President Mustafa Akıncı participated yesterday in the promotion and opening ceremony of the Middle East Technical University, Kalkanlı Technology Valley.
Speaking during the ceremony, President Akıncı said, “We cannot expect others to reverse the isolation suffered by the TRNC, because no one will do us such a favour, but we can help to minimise our isolation by focusing on this kind of project, and we are capable of this.”
Adding that the olive tree symbolizes the Mediterranean, Cyprus, productivity, labour, great effort and eternity, Akıncı said that the key will be to develop the TRNC in order to have stronger roots and development goals can be reached through science.
Foreign Minister Ertuğruloğlu speaks to students granted state scholarships
During an event organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Education and Culture entitled “North Cyprus Volunteer Ambassadors”, Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu briefed students coming from developing countries, who are studying in the TRNC universities with state scholarships, on the Cyprus issue.
Ertuğruloğlu and Minister of National Education and Culture Özdemir Berova spoke to students about the Cyprus issue as well as about the TRNC and answered the questions of the students, during a meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Hall.
Minister Ertuğruloğlu talked about the history of the Cyprus issue, the injustices and the isolations that the Turkish Cypriot people have been suffering for years and the Cyprus negotiation process. Ertuğruloğlu also asked students to become “the voice of the Turkish Cypriot people” when they return to their countries after graduation.
Ertuğruloğlu stated that the Turkish Cypriot people live in freedom and peace thanks to the TRNC, and that it can host many students from different countries thanks to the development of its higher education sector. He stressed that the TRNC focuses on developing its higher education and tourism sectors with the support of Turkey.
The Foreign Minister also said that although the Turkish Cypriot people are involved in the negotiations to reach an agreement, it is not possible to succeed because of the attitudes of the Greek Cypriot side, which sees Turkish Cypriots as a minority. Ertuğruloğlu added that a solution will never be achieved in the current negotiation process, which has been ongoing for 50 years, because it is not based on equality.
Speaking during the meeting, National Education and Culture Minister Özdemir Berova said that students from 140 countries are receiving their education in the TRNC and their aim is for the students to get to know the TRNC and its culture. Berova added that out of the 93,000 students in the TRNC, 27,000 are foreigners, and that university students represent one third of the TRNC population.
After the meeting, a reception took place in honour of the students who took many pictures to remember the day. A cultural event was also organised for students at Büyük Han later that day.
AKEL General Secretary criticises political party leaders
In a statement yesterday, AKEL General Secretary Andros Kyprianu criticised political party leaders.
According to the Greek Cypriot daily Simerini, Kyprianu said that the political party DISI, that claims to be in favour of a solution, is still honouring ‘the main actors of betrayal’ today. Kyprianu criticised that DISI continues to take the students to Grivas’ hideout in order to teach them about the party’s vision.
Accusing the leader of Citizens Alliance Eleni Theoharus of being “ready for Enosis with Greece”, Kyprianu called on the leaderships of DIKO and EDEK to explain to their followers why they are on the same side as ELAM, which he qualified as “neo-Nazis”.
International Bellapais Music Festival continues
The 21st North Cyprus International Bellapais Music Festival, which is being organised by the North Cyprus Music Foundation under the auspices of President Mustafa Akıncı, started with the “TRNC Presidential Symphony Orchestra” concert on Wednesday last week. The Austrian Choir “Musikfreunde Perchtoldsdorf” will perform at the festival tonight.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
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