TRNC News Today 8^th September 2015

Akıncı “Our people know exactly what they vote ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ “

TRNC President Mustafa Akıncı said “The approach that Turkish Cypriots will vote ‘NO’ in a referendum to be conducted’ is a speculative approach, some people publish fictitious news, do not heed them. They know what they vote ‘YES’ or ‘NO’”.

Akıncı emphasized that both TRNC and Turkey want a solution and their cooperation will continue and added that they expect the support of Greece to the process like Turkey.

Pointing out that there are elections on 20th September in Greece and on 1st November in Turkey, Akıncı said that he wished Greece, as the guarantor country to make the same contribution to the process as Turkey.

In a joint press statement, TRNC President Mustafa Akıncı wished success to Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu and expressed his pleasure that he paid his first official foreign visit to the TRNC.

Sinirlioğlu “Positive developments and atmosphere give us hope”

Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu who paid his first official foreign visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, stated that the rights of both peoples in Cyprus are guaranteed, they will continue the cooperation for a solution of which Turkish Cypriots feel themselves in security and added that the positive developments and atmosphere in the island give hope to them.

Sinirlioğlu said that they observed that there is a political will from both sides for a joint future which will be built by Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

Replying a question about the guarantor countries, Sinirlioğlu said “Turkish Cypriots’ need for security is obvious. For us, as Turkey, the security of Turkish Cypriots is above all. Sustainability of a solution to be achieved and new order to be formed can be provided if the guarantor countries get involved in the issue. This issue is discussed in the negotiations”.

Stating that water to be carried from Turkey will be a strategic gain of the TRNC, Feridun Sinirlioğlu said “We will continue our contribution to make the TRNC reach the level of welfare it deserves”.

Minister Çolak: “I wish peace and stability both in Turkey and in the country”

Foreign Minister Emine Çolak said, “I wish peace and stability both in Turkey and in the country”.

Minister Çolak, met with the Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu in her office yesterday.

Reminding that two weeks ago she also paid a visit to Ankara, Çolak said that there is a good tradition between the two countries of making the first visit.

Mentioning the terrorist attacks in Turkey, Minister Çolak stated that the ongoing violence had deeply upset them and she wished this to end as soon as possible.

Çolak offered her condolences to Turkey and wished peace and stability both in Turkey and in the country.

Pointing out the importance of a solution, Çolak said that they felt much stronger with Turkey’s support.

Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots working at the British Sovereign Base Areas on Strike

Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots working at the British Bases launched a warning strike due to cuts in their salaries of up to 17.5 percent.

Military Servant Union – depends on TURK-SEN, SEK, PEO and PASIDI from South Cyprus have requested suspension of the salary cuts up to17.5 percent.

The strike at Dhekelia and Ay Nikolas Camp will continue until the end of the shift on Friday.

Approximately 700 Turkish and Greek Cypriot civilians work at the British Bases.

Remains of 12th missing person have been found

Teams of the Committee on Missing Persons have reached the remains of the 12th missing person during the ongoing excavations behind the Central Prison in Lefkoşa.

According to information received from a Turkish Cypriot member of the Committee on Missing Persons – Gülden Plümer Küçük, the number of missing persons has reached 12.

Stating that the excavations will continue, Küçük said they expected to find remains of around 20 missing persons in the first excavation site. Küçük also added that they have received permission from military authorities for this excavation site.

Furthermore, Küçük stated that the remains that have been found belong to Greek Cypriot soldiers but some civilian clothes have also been discovered during the excavations.

Küçük indicated that works and excavations will continue, including weekends.

Corpses of the 40-50 Greek Cypriot people who died during the clashes in 1974 were sent to the Greek side through the UN but they were not accepted and after a one-night wait they were buried in the prison area.

First Woman Chief Justice in the History of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Judicial Council unanimously chose Narin Ferdi Şefik as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court yesterday. According to the statement from the Supreme Court, the decision was presented to the President for approval.

According to TRNC Constitution’s Article 141- Paragraph 6, “Assignments of the Chairman and the judges of the Supreme Court are approved by the President”.

Supreme Court President Şafak Öneri said that the Supreme Judicial Council consists of 12 members.  11 members with the exception of Şefik participated in voting and the decision was taken unanimously.

Social Responsibility Project from Özay Kalyoncu

Prime Minister Ömer Kalyoncu’s wife Dr. Özay Kalyoncu has prepared a social responsibility project. A meeting regarding the project was held at the Prime Ministry yesterday. With this project, it is aimed to reach to the children between the ages of 5 -17 and their families in the TRNC. Within the framework of the project, a series of activities will be organized that aim to provide mental and physical health for children, to raise their educational and cultural level, to make them grow as successful and happy individuals and to make them compatible and harmonious with the changing world and society.

TRNC attends “2015 Tour Natur” Tourism Fair

TRNC Ministry of Tourism was represented in “2015 Tour Natur” tourism fair organized in Düsseldorf, Germany.  275 participants attended the fair which ended yesterday.

The walking and cycle lanes in Germany and other countries were promoted in the fair and at the same time booths of walking, bicycle and camping equipment were set up in the fair.

German tourists and tour operators who showed interest in nature tourism in North Cyprus were given demonstrations in the fair.

The Greek Cypriot Administration: “We prefer Christian Refugees”

The Greek Cypriot Administration said on Monday it would be willing to take in up to 300 migrants fleeing upheaval in the Middle East under new EU quotas, but would prefer them to be Christians.

The Greek Cypriot Interior Minister Socratis Hasikos said its size meant that its reception capacity was limited.

An EU source said on Monday that the EU executive had drawn up a new set of national quotas under which member states will take in a total of 160,000 asylum-seekers to be relocated from Italy, Greece and Hungary.

Hasikos, responsible for migration policy, told state radio: “We have already stated that 260, a maximum of 300, people can be taken in. Everyone (EU member states) should pitch in. “We would seek for them to be Orthodox Christians. it’s not an issue of being inhuman or not helping if we are called upon, but to be honest, yes, that’s what we would prefer.”  Slovakia and the Czech Republic have also said they would prefer Christians under any EU resettlement scheme for migrants fleeing the Middle East.

Majority of Greek Cypriots believes corruption is a major problem, survey shows

Eighty three percent of Greek Cypriots believes that corruption is a major problem, an annual survey carried out by an anti-corruption non-governmental organization, has shown.

Corruption is one of the biggest “industries” of organized crime that costs the EU economy approximately €120 billion annually mainly in lost tax revenue and foreign investment, Transparency International – Cyprus said in a press release on Monday.

The NGO said it conducted two surveys, in 2014 and 2015, to study and compare the perceptions of Greek Cypriot citizens as regards corruption. Four hundred and twenty five Greek Cypriots were surveyed in 2014 and another 442 in 2015, with the majority of them being from the private sector.

One in two participants said they had experienced an incident of corruption, while 4 out of 5 appeared willing to report such an incident to Transparency International – Cyprus.

Both in 2014 and 2015, 83% of the participants believed that corruption is a major problem.

“Greek Cypriot citizens firmly believe that corruption exists on a national level but is more evident in political parties, local government and the banking sector. The views on the existence of corruption in South Cyprus were similar for both years, with the exception of local government”, Transparency International – Cyprus, said, noting that following recent local scandals it is not surprising that there has been an increase in the percentage of citizens who believe that corruption in local government is high.

Comparing the results of the two surveys, it is clear that in 2015 Greek Cypriots have a better understanding of what is an act of corruption and what is not, than in 2014, it added.

The two surveys revealed that Greek Cypriots need to become more aware of corruption and its meaning to be able to identify corruption cases, the NGO said.

According to Transparency International – Cyprus, Greek Cypriots believe that the responsibility to prevent and combat corruption lies with the government, the Police and the Auditor General.

Source: TRNC Public Information Office –

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