TRNC News Today 21^st December 2015

21st December National Struggle and Martyrs Week begins today

The commemoration programs of the 21st December National Struggle and Martyrs Week which is an important turning point in Cyprus history and the anniversary of the attacks against the Turkish Cypriot community and legitimate constitutional rights by the Greek Cypriots begins today.

Greek Cypriots caused the collapse of the Republic of Cyprus, which was established in 1960, by planning to destroy the Turkish Cypriots with the attacks launched on 21 December 1963 and aiming to connect the island to Greece. At the same time, the date of December 21, 1963 is the beginning of the process that ended with the intervention of the guarantor power Turkey on July 20, 1974 in order to ensure the safety of the Turkish Cypriots.

Between the dates 21st December 1963 and 20 July 1974, Turkish Cypriots rights of life were taken by the Greek Cypriots in the framework of the Akritas plan which was implemented by the Greek Cypriots in Cyprus. 103 Turkish villages were occupied and 50,000 Turkish Cypriots were forced to migrate. Turkish Cypriots were excluded by force of arms from the state as constituent partners and forced to live in ghettos which were established in 3% of the island under embargoes for 11 years.

Last meeting of 2015 held by the leaders

Within the framework of the negotiations in order to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, President Mustafa Akıncı and the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades held the last leaders’ meeting of 2015 yesterday. Before the meeting at the building allotted by the UN for the negotiations in the Buffer zone, the leaders visited the CMP Anthropology laboratory and met with the three CMP Members and many of the Committee’s Greek and Turkish Cypriot scientists and made examinations. During the visit to the Committee on Missing Persons, President Mustafa Akıncı and the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades recorded an appeal calling on all Cypriots to provide information to the CMP on possible burial sites. This appeal will be shown island-wide as a TV-spot.

After the last leaders’ meeting of 2015, a statement was published by the UN regarding the meeting. According to the statement, the leaders made a general assessment of the negotiations since talks began on 15 May 2015 and expressed their satisfaction with the progress that has been achieved to date. While acknowledging that the tasks ahead remain difficult, the leaders are determined to maintain the positive momentum of the talks with their next meetings planned for the 7th ,14th and 29th January 2016. The leaders held constructive deliberations on all of the outstanding issues and provided further guidance to the negotiators. Stating that a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus will be an example for the broader region, the leaders expressed their sincere hope that 2016 will bring peace, security and prosperity in Cyprus and beyond.

Lastly, the leaders thanked all members of the working groups, technical committees and other parties who are working towards their shared goal of reaching a comprehensive settlement as soon as possible and wished a happy and prosperous New Year to all people.

Tatar: “Anastasiades is not in good faith”

UBP Lefkoşa Deputy Ersin Tatar argued that the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Nikos Anastasiades is not in good faith and he has demands at the negotiations which will lead the Turkish Cypriot people back to before 1974.

In his written statement, Tatar stated that Turkish Cypriot side should avoid the tricks of the Greek Cypriot side on the issues of property, territory and guarantees. Moreover; Ersin Tatar claimed that it is a deception to express “there is a progress” as long as the definition of current user and some criteria have not been agreed on the issue of property and the Turkish Cypriot people’s socio-economic situation is not taken under guarantee.

Deputy Ersin Tatar also stated that President Mustafa Akıncı shouldn’t forget that he gave a guarantee about an agreement to be reached that will not take the Turkish Cypriot people back and hurt them.

Bozkır: “The Cyprus problem is at a point where it is closest to a solution”

Turkey’s EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkır said, “The Cyprus problem is at a point where it is closest to the solution in the 50-year history, and hopefully they will be able to reach a point to present a constitution to the referendum in the Spring.” Bozkır received the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianidis in his office.

Evaluating the positive atmosphere in Cyprus, Bozkır said that the problem on the island has reached a point that can be solved more easily than the problems of Syria, Ukraine, and Palestine.

Furthermore, Minister Bozkır said that many great opportunities will emerge with the solution of the Cyprus problem, and added that as Turkey they hope to reach a solution as soon as possible.

Kasulidis: “The negotiations will end in 2016 either in a positive or negative way”

The Greek Cypriot daily Alithia newspaper noted that the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Yoannis Kasulidis in his statements regarding the Cyprus problem said “the negotiations will end in 2016 in either a positive or negative way but there is not a certain calendar.”

According to the news, Kasulidis disagrees with the overly optimistic approaches that the Cyprus problem will be resolved next year or in the following year because there is still a distance needed to be covered. Upon a question regarding the statements of Eide and the possibility of a quintet conference on the issue of guarantees, Kasulidis said, “This issue has not been discussed yet.”

South Cyprus and France to conduct joint Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise today

A joint Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise, entitled “CYPFRA-05/15,” will be conducted today in the South East of Cyprus, with the participation of SAR units and personnel from South Cyprus and France.

According to the news of the Greek radio; The frigate “COURBET-F712” as well as naval and air SAR units of South Cyprus will take part in the aeronautical SAR exercise under the operational control and coordination of the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) Larnaca, in close cooperation with the French frigate.

This will be the fifth exercise on SAR matters in 2015, between the JRCC Larnaca (which represents the SAR system of South Cyprus) and the French Navy.

Greek Cypriots want the Russian Military

73% of the Greek Cypriots want the Greek Cypriot Administration to provide military facilities to Russia. According to the Greek Cypriot daily Simerini, 53% of the Greek Cypriots also want to promote relations between Russia and the Greek Cypriot Administration.

The newspaper also reported that according to the survey carried out by “IMR / University of Nicosia” with the participation of 500 people on 16-17 December it showed that 3 out of 5 Greek Cypriots will feel safer themselves in the event of Russia’s military presence on the island.

Furthermore, Simerini reported that although the tension is increasing in the region, the Greek Cypriots have not been affected greatly and in this context; 6 out of 10 Greek Cypriots feel safe themselves and 2 out of 5 people feel that security has been reduced.

Noting that Greek Cypriots’ being ready to provide military facilities to Russia is related to feeling safe, the newspaper reported that 66% of the Greek Cypriots will feel much safer themselves in the event of Russia’s military presence on the island.

Cemal Özyiğit is the leader of TDP again

Cemal Özyigit has been re-elected as the leader of the Communal Democracy Party (TDP).

At the 5th Ordinary Meeting of TDP which was held yesterday, there were 762 votes in the election for the Presidency. Head of Gazimağusa District Mustafa Emiroğluları received 272 votes while the leader of TDP Cemal Özyiğit received 487 votes.