TRNC News Today 26th March 2014

Eroğlu: “We plan to conclude negotiations before 2015 with a simultaneous referendum”

TRNC President Dr. Derviş Eroğlu stated that they plan to conclude the ongoing negotiations for the solution of Cyprus problem with a simultaneous referendum to be held before 2015 and emphasized that the manner of the Greek Cypriot side is very important during this period.

The President made the following statements during a reception yesterday (25.03.2014):

“We are at the warming up stage. We have not started the process of ‘give and take’ yet. We consider entering into the process of ‘give and take’ quickly and concluding the negotiations with an agreement. The Greek Cypriot side started to act in a manner as ‘they are not in a hurry’. However the interest of the world is densely focused on us. When the issue of Crimea-Ukraine erupted, the Cyprus problem lost some importance but, as far as I see, the interest of the UN and EU continue. We feel that they want to get more involved.

Probably in April, the visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry to Cyprus and his meeting with the two sides is on the agenda. We started the negotiations with good will. We have the understanding of reaching an agreement. An agreement cannot be made unilaterally, it should be mutual. The Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey showed many times that they are on the side of an agreement by saying ‘YES’ to some text of agreements. For that reason, the Greek Cypriot side should feel that two separate peoples in Cyprus should live on these territories; therefore an agreement should be made. We feel this and furthermore we sometimes suffer because of the lack of a solution. I hope, we can reach an agreement as soon as possible with this last effort.”

Alexander Downer will meet President Eroglu today

UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor to Cyprus Alexander Downer whose mission has ended will meet President Derviş Eroglu at 10:00 and the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades at 12:00 within the framework of his farewell visits today (26.03.2014).

Alexander Downer will leave the island after the press meeting he will organize tomorrow morning.

Eroglu and Anastasiades will come together again on Monday

Within the framework of Cyprus peace negotiations started on 11th February, President Derviş Eroglu and the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades will come together for the second time on Monday  next.

The meeting will take place at the residence of the UN Secretary General’s Cyprus Representative at the buffer zone on Monday, 31 March at 11:30.

Foreign Minister Nami is continuing his contacts in Germany

Within the framework of his contacts in Germany, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Özdil Nami participated in Newroz festival, organized by Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Tajikistan together with Turkish Ambassador to Berlin Hüseyin Avni Karslıoğlu yesterday.

FM Nami also gave an interview to German ‘Der Tagesspiegel’ newspaper regarding the latest stage reached in the Cyprus problem and the position of the Turkish Cypriot side.

FM Nami also attended the lunch hosted by the Turkish Ambassador to Berlin Hüseyin Avni Karslıoğlu in his honour.

Within the framework of his contacts in Germany Foreign Minister Özdil Nami also met Greens Party Federal Parliamentarian and member of German Federal Parliament at the EU Commission, Manuel Sarrazin.

The Cyprus solution process was taken up at the meeting and Foreign Minister Nami said that the atmosphere is appropriate for a solution in Cyprus and the solution will make positive contributions not only to Cyprus but also to regional cooperation.

Minister Nami stressed at the meeting that international openings towards the Turkish Cypriot People whose will for a solution is obvious should continue increasingly.

Religious men meet at a dinner

It was stated that religious men living in the North and South Cyprus came together at a social dinner held with the participation of the UN Special Representative for Cyprus and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus – Lisa Buttenheim, at the residence of the Greek Orthodox Church Archbishop Chrysostomos in  South Cyprus.

The issues of giving mutual importance to places of worship, not putting obstacles for religious visits, especially avoiding to use political language in this process, developing mutual visits and informing religious men mutually were discussed during the meeting.

Within this framework, it was also stated that President of Religious Affairs – Atalay, will give a seminar to Maronite religious men on 27th March 2014 on the issue of ‘Peace in Islam’.

Atalay invited the delegation to North Cyprus for the next social dinner.

Source: TRNC Public Information Office