TRNC News Today 22nd January 2015

TOTAL will not continue drilling activities

The French Company Total, which is licensed to search for oil and natural gas in the 10th and 11th parcels in the so-called Exclusive Economic Zone of South Cyprus, has decided to give up its rights to conduct exploration, citing the excuse that “there are no geologic layers.”

In the news published under the headline “Total is leaving the 10th and 11th Parcels”, Greek Cypriot Fileleftheros newspaper wrote that the French Total Company has decided to give up its rights for research and (usage?) in the 10th and 11th parcels, and that the Company has indirectly conveyed its decision to the Greek Cypriot government.

The newspaper also reported that Total has been raising the issue for several weeks, stating that “there are no geologic layers for drilling” and after conducting studies for depth, seismic analysis and other scientific phenomena, the Company detected that there are no commercial interests in the said layers under the present conditions.

Call from Speaker of Turkish Grand National Assembly Çiçek to Islamic Countries

10th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to which the delegation of the TRNC Assembly under the presidency of the Speaker of the TRNC Assembly – Sibel Siber attended was organized at İstanbul Hilton Bomonti Hotel.

Before the meeting, Speaker of the Assembly – Sibel Siber had a breakfast with the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly – Cemil Çiçek and the Speaker of Azerbaijan’s National Assembly – Oktay Asadov.

In his opening speech, Çiçek also mentioned the Cyprus issue and made a call to the Islamic countries to show interest in the Turkish Cypriot people.

Expressing his wish for reaching a fair and permanent solution based on political equality in the island, Çiçek stated that they support the efforts of the UN towards that direction and that the Turkish Cypriot people expect support from the Islamic countries.

Furthermore, Çiçek stated that both peoples should benefit equally from natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. Pointing out that Turkish Cypriot people participated in the conference as the ‘Turkish Cypriot State’, Çiçek said that Turkish Cypriot people expect support from the Islamic countries and their participation in the activities organized in the TRNC.

Many issues on the agenda of the Islamic countries especially the issue of terrorism were discussed during the opening speeches at the conference.

The delegation of the TRNC Assembly under the presidency of the Speaker of the Assembly – Sibel Siber consists of CTP-BG Güzelyurt MP – Armağan Candan, UBP Girne MP – İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra, DP-UG Gazimağusa MP – Fikri Ataoğlu and TDP Girne MP – Zeki Çeler.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Department of State Sloat arrives in Cyprus to hold contacts

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Department of State – Amanda Sloat arrived in Cyprus on 21 January to hold official contacts until 23 January.

The US Embassy in Nicosia made a statement about the visit of Sloat, who is responsible for issues related to Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus in the department of European and Eurasian Affairs of the US Department of State. The statement is as follows: “Sloat is also to discuss with leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities the ongoing efforts to advance the Cyprus peace process and reiterate US support for UN-facilitated negotiations to reunify the island as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation”.