TRNC News Today 25^th February 2016

Turkey approved the TRNC’s amendment requests on water issue

Prime Minister Ömer Kalyoncu announced that TRNC’s amendment requests on the draft text of the water issue has been approved by Turkey.

Giving a statement to the TAK reporter, Prime Minster Ömer Kalyoncu stated that the cabinet will meet today in order to approve the new form of the draft.

Kalyoncu indicated that their amendment requests are especially related to the municipalities, and added that details will be announced today.

Akıncı informed the political parties in the Assembly

President Mustafa Akıncı informed the leaders of the political parties represented in the TRNC Assembly about the latest developments in the Cyprus negotiations. CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat, UBP leader Hüseyin Özgürgün, DP-UG leader Serdar Denktaş and TDP leader Cemal Özyiğit attended the meeting.

Making a statement to the press after the meeting, CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat indicated that they received information about the latest developments and also expressed their views. Talat said, “The negotiation process is going well, but it also shows a slowdown tendency, however acceleration of the process is a hope.”

Indicating that good progress had been achieved in the negotiations and the important thing is to achieve this improvement on the entire negotiations, Talat said that the main aim is to complete all chapters except territory and security. Talat also highlighted the importance of the completion of this process by May or at least reaching this stage.

UBP leader Hüseyin Özgürgün stated that some difficulties and delays have occurred in the negotiation process due to the elections in the south, and noted that this case gives the opportunity to make assessments in terms of themselves.

Stating that they had a fruitful meeting, DP-UG leader Serdar Denktaş said that an agreement or a referendum may occur at the end of the negotiations process, and pointed out that the main agreement will occur, not at the negotiation table, but in practice.

Lastly, TDP leader Cemal Özyiğit indicated that confidence building measures may bring colour to the stagnant period of the negotiations, and may play a catalyst role in the two communities’ convergence.

Wallström: “We appreciate roles of religious leaders in Cyprus reconciliation process”

Margot Wallström, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, welcomed the United Nations efforts to reach an agreement on the Cyprus issue and acknowledged the role of religious leaders of Cyprus in the reconciliation process, an announcement by the Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process notes.

Speaking on Wednesday at the Swedish Parliament, during a debate on Foreign Affairs, Wallström said that “the government welcomes the UN efforts to reach an agreement on the Cyprus issue” adding that “a solution would strengthen the UN`s authority and the EU`s ability to manage the challenges in its neighbourhood”.

The Foreign Minister also said that Sweden has taken “a unique initiative for cooperation between Cyprus`s religious leaders, who have an important role to play in the reconciliation process”.

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg: “There is a real chance for a solution in Cyprus”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg evaluated the Cyprus negotiation process. Speaking at the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said, “I welcome the efforts towards reaching a political solution. There are some developments but also some uncertainties. Some initiatives had been previously discussed, however, there is a real chance for an agreement to solve the Cyprus problem.”

Buttenheim to continue her position for a while

It was stated that UN Secretary General’s Special Representative to Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim will continue her duty in the island for a while due to her role in the Cyprus negotiations.

In the statement given by the UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, it was expressed that UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon decided to extend the term of office of Buttenheim due to her role in the Cyprus negotiations and assisting the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon previously appointed Buttenheim as the Deputy Head of Department of Field Support at the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Some Turkish and Greek Cypriot political party representatives met

Some Turkish and Greek Cypriot political party leaders and representatives met yesterday within the framework of the routine round table meetings organised by the Slovakia Embassy in South Cyprus.

The meeting was hosted by the Greek Cypriot Democratic Party DIKO at Ledra Palace Hotel at the buffer zone.

Among the attending parties from the TRNC were; the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the Communal Democracy Party (TDP), the New Cyprus Party (YKP), the United Cyprus Party (BKP), the Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP), National Unity Party (UBP), and the Democrat Party (DP). Attending from South Cyprus were; AKEL, DIKO, EDI, DISY, EDEK, EPALX and the Greens.

Reading the joint statement after the meeting, Slovakian Ambassador Oksana Tomova stated that the next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 30th of March. Tomova also said that the participants discussed and shared their ideas on the subject of “Information to the public regarding the negotiations: blessing or curse” upon the proposal of DIKO.

Siber: “Hostility feeling of Greek Cypriots towards Turkish Cypriots should be eliminated”

Stating that the education system in South Cyprus instils a hostility feeling, the Speaker of the Assembly Sibel Siber said that Greek Cypriot youth should eliminate their hostility feelings to reach a settlement in Cyprus.

Speaking to Radio Güven, Siber said that the increase of confidence building measures can bring the two communities in Cyprus closer. Siber also stressed that Turkish Cypriots’ existence should be respected and the Greek Cypriot Administration should not put obstacles for TRNC Assembly’s holding meetings with diplomats at international level. Siber expressed that the Greek Cypriot side’s education system that instils hostility towards Turkish Cypriots is also recognised by foreigners, and this attitude of the Greek Cypriots destroys the confidence of the Turkish Cypriots.

Furthermore, Siber added that they wish to reach a fair and viable settlement based on bi-zonality, bi-communality, and political equality.