Following the United Nations General Assembly, Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu has flown from New York to hold meetings in Washington D.C, where he met with US State Department officials and Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kılıç.
During his meeting at the Turkish Embassy, Ertuğruloğlu informed Ambassador Kılıç of the latest developments in Cyprus and expressed the Turkish Cypriot people’s expectations of the international community. Ertuğruloğlu was accompanied by Foreign Ministry General Director Kemal Köprülü, TRNC Washington Representative İsmet Korukoğlu and Second Secretary Çağrı Kalfaoğlu and Özgür Ezel during his trip.
Ertuğruloğlu also gave an interview to the “The Hill”, a top US political news website. In his interview, the Foreign Minister discussed the latest developments in Cyprus and added that all parties needed to assess the situation afresh and take steps to end the injustices suffered by the Turkish Cypriot people.
Ertuğruloğlu emphasized that the Turkish Cypriot people are equal partners on the island and that it is now necessary to open a new page in Cyprus. He also added that the only side to lose during the Crans-Montana negotiations were the Turkish Cypriot people – a point the Foreign Minister has stated unequivocally throughout his US meetings, including those in New York at the United Nations.
Ertuğruloğlu also said the Turkish Cypriot people do not have time to waste as it is no longer possible to revive the failed negotiations, adding “We have seen that the old process in Crans-Montana could not reach any solution.” The Foreign Minister stressed that any new process beginning in Cyprus must be based on equality of both states.
Pointing out that the international community should put an end to the unjust embargo imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people, Ertuğruloğlu noted that it is now time for other alternatives to be considered in Cyprus.
Ertuğruloğlu : “It is our hope that the OIC and its brotherly member states take concrete steps to show solidarity with their Turkish Cypriot brethren”
Foreign Minister Ertuğruloğlu spoke at the Annual Coordination Meeting of OIC Foreign Ministers on 22 September 2017 in New York.
In his speech Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu touched upon the long-standing Cyprus question, which is at a very important juncture and said the following:
“As known, despite the constructive efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey, the Cyprus negotiations have collapsed following the inconclusive outcome at the Cyprus conference, which took place in Crans-Montana, Switzerland between 28 June and 7 July 2017 due to the intransigent and maximalist positions of the Greek Cypriot side and its insistence on perpetuating the status quo through open-ended negotiations. The said conference has clearly shown that after 50 years of negotiations the efforts within the framework of the parameters of the United Nations good offices for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation have been exhausted.
Thus, it is most unfair and inhuman to keep the Turkish Cypriot people captives of a problem which was neither initiated nor perpetuated by them. In this regard, history speaks for itself, and I would like to put on record that former Greek Cypriot Minister of Foreign affairs, Mr. Rolandis, admitted that the Greek Cypriot side had hampered in the past settlement efforts on fifteen (15) occasions. As former Secretary-General his Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan stated in his report, dated 28 May 2004, the Greek Cypriot side is not ready to share power and prosperity with the Turkish Cypriot people. This remains a correct diagnosis of the present situation in Cyprus.
We believe that with the support of the international community, other settlement alternatives should now be considered with a view to establishing strong neighbourly relations with the Greek Cypriot people living side by side in peace and stability. This is vital for the peace and stability of not just the island but also the region, which is at present fraught with conflicts.
Availing ourselves of this new state of circumstances, at this important juncture, it is our hope that the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation and its brotherly member states act on the words in the OIC resolutions and declarations and take concrete steps to show solidarity with their Turkish Cypriot brethren. In this connection, as the Turkish Cypriot government, we are ready to talk with the OIC Secretariat as well as with each and every brotherly member state about a road map putting the OIC resolutions and declarations on Cyprus into effect, ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. We trust that the issue of a road map in this regard will be put on the agenda of the OIC Secretariat.”
Papandreou accuses Greek Cypriot politicians: “Your nationalism is false”
Former Prime Minister of Greece Yorgos Papandreou has accused Greek Cypriot politicians of false nationalism after he came under strong criticism for inviting President Mustafa Akıncı to give a speech at the Socialist International Presidium meeting in New York.
In a written statement, Papandreou said that Akıncı had been invited to the gathering by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to give a speech as the Turkish Cypriot representative. Papandreou stated that there was no crime in inviting President Akıncı to share his views, adding that the Greek Cypriot President, Nicos Anastasiades, had refused to hold meetings with Akıncı.
In his speech President Akıncı said that United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, a former President of Socialist International, had presented a framework to eliminate disagreements on both sides. Akıncı added that while the proposal presented by the Turkish Cypriot side was in line with the framework set by the Secretary General, the Greek Cypriot side had failed to adhere to the framework.
Zihni Türksel deemed worthy of a first place cup
A Member of “World Association of Chefs’ Societies” Zihni Türksel became number one in the world with pastes and marmalades in Turkish Cypriot local cuisine such as orange, bergamot, hawthorn marmalades and almond paste in the competition held in Azerbaijan.
Türksel received the prize in the category of ‘best paste and marmalade’.
Zihni Türksel, who is a lecturer at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, Department of Gastronomy at European University of Lefke, won the gold medal and first prize cup in the competition among 22 international and 55 regional competitors. He was also 2nd last year with Ekmek Kadayıfı dessert (crumpets in thick syrup) in the competition which is being held every year.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
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