Akıncı: “I welcome the recent developments”
In a statement, President Mustafa Akıncı officially welcomed the normalization of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Israel and the announcement that a similar process has begun with Russia.
Explaining that these developments are important steps towards achieving stability amongst Turkey, Israel and Russia, but also for a region struggling with serious problems, President Akıncı said: “The normalization of Turkey-Israel relations also allows for new cooperation opportunities to arise, particularly with regards to the natural gas of the Eastern Mediterranean. If the Cyprus problem is solved, natural gas resources off the shores of Cyprus and Israel can be pooled and sent to Turkey and Western Europe. This is the most realistic project which will benefit all parties.”
Çavuşoğlu: “We are pleased to supply water to Gazimağusa for the first time”
The Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nazım Çavuşoğlu, has announced that an underwater pipeline which supplies water to the TRNC from Turkey as part of the Water Supply Project, has started operating.
Minister Çavuşoğlu explained that water had begun to be supplied to the Water Affairs Department’s 7500m3 tank in Dikmen as of yesterday morning, and added that water will be supplied to Gazimağusa through the existing pipeline.
Minister Çavuşoğlu thanked everyone who contributed to the project – especially the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım and Minister for Forestry and Water Works, Veysel Eroğlu – stating that they are happy as water has been supplied to Gazimağusa for the first time today.
Çavuşoğlu also added that water will be supplied to the region of Güzelyurt.
Küçük: “Excavation works will continue in summer”
Gülden Plümer Küçük, a Turkish Cypriot member of the Committee on Missing Persons stated that the excavation works of the Committee will continue this summer. Küçük also announced that 9 teams formed by the Committee have been continuing their work and in this context, excavation in the Tekke Garden is still underway.
The excavation work at Muratağa-Sandallar mass graves has been completed and the remains of 89 victims were sent to the Anthropology Laboratory in order to determine their identities. Küçük also said that the remains of 37 missing persons in the second burial site, Atlılar village, will also be taken out in the coming months.
Küçük added that the missing persons whose remains were found in Paraglişa, South Cyprus, will be identified in the coming weeks.
Regarding the comment of the Greek Cypriot Presidential Commissioner Fotis Fotiu that there is a dramatic decrease in the number of Greek Cypriots’ remains found during the excavations in North Cyprus, Küçük said that this is due to the absence of mass graves. Rather, it appears that the remains are buried in smaller sites, harder to locate.
“EXPO 2016 to be opened in Antalya”, the work of Cyprus House continue
A delegation headed by the Director of the Department of Culture, Nilay Tunçalp, has travelled to Antalya to support the Cyprus House team represent TRNC.
According to the Directorate of the Department of Culture “The team is working on re-creating the smell, texture, taste, culture and life-style so that the Cyprus House is the best reflection of our Island. To achieve this, our team has received professional help from the Eastern Mediterranean University and the Department of Antiquities and Museums.”
The houses and gardens of approximately 60 countries including the TRNC will be displayed in EXPO 2016 Antalya according to the event’s motto “Green World for the Next Generation”, and its theme “Children and Flowers”.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
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