TRNC News Today 30^th October 2015

Akıncı and Anastasiades to meet again today

President Mustafa Akıncı and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades will meet again today within the framework of the Cyprus negotiations.

The meeting will start at 10:00am in the buffer zone and will be attended by the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide. The leaders met on 12 October and negotiated the issues which could not be solved yet. Following the last meeting of the leaders, the negotiators have started intense works regarding the property issue.

The negotiators held a meeting on 21 October with the participation of the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide to undertake preliminary work towards the solution of difficult and complicated issues especially the property criteria. The negotiators also met on 23 and 26 October.

The negotiation team held contacts in Ankara

The negotiation team led by the negotiator Özdil Nami held contacts in Ankara on Wednesday.

The team met with the Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu as well as bureaucrats from the Turkish Foreign Ministry with regard to the negotiation process.

Turkish Foreign Minister Sinirlioglu expressed that they were pleased that the process would be intensified and they support a fair and permanent settlement. Sinirlioğlu also expressed that they did not want this opportunity to be wasted and the Greek Cypriot side which wasted the chances in the past should decide what they want to do from now on.

Akıncı: “A peaceful, modern and European Cyprus will ease international relations of Turkey”

President Mustafa Akıncı said that a peaceful, modern, European and international Cyprus will ease international relations of Turkey and help to achieve its global goals.

In his speech within the framework of the celebrations for the 92nd Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic of Turkey held in Lefkosa yesterday, President Akıncı pointed out one of the principles of Ataturk, ‘peace in the country, and peace in the world’ and said that as a community, they were working towards a fair and permanent settlement on the island. He added that a new united federal structure would not only be beneficial for the island but for the region as well.

Akinci said that these efforts made great contribution to the Turkish Republic and will continue to do so. In his speech during the ceremony, Akıncı also stressed that the Turkish Republic takes place among the most important and potential countries of the region thanks to its historical past and modern principles.

Çolak: “It’s a shame of humanity to judge juvenile delinquents with adult criminals”

Foreign Minister Emine Çolak stated that it is a shame of humanity to judge juvenile delinquents and keep them in the same prison with adult criminals.

At the opening ceremony of 2015-2016 Academic Year of Girne American University (GAU) Minister Çolak made a presentation entitled “Human Rights and Children” and emphasized the importance of human rights worldwide.

Çolak indicated that the UN exhibits serious consideration towards human rights and added that the UN declaration issued in 1944 was a milestone.

Stating that the UN declaration is valued and practiced in the TRNC, Çolak said despite its non-recognition the TRNC implements the UN human rights declaration.

Indicating that all civilians are treated equally regardless of their race, language, religion and gender and that they can seek their rights, Çolak also gave information about the UN declaration and how it is practiced in the TRNC.

Indicating that the issues like human trafficking and prostitution need to be considered seriously, Çolak said that children’s rights are also important and wished that students study these issues during the academic year and that the results would be useful.

Eroğlu: “The Greek side pretends to negotiate but on the other hand usurps our rights”

Third President Derviş Eroğlu said that the Greek side pretends to negotiate with delaying tactics as yesterday, but on the other hand prevents the youngsters doing sports, and blocks the activities of business people and the culture and arts community with an intense effort willingly by usurping our rights.

Third President Derviş Eroğlu evaluated the developments of the Cyprus issue in his written statement.

Eroğlu emphasized that the statements of the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Nikos Anastasiades and the Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Kocas, at the memorial ceremony of the EOKA members, indicate that there is not any change in the strategic Cyprus policy of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo which has continued since 21 December 1963.

Stating that the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo is far from understanding and accepting the continuation of Turkey’s effective and actual guarantee and the bi-zonal, bi-communal structure, Eroğlu mentioned that the Greek Cypriot side is still requesting land concessions and a property regime which is not possible to be accepted by the Turkish Cypriot people.

Erdoğan: “Water from Turkey could be water of peace”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said “If the Greek Cypriot side encounters issues later on with regard to water, then the water brought to the north via pipelines could be the water of peace”.

Speaking on a TV program yesterday, Erdoğan reminded that the massive project which cost 1 billion 600 million liras to construct and said the TRNC will have drinking water as well as water to use for agriculture.

He added that if the Greek Cypriot side encounters difficulties with their water sources, then this water can be the water of peace for them.

12 Refugees requested political asylum

12 out of 114 refugees who landed at Britain’s Akrotiri Base on October 21 and were brought to Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area (SBA) demanded political asylum.

Greek daily Fileleftheros newspaper wrote that 12 refugees demanded political asylum from the British Court but there is no clarity whether they want to stay in Cyprus or want to go to the UK.

After the asylum request, 12 refugees were taken to another area away from the rest at Dhekelia Base and the refugees reacted to this situation.

81,000 students are studying in TRNC universities

The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Foreign Relations Office has announced that 81,000 students are studying in the 2015-2016 academic year in TRNC universities.

According to the Higher Education and Foreign Relations Office 47,033 of these students are from Turkey, 21,982 are foreign nationals from other countries and 12,000 are TRNC citizens.

According to statistics 74,000 students were studying last year, showing an increase of 7,000 students this year. Last year 41,928 students had registered from Turkey, compared to 47,033 students who are registered this year.

South Cyprus application for Halloumi registration is having difficulty

It was reported that the South Cyprus application to the European Commission in order to register halloumi as a “Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)” got five objections and the halloumi registration is in difficulties despite the Greek government.

A newspaper wrote that the UK and Finland objected as states and three private companies from US, Australia and Dubai also objected to the registration of Halloumi.

The newspaper wrote that the retailers in the UK trade much more halloumi than Cyprus on an annual basis, and pointed out that this situation creates a problem in the registration of halloumi.