TRNC News Today 18^th January 2016

Akıncı: “Progress has been achieved in the negotiations but there are still issues that need to be solved”

Speaking at the joint event entitled “The Future of our Country is Important: Social Actors are Speaking” which was organized by “The All Cyprus Trade Forum”, President Akıncı said that progress has been achieved in the Cyprus negotiation process but there still remained outstanding issues to reach the final destination. Akıncı stressed that the required dynamic for a solution will arise from the communities.

On the other hand, Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades indicated that they want to hand over a safe homeland for the next generations and added that they had progress in the negotiations. Anastasiades also called for support from the non-governmental organizations.

Eide: “The last part is always the most difficult part”

Indicating that they are very close to an agreement on Cyprus but the last part is always the most difficult part, The UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide pointed out the importance of the coming weeks and months.

Eide briefed the Security Council members on the latest developments in the Cyprus negotiations in a closed session which was held in the UN Security Council.

Making a statement to the reporters after the meeting Eide said, “A settlement in Cyprus is possible, even more than possible, but the last part is always the most difficult part. 90% of the issues can be agreed upon but the remaining 10% are the most difficult issues to be agreed upon. Emphasizing that the next weeks and months will be important for the resolution of basic issues that are not agreed yet, Eide said that some of the issues are territory, security and guarantees. Eide said, “The starting point of both sides are very different from each other.” Praising the approach of the leaders to the issue Eide said, “If these two leaders cannot reunite Cyprus, I do not know who can.”

Eide: “The important thing is that solution shouldn’t be financed by the Cypriots”

In his statement to the Greek news sources in New York, The UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide said that the important thing is that solution shouldn’t be financed by the Cypriots and to afford the real (effective) money which will meet the initial expenses.

Stating that all the figures expressed for the cost of the solution of the Cyprus problem are wrong Eide said that the last parameters of the solution especially when specifying parameters of the land and property are not clear yet. Eide stressed that the progress of these issues are very important for financial experts who work on this issue.

Schwachöfer: “We hope Cyprus will be reunified in 2016”

Holland’s Ambassador to South Cyprus Brechje Schwachöfer stated that they hope Cyprus will be reunified in 2016.

According to the Greek Cypriot daily Haravgi, speaking on Friday during a press conference at the EU House in Nicosia, where she presented the priorities of the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU, 2016 will see a reunification of Cyprus, a development which is not only to the interest of the Cypriots, but also of the EU and the international community as a whole.

The Ambassador said that as the EU Term Presidency they will do all that is needed to facilitate a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Grand Prize to Vamık Volkan in psychoanalysis field

Turkish Cypriot scientist Prof. Dr. Vamık Volkan has been granted the Mary Sigorni Award this year in the psychoanalysis field which is accepted as the most honourable award of the world after the Nobel Award.

Prof. Dr. Vamık Volkan has been granted the Mary Sigorni Award due to his contributions for the methods of applying psychoanalysis thought for the solution of conflicts between countries and cultures.

This award has been presented to a Turkish Cypriot for the first time since 1989.

83 year old Vamık Volkan is still the President of the International Dialogue Initiative Foundation

TRNC at CMT Stuttgart Tourism Fair

The Ministry of Tourism are attending the CMT Stuttgart Tourism Fair which has started in Stuttgart, Germany and will continue until 24 January.

“CMT Stuttgart” Tourism Fair which is one of the greatest fairs of Germany is especially based on the concept of walking, cycling and caravanning.

2000 firms from 98 countries are attending the fair which is expected to be visited by about 240,000 people this year.

1 million Euros expenditure from Greek Cypriots in TRNC and Turkey

It was stated that Greek Cypriots have spent about 1 million Euros in the TRNC and Turkey in one month.

According to the information of JCC Company, Greek Cypriots spent 178 thousand Euros by credit cards in December, 2015 for their travels with airline companies in the TRNC and Turkey.

In the same month, Greek Cypriots spent 300 thousand Euros by their credit cards to stay at hotels in the TRNC and Turkey as well as 179 thousand Euros for entertainment. As a total, Greek Cypriots have spent about 1 million Euros by credit cards in the TRNC and Turkey.