TRNC News Today 20th December 2013

FOREIGN MINISTER NAMİ: ‘WE HAVE DONE OUR DUTY’

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Özdil Nami stated that the current stage is very close to reaching the final stage for the joint statement regarding the Cyprus issue. Stressing that there are only some small problems in the chapters, Foreign Minister Nami said that it depended on the Greek Cypriot side to overcome these difficulties.

Adding that as the Turkish Cypriot side, they have done the final arrangements to reach the final stage on the joint statement, Nami pointed out that they were waiting for the Greek Cypriot side’s response. ‘We are at a satisfactory stage and there is no reason for the Greek Cypriot side to refuse it. When we submitted our last proposal, the UN and other related parties also considered it positive’ the Foreign Minister added.

Moreover, pointing out that during the last two months, significant development has been realized on the Cyprus issue, Nami said: ‘From now on, we are waiting for response of the Greek Cypriots. However, the issue of ‘Governance and Power Sharing’ will be shaped and from now on the negotiation process will gain speed’.

21st-25th DECEMBER STRUGGLE AND MARTYRS WEEK WILL BE COMMEMORATED

The 21st-25th of December will be commemorated as the ‘Struggle and Martyrs Week’ throughout the TRNC.

A series of events will take place throughout the Republic within the framework of the ceremonies for commemorating the martyrs on the anniversary of the launch of attacks against the Turkish Cypriots by the Greek Cypriots and Greeks on the 21st of December 1963. There will be ceremonies in Girne, Güzelyurt, Gazimağusa and Lefke on 21st of December and in İskele on 21 and 23 December. Türkeli (Ayvasıl) Martyrs will be commemorated on 22 December and another ceremony will be organized at Kumsal Martyrs Monument (Barbarlık Müzesi) at 10:00 on 24th of December. Finally a commemoration ceremony will be held at the Küçük Kaymaklı Martyrs Monument on 25th December.  

RECTOR OF EMU IS PRESENTED A MEDAL BY PRESIDENT OF TÜRKSOY

President of Organization of International Turkish Culture (TÜRKSOY) Düsen Kaseinov presented the Meritorious Service Medal of the Turkish World, which is given to those who serve Turkish World, to the Rector of Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Prof. Dr. Abdullah Öztoprak during a visit to the Rector.  Prof. Dr. Öztoprak stated that relations with the Turkic communities were always good and added that there were students from many Turkic communities who were being educated in EMU.

Öztoprak also stated that in order to strengthen and increase the relations between the cultures, they target to teach the students from Turkic communities other dialects and ‘Turkish spoken in Turkey’ by including the paralanguage in the Department of Turkish Language and Literature, and pointed out that they believe that the communication between Turkic communities can be increased and the cultures can be recognized by this means.

Kaseinov expressed during his speech that they were ready to carry out new studies with EMU and stressed that EMU had an important role in science and research.

Source: TRNC Public Information Office