TRNC News Today 1^st December 2015

Davutoğlu to visit TRNC

Following the establishment of the 64th Government in Turkey, the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is paying his first official visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus today.

Turkish Prime Minister Davutoğlu will visit and place a wreath on the graves of Dr.Fazıl Küçük and the Founder President Rauf Raif Denktaş and Boğaz Martyrdom and will sign the book of honour. Afterwards, Davutoğlu will visit the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Commandership.

Prime Minister Davutoğlu will be received by President Akıncı at 12.35 and after lunch, a press conference will be held at the Presidency at 14.00.

At 14.40 Davutoğlu will attend to the opening ceremony of Yunus Emre Turkish Culture Center, then Davutoglu will be received by the Speaker of the Assembly Sibel Siber and Prime Minister Ömer Kalyoncu. After attending the dinner given in his honour by Prime Minister Ömer Kalyoncu, Davutoğlu will leave the TRNC at 20.15.

Akıncı: “The final decision belongs to the public”

President Mustafa Akıncı stated that they cannot go to the public unless the two leaders agreed in the negotiations, however the final decision will be made by the public.

Akıncı emphasized that the Turkish Cypriot people will consider security, equality and freedom to approve a possible settlement.

In his speech during one of his receptions, noting that there was not a sufficient infrastructure for the possible geographic federation in Cyprus, Akıncı said that in the circumstances that occurred after 1974 there is an agreement that a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal structure can be achieved.

Noting that he is continuing the negotiations with the Government of Turkey in close consultation and in good intention, President Akıncı said that Turkish Cypriots give great importance to Turkey as a guarantor country. Akıncı:“This guarantee system cannot be renewed without Turkey’s approval.”

President Mustafa Akıncı emphasized that the Turkish Cypriot people will look at the security before approving any agreement.

Davutoğlu: “2016 will be a turning point in Turkey-EU relations”

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said: “I hope 2016 will be a turning point in Turkey-EU relations”.

After the EU-Turkey Summit, at a press conference with EU Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Davutoğlu said that the government will be a reform government and they will continue to do their utmost in order to open as many chapters as possible.

Davutoğlu said that all of the Heads of State and Governments expressed their positions on Turkey’s accession process openly at the Summit.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said that in the event of resolving the Cyprus issue, Turkey’s EU membership wouldn’t be a dream.

Junker: “An agreement in Cyprus will be an important step to be taken in the coming months”

After the EU-Turkey Summit, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu held a joint press meeting with EU Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

In his speech at the press conference, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that an agreement in Cyprus will be an important step to be taken in the coming months.

Emphasizing that he is optimistic about the settlement of the Cyprus issue after he visited Cyprus in July, Juncker said “Developments are going in the right direction and therefore we are grateful, but you need two to tango.”

Economic and Financial Policy chapter to be opened

In the EU-Turkey summit, it was decided to open the 17th Chapter entitled Economic and Financial Policy in Turkey’s EU accession negotiations on 14 December 2015. It was also underlined that in the event of implementation of a re-admission agreement and the envisaged provisions, October 2016 has been shown as the target date for Turkish citizens going to Europe without visa. In the decisions, it was stated that as the beginning, 3 billion Euros financial support will be provided for Syrian refugees with contributions of the EU Commission and the member countries.

Furthermore, it was stated in the text approved at the EU-Turkey Summit in Brussels that the importance of overcoming the common problems of the EU and Turkey was discussed and the sides have decided to restore the membership process.

Kasulidis: “We have gained a great momentum in the negotiations”

Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Yoannis Kasulidis stated that a great momentum has been gained in the Cyprus negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem.

In his press statement within the framework of the Commonwealth Meeting held in Malta, Kaulidis said that all obstacles have not been overcome at the negotiations yet but a great momentum has been gained without intervention of any foreign factor.

Claim for support from Greek Government to UK regarding Syria

According to the news of the BBC website, South Cyprus considers IŞİD as a threat that is why they support the UK’s plans for airstrikes against IŞİD in Syria. Greek Cypriot daily Haravgi newspaper wrote that the air strikes will be conducted from the Akrotiri base.

According to the news, the High Commissioner of South Cyprus in the UK – Evripidis Evriviadis also stated that they follow the same strategy.

“Cyprus, Greece and Turkey Peace Movement” to meet in the island

It is announced that the 6th meeting of the “Cyprus, Greece and Turkey Peace Movement” will be held in Cyprus between the dates of 11-13 December.

In the framework of the meeting, a symposium which is entitled “Destruction of the peace in the Mediterranean, energy issues and Cyprus, Greek-Turkish relations and the relations with Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots” will be held on December 11 at the Journalists House in Southern Nicosia.