In a joint statement on the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ report on the Cyprus negotiations published last week, former negotiators Osman Ertuğ and Ergün Olgun have announced that the opportunity to find common ground within Guterres’ framework has been lost.
On their joint declaration regarding the recent UN report, Ertuğ and Olgun stated that developments in Crans Montana had not only caused the collapse of a conference, but also of the entire 50 year-long negotiation process:
“UN Secretary-General Guterres and President Akıncı have mentioned in their statements that the negotiations could no longer be continued using the same methodology in the new process.”
Noting that positive elements of the Secretary General’s report mentioned the lack of mutual trust and political will between the sides, Ertuğ and Olgun stated that the report had fallen short of stating explicitly which side had not shown the necessary political will during the talks – and in doing so, had shown injustice towards Turkish Cypriot people.
Speaker of the Assembly Siber speaks following Inter-Parliamentary Union Meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia
Following her visit to St. Petersburg, Russia for the 137th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly, TRNC Speaker of the Assembly Sibel Siber stated that the continuation of the TRNC’s isolation is unacceptable and she has committed to working tirelessly to promote the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot people on every platform.
Evaluating her contact programme during the IPU General Assembly, Siber stated that it is the duty of countries that believe in democracy to lift the political and economic embargoes which affect all aspects of life in the TRNC, including sport, culture and commerce.
Describing the importance of attending such meetings Siber said, “You can only be understood if you explain yourself. Just because you are right doesn’t mean you will receive the treatment you deserve. We must tirelessly voice our just cause at every opportunity and on every platform.”
Siber continued, “We may not be a recognized state but this does not mean we do not possess real, functioning institutions. The UN sends observers for our elections which is why imposing embargoes on MPs elected by our people is unacceptable. I will continue to voice this view on numerous platforms.”
Arkın University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD) opens in Girne
A press conference was held at the Colony Hotel yesterday to announce the opening of the Arkın University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD) in Girne.
An exhibition from Erbil Arkın’s special collection consisting of 34 original works by famed sculptor Auguste Rodin will be on show at the new “boutique” university at the ARUCAD campus on October 20.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
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