TRNC News Today 6th May 2015

Akıncı is making his first official visit to Ankara

President Akıncı is making his first official overseas visit to Turkey upon the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by a private plane allocated to him today. President Akıncı is accompanied by Negotiator – Özdil Nami and senior officials from the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Akıncı will first meet with Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu within the scope of the day trip to Ankara. Akıncı will visit Anıtkabir after the meeting, and will attend a lunch given in his honour by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

After the official welcoming ceremony in the Presidential Palace, Akıncı will meet with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan privately. Afterwards there will be meeting between the delegations. A joint press briefing will be made after the meeting.

After a dinner given in his honour, President Mustafa Akıncı will then depart from Esenboğa Airport to the TRNC, with a ceremony.

Akıncı received Ambassador of the USA Koenig

President Akıncı received United States Ambassador to Cyprus John M. Koenig yesterday.

Akıncı was accompanied by Turkish Cypriot Negotiator – Özdil Nami, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Erhan Erçin and Presidential Spokesman – Barış Burcu at the meeting which took place at the Presidential Palace. No statement was made about the meeting.

Eide:”I felt encouraged after what I heard from the two leaders”

UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide stated that he felt encouraged after what he heard from the two leaders.

According to the Greek Radio news, Espen Barth Eide made a statement after his meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades yesterday. He stated that he determined the commitment and loyalty of the two leaders concerning resolution of the Cyprus problem and also he mentioned that a unique opportunity has been found for the resolution of the Cyprus problem and this opportunity should not be lost. Eide said that there is no timetable for the negotiation process.

According to the Greek news source; Eide pointed out that when the two leaders meet and dine on May 11, they will decide the date they will start the negotiation process officially.

Stating that “an agreement which will be reached in Cyprus by only Cypriots” can be permanent, also he said that the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades will have a chance to meet the UN Secretary-General who follows the improvements closely and is ready to play his role at the proper time.

According to the news the meeting between Eide and Anastasiades continued for about two hours. After the meeting Greek Cypriot administration spokesman Nikos Hristodulidis stated that the meeting was very fruitful.

Bones of remains of resistance fighters have been found in a mass grave

It was stated that during excavation works, the remains of bones which belong to 1974 resistance fighters were found at Ay Konstantinu and Eleni cemetery in Nicosia. Greek Cypriot Fileleftheros newspaper stated that a new stage has started of excavation works at the second mass grave and remains of bones of 24 fighters of 1974 have been found. According to Fileleftheros, remains of bones will be sent to the Anthropology Laboratory for identification.

Case from Greeks against South Cyprus

It was stated that Greeks who have bank accounts at Cyprus Bank and Laiki Bank in South Cyprus are preparing to open cases against South Cyprus with a demand of 200 million Euros compensation due to cutting of their bank accounts. Greek Cypriot Fileleftheros newspaper’s economy supplement noted that besides about 500 Greeks who have bank accounts, 50 companies and 7 funds in Luxemburg are also preparing to open cases.