TRNC News 10.3.2017 Akinci and Yildirim to Greek Cypriot side “Correct this mistake”

Akıncı and Yıldırım call on the Greek Cypriot side to “Correct this mistake”

President Mustafa Akıncı has said that a solution which guarantees the equality, freedom and security of the Turkish Cypriot people will ensure energy security and opportunities for cooperation in the region. Otherwise, he warned, new tensions may arise.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım was received by President Akıncı yesterday, as he arrived in the TRNC for a working visit. They held a joint press conference following the meeting between the delegations.

In his speech, President Akıncı stated that they had an opportunity to discuss challenges regarding the Cyprus issue obstructing the negotiation process, and that the pair had made an assessment of the future of the talks.

Akıncı said, “Today, our greatest expectation is for the Greek Cypriot side to correct the grave mistake of the Enosis decision. It is a culture of peace that we need in Cyprus, not a culture promoting Enosis. If they show that they can correct this mistake, this would be an important development for themselves as well, and it would also help to rebuild trust between the two societies.”

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım stated in his speech that Turkey expects the necessary grounds to be established to allow the Geneva conference to be held again.

Yıldırım also said that Turkey would continue to support the TRNC’s efforts towards reaching a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus Problem, describing the Enosis decision of the Greek Cypriot side as “unfortunate”.

“Instead of correcting this mistake, the Greek Cypriot side is continuing to adopt an aggressive stance that ignores the sensitivities of the Turkish Cypriots,” said Yıldırım. He added that the Greek Cypriot side should have demonstrated strong desire for a comprehensive solution.

Özgürgün: “A strong motherland means a strong TRNC”

Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün has said that that a strong motherland means a strong TRNC.

Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün, who received Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım yesterday, said that the partnership between Turkey and the TRNC is not only a relationship between governments, but a bond of communion between two countries spanning a very long period.

Özgürgün explained that the Enosis decision of the Greek Cypriot Parliament indicates that the attitude of the Greek Cypriot side has not changed in sixty years. He added that the Turkish Cypriots have always sought a solution as it had been outlined in the Annan Plan, but that the Greek Cypriots had “dynamited” a potential agreement with the decision to mark Enosis in schools.

Pointing out that many projects have been carried out so far with motherland Turkey in the fields of education, tourism, and bilateral agreements, including the water agreement, Prime Minister Özgürgün said that the TRNC would like the water from Turkey to became “water of peace” on the island.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün will travel to İstanbul later today at the invitation of Aydın University, to give a lecture about the Cyprus issue.

Ertuğruloğlu receives European Turkish Journalists Association

Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu yesterday received the European Turkish Journalists Association, the international professional organization of media members and Turkish journalists working in Europe.

During the meeting, Minister Ertuğruloğlu informed the President of the European Turkish Journalists Association, Oğuzhan Kılıç, and his accompanying delegation about the Cyprus negotiation process.

Çelik: “Decision to celebrate Enosis is contrary to the spirit of finding a solution”

Speaking about the decision of the Greek Cypriot Parliament to celebrate the anniversary of the Enosis plebiscite, Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik said that Cyprus issue is “a national case for Turkey”.

The Minister, who was speaking as a guest on Anadolu Agency (AA), made a statement and answered questions on the agenda.

Responding to a question concerning how the EU influences the Cyprus problem and solution seeking, following the disruptions to the talks due to the Enosis decision, Minister Çelik said:

“When I talk with the politicians in Europe, I say: ‘You did not solve the border problems and the problems in North Cyprus, but you have taken Southern Cyprus to the EU, which complicated this problem – , you are responsible for it. You constantly criticize the TRNC and Turkey, but you need to criticize South Cyprus and Greece instead.

“They think, ‘We are a member of the EU, TRNC has to join us.’ It is not possible. It can only be a parameter based on two constituent states. The decision to celebrate Enosis was far removed from the approach of two constituent states. Additionally, they are doing this while the negotiations continue. They made this decision in accord with a national populist party called ‘ELAM’, and the Greek Cypriot government agreed with it. This is a malicious approach.”

Mentioning that issues related to property arising after the solution will bring a tremendous financial burden, Çelik said, “If the EU puts its commitments firmly in light of this financial burden, puts forward an action plan and does its part in financing the solution, it can make a serious contribution”

North Cyprus – Second day at the ITB Berlin tourism fair

North Cyprus continues to be represented at the ITB Berlin Fair for its second day. Officials from the Ministry of Tourism and sector representatives attended the fair, and held a meeting to evaluate progress at the event so far.

Undersecretary of the Tourism Ministry İsmet Esenyel explained that he was pleased that great interest has been shown in the ITB North Cyprus stand, and that they are working together with all stakeholders in order to promote culture and tourism in Northern Cyprus.

Explaining that the TRNC has an opportunity to introduce cultural, social, health and alternative tourism products to the world, Chairman of the Health Tourism Council Ahmet Savaşan said that the Tourism Ministry had achieved good progress in cooperation with the sector, and that positive results had been obtained from promoting the TRNC abroad.

This year, there are 187 participants from different countries in the ITB Berlin Fair. 73.6% of participants are from Europe, 8.7% from South, East and Central Asia, 5.4% from the Middle East, 7.4% from North America, 1.2% from Australia and Oceania countries and 1.2% hail from South and Central America.