TRNC News Today 10th Sept 2014

Eroğlu: “Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades does not accept even the agreements concluded in the past”

President Derviş Eroğlu, during one of his meetings yesterday, stated that the Annan Plan was not accepted and therefore the two sides continue to meet at the negotiation table. President Eroğlu added that the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades stands at a point where he does not even accept the agreements reached in the past.

Eroğlu also stated that a technical committee was established to deal with the opening of new gates which is almost not functional.

President Eroğlu noted that opening of Aplıç border gate will benefit Greek Cypriots more than it will Turkish Cypriots and added that Anastasiades even bargained for that.

Turkish Prime Minister Davutoğlu is paying his first official visit to the TRNC

Turkish Prime Minister – Ahmet Davutoğlu will pay his first overseas visit to the TRNC on 16th of September which will be followed by a visit to Azerbaijan .

The President of the Turkish Republic – Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s first official visit after the presidential handover ceremony was also paid to the TRNC and then followed by a visit to Azerbaijan.

Greek Cypriot Foreign Ministry expressed its “deep disappointment” over Minister Nami’s high level contacts in the UK

The Greek Cypriot administration expressed its “deep disappointment” over Foreign Minister Nami’s high level meetings that took place in the UK and his planned visit to the US in the following days.

According to the Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros and other newspapers, the Greek Cypriot Administration warned Foreign Affairs Ministries and their Embassies in South Cyprus of both countries.

It was also reported that political parties in South Cyprus also expressed their discomfort over Nami’s high level meetings.

“TRNC is the best destination for Israeli tourists” reported Jerusalem Online Columnist Avraham.

Columnist Rachel Avraham in his article published on Jerusalem Online under the title “Why direct flights should start to North Cyprus?” reported that Northern Cyprus is an attractive place for Israeli citizens for living and visiting and therefore direct flights should start. He added that North Cyprus is very cheap with its hospitable people and also geographically very close to Israel.

TRNC’s history and touristic beauties with its attractive beaches and high standard of its hotels are mentioned in the article. It is also stressed that although there are no direct flights to and from TRNC, transportation to the North from Israel is cheaper than going to Cyprus via Limassol.

EU Commission commenced first trial concerning turtles

EU Commission commenced the preliminary procedure regarding the protection of Caretta Carettas in the “PoliHrisofu” area in Paphos. The project is found insufficient by the Commission.

According to the Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros, the EU Commission sent a warning letter to the Greek Cypriot administration and requested information about the measures taken after the complaints received earlier.

Another Russian Travel Agency went bankrupt

It is reported that yet another Russian travel agency that operated in various countries including Southern Cyprus has gone bankrupt. The Greek Cypriot daily Politis reported that tourists faced difficulties in the countries in which they were holidaying and there were about 600-700 tourists of the said agency in Southern Cyprus. According to the paper the total number of agencies which have gone bankrupt in Russia has reached 12.

Greek Cypriots want closing of the Mennoya Prison

A demonstration was held yesterday in front of the Mennoya prison, where illegal immigrants were held before being deported by the Greek Cypriot administration, demanding the closure of the prison.

Greek Cypriot daily Politis reported that the demonstrators defined themselves as “Supporters of Mennoya Movement” who think that no one is a fugitive and believed that concentration camps in South Cyprus as well as in Europe are insults against human dignity.

Gypsies who migrated South in 1990’s are facing racism and isolation

In a study, prepared by the European Union, regarding the Romany people in Europe, it is reported that the Gypsies who migrated to South Cyprus in the late 90’s faced racism and intense isolation in the Greek Cypriot administration.

According to the Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros, the report which studied the living and health conditions of the Romany people in Europe, the ones living in the Greek Cypriot administration faced very bad living conditions and were isolated from the rest of the society.