Akıncı: ‘‘We want a new partnership in political equality”
President Mustafa Akıncı has said, “We want new partnership with Greek Cypriots which is based on political equality.”
Responding to questions from an AA reporter after returning from Islamabad, where he attended the 13th Summit of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Akıncı said that while the comprehensive settlement negotiations continue with the support of the UN, the decision of the Greek Cypriot Parliament to commemorate Enosis in schools was against the ongoing solution efforts on the island. Emphasizing that this decision should be retracted, Akıncı said that negotiations would otherwise be meaningless. Akıncı pointed out that that the most important thing is sustaining the settlement, and said that that this can be possible by developing a culture of peace on the island.
As a response to the Greek Cypriot side’s allegations, including the claim that numerous privileges are accorded to the Turkish Cypriots despite their being ‘a minority’, Akıncı said “the Greek Cypriots have used this one-sided privilege for 54 years without any right to do so. Although the Turkish Cypriot people have the right to govern, they are in isolation today. Greek Cypriots use international privilege. We want a new partnership in political equality. There is no room for a minority-majority concept in political equality.”
In a speech at an event, President Akıncı discussed the negotiation process, saying that he and the negotiators were working to create a secure, equal and a peaceful environment for Turkish Cypriots.
“We have not given up on the idea to reach an agreement in order to live in equality, but we will not do it at any cost. We will continue on this path by protecting our rights, equality, security and freedom” said Akıncı.
Ertuğ and Olgun “The Greek Cypriot House of Representatives’ decision requires revision of Turkish Cypriot policy”
Former negotiators, Osman Ertuğ and Ergün Olgun, have stressed that the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives’ decision to commemorate 1950 Enosis Plebiscite at schools, has brought the dialogue and relations between the two sides to a turning point. They added that the policy sustained by the Turkish Cypriot side should be revised.
Stating that the decision of the Greek Cypriot Parliament makes the negotiation process meaningless for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, Ertuğ and Olgun said that resuming the negotiations without removing the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot side will result in the same vicious circle.
In a joint statement, the former negotiators said that the reaction shown by the Turkish Cypriot people against the decision was more than an expression of the social sensitivity, but a demonstration of the public’s perception of the mentality they face in the struggle for existence, liberty and equality.
Eide: “The course of the negotiations and whether the island will be reunited will be decided in the following weeks”
The UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor Espen Barth Eide has said that the course of the negotiations and whether the island will be reunited will be decided in the following weeks.
The UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor Espen Barth Eide, who met with President Mustafa Akıncı for the resumption of negotiations, made a statement to the press after the meeting as well as answering questions.
Noting that the meeting was long and significant, Eide said that they had faced difficult days in the negotiation process and that the problems were caused outside rather than directly within the negotiations. He said that the Greek Cypriot Parliament’s vote to commemorate the Enosis plebiscite had created a serious problem, and they had tried to find ways to overcome it.
Stating that the leaders were also keen on a new method that would provide a more rapid compromise on outstanding issues that have been on the table for months, Eide said that a series of meetings were held after the talks in Geneva, but that no significant progress has been made.
Eide also mentioned that the negotiations did not deteriorate before the crisis, but that progress was slow in getting results on some important issues. He added that the parties involved used their time as effectively as possible in order to shape the methodology for the final outstanding issues, and that meant focusing on the core issues.
Ministry of Tourism and Environment to attend ITB Berlin Tourism Fair
The Ministry of Tourism and Environment will attend the 51st ITB Berlin Tourism Fair between the 8th and 12th March. The event brings together 5 continents and 187 countries, and is regarded as the world’s largest tourism fair.
The Ministry of Tourism and Environment will attend the fair together with sector representatives and universities, and will host tourism professionals at the TRNC stand which reflects Turkish Cypriot culture.
Stating that they were well prepared for the ITB Berlin Fair, where plans regarding world tourism take their last shape and new trends are determined, Minister of Tourism and Environment, Fikri Ataoğlu said that new agreements will be signed and numerous activities will be held with the purpose of strengthening North Cyprus’s image towards potential visitors.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
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Pictures shown are courtesy of the TRNC Public Information Office Facebook page.
If they want tourists to come and enjoy Northern Cyprus they need to do something about the hundreds of run down half built houses spoiling the beautiful countryside, litter everywhere and direct flights.
I do not beleive anyone can do much about the half-built houses joolsdarling. Run down houses are results of bad planning bad budgeting and ineffective rules and regulatıons However, they can certainly do a lot about the litter, and rubbish dumpping, very quickly. ıf there is a wish there is a way !!!