TRNC News 25th October 2016 - Akinci "Effective participation in decision-making essential..."

Akıncı: “Effective participation in the decision-making process is essential – it is impossible to make a decision with a simple majority”

The intensified Cyprus negotiations, which aim to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, continued yesterday after a six day break with a meeting between President Mustafa Akıncı and the Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Anastasiades.

Akıncı made a statement to the press at the Presidency following the Leaders’ 8th meeting in October.

Akıncı stated that both parties expressed their point of view on the five issues being negotiated. Neither side could work more intensively to reach the 2016 deadline, he added.

Akıncı also explained how to participate effectively in the decision-making process of any federal structure on Cyprus and how important this is. Membership of a certain committee or board of directors is not what it means to represent the Turkish Cypriot people.

It is impossible to make decisions with a simple majority in a unitary state, Akıncı noted, adding that Turkish Cypriot side is very sensitive about this issue.

Akıncı will meet with the Anastasiades in mid-November in Geneva; details of this meeting will be announced over the next few days.

The Leaders will meet again tomorrow and on 31 October 2016 as part of their efforts to find a solution in 2016.

Yesterday, Akıncı also received the Austrian and German Ambassadors to South Cyprus, Nikolai Von-Schoepff and Karl Mueller.

Citizens living abroad will be able to take their own name and their father’s name as an official surname in the TRNC under the new legislation

Work is continuing on a new system of regulations which enable Turkish citizens living abroad to use their father’s names and surnames as their official surname in the TRNC.

Interior Minister Kutlu Evren stated that the Ministry are preparing for a “revolutionary” update to register legislation.

Minister Evren outlined the changes on Birth and Death Registration Act No. 2/1975, which regulates birth and death registration procedures since 1975. He also emphasised that current regulations in the TRNC enable name changes to happen before each child’s first birthday; this period will be extended to 5 years for children.

Name changes will be possible by court order once individuals reach lawful age, something which is not possible under the existing laws, Minister Evren said.

Minister Evren stated that Surname Rule of the TRNC Members, Act No. 16/1974, which regulates surname procedures, will be updated to “Surname Law”.

Citizens who were born and live abroad could not use their father’s name as their surname in the countries where they were born due to obstacles arising from the current legislation; Evren said that this situation has caused many anomalies.

Minister Evren also stated that the laws will enter into force after being discussed and approved in the Assembly tomorrow.

The Turkish Cypriot Culture House was officially opened at the EXPO 2016 Antalya

The Minister of Tourism and the Environment Fikri Ataoğlu and the Minister of Education and Culture Özdemir Berova attended the opening of Turkish Cypriot Culture House as part of the EXPO 2016 Antalya.

The TRNC is promoting its culture in the Aksu district of Antalya with a 520m2 traditional Turkish Cypriot House, which has its own courtyard.

The Culture House was opened by Minister Ataoğlu, Minister Berova and the General Commissar of Expo 2016 Antalya, Ambassador Erdoğan Kök.

Minister Ataoğlu highlighted that Cyprus’ natural world, culture and historical artefacts are being promoted at the EXPO 2016, and everyone is invited to see the beauties of Cyprus.

Minister Berovo stated that the objects displayed in the garden of the Turkish Cypriot Culture House and courtyard represent the moral values of the Turkish Cypriot community.