TRNC News Today 16^th July 2015

Kalyoncu: “President approves the new government”

CTP MP Ömer Kalyoncu who was appointed to form the new coalition government has presented the new cabinet to President Mustafa Akıncı. Following the meeting, in his statement, Kalyoncu said that President Akıncı has approved the new cabinet.

The new CTP BG-UBP cabinet is as follows: Prime Minister – Ömer Kalyoncu, Minister of Foreign Affairs – Emine Çolak, Minister of Finance – Hasan Başoğlu, Minister of Health – Salih İzbul, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources – Önder Sennaroğlu, Minister of Interior and Labour – Aziz Gürpinar, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry – Sunat Atun, Minister of Transport – Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, Minister of Education – Kemal Dürüst, Minister of Tourism – Faiz Sucuoğlu, Minister of Public Works, Environment and Culture – Kutlu Evren.

“They lay in mass graves for 41 years”

17 Greek Cypriots, who were victims of the coup and found in a mass grave in South Cyprus a short time ago, were buried with a religious ceremony yesterday on the anniversary of the coup.

No political party authorities attended the ceremony organized for 17 people listed in the list of missing persons. Victims of the coup were buried by their families.

The anniversary of fascist Greek coup carried out in Cyprus on 15th July 1974 was condemned with a series of activities in South Cyprus. A special session where the coup was condemned was made at Greek Cypriot House of the Representatives. Leader of Greek Cypriot administration Nikos Anastasiades and some political party leaders made statements condemning the coup.

Leftist civilians and Greek Cypriot policemen were murdered during the coup made against the then leader of Greek Cypriot administration Makarios on 15th July 1974. Greek Cypriot administration added the names of those who were killed in the coup in the list of Missing Persons Committee as missing persons.

Eide : “An opportunity not to be missed”

The UNSG Special Advisor Eide, called on the TDP party yesterday and underlined that this process was an opportunity not to be missed for a settlement.

Eide who is conducting visits to the political parties, yesterday called on TDP where he met with party leader Cemal Ozyigit. Also present were TDP MP Zeki Celer and Nicosia Turkish Municipality Mayor Harmanci.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Ozyigit pointed out that hope towards a solution had increased with President Akinci’s election. Noting that the EU Commission President was visiting the island, Ozyigit said these initiatives would pave the way for positive results in the coming period.

UNSG Special Advisor Eide for his part said the visits to the political parties were important in that he wanted to brief on the positive air in the negotiations and between the leaders.

Eide said it was vital to reach a modern agreement which would take the island forward as a united federal Cyprus. He noted that he was an optimist and his hope increased after each leaders meeting. Eide said he accepted that there were many issues to discuss still but he believed this was an opportunity not to be missed.

AKEL: “One of the darkest pages of the recent history of Cyprus is 15 July”

Greek Alithia newspaper reported that according to the statement of AKEL party for the anniversary of the coup, one of the darkest pages of the recent history of Cyprus is 15 July 1974. It was stated that Greek political parties made reproachful statements regarding the Greek Junta which was the 41st Anniversary of the Greek Coup in Cyprus. On the other hand; Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades attended the special session of the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives yesterday morning in order to condemn the Greek Coup and Peace Organization and later he took place in the commemorative ceremony at the Theo Sofya church in Strovolos in order to commemorate the people who died in the coup.

President Akıncı will meet with Juncker Today

The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker who is on a two-day visit to Cyprus, is meeting with President Akıcı today at 12.00 with the delegation accompanying him. President Akıncı will introduce the political party representatives to Juncker. Meanwhile, President Juncker is meeting with President Akıncı and the head of the Greek Cypriot Administration Nikos Anastasiades at lunch in buffer zone, Nicosia.

Martyr Mehmet Abdurrahman Çatallo is going to be buried

Martyr Mehmet Abdurrahman Çatallo, who went missing in the village of Poli on 22 July 1974, has been found as a result of the studies and the identification has been completed. Martyr Çatallo’s funeral is going to take place at İsmail Sefa Mosque on Wednesday, July 22nd and then he will be buried at the martyrdom in Nicosia Cemetery.

Anastasiades: “We have to accept our mistakes”

Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades made a speech on the anniversary of 15th July Fascist Greek Coup and said that the mistakes made in the past should be accepted. He stated that an “historical decision” which will determine the country’s future should be taken. Anastasiades also pointed out that he is aware of the reality of the present status quo and its dangers.

Foreign Minister Emine Çolak takes over duty from Teberrüken Uluçay today

Biography of the new TRNC Foreign Minister Emine Çolak who took over the duty today is as the following:

Emine Çolak was born in Lefkoşa on 9 March 1958. She gained a law degree from the University of London (SOAS) in 1979 and in 1980 she was qualified as a barrister.

Since 1982 she has been practicing as a lawyer in her own office and specialized in administrative, commercial, family, heritage, human rights and property law fields. Between 1994-2002, she was a member of Lefkoşa Turkish Municipal Council. She was also the coordinator of the committee which discussed laws during the Annan plan process in 2003-2004. She was appointed by the 2nd. President Mehmet Ali Talat as a member of the High Judicial Board responsible for the appointment of judges and efficient functioning of the courts in North Cyprus in 2007 and continued her mission until 2011.

Çolak worked as the Head of the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation and as a leader of the Non-governmental organizations in the civil society in many fields such as education, children’s rights, women’s rights, patient rights, conflict resolution, human rights, LGBT rights and refugee rights. Since 1990, she has taken place in many bi-communal works. Starting from 2002, Çolak has attended the meetings held in Lefkoşa, İstanbul and Athens as a member of the Turkish-Greek Forum. Çolak knows English very well and speaks reasonable French. She has three children.