TRNC News Today 2nd December 2014

Turkish Cypriot property is confiscated to create area for oil and gas facilities in Vasiliko

Greek Cypriot Administration is confiscating property that belongs to mainly Turkish Cypriots in the Vasiliko region in order to create area for oil and gas facilities.

It has been recorded that an “Arrangement Plan “is being made by the Greek Cypriot Energy Ministry with the cooperation of Noble Energy Co.

It has been indicated that the area to be confiscated  is 1 billion 222 thousand 897 square meters of which 1 billion 145 thousand 528 square meters are Turkish Cypriot property.

Prime Minister Özkan Yorgancıoğlu: “We do not approve Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral exploration activities”

During his visit to Turkey that took place last week, Prime Minister Özkan Yorgancıoğlu answered the questions of a journalist and said that Turkish Cypriot side proposed to the Greek Cypriot side to make exploration together after reaching a federal solution in Cyprus. Yorgancıoğlu added “If we have the right, then we do not approve the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral exploration activities without our permission”.

Furthermore, Yorgancıoğlu said “It is acknowledged that all natural wealth in and around Cyprus belongs to all people living in the island. If we approve this, which is also approved by the Greek Cypriot side, exploration activities should be made together, after reaching a federal solution in Cyprus.”

Yorgancıoğlu also stressed “If the Greek Cypriot side insists on exploration activities before reaching a solution we, as the Turkish Cypriot side, propose exploration to be done by companies to be jointly founded by both sides.(Kıbrıs postası)

Koenig: “Civil Society should be active”

US Ambassador to Cyprus John Koenig stated that the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean has to be reduced for the  resumption of negotiations in Cyprus, and added that  they work closely with UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus, Eide, for this purpose.

Koenig stressed that the main responsibility of both sides now is to find the way to return to the negotiation table. “Time is not passing for the favour of the ones who want a solution and everyone should do their best for the resumption of negotiations as soon as possible. I hope to see the resumption of negotiations latest at the beginning of 2015” Ambassador Koenig said.  (Havadis)

Cyprus issue was on the agenda during Çavuşoğlu-Lavrov meeting

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu had a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Lavrov and Çavuşoğlu discussed bilateral, financial, tourism and commercial relations between Turkey and Russia. Cyprus was also among the issues discussed at the meeting.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, Lavrov stressed that the suspended negotiations should start as soon as possible and continue in a constructive way, and he added that he will pursue a positive attitude on that.

Cultural Heritage Technical Committee indicated that protection works at Evretu Mosque are almost complete

Cultural Heritage Technical Committee indicated that protection works at Evretu Mosque are almost complete. According to the statement made by the UNDP (UN Development Program) the Mosque which was built at the beginning of 20th century was chosen as  first to be intervened and the project for protection works is implemented by the UNDP-PFF (UN Development Program Partnership for Future ).

Members of Cultural Heritage Technical Committee Ali Tuncay and Takis Hadjidemetriou, recorded that the works for the protection of the Evretu Mosque have a great cultural importance since it serves as a model for religious architecture.

Source: TRNC Public Information Office