TRNC News Today 8th November 2013

PRESIDENT EROĞLU: “WE CAN START NEGOTIATIONS ON ANY DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED BY THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL”

Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot side could start the negotiations on any date to be announced by the UN Secretary General, President Eroğlu said: “We are ready to launch the negotiations without the joint statement.”

President Eroğlu stated that the joint statement should not be a precondition towards launching the negotiations; in fact the idea of a joint statement had already emerged from the Greek Cypriot side as a proposal.

Eroğlu continued as: “What we have been talking about at the negotiation table for years are well known. In my opinion it is wrong to put forward a precondition and insist on it as what we are talking about and what we will be talking about are certain. We are ready to sit at the negotiation table without the joint statement if we cannot reach an agreement on it.”

EROĞLU: “NO PROPOSAL REGARDING A NEW PLAN HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO US”

President Eroğlu has expressed that a ‘Cypriot’ plan has been discussed in the past and it has been stated that there will be no imposition. Eroğlu recorded that no proposal has been submitted to the Turkish side regarding a new plan at the negotiation table.

Eroğlu stated that they have no information regarding Ban Ki Moon’s preparation of a new plan at the moment and added that Downer also has not said anything related to the plan.

DOWNER: “THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION”

The meeting between the TRNC President Derviş Eroğlu and the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on the Cyprus issue, Alexander Downer, was held yesterday (7th November 2013) at the Presidency. Downer said that there have been changes ‘in the right direction’ during the process regarding the sides’ ideas.

Downer who will be leaving the island at the weekend stated that his contacts related to this issue will continue until he leaves and expressed his hope regarding reaching a settlement.

CYPRUS TURKISH DAY IN THE US CONGRESS

US Congress building Rayburn hosted an event marking the Cyprus Turkish Day. Together with Congress members like Eddie Bernice Johnson and Shelia Jackson Lee, many other officials attended the ceremony.

Washington Representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ahmet Erdengiz told Anadolu Agency that they had a chance to inform the US Congress members about the Turkish Cypriots.

Erdengiz said: “Our goal is to inform the Congress members about the culture and history of the Turkish Cypriots and give them the necessary brochures. We organized this event for the first time last year. It has been a successful activity this year as well. Such activities are quite beneficial, because we have the chance to brief the Congress members about Turkish culture and history and their presence in the island.”

INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE HAS STARTED AT EMU

The conference organized by the European Peace Research Association, EuPRA, named  “Building Positive Peace in Europe and Neighboring Countries” has started at the Eastern Mediterranean University, and will be hosted by the Department of Communication and Media Studies.

8 sessions will be held at the conference which will continue for three days with the participation of scientists from 20 different countries.

The Conference’s main speaker from Justus Liebig  Giessen University in Germany, Prof. Dr. Hanne Margret Birckenbach made a presentation on the issue of ‘Revitalization of Peace Logic’.

The second speaker of the Conference, the President of USA’s International Middle East Studies Council – Prof. Dr. Norton Mezvinsky will make his presentation on the issue of ‘What happened in Arabian Spring?’  today.

NAMI: “WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM”

TRNC Foreign Affairs Minister – Özdil Nami expressed that he had the same idea with TRNC Prime Minister Özkan Yorgancıoğlu when he was asked his opinion concerning the agreement signed between Turkish Cypriot Football Federation (KTFF) and Greek Cypriot Football Federation (KOP).

“In general terms, we are in favour of the co-operation of both sides’ organizations and institutions in the international platform based on reciprocal equality said Nami, and added that he could re-evaluate the issue after being informed by President of KTFF Hasan Sertoğlu. He also reminded that Sertoğlu stated that the articles of the agreement should be negotiated.

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER ERDOĞAN: “A BAN KI MOON PLAN IS LIKELY TO BE CREATED”

Turkish Prime Minister – Recep Tayyip Erdoğan replied to the questions on the Cyprus issue, during the joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, just after their bilateral meeting.

Referring to his proposal to United Nations Secretary General – Ban ki Moon (at the G-20 Summit) in St. Petersburg in September 2013, envisaging Turkey, Greece and UK, as guarantor powers, to take a more active role during the negotiations and bring the issue to an end, Erdoğan continued:

“We believe and have full confidence in both the President and the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Let’s take the necessary steps.  Currently, the Annan Plan has lost its validity and a Ban ki Moon Plan is likely to be created. Let’s contribute to it as soon as possible and reach a conclusion.”

Source: TRNC Public Information Office