TRNC News Today 25th July 2014

Anastasiades escapes from the negotiation table

According to Kıbrıs newspaper, Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades escaped from the negotiation table during his meeting with President Derviş Eroğlu in the buffer zone yesterday.

Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades refused the consensus reached on Confidence Building Measures last Friday by negotiators and opposed past convergences being binding.

It was stated that during the meeting, Anastasiades banged his fist on the table and reprimanded his delegation, shouted at United Nations authorities and left the meeting suddenly.  According to some reliable sources, Anastasiades threw his eyeglasses and smoked during the meeting despite prohibition.

In the statement of United Nations following the leaders’ meeting, it was stated that firstly, both leaders visited the Anthropology Laboratory and then had a meeting. During yesterday’s meeting, they completed submitting proposals on all issues and exchanged views on Confidence Building Measures and the method of negotiations. It was also stressed in the statement that the leaders charged the negotiators to make progress on Confidence Building Measures and the method of negotiations until the leaders’ next meeting to be held on 2 September 2014.

According to the information gained, during the 5 hour meeting, Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades continuously repeated that past convergences should not be at the negotiation table.

After being reminded that his attitude was against the joint statement, negotiations should  continue from the stage left according to the joint statement, Anastasiades continued his firm stand and refused to approve 8 Confidence Building Measures on which Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Özersay and Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyannis reached a consensus, claiming that they are only to the advantage of the Turkish Cypriots.

Opening of Aplıç Gate in Lefke, Turkish citizen tourists visiting both sides of the island by cruise ships, cleaning of all mines in the island and realizing bi-communal sporting competitions for disabled persons took place among the Confidence Building Measures that were approved by negotiators.

Anastasiades refused Turkish citizens visiting both sides of the island with a similar visa application as they are able to visit Greece with private visa application and provided that a new crossing point should be opened in Kiracıköy for opening of Aplıç Gate.

During former meetings, Anastasiades accepted to give coordinates of 28 minefields to the Turkish Cypriot side which were laid by Greek Cypriot National Guard Army before the 20th July Peace Operation and left in the north of the island after the second operation on 15 August 1974. During yesterday’s meeting, Anastasiades accepted cleaning of anti-personnel  mines but refused cleaning of antitank mines by showing the power of the armoured unit in the north as a reason.

President Derviş Eroğlu proposed cleaning of all mines in the island a short while after resumption of negotiations. (Kıbrıs)

Çıralı holds a meeting with Markopouliotis on the issue of hellim (halloumi) 

President of Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry (KTSO) Ali Çıralı held a meeting with the Head of European Commission Representation in Cyprus – Georgios Markopouliotis.

Çıralı stated that hellim (halloumi) is the common cultural product of both Turkish and Greek Cypriots and added that the issue of hellim is an issue which interests many sectors in North Cyprus.

Stating the  importance of hellim in the Turkish Cypriot economy in consideration of its place in the Turkish Cypriot culture, standards, producers and its 25% export share, Çıralı underlined the importance of the formula developed by the European Union which will not aggrieve the Turkish Cypriots at the stage of evaluation of geographic registration of hellim applied by South Cyprus under the title of Hellim and halloumi.

Çıralı pointed out that it is inevitable to be sensitive on the issue of hellim in order that the ongoing negotiations in the island will not be damaged and said “European Union is evaluating the issue at present. At this stage, we expect support also from the European Commission Representation”.

Alemdar hosts Koenig and his family for Iftar dinner

Şakir Alemdar, Representative of Religion Affairs Department to South Cyprus and Imam of Hala Sultan Tekke in South Cyprus, hosted US Ambassador to South Cyprus – John Koenig and his family for an Iftar dinner.

Natalie, spouse of Koenig, his son and the officials in the Embassy accompanied him during the Iftar dinner in Hala Sultan Tekkesi.

Source: TRNC Public Information Office