes unjust treatment of the Turkish Cypriots and blocks Turkey’s future in the international arena. In other words, since  they cannot predict the possible results, they cannot display the necessary courage to change the status quo.”

Source: TRNC Public Information Office