TRNC News Today 23rd January 2015

UK supports direct trade

The Undersecretary of UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office – Baroness Joyce Anelay stated that the UK government supports development of the Turkish Cypriot economy through the Direct Trade Regulation.

In the written answer regarding attitude of the UK for lifting of isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots, Baroness Anelay expressed that the UK supports development of the Turkish Cypriot economy through financial aid and direct trade with the EU.

Furthermore, Anelay added: “We support the direct trade regulation proposal of the EU Commission in order to increase access of the Turkish Cypriot community to the EU market.”

Olgun: “No natural gas to be shared”

In his statement to Kıbrıs postası, Turkish Cypriot negotiator – Ergün Olgun said that the hydrocarbon issue which became more important than the Cyprus problem is a kind of balloon which was put forth by the Greek Cypriot government as an excuse to leave the negotiation table, adding “It is obvious that there is no natural gas to be shared”. Expressing that international support is not enough, even some actors behave in a way to strengthen the status quo, Olgun said regarding the hydrocarbon resources “A crisis has been created on purpose. There is an artificial balloon”.

Furthermore, adding that the Greek Cypriot side and international actors are undergoing a test of sincerity, Olgun said that the Greek Cypriot side is earning money with the fees paid for the drilling licenses therefore they desire the drilling activities to continue”.

Turkish Cypriot negotiator also stated: “A change in Cyprus is possible with more determined, prudential, pro-active policies otherwise the unacceptable 50 years long status quo will continue.”

Speaker of the Assembly Siber spoke at the PUOIC 10th Conference

Speaker of the Assembly – Sibel Siber spoke at the 10th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, organized in Istanbul

At the Conference in which hundreds of participants from 43 member countries participated, Siber emphasized the need for solving the Cyprus problem which has been on the Agenda of the UN Security Council for more than 50 years.

Siber stated that the Turkish Cypriot side is still committed to the joint statement of 11 February 2014 which envisages result-orientated negotiations and stated that they are expecting the Greek Cypriot side to return to the negotiation table without precondition to solve all the issues that are not solved including the hydrocarbon issue.

Sibel Siber said that they believe, PUOIC member countries would take concrete steps towards ending the isolation of Turkish Cypriots until a comprehensive settlement is reached on the island.

Turkish Cypriot Professor produced virtual traffic light for Americans

Turkish Cypriot Engineer – Ozan Tonguz is the president of a project for finding a permanent solution to the traffic problem in America.

According to the news of worldwide famous CNN international, experts are thinking that removal of traffic lights would lead to chaos and have begun working on high technology equipment for replacing it.

Engineers of Carnegie Mellon University which is in the USA, are taking steps to make traffic more secure by the project they named ‘virtual traffic lights’. It is aimed to relax the traffic flow at a rate of 60 percent with a traffic light specific to every driver

Turkish Cypriot Computer and Electronics Engineer – Ozan Tonguz is leading the project.

Source: TRNC Public Information Office