TRNC News Today 15th December 2014
Speaker of the Assembly Siber sends a letter to the European Commission on the issue of ‘Hellim’
In a letter, addressed to the European Commission on behalf of all the parties represented in the Assembly, the Speaker of the Assembly Sibel Siber mentioned about the unilateral initiatives of the Greek Cypriot side to register ‘hellim’ and expressed concerns of the 
Turkish Cypriot side about the issue.
In the letter, it was stressed that Greek Cypriot leadership avoided cooperation on natural resources being shared by both peoples and also showed the same unilateral and negative attitude at the registration of hellim which is one of the most valuable assets of the island as to provide value added for both Turkish and Greek Cypriots. It was also stated that these unilateral initiatives which disregard Turkish Cypriots’ existence in the island are contrary to a bi-communal, bi-zonal agreement based on political equality, render the initiatives of the international community ineffective which is also contrary to the Green Line Regulation. Underlining that ‘Hellim’ export has 24% share in the economy of the TRNC, Siber stressed that 16.5 % of the population earn their living from hellim and from its sub-sectors and if hellim is registered only by South Cyprus by leaving out Turkish Cypriots, the TRNC economy and the families who earn their living from hellim will take a major blow.
In the letter, Siber made a call to the European Union to approve registration of hellim to the benefit of both peoples in the island and in accordance with the resolution taken by the European Union General Affairs Council and Foreign Relations Council in 2004 towards lifting isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots and providing economic development.
Greek Cypriot Administration rejected Çavuşoğlu’s suggestion to visit the Island together with Venizelos
Greek Cypriot administration rejected Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt 
Çavuşoğlu’s suggestion to visit Cyprus together with his Greek counterpart Venizelos.
It has been reported that Cavusoglu who is attending the Black Sea Economic Cooperation meetings in Selanik, suggested to his Greek counterpart Evangelos Venizelos to go to Cyprus together and pay a visit to the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiadis. Reportedly, Cavuşoğlu later explained that his suggestion involved both South and North Cyprus.
Commenting on the reports, Greek Cypriot spokesperson said that Çavuşoğlu’s suggestion couldn’t even be a matter of debate and added that Ankara is “trying to make an impression at the international level”. He further stated that the matter of Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers’ visiting both North and South is out of question.
Support from European Union to restart the negotiations
Fileleftheros newspaper reported that the UN 
Secretary General’s Special Adviser to Cyprus Espen Barth Eide received support from the EU about encouraging the efforts for restarting direct negotiations and creating solution perspectives for the Cyprus problem.
Ritual for Pope Jean Paul II. at Koruçam
The Bones of Pope Jean Paul the II are brought to South Cyprus, and with this occasion the Vatican’s Ambassador – Giuseppe Lazzarotto who is accredited to Tel Aviv, participated in the ritual held at Ay. Yeorgiou Church in Koruçam yesterday.
Lazzarotto who said he came to Koruçam for the second time after 30 years added that he will suggest Pope Francois to pay a visit to Koruçam and the Island.
