TRNC News Today 25^th February 2015

Foreign Minister Nami: “Islamic Solidarity Fund’s support is very important”

Within the framework of his Jeddah contacts, Minister of Foreign Affairs Özdil Nami met with Vice President of the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) Abdul Razig M. Abdul Razig at ISF headquarters.

Minister Nami thanked Razig for the various contributions and projects that ISF provided to Turkish Cypriot people since 1976. Underlining the senselessness of the unjust isolations that are being imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people who support solution and peace in Cyprus, Minister Nami said that in this context, ISF’s support is very important.

Nami visit — Abdul Razig M. Abdul Razig and Ozdil Nami

Razig said that ISF’s support for the Turkish Cypriot people will continue in the future. Razig also stated that they are ready to contribute to the new projects coming from Turkish Cypriots in the following process.

Furthermore, Minister Nami had a meeting with Saudi press members yesterday. During the meeting, Nami briefed the Cyprus problem and the negotiation process, underlining Turkish Cypriots’ positive and constructive approach for a federal solution in Cyprus.

Minister Nami underlined that it is pleasing that Turkish Cypriots’ observer status changed to Turkish Cypriot State in OIC and noticed the importance of OIC member states taking steps towards lifting the isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots, and developing relations with the TRNC. Especially, reiterating that steps of Saudi Arabia which is one of the most prominent countries of OIC are important, Nami called the Greek Cypriot leader to return to the negotiation table which he left as soon as possible without preconditions and start the negotiations towards a solution in Cyprus.

During yesterday’s contacts, Private Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hüseyin Özel, General Director of the Foreign Affairs Office Kemal Köprülü, 3rd secretary Tahir Tahir and Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council President Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş accompanied Minister Nami.

Church and Anastasiades focus on Russia

Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Anastasiades went to Moscow to sign various cooperation agreements with Russia yesterday.

Greek Cypriot press pointed out that both South Cyprus and Russia gave great importance to Anastasiades’ visit. Newspapers noted that issues regarding relations between the two countries will be discussed during Anastasiades’ Moscow visit so it is considered as a turning point. On the other hand, Archbishop of the Greek Cypriot Orthodox Church Hrisostomos II gave some advice regarding Anastasiades’ Moscow visit.

Archbishop Hrisostomos II called the government to give the same military conveniences to Russia, as they do to other countries.

Letter of condemnation from Association of Martyrs Families and War Veterans to the European Parliament

The Association of Martyrs Families and War Veterans gave a letter of condemnation to the soldier of UN Peace Force in Cyprus at Ledra Palace checkpoint to be forwarded to the UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim. In the letter, they condemned the European Parliament for blaming the Turkish Cypriot side claiming that remains of Greek Cypriot missing persons were moved from their burial places in Paşaköy.

Stating that European Parliament’s resolution means making policy over missing persons, the Association of Martyrs Families and War Veterans called the European Parliament to cancel its decision in order to preserve their objectivity in such a humanistic issue.

“Civil Society in Action Week” starts

The “Civil Society in Action Week” which was organized by the EU Commission from 24^th to 27^th February 2015 started yesterday in the buffer zone in order to highlight the mission and the role of non-governmental organisations in Cyprus. The four-day event opened with the promotion of projects of 10 non-governmental organisations in the TRNC and their partners that have been awarded EU funding for their projects under the “Civil Society in Action IV grant scheme” in the Home for Cooperation. The coordinator of the EU Commission’s Aid Programme for Turkish Cypriots, Alessandra Viezzer who made a speech at the event said that the slogan “Be Aware – Give Back – Raise Your Voice” aims at raising awareness on peace, environment and human rights issues in Cyprus.