TRNC News Today 13^th November 2015

Minister of Foreign Affairs Colak received Foreign Parliamentarians

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emine Colak, received foreign parliamentarians, who are in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to attend the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of the TRNC.

During the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Colak informed the parliamentarians about the Cyprus problem and the negotiation process and expressed the opinions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Cyprus problem.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “There is strong willpower for Derinya and Aplıç”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that a strong willpower has been put forth for opening both border gates at Derinya and Aplıç as soon as possible.

It was also stated that an important distance has been covered to open the new border gates in Derinya and Lefke-Aplıç, mine sweeping is continuing in Lefke-Aplıç and the contact with the EU authorities to provide financial resource is continuing.

In a written statement through the Public Information Office, the TRNC Foreign Ministry stressed that some statements published in the press do not reflect the reality, and the public was informed about the continuing works.

In the statement, it was also stressed that within the framework of confidence building measures, an agreement was reached between the two leaders for opening the two new border gates in Derinya and Lefke-Aplıç, and following the technical negotiations between the two sides, works have started without losing any time in both sides and the necessary research was completed in the regions. According to the statement, important financial resource and time are needed to provide safe crossings, and the works with the international institutions are continuing in coordination and in a very quick way.

It was also pointed out that a consensus should be reached for the routes of both border gates following the decision to open the two border gates. Due to the risk of existence of mines in both sites, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided cooperation with the United Nations Peace Force and the concerned authorities.

Property criteria and planning-property relation were discussed

The joint committee which was established by the Communal Democracy Party (TDP) and AKEL Party in South Cyprus met again and discussed the property criteria and the planning-property relation.

According to the information given by TDP Press Office, during the meeting the Committee which was established in order to help the leaders to find a federal solution based on bi-zonality, bi-communality and political equality and to organize bi-communal activities in order to bring the two communities closer and to inform the communities, continued to discuss the issues of the property criteria and the planning-property relation.

During the meeting, it was decided to hold the next meeting on Monday 23 November at TDP Headquarters and to discuss the issue of citizenship.

Draft Budget Law of 2016 Financial Year starts to be discussed

It was stated that the “Draft Budget Law of 2016 Financial Year” regarding the TRNC’s 2016 budget will start to be discussed today at the Republican Assembly’s Economy, Finance, Budget and Planning Committee. The meetings will continue for 8 days and will end on Wednesday 25 November.

The meeting of the Economy, Finance, Budget and Planning Committee regarding the budget will start with the opening speech of the President of the Committee Ferdi Sabit Soyer. The discussions will start with the presentation of the Minister of Finance Birikim Özgür. During today’s meeting, the whole of 2016 year’s budget will be discussed and as well as the committee member deputies, the other deputies who attend the meeting will give speeches.

The 2016 Draft Budget Law which will come into force for the period 1 January-31 December 2016 envisages 4 billion 476 million 452 thousand Turkish Lira for the administration of services and activities.