TRNC News Today 12^th January 2016

Çavuşoğlu: “Turkey fulfilled its responsibility for a solution”

According to the news of AA, making the opening speech of the 8th Ambassadors Conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu said that Turkey fulfilled its responsibility in a close cooperation with the Turkish Cypriot side during the ongoing negotiation process for a solution in Cyprus this year.

Çavuşoğlu, “Hopefully we will not have to wait too long for the solution of the Cyprus problem. We believe that a fair and lasting solution will have positive reflections not only for the parties in the island, but also for a wide geography, especially for the Eastern Mediterranean.”

Describing the water supply project from Turkey to TRNC as “Project of the Century”, Çavuşoğlu said, “We will contribute to peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin with the peace water.”

US Department of Treasury’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Singh arrives in South Cyprus

The US Department of Treasury’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Daleep Singh arrived in South Cyprus yesterday. According to an announcement issued by the United States embassy, Deputy Assistant Secretary Singh will meet with members of the Technical Committee on the Economy, non-governmental organizations, academics, international organizations, and others to learn more about the potential economic challenges and opportunities of reunification of the island. “The US Government strongly supports the ongoing negotiations, as a solution to the long-standing division of the island would benefit the economy of Cyprus and provide opportunities for all Cypriots” the press release noted.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Singh will also meet with Greek Cypriot Finance Minister Harris Georgiades, Undersecretary of the Greek Cypriot Finance Ministry Constantinos Petrides, and South Cyprus Central Bank authorities.

Sefcovic has pledged that the European Commission will do its utmost to help find a political settlement in Cyprus

European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic has pledged that the European Commission will do its utmost to help find a political settlement in Cyprus, saying that Cypriots can count on EU assistance in this respect. “You Cypriots can tell us what you need and we can do our utmost and the same goes for the UN. You can count on our assistance and I hope 2016 can start with a positive story on the Cyprus solution“, he added. Sefcovic spoke of the peace process, noting that hard work has been accomplished so far and pointed out that enormous efforts are being made so that the problem is solved. Sefcovic also praised the role of the Embassy of Slovakia, his home country, in facilitating the bi-communal dialogue in Cyprus. Slovakia has been hosting meetings between the political parties in the two communities for the past years.

The UN backed negotiations are under way with the aim to reunite the island under a federal roof. The EC Vice President spoke of the energy union and the future plans of the EU and also of the geopolitical developments in the region. He expressed the wish to see `dynamic progress` in the near future. The Commissioner recalled that the EU was formed as a steel and coal community and now it is more than feasible to turn it into sun and wind sources and noted “we must look into new solutions and innovations.”