TRNC News Today 14th January 2015

Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu arrives in the TRNC

Turkish Foreign Minister – Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu arrived in the TRNC with a private plane at 22:00 pm last night for a one day official visit.

Çavuşoğlu was welcomed by Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa – Halil İbrahim Akça, Minister of Foreign Affairs – Özdil Nami and the other authorities at Ercan Airport.

Çavuşoğlu is meeting with President Derviş Eroğlu within the framework of his contacts today. Following the meeting, a working lunch and press statement will follow.

Çavuşoğlu will later meet with the Speaker of the Assembly – Sibel Siber, Prime Minister – Özkan Yorgancıoğlu and Minister of Foreign Affairs – Özdil Nami.

After completing his contacts, Çavuşoğlu will leave the TRNC later in the evening.

Eide: “I encourage sides to return to the negotiation table”

UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus – Espen Barth Eide said that he is encouraging the sides to return to the negotiation table, he still has ‘realistic optimism’ however he has started getting more concerned.

Eide had a meeting with President Derviş Eroğlu yesterday. In his statement to the press following the meeting, Eide said that he has concerns about the negotiations because the deadlock could not be overcome despite some developments. Expressing his sadness, Eide said that he will brief the UN Security Council about the problems.

Furthermore, the UN Diplomat expressed that leaving the resumption of negotiations to the following months will harm the process and may lead to negative developments.

Ertuğ: “Turkish Cypriots’ identity, political structure, equal sovereignty and relations with Turkey should be respected”

Presidential spokesman – Osman Ertuğ called on Greek Cypriot Spokesman – Nikos Hristodulides to respect the identity, political structure, equal sovereignty right and very special national ties and historical relations with Turkey.

Indicating that Hristodulides’ statements conflict with realities and goodwill, Ertuğ said that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to put the responsibility of their escaping from the negotiation table to the other side. Furthermore, Ertuğ said that statements of the Greek Cypriot authorities are not sincere and their efforts to give harm to Turkish Cypriots’ relations with Turkey is useless.

TRNC’s Founding President Denktaş is commemorated on the 3rd anniversary of his death

Founding President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Rauf Raif Denktaş was commemorated on the 3rd anniversary of his death with a ceremony at his grave.

TRNC President Dr. Derviş Eroğlu made a speech at the ceremony.

President Eroğlu stated that Turkish Cypriots will follow Dr. Fazıl Küçük and Denktaş’ lead and said “We are for peace, but we are not in an understanding of giving up our independence”. Emphasizing the importance of all the services given by late President Rauf Raif Denktaş for Turkish Cypriot people President Eroğlu said “The most important is our State is existing and is becoming more established”.

Project for “TRNC Cancer Control Program” is prepared

“Cancer Registration and Screening Project”, which will be implemented by TRNC Health Ministry and Health Faculty of Eastern Mediterranean University, was introduced with a press conference yesterday. It was planned that net data will be obtained within 3 years and when the project is completed a “TRNC Cancer Control Program” will be formed.

TRNC Health Minister – Ahmet Gülle stated that the figures will be become clearer when data is obtained after the implementation of the project and added that country-based information will be obtained with the study to be made and the number of patients who go abroad for treatment will be recorded.

South Cyprus is experiencing difficulties about getting radioactive pharmaceuticals

It is reported that after the closing down of Cyprus (Greek Cypriot ) Airways, South Cyprus experienced difficulties in getting the radioactive pharmaceuticals that used to be brought by Cyprus Airways. .

South Cyprus dailies reported that the closing down of Cyprus Airways caused losses in the medical areas as well.

Papers reported that Cyprus Airways had permission to carry radioactive pharmaceuticals which are used for medical purposes and closing down of the company caused failure in bringing radioactive pharmaceuticals to South Cyprus.

The Supplier Company suggested the importers in South Cyprus should send the pharmaceuticals with Turkish Airlines, which also has the same permission, to Ercan Airport and then to transfer them to South Cyprus, which was rejected.

Greek Cypriots Spend 8 million Euros in North

It is reported that in 2014 Greek Cypriots spent 8 million Euros in TRNC and Turkey with credit cards.

Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros reported based on the data obtained from JCC Company that a high percentage of the expenses made in the TRNC was for hotel accommodation.

According to the newspaper among the first choices came casino expenses and flight tickets to Turkey from Ercan Airport.

It is reported that the Greek Cypriots in 2014 spent 11 million 627 thousand 816 Euros in Turkey and TRNC. It is indicated that for purchase of goods and services in TRNC 6.5 million Euros were paid and for buying tickets 3 million Euros was paid in TRNC and Turkey.

Source: TRNC Public Information Office