TRNC News Today 26^th January 2016

Çolak received the European Council of Women and National Council of Turkish Women

Foreign Minister Emine Çolak received President of the European Council of Women (ECICW) Cosima Schenk, and President of the National Council of Turkish Women and the Vice-President of the European Council of Women Fatoş İnal and their accompanying delegations.

In her speech during the reception, stating that women have a reputation and a position in society, Minister Çolak said that the decision-making bodies, the government and the political parties are the areas that required more participation. Çolak also expressed that women should take a greater part in the decision-making bodies.

Minister Çolak received the delegations of the CHP Foreign Affairs Commission

Foreign Minister Emine Çolak received the delegations of the CHP Foreign Affairs Commission who are holding contacts in the TRNC.

In his speech during the reception, stating that they intend to receive information from the authorities regarding the ongoing negotiations, CHP Foreign Affairs Commission leader Öztürk Yılmaz indicated that they are ready to provide all kinds of support as CHP.

Yılmaz stated that they have been in the TRNC for two days and they held fruitful contacts.

On the other hand, mentioning the importance of the initiative of the official and political groups from Turkey in the sense of being informed, Foreign Minister Çolak emphasized that the TRNC government is open to dialogue on equal distance to everyone from Turkey.

Çolak: “We want to get information about the political dynamics and foreign relations in Turkey as well as sharing the developments in here.” Çolak also added that they attached great importance to exchange information in all areas with Turkey.

Akıncı received the delegations of the CHP Foreign Affairs Commission

President Akıncı received the delegations of the CHP Foreign Affairs Commission under the presidency of the CHP Ardahan Deputy Öztürk Yılmaz from Turkey yesterday.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot society has been deprived of the shareholder rights and lived under the isolations for 53 years, President Akıncı said that progress has been achieved to overcome this situation with a bi-zonal federal system. Akıncı said: “I hope 2016 brings us such a solution with our efforts.”

In his speech during the reception, Akıncı said that in the context of his interest to the Cyprus issue, CHP Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the overall CHP confirmed their support for an agreement in the island which includes the equality, sovereignty and security of the Turkish Cypriots and asked to convey his thanks.

The European Union Commission introduces acquis

Familiarisation Seminars on the Community Acquis were started at the Merit Hotel yesterday morning by the European Commission Cyprus Representation. The seminars will be held between the dates of 25-28 January .The first program was held yesterday morning for public servants.

In his speech at the opening session Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erhan Erçin expressed that the Turkish Cypriot side is continuing negotiations with determination and added that the European Commission took a decision to organize these seminars to support the negotiations held by the leaders.

EU funds a project for SMEs

The European Union (EU) funded a project with 1.3 million Euros in order to provide technical support to SMEs (Small and Medium Sized Enterprises), in the TRNC.

Within the framework of the project which will be carried out in cooperation with the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Development Centre (KOBİGEM) headed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, EU experts will spend 2400 days at the Ministry Office allocated to them and they will complete the project.

The project which was started on 3 November, 2015 and will last 17 months, is aimed at developing the capacity of business support institutions in the public and private sectors. In the project, there are studies about developing an ecotourism strategy.

The “TAPS Project” named “Technical Assistant Private Sector” was introduced to the press at a press conference at the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry yesterday.

Studies will start for the project of “Eurasian Interconnector”

It was reported that studies will start for the project of the Eurasian Interconnector, a proposed subsea electricity cable connecting Israel-South Cyprus and Crete-Greece.

According to the news of the Greek Cypriot daily newspaper Fileftheros, Italian research vessel “Odin Finder” will set off along the route from the port of Limassol in order to record the data and depth measurements on the seafloor within the next two months.

It was stated that in the area at which the mentioned electric cable will be placed there are 35 operating telecommunication cables.

TRNC attended the tourism fair of “Destinations the holiday and travel show”

Ministry of Tourism attended the tourism fair which was named “Destinations the Holiday & Travel Show” and was held in Manchester, UK between the dates of 21-24 January.

The second part of the 5th fair “Caravan and Motorhome 2016” which was organized with the participation of 22 countries this year “caravans and camping areas were introduced. Nearly 15,000 people visited the fair, and there were 150 exhibitors.

There were leaflets regarding nature walks, bicycle paths, water sports, and general information about Northern Cyprus at the TRNC Stand. CDs organised by KITSAB and KITOB, the culture map brochure and 2015-2016 Activities in North Cyprus brochure were also distributed at the TRNC stand.

EU and Turkey pledge to give full support to negotiations for a Cyprus settlement

A joint statement following the High-Level Political Dialogue meeting held in Ankara between the EU and Turkey said that the EU and Turkey welcomed the ongoing settlement talks in Cyprus and agreed that they will continue to give full and resolute support to the efforts of UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide towards achieving a comprehensive settlement.

The statement was issued by the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator of Turkey Ambassador Volkan Bozkır, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs/Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini and the EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn yesterday.

In the statement it is mentioned that the meeting of EU Heads of State or Government with Turkey on 29 November 2015 was a turning point in creating a new momentum in relations, including through a re-energized accession process and recognized the importance of overcoming together the common challenges ahead as key partners and strategic allies in the region. “To this end, today`s High Level Political Dialogue is an essential element of our overall framework of dialogue and cooperation. It provided us with the opportunity to discuss issues high on both of our agendas in a comprehensive manner and that will feed into the preparation of the next EU-Turkey Summit,” it added.

“Believing that the accession process constitutes the backbone of the relations, Turkey and the EU reiterated their determination to advance their comprehensive agenda to ensure that this fresh impetus yields concrete results,” it noted.

Concerning the refugee crisis and irregular migration, the statement noted that Turkey and the EU believe that there is a need to exert huge effort to address them. “They discussed the implementation of the Joint Action Plan which was activated at the 29 November Turkey-EU Summit. Measures by Turkey to further improve the socio-economic situation of Syrians under temporary protection, such as the adoption of legislation on granting them legal access to the labour market, were welcomed. Turkey exerts outstanding efforts so far to accommodate the more than two and a half million Syrians currently in Turkey,” it added.

It is also noted that energy is a topic of key interest in Turkey – EU relations. “Turkey stands out as a crucial partner for EU’s energy security and energy diversification. Both sides welcome the ongoing preparations for the High Level Energy Dialogue Meeting to be held on 28 January in Turkey and for the first High Level Economic Dialogue Meeting currently planned for April 2016.”

Regarding Syria, it is noted that Turkey and the EU stressed the urgent need to reinitiate the political process leading to a peaceful, inclusive and genuine political transition. Furthermore Turkey and the EU said that they stand united against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and condemn the heinous terrorist attacks which have claimed innocent lives in Turkey, the Member States of the European Union, as well as in many other parts of the world.

Turkey and the EU also agreed on a joint work plan for the next six months in order to maintain the new momentum and start the necessary preparations by holding a High-Level Political Dialogue prior to the second Turkey-EU Summit.