TRNC News Today 12^th February 2016

Çavuşoğlu: “The natural gas to be extracted in Cyprus has no other route than Turkey”

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated that the natural gas to be extracted in Cyprus has no other route than Turkey and added that the Greek Cypriot side and Israel also shared the same view, therefore all agreements signed in the past have no meaning.

Çavuşoğlu said: “Hopefully, this year will be a solution year in Cyprus. We keep saying that the current opportunity in Cyprus should not be missed because this is the last chance.”

Noting that the negotiation process is continuing in Cyprus, Çavuşoğlu reminded that although the two sides made progress on many issues, difficult issues like property and territory still exist.

Eide: “Four of the six chapters are substantially completed”

The UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide said that there is significant progress in the peace talks and even the most difficult issue of the property is resolved by 90 percent.

Responding to the questions of the NTV reporter; Eide stated that he would be ‘the last special adviser’. Eide also praised the government of Ankara, Athens and London for their support to the process.

Stating that two incomplete chapters on the issues of territory and guarantees have not been agreed yet, Eide noted that an agreement will be reached on these issues at the end of the process.

Eide also added: “We will launch a major technical study on the implementation of the constitution, economy and the solution. We are at an important point”.(Kıbrıs newspaper)

Eide: “Public relations part of the negotiations should be examined thoroughly”

Making a statement after his meeting with President Mustafa Akıncı, the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide said that although a consensus has been reached about some issues, these issues may cause confusion if they are presented as part of a story and emphasized that the public relations part of the negotiations should be examined thoroughly.

Eide said that progress has been achieved in the negotiations and they implemented a program about how the coming months will be organized. Furthermore, Eide said that some important technical issues will be addressed primarily in the coming months.

Upon a question regarding the statements of the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades about the rotating presidency, Eide said, “If you read what he said, Anastasiades simply said that one party has one opinion and the other party has a totally opposite opinion than the other side and this condition has been negotiated, we can see that clearly.”

Harmancı met with Doherty

The Mayor of Lefkoşa Turkish Municipality LTB, Mehmet Harmancı met with the USA Ambassador to South Cyprus, Kathleen Ann Doherty.

During the meeting, the projects of Lefkoşa Turkish Municipality, joint studies with the Greek Cypriot Nicosia Municipality, and the Cyprus issue were discussed.

Also during the visit, they exchanged views on the issues such as how the discussions have been going between President Mustafa Akıncı and the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades and what should be done after the settlement.

The report entitled “The Negotiation Process and the Turkish Cypriot Economy in Federal Cyprus” was presented

The presentation of the report which is entitled ‘The Negotiation Process and the Turkish Cypriot Economy in Federal Cyprus’ was held at the Golden Tulip Hotel yesterday.

The report was prepared in order to determine the opportunities and support which should be given in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, trade, tourism, higher education, transportation and communication sectors and to determine the periodical support after an entire settlement.

Speaking at the presentation, Prime Minister Ömer Kalyoncu said that the economy should be strengthened in this period while the inter-communal negotiations are continuing in order to form the federal Cyprus and emphasized that one of the topics which will guarantee the security and freedom is having a healthy economy.

Finance Minister Birikim Özgür stated that studies have been conducted with the authorities from the World Bank and the European Union such as “how to manage the public debt stock” and “fast and efficient performing of public procurement” in order to reach a better situation than the existing one after a settlement.

Turkish Ambassador to Nicosia Derya Kanbay stated that it can be seen that the countries which are wasting the economic resources are in poverty and misery, and pointed out the importance of editing and performing right economic policies.

In his speech, the President of Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) Fikri Toros stated that non-governmental organizations and every sector of society should make every contribution. Toros also added that a comprehensive assessment of future planning is essential for a sustainable settlement.

Council member of the KTTO Özalp Nailer in his speech said, “Strengthening and institutionalization of the economic activities of the Turkish Cypriots before and after an overall settlement and increasing competitiveness of the Turkish Cypriots to reach a competitive level is essential for a sustainable agreement.”