TRNC News Today 14^th March 2016

Akıncı: “We are ready to announce the convergences and mutual understandings jointly”

President Mustafa Akıncı stated that as the Turkish Cypriot side they are ready to announce the mutual understandings and convergences on the negotiations jointly. In his statement following the meeting with the Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Anastasiades, Akıncı said that the negotiators reviewed the works, they are trying to reach a consensus on 4 chapters that haven’t been agreed yet except the issues of territory and security which will be discussed at the latest stage of the negotiations. Akıncı also said that the meeting was “fruitful”, adding “It is not possible to say that we totally eliminate the disagreements however new convergences have been reached on some issues”.

Referring to the statements made by the Greek Cypriot EDEK party leader, Akıncı stated that as the Turkish Cypriot side we are working for a successful conclusion of the negotiations without being affected by some negative developments outside the negotiation table. Akıncı indicated that the statements of the Greek Cypriot EDEK Leader Marinos Sizopulos do not contribute to the negotiation process. Mentioning the statements of Sizopulos regarding the citizenship criteria, Akıncı said, “All the statements given are not true”. On the other hand, Geek Cypriot Leader Nikos Anastasiades said that the meeting was fruitful and all dimensions were discussed during their meeting except the issues of guarantees and territory. Anastasiades also expressed that the talks will continue intensively.

Anastasiades to change the conditions for informing political leaders

Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros claimed that the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades reconsidered the issue about informing political leaders in South Cyprus following the leaking of the National Council’s secret reports by EDEK Leader Marinos Sizopulos.

The newspaper reported that Anastasiades is planning to inform the political leaders not at the National Council or the Council of Presidents any more, but at face to face meetings.

Tusk to visit Cyprus

In a statement on his twitter account, the President of the European Council Donald Tusk wrote that he will travel to Cyprus and meet with the Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Anastasiades.

The Greek Cypriot Administration Spokesperson Nicos Hristodulidis also wrote on his twitter account that Tusk will visit Cyprus on 15 March to meet with Anastasiades on the issue of EU-Turkey.

According to the Greek Cypriot sources, Donald Tusk wants to meet with Anastasiades before the summit meeting to be held on 17 March and the issue of the refugee influx will be discussed.

Denktaş: “The aim of Greek Cypriot side is to extinguish the treaties of Alliance and Guarantee”

Democrat Party National Forces (DP-UG) Leader Serdar Denktaş stated that the aim of the Greek Cypriot side is to extinguish the treaties of Alliance and Guarantee.

Mentioning that the Greek Cypriot side is making propaganda to show the existence of the Turkish military as a threat, Denktaş said: “The Greek Cypriot side see the Turkish military as a threat. However, they could not say even a single act which has threatened them since 1974 because they know that the existence of the Turkish military in the island is not a threat. They only make propaganda”.

Denktaş stressed that there will be new fighting and chaos in the island in the event of extinguishing the 1959 Treaty of Alliance and Guarantee.

Serdar Denktaş also made a call to the negotiating team and said “There is no text yet. If Turkey’s full and effective guarantee is extinguished, our rights, political equality and equal sovereignty are not taken into consideration, Turkish Cypriot people should say and will say “no” for such an agreement”.

Tatar: “Greek Cypriots do not accept any vital right of the Turkish Cypriots”

The National Unity Party’s Lefkoşa Deputy Ersin Tatar argued that the Greek Cypriots do not accept any vital right of the Turkish Cypriots and they continue their hostile policy towards Turkey.

In his written statement Tatar stated that the Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Anastasiades still prevents the full membership negotiations of Turkey-EU. Furthermore, Tatar stressed that Anastasiades’ demand for Turkey’s recognizing the Greek Cypriot Administration and opening its ports to the Greek vessels for EU’s opening 5 new chapters is not acceptable.

Greek Cypriots spent more than half million Euros in TRNC Hotels

The Greek Cypriot daily Simerini reported that the Greek Cypriots did 2.088 credit card transactions in total and spent 521 thousand 882 Euros for accommodation at TRNC hotels and most of the money was spent in the casinos between January-February. The newspaper also reported that the Greek Cypriots spent 1 million 649 thousand 636 Euros in the TRNC and Turkey between January- February. Reporting that 756 transactions were done from the airline companies in the TRNC and 110 thousand 590 Euros was spent in January-February, the newspaper noted that 853 credit card transactions were done in Turkey and 178 thousand 794 Euros were spent. Reporting that the Greek Cypriots spent 289 thousand 384 Euros for TRNC and Turkey travel in the same period, Simerini noted that the majority of purchases were made for entertainment and hotel accommodation.

On the other hand, Turkish Cypriots spent 1 million 844 thousand 827 euros with credit cards in the mentioned period. Almost half million euros was spent in supermarkets and 336 thousand 687 euro for clothes shopping. Furthermore, the newspaper stressed that 6 credit card transactions were done and 3 thousands 728 euros were spent by Turkish Cypriots in the charity institutions in South Cyprus which is interesting.

Omirou is reactive to Tusk’s coming

The Greek Cypriot House President Yiannakis Omirou was reactive to the forthcoming visit of European Council President Donald Tusk to Cyprus, this Tuesday, over which he expressed surprise, Greek Cypriot News Agency reported.

Omirou said that the visit apparently takes place in the framework of Turkish demands for the opening of EU accession negotiation chapters, which the Greek Cypriot side has blocked. Omirou further urged the European Council to categorically reject Turkish demands which, he said, are in no way related to the handling of the refugee crisis.