TRNC News Today 18th August 2015
Excavations restart behind Central Jail
The Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP), which has been conducting works to recover, identify and return those who have lost their lives in the events that occurred in Cyprus in 1963, 1964 and 1974 or those who have been missing ever since, started to conduct excavations yesterday in the area behind the Central Jail in Lefkosa.
Answering a question addressed to her by a reporter, Turkish Cypriot member of the Committee, Gülden Plümer Küçük said that they aim to find the corpses of around 40 to 50 Greek Cypriots in the excavations that they started to conduct yesterday. Küçük also said that this was the third permission they had obtained this year from the military to carry out a dig, and the 28th in total.
Saying that they have been informed that 40 to 50 Greek Cypriots, who had fought in 1974, are buried there, Gülden Plümer Küçük stated that they faced some difficulties due to construction works and changing landscapes, however they believe that they will find the corpses in the excavations that they started to conduct yesterday.
Küçük also added that the corpses of Greek Cypriots were attempted to be transferred to the Greek Cypriot side through the Ledra Palace at that time in the presence of the UN, however they were buried around the jail because they were not taken.
Stating that the excavation around the fishing port in Lapta had been concluded, Küçük noted that they started conducting excavations again last week after a break due to hot weather.
According to the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP), 2001 persons (493 Turkish Cypriots and 1,508 Greek Cypriots) were reported missing. As of now, 451 Greek Cypriots and 144 Turkish Cypriots have been identified and returned to their families. The CMP has recovered the corpses of 969 persons in 999 excavation sites.
Hristodulidis: “Criteria for territorial adjustments are being discussed”
Stating that the main topic of the next meeting of Greek Cypriot Leader Nicos Anastasiades and President Mustafa Akıncı will be territorial adjustments on 1st of September, spokesman of the Greek Cypriot Administration Nicos Hristodulidis said: “At this stage, criteria of territorial adjustments are being discussed; this is the core of the territory issue. After a consensus will be reached on these criteria, we will negotiate with maps.”
Alithia, headlined the news which gathered from private interview of Hristodulidis on the English broadcast newspaper “Cyprus Weekly”. According to the report, addressing the issue of ownership Hristodulidis said criteria of the application of personal property right will be determined. Hristodulidis also pointed out that the etymology of the term of “current user” of the property will be discussed.
President of Religious Affairs Atalay visited Tourism Minister Sucuoğlu
President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Talip Atalay visited Tourism Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu. In his speech, Sucuoğlu pointed out that the Cyprus negotiations are continuing, a conclusion might be reached within 5-6 months and the problem which has been going on for 50 years might be terminated with peace. Stating that they appreciated the efforts of Atalay towards understanding and recognition of each other of the two people who have two different cultures and two different religions, Sucuoğlu thanked Atalay for his contribution in terms of tourism.
Talib Atalay, President of Religious Affairs, in his speech said that many countries were the scene of many bloody events in the region. Although there is not such an event in Cyprus, he wished lasting peace will come to the island soon. Stating that contributions are expected for historical mosques and places of cultural heritage, Atalay said that the Hala Sultan, Hz. Ömer and Kırklar Tekke, the Sourp Magar at the Alevkaya (Armenian Monastery), St. Barnabas Monastery and the Apostolos Andreas Church are important for both religious tourism and for the cultural diversity.
Sucuoğlu: “Our aim is to integrate domestic products into tourism”
Tourism Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu said that their aim is to integrate domestic products into tourism. Sucuoğlu received the President of Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry Ali Çıralı and the accompanying delegation yesterday.
Minister Sucuoğlu also stated that he gives great importance on the issue of integrating domestic products into tourism and studies are continuing on this issue and several projects are being prepared about it. On the other hand, Sucuoğlu said: “We are determined on local production and presenting this to the tourists and it is on the agenda of the government program”
Nazim Çavuşoğlu announces candidacy for the UBP party leadership
UBP İskele Member of Parliament Nazım Çavuşoğlu held a press conference to announce his candidacy for the leadership of the party at the Party Congress on 31 October.
Çavuşoğlu told at the press conference that he would lead the party with new ideas and added that his aim is to serve the party and the country. He also stated that he is not going to live his candidacy as a “fighting process”.
By declaring his candidacy, the number of candidates for the leadership of UBP has increased to 3 including the present leader of National Unity Party Hüseyin Özgürgün and UBP Member of Parliament Ersin Tatar.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
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The biggest difference in the so called ‘social divide’ is that TRNC is more secular than RoC. The rhetoric of peace ‘peace’ has already been solved; The rest is financial greed and nationalistic fervour.
CMP are going ahead with exhumations even though they know how distraught the families are. We know that they have been raped tortured and murdered. They are not missing. Leave them in peace. Find the murderers.