TRNC News Today – 9^th September 2014

Foreign Minister Nami’s visit creates discomfort in the Greek Cypriot side

The Greek Cypriot press reflected Foreign Minister Nami’s high level official meetings in the UK and his planned visits to Brussels to meet the President of the European Parliament Mr. Martin Schults and to the USA under the title “Trips from USA and UK”. The Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros claimed that the UK and USA, which are considered as strategic partners by South Cyprus, attempt to upgrade the status of the TRNC.

The daily also added that by this treatment the USA and UK instead of helping the negotiations made the process more complicated and provocatively strengthened the TRNC’s position.

Minister Nami meets with Lord Sharkey and Baroness Ece

Within the framework of his contacts in London, Foreign Minister – Özdil Nami met with Chairman of the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Lord Sharkey and Deputy Chair Baroness Meral Ece yesterday. Nami briefed Sharkey and Ece about the latest stage reached in the Cyprus negotiation process.

At the meeting, Foreign Minister Nami underlined that his main aim is to learn, as one of the interested parties, the UK Government’s views about the stalemate reached at the negotiations and how it could be overcome and to convey the views and proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side in this regard.

Minister Nami added that refusal, by the Greek Cypriot side, of the past convergences reached between the two sides proved meaningless and caused loss of time which in turn did not contribute to the solution process, on the contrary, it only served to block the process.

Nami said that Turkish Cypriot side, as it has in the past, continues to be committed to reaching a solution and efforts will continue in this regard. Furthermore he added that he will continue to emphasize this issue in all his contacts.

Thanking Sharkey and Ece as well as other MP friends at the UK Parliament for their efforts to the process, Minister Nami underlined the importance of their cooperation and support towards reaching a solution.

During his London visit Minister Nami also attended the traditional football match named ‘Charity Shield’ which is organized every year by the Turkish Community Football Federation and presented the winning team with a plate. The Mayor of Enfield, his Deputy and the Turkish members of Enfield Municipality also watched the match.

Foreign Minister Nami also attended the lunch given in his honour by the Turkish Ambassador to London – Mr.Abdurrahman Bilgiç.

Minister Nami meets with UK Minister of State Lidington

Minister of Foreign Affairs – Özdil Nami met yesterday with the Rt. Hon. David Lidington, Minister of State for Europe of the United Kingdom.

During the meeting which lasted nearly an hour, Minister Nami described the current stage of the negotiation process, along with the various challenges of the process and reasons behind its stagnation.

Foreign Minister Nami expressed it is incomprehensible that the Greek Cypriot side does not respect the previously reached convergences and disregards them. Minister Nami also explained that such approaches of the Greek Cypriot side are obstructing the process.

By underlining the significance of the time factor in the context of the resolution of the Cyprus problem, Nami expressed that the Greek Cypriot side’s tendency to play for time is not contributing to a solution, but is rather having a detrimental impact on the two communities’ beliefs and hopes of reaching a settlement.

Minister Nami re-affirmed the Turkish Cypriot side’s commitment to a solution, as was the case in 2004, while acknowledging the fact that the Greek Cypriot side’s stance vis-a-vis the current process is disappointing. Nami said the effective and constructive contribution of the United Kingdom to the current process as a guarantor country would have a positive effect on its outcome.

Following his meeting with Lidington, Foreign Minister Nami met with Mr. Gareth Thomas, the Labour Party Shadow Minister for Europe. During this meeting, Minister Nami explained, once again, the reasons behind the current stalemate in the negotiations. Nami underlined the importance of the support extended by the Labour Party during the membership process of the Republican Turkish Party, the larger coalition partner of the TRNC government of which Minister Nami is also a member, to the Party of European Socialists and Socialist International. Minister Nami also emphasized the significance of the continued support of the Labour Party to the resolution of the Cyprus problem.

Ertuğ: “Turkish Cypriot side is ready for give and take process”

Presidential Spokesperson – Osman Ertuğ criticized the Greek Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister Kasulides and emphasized that the Turkish Cypriot side reiterated many times its readiness for give and take process which made the third stage of negotiations however the Greek Cypriot side kept avoiding this by putting forth preconditions.

In his written statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ertuğ reminded that in one of his interviews, Greek Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister – Yoannis Kasulides said: “There is great difference of opinion between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides in the Cyprus negotiations. The Turkish Cypriot side should change some of their important thesis otherwise the Cyprus problem will not be solved”.

Haciyeorgiu: “No-one is interested in the Cyprus problem anymore”

AKEL’s European Parliament MP – Takis Haciyeorgiu claimed that no-one including the high level authorities of the European Union is interested in the Cyprus problem anymore.

According to the Greek Cypriot daily Haravgi, Haciyeorgiu claimed that while EU Term President Italy’s Foreign Affairs Minister – Federica Mongherini was announcing his country’s program regarding EU Term Presidency, some European Parliament deputies asked questions regarding the Cyprus problem but Mongherini chose not to mention which indicated the EU’s disinterest in the Cyprus problem.

Haciyeorgiu added that if a dramatic event was not experienced, the Cyprus problem would not be solved and it would be impossible to end the division in the Island.