TRNC News 10.4.2017 Akinci: “This path will only lead to a solution if we walk together”

President Akıncı: “This path will only lead us to a solution if we walk together”

President Mustafa Akıncı has emphasized that no one should expect unilateral steps from the Turkish Cypriot side at the negotiation table in the new negotiation process which will start on Tuesday. He added that, “The Turkish Cypriot side has taken important steps over last two years and a result can be obtained if the two sides act in concert. This path will only lead us to a solution if we walk together.”

Speaking at an event, President Akıncı stated that the UN would play an important role in the new process. “Serious shuttle diplomacy should be pursued between the two negotiation parties and three guarantors. We do not want any arbitration or official written proposals. We want ideas and proposals that could help us bridge the gaps. The UN officials could come up with ideas that would help by respecting equality and remaining impartial,” said Akıncı.

“The Turkish Cypriot side will behave reasonably and realistically. Zero troops and zero guarantees are not realistic nor reasonable proposals,” said Akıncı, referring to the Greek Cypriot side’s demands on these issues.

Stressing that the future cannot be reached with old attitudes, Akıncı said that the future can be built by establishing a feeling of peace and a federal relationship. “There is no minority and majority parties in a federal understanding, there is only political equality,” added Akıncı.

President Akıncı to meet with Eide and political party leaders ahead of renewed negotiations

Ahead of the renewed negotiation process, which will resume on Tuesday, President Mustafa Akıncı will receive UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor Espen Barth Eide and leaders of the political parties represented in the TRNC Assembly today.

President Akıncı will meet Special Advisor Eide today at 16:00. Akıncı will brief the leaders of the political parties represented in the TRNC Assembly at 17:30 on the new negotiation process, and will exchange views.

Prime Minister Özgürgün: “The Turkish Cypriot people know that Greek Cypriot Parliament’s decision “is not enough to resume negotiations”

Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün has said that the Greek Cypriot side played “a new Byzantine game” by transferring the authority to decide whether to commemorate the “Enosis” referendum at schools to the Greek Cypriot Minister of Education.

Özgürgün added that Turkish Cypriot people are aware that the decision of the Greek Cypriot Parliament is not enough to resume the negotiations that were broken off in Geneva and which were planned to resume in Lefkoşa.

In a written statement, Özgürgün noted that the Turkish Cypriot people know that the Greek Cypriot side never intended to reach a full federal solution based on the equality of the Turkish and Greek Cypriots in Cyprus at any stage of the half-century negotiation process, adding that they always wanted the whole of the island and never to give up their dream of “Enosis”.

Özgürgün also made clear that the Turkish Cypriot people are aware of the prejudiced mentality of the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades, who sees the Turkish presence in Cyprus as a minority, who says that a “minority cannot be equalized with majority”, and who uses the negotiation table to gain time, showing negativity over confidence building measures.

Cyprus Health Tourism Council attends World Health Sports and Congress Fair

The Cyprus Health Tourism Council attended the World Health Sports Congress Fair in Antalya.

In a written statement, the President of the Cyprus Health Tourism Council, Ahmet Savaşan stated that the International Congress and Fair was attended by a delegation of 4,000 people from 150 countries, and that the tourism professionals from countries ranging from New Zealand to Canada were hosted at the TRNC Ministry of Tourism and Environment stand during the event.

Savaşan said that their target was 100,000 visitors and an income of 1 billion Euros to the country within 10 years.

Savaşan said that the TRNC was also among the country presentations held in the congress, and noted that the TRNC presentation attracted significant interest.