TRNC News Today 22nd December 2015

Anastasiades rejected informal quintet conference

The leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Nikos Anastasiades announced that he would not attend the informal quintet conference upon the invitation of the World Economic Forum which will be held in Davos.

The Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros reported that Anastasiades would not participate in any informal or quintet conference which will be held about the Cyprus problem.

According to the news, Anastasiades said “It’s not the time yet for a multi-party conference”.

On the other hand; a diplomatic source indicated that Eide planned to bring the guarantor powers together, so they can start talks on issues concerning the guarantees. If both leaders were in Davos, then conditions for an informal multilateral conference would exist.

Reports on Sunday indicated that the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide planned to informally bring together the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities with guarantor powers Turkey, Greece, and Great Britain during next month’s World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

Speaking on Greek Cypriot radio Politis on Monday, Greek Cypriot Administration Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides said that a multi-partite summit will be required when a solution to the Cyprus problem is within reach.

Socialist EDEK also said: “We must express our strong opposition, given that international summits are attended only by recognised states.”

The Greens, also hardliners, called on Anastasiades to “rein in Mr.Eide and his environment”, when it was leaked that Eide invited President Mustafa Akıncı and the Greek Cypriot Leader Anastasiades in Davos, along with the leaders of the three guarantor powers.

Cooperation between the Contractors from Turkey and TRNC

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Turkish Contractors Association and the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association in order to assess the possible economic potential across the island, especially after the emergence of a solution. In his written statement, the director of the Turkish Contractors Association Mithat Yenigün indicated that they made an agreement with the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association within the context of the collaboration offer from the TRNC.

Emphasizing that an effective cooperation will be established within the framework of the agreement, Yenigün said “We hope that an agreement will be reached which will be adopted by the two communities in Cyprus. There is much work to do in Cyprus after a solution.”

Furthermore, it was emphasized in the statement that if a settlement was reached with the Greek Cypriot Administration within the context of the memorandum of understanding, the renovation of the idle facilities located in Maras and in other regions have been targeted.

Akıncı: “A Timeless Statement”

Stating that the territory issue has not been discussed yet, President Akıncı said that “There is nothing which we want to hide from the public. Everybody should be in peace. We do not accept anything without ensuring the people’s happiness, peace and future security.”

Mentioning the statements of the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades, President Akıncı said, “As I understand, Anastasiades told about the map on the Annan Plan and said that there will not be an agreement without the return of these lands. We have not discussed the issue of territory yet. Therefore, it is a timeless statement”. Reminding that the referendum was held in 2004 and 11 years have passed since then, Akıncı said “Many changes have happened in those 11 years, not only in a moral sense, but also in a physical and geographical sense. We have to take into consideration all of these changes and make territorial arrangements”. We are in favour of a balanced agreement. We do not want to be unfair to anyone. We are trying to establish a fair settlement that both parties can live in equality, security, freedom and peace. This is possible but not easy.”

No informal quintet conference preparation

Presidential Spokesperson Barış Burcu said that there is not any preparation for an informal multilateral conference in Davos as alleged in the Greek Cypriot press.

Greek Cypriot press reported that the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide tries to bring the two sides together with the guarantor powers Turkey, Greece, and Great Britain informally in order to discuss the issue of guarantees during the World Economic Forum which will be held in Davos between January 20 and 23.

Stating that Davos is an Economic Forum, Burcu said that there isn’t any official information coming from Eide on the issue.

On the other hand; Burcu said that President Mustafa Akıncı will go to Davos, in Switzerland in order to hold contacts within the framework of the World Economic Forum at the end of January but the programme is not ready yet.

Upon a question whether President Mustafa Akıncı will hold high level contacts in Davos or not, Burcu said: “We want to hold high level contacts at every opportunity. (Kıbrıs Newspaper)

Özgürgün: “Turkish Cypriots’ hopes for a possible agreement are decreasing”

UBP leader Hüseyin Özgürgün indicated that the statements of the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades “returned regions cannot be changed in any way on the basis of the Annan Plan. This is considered as ‘essential’ and also the return of the Güzelyurt is not a problem” are decreasing the hopes of the Turkish Cypriots for a possible agreement.

Stating that the last meeting of the year was held yesterday by the leaders, Özgürgün said that when considering the demands of the Greek Cypriot side in the negotiation chapters, it is obviously seen why the ongoing negotiations have not been concluded for half a century. Özgürgün also added “Such statements which are negatively affecting the negotiation process persistently remind us that the Greek Cypriot mentality still has not changed. Greek Cypriots do not look out for the presence, safety, freedom, rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots on the island”.

Source: TRNC Public Information Office –

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