TRNC News Today 3^rd April 2015

Olgun: “Region has no toleration for instability”

Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ergün Olgun stated that the Turkish Cypriot side has a serious will for the solution of the Cyprus problem that is why the Greek Cypriot side should show the same will.

Participating in the program presented by Nazmi Pınar, Olgun made evaluations before the UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide’s Cyprus visit. Indicating that there is serious instability in the region, Ergün said “The region has no toleration for a new instability. Especially, Cyprus is in a very critical region in terms of international trade and security of energy. We are talking about a line by which 70% of petrol and energy needs of Europe are supplied as well as a line that provides 1/3 of world trade, in other words a region which needs a serious stability”. Adding that nobody desires a new instability in the region after the discovery of hydrocarbon resources, Olgun said “All political parties and political leaders in our society want to reach a sustainable result which will respect both sides’ rights with a win-win understanding”.

Anastasiades: “Withdrawal of Barbaros is positive but not enough”

Leader of Greek Cypriot Administration Nikos Anastasiades did not find Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa seismic research ship’s withdrawal from the region enough to return to the negotiations.

According to the Greek Cypriot newspaper Fileleftheros, withdrawal of Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa and ENI’s drilling ship Saipem, from the area and the expectation of Turkey’s not renewing its NAVTEX, seem as international gain leading to negotiations but the Greek administration does not share this approach.

By saying withdrawal of Barbaros is a positive step Anastasiades added that all that is left is not renewing NAVTEX and not ignoring sovereignty rights of the Republic of Cyprus (in MEB). Anastasiades is actually putting forward an additional factor related to the Greek Cypriot side’s continuation of the energy program without interruption.

Foreign affairs and recent developments in Cyprus issue were discussed at Parliament

At the General Council meeting of the TRNC Assembly yesterday the first speech was made by UBP MP Hamza Saner about “Foreign affairs and recent developments in the Cyprus issue”. In his speech Saner stated his opinions on the studies for Representation at the European Union and Missing Persons.

Indicating that the studies made together with the EU were positive, Saner said: “At the initiatives made, seeing the increase in the number of those who are with us at the Turkish Cypriots Rights Case, is making us happy”

Saner expressed that the statement of Greek Agriculture Minister the other day is very annoying and added that attitudes are being displayed blaming Turkey related to the change of graves of the missing Greek Cypriots in Paşaköy.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Özdil Nami who spoke after Saner expressed their support for EU initiatives and said that the talks to be held at the foreign platforms should be kept as non-partisan.

Nami emphasized that the contacts they have made are extremely important too and that they support initiatives especially those related to representations.

Mentioning that there is a project for providing representation at the European Parliament, and that especially the issue of representation is taken very seriously at the EP, Nami also noted that the Parliament delegation also have their duties in this matter.

Nami said that the necessary initiatives are taken about the Committee on Missing Persons issue and the necessary support is given for more effective studies and also emphasized that they criticize things done in South Cyprus by some groups.

Nami also drew attention to the issues of isolation and embargoes that are emphasized by the Ministry.