TRNC News Today 11th November 2013

FOREIGN MINISTER INFORMS NGO’S

Foreign Minister – Özdil Nami, informed non-governmental organizations regarding the latest phase reached on the Cyprus issue. The meeting was held at the Foreign Ministry building. Nami invited the Cyprus Turkish Public Servants Union (KTAMS), Public Servants Union (Kamu Sen), Cyprus Turkish Teachers Union (KTÖS), and Cyprus Turkish Secondary Schools Teachers Union (KTOEÖS) to the first meeting.

Making a statement at the beginning of the meeting Mr. Nami said as the Foreign Ministry they were working hard not only on the Cyprus negotiations process but on international contacts of the TRNC as well.

Explaining that he gave great importance to the views of Unions and Chambers regarding the Cyprus issue, Nami expressed the hope that such meetings will continue in the future as they give great importance to receiving feedback during critical times.

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE ERTUG: ‘PROGRESS IN GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE’

President Derviş Eroğlu’s Special Representative – Osman Ertuğ, said that there is progress in the Greek Cypriot side on the issue of joint text and the studies on this issue will continue. Stressing that his meeting with Downer was very constructive, Ertuğ said that they as the Turkish Cypriot side put forth ‘bridge building’ proposals during the meeting.  Moreover, UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus – Alexander Downer, is expected to be in the island at the beginning of December.

However,  there is still not any development on the issue of the Athens and Ankara visits due to the internal political problems of Greece so the date of these visits is not clear at the moment.

TURKISH PRESIDENT GUL: ‘WE WISH NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES TO START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE’

Turkish President Abdullah Gül said ‘We wish the negotiations between the two sides to start as soon as possible’.

Stating that the priority of Turkey is to complete the negotiation process successfully, and both sides have advantages of this, Gül said ‘We expect the EU leaders to discuss Turkey’s membership process with a strategic perspective and show a courageous and visionary approach. The opening of a new chapter is a right step and other chapters should also be opened.

Fule also expressed his wish for the starting of negotiations between the two sides as soon as possible.

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN: ‘GREEK CYPRIOTS WERE TAKEN INTO THE EU DUE TO POLITICAL REASONS’

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Greek Cypriot Administration was taken into the EU due to political reasons not due to being in accordance with the legal Acquis.

In his speech made during the conference held in Poland, Prime Minister Erdogan said ‘Pay attention! They accepted the Greek Cypriot side to enter into the EU as Cyprus not as South Cyprus. But, there are two sides in Cyprus as South Cyprus and North Cyprus. There is a green line in the UN buffer zone.  The EU’s decision is completely political’.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER DAVUTOGLU: ‘CYPRUS ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE AN OBSTACLE BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE EU ANYMORE’

Turkish Foreign Minister – Ahmet Davutoglu met with Stefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policies, in Ankara.

Speaking to the press members following the meeting, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu stressed that Turkey-EU relations were of great importance for both sides and stated that the Cyprus question which affects the new momentum in bilateral relations negatively was discussed.

Pointing out that Turkey displayed determination and will with a view to finding a solution which ensures durable peace in Cyprus, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said that it is Turkey’s expectation that the comprehensive negotiations on the Cyprus question should start immediately and thus the Cyprus question should not be an obstacle between the EU and Turkey anymore.

Referring to his meeting in New York with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece – Evangelos Venizelos, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu pointed out that Turkey attaches great importance to the reciprocal visits of the Representatives of the Greek Cypriot Administration and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to Ankara and Athens.

KOENIG: “ANKARA HAS NO INTENTION OF EXPANSIONISM IN THE REGION”

In an interview to PIK, US Ambassador to Cyprus – John Koenig said that Turkey has no intention of expansionism in the region.

It has been indicated that Koenig stressed that Washington acknowledged the importance of the resumption of negotiations on a strong ground in order to be successful and reach a conclusion. He also said: “The USA spent every effort towards reaching an agreement in the joint statement and the resumption of the talks and defended that Ankara also made substantial contributions on this issue.

Koenig repeated American support for Cyprus’ right to exploit the resources in its EEZ, adding, “And we believe that the eventual profits from those resources should be shared equitably among all Cypriots in the context of a solution to the division of Cyprus”.

He called on all parties to avoid actions that will increase tension, noting that exploration and development could continue in parallel with settlement talks.

Koenig refused the claim that Ankara had expansionist aims in the region and said that the natural richness of Cyprus should be evaluated in the solution procedure.

MEMBER OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ASKED FOR CANCELLING BRITISH COUNCIL EDUCATION FAIR IN THE TRNC

It has been indicated that the European Parliament member from DISI, Eleni Theoharus, has written a letter in order to ask for the cancellation of the British Council’s Education Fair which is going to be organized in the TRNC and the mentioned letter is being evaluated by the Greek Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs – Yoannis Kasoulidis.

Besides the Greek Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secondary School Teachers’ Union (OELMEK) and Student Unions Federation (POFEN) in South Cyprus are also said to oppose the fair which is going to be organized by the British Council on 12^th November in the TRNC.

Greek Cypriot newspaper Simerini wrote that Theoharus also sent a complaint letter to the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.

THE FOURTH MEDIA FORUM OF TURKISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES TO BE HELD IN THE TRNC NEXT YEAR

The Third Media Forum of Turkish Speaking Countries and Communities was organized in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

A final declaration was signed at the end of the Media Forum, which was organized with the co-operation of Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information, Media Platform of Turkish-Speaking Communities (TURKMEP) and Ministry of Culture and Information of Kyrgyzstan with the theme of “Transformation Process of Traditional Media and New Media.”

Murat Karakaya, Director General of Press and Information of Turkey, said that the term presidency was handed over to the TRNC, which would host the Fourth Media Forum of Turkish Speaking Countries in North Cyprus.

Prof. Dr. Ata Atun was unanimously elected as the 4th Term President at the Forum.

Source: TRNC Public Information Office