Speaker of the Assembly Sibel Siber sent a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide due to the end of his mandate.
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TRNC News 12.7.2017 Akıncı: “not right to say solution not reached due to security and guarantees issues”
Akıncı: “It is not right to say that a solution was not reached due to security and guarantees issues”
In a speech during an event, President Mustafa Akıncı said that the claim that a solution could not be reached due to the security and guarantees issue is fundamentally untrue.
He said that the parties clarified the reasons why the Cyprus negotiations were left unresolved in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, yet he thinks these reasons should be also clarified by the UN Secretary-General.
Akıncı said, “Both the Turkish Cypriot side and the Republic of Turkey have shown more than enough flexibility to achieve a solution in this process”.
Stressing that they will not spend 50 more years trying to solve the Cyprus problem, Akıncı said that he had expressed several times that the conference had to be a decision conference, but that if the Greek Cypriot side only came to the conference “to produce a slogan”, then there is nothing to be done.
Akıncı added, “Zero troops and zero guarantees has become a slogan”, and emphasized that the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey have shown more than enough flexibility in the negotiations, and it is time for the Greek Cypriot side to abandon the ‘zero troops and zero guarantees’ approach.
Akıncı criticised Greece and the Greek Cypriot side for refusing to negotiate when Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side were being flexible and taking steps forward. He said, “They chose to accept the presence of 40 thousand troops rather than only a group of a few hundred soldiers. This is the result”.
Reminding that he had run for office with the promise of working for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal settlement, Akıncı said that this did not mean that he would accept any settlement at any cost. He said, “I will not sign an agreement that will push our people into uncertainty”.
The President also explained that the UN Secretary-General had come up with criteria to discuss property that would have worked in favour of both sides and that they had accepted it, but added that he could not approve a plan that would push the Turkish Cypriots into uncertainty.
Also referring to the issue of territory, the President said that despite all the sensitivities on the matter, the Turkish Cypriot side, in agreement with Turkey, had taken a step forward on this regard based on the map that they had presented earlier.
Finally, he stressed that an agreement could have been reached to gradually reduce the number of troops on the island as trust, confidence and cooperation between the two sides grew, and said, “Unfortunately, an agreement was not reached due to the ‘zero troops and zero guarantees’ slogan adopted by the Greek Cypriot side”. He added that they will continue to work on plans for the future.
Siber: “If the Greek Cypriot people are not ready for a federation, we should not be asked to wait for a new solution model under isolation and embargoes”
President Mustafa Akıncı received the Speaker of the Assembly Sibel Siber and informed her about the Cyprus Conference in Crans-Montana.
In a statement to the press following the meeting, Siber said, “If the Greek Cypriot people are not ready for a federation, we should not be asked to wait for a new solution model under isolation and embargoes”.
She stated that the negotiation process to form a federation was ongoing for 50 years, and said that the Turkish Cypriot people have always showed will to solve the Cyprus problem.
Siber also said that, as both the Annan Plan referendum and the Crans-Montana conference ended without an agreement being reached, instead of blaming the other side, concrete facts and differences must be considered.
She also noted that there is no data on whether the Greek Cypriot people are ready or not for federation, and that a leader must receive strong support by his people to be able to negotiate the issues and be strong in the negotiation process.
Siber added that the Turkish Cypriot side voted “yes” to the federation model in the 2004 referendum and that the parliament supported the federation as well.
Özgürgün: “Turkish Cypriot people have no intention of being a minority”
UBP Leader and Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün made a statement after President Mustafa Akıncı discussed the Cyprus Conference with the political parties. He said that the discussion with the President was very fruitful.
Özgürgün said that the conference showed that the Greek Cypriot side has no intention of reaching an agreement within the framework of the UN parameters and that the negotiations that have been ongoing for 48 years will continue for another 48 years if they are not intervened. Özgürgün added that the UN, the UK and the EU agree with this.
The Prime Minister stressed that the Turkish Cypriot people will not accept to be considered a minority as the Greek Cypriot side wants.
Özgürgün also said that the TRNC can continue on its way even if there are some problems, and pointed out that it is necessary to make plans for the future.
Çavuşoğlu : “Everyone knows who is responsible for not reaching a solution”
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu went to Abidjan to attend the 44th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hosted by Cote d’Ivoire. Before the trip, he spoke to members of the press and said, “Continuing to negotiate does not mean accepting every demand from the Greek side. We surely refused illogical demands and we will continue to refuse them. Everyone knows who is responsible for not reaching a solution. The UN knows, the UK knows, the EU knows. The EU has seen our sincere attitude there.”
Cavusoglu continued, “We went to the Cyprus Conference with a very constructive attitude. During the 15 years of continued efforts we have been one step ahead of everyone else to find a just and permanent solution based on bi-communality and political equality. We have been 3 steps ahead of everyone else in Crans-Montana and shared our thoughts with everyone involved. All sides acknowledged that Turkey had a constructive attitude there. However, the Greek side only had one wish – to have zero soldiers on the island, to eliminate the Turkish guarantee, for Turkey to have no right to intervene unilaterally and to eliminate the ties between Turkey and Cyprus. It was completely impossible for us to accept such an illogical proposal.”
Saner: “The options to establish a federation within the parameters of the UN good offices’ mission have run out”
During the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), TRNC Minister of Labour and Social Security Hamza Ersan Saner said that the options to establish a federation within the parameters of the UN good offices’ mission have run out.
In his speech during the 44th Council of Foreign Ministers conference in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, which he attended as an observer member, Saner said that the OIC-2025 action program offers a good framework for solidarity among member countries and for overcoming the problems faced by the member countries. He added that the Turkish Cypriots are ready to collaborate and do their utmost to help overcome the problems faced by the member countries within the framework of the Organization.
Saner stated that the Cyprus Conference, that took place in Crans-Montana, ended without reaching any agreement because of the unconstructive and uncompromising attitudes of the Greek Cypriot side despite all attempts by the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey.
Saner also stressed that the Turkish Cypriots have been unjustly isolated from the world for half century now and cannot be condemned to endless negotiations and an uncertain future. He added, “the only thing left to do on the island is for the two equal people to solve their problems and live peacefully and respectfully as good neighbours”.
International Tourism Conference starts at the EMU
The 7th “Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Marketing and Management” (AHTMM) which has been organized every year since 2011 in Turkey, Greece, Taiwan, Mauritius, Japan and China began yesterday hosted by Tourism Faculty of Eastern Mediterranean University.
More than 100 participants from all over the world will have the opportunity to experience the North Cyprus’ tourism potential at the conference which will continue until 15 July 2017.
FIU is represented at the International Economic Union General Assembly
The Final International University was represented by Prof. Dr. Ercan Uygur at the 18th Congress and General Assembly of the International Economic Union which was organized in Mexico with the participation of world’s leading economic organizations and academicians. The International Economic Union is an institution within the body of UNESCO.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
To read more news and information from the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, please click here
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TRNC News 22.6.2017 Siber: If negotiations fail, lifting isolation and embargoes “should be the primary goal”
Speaker of the Assembly Sibel Siber has stated that in the event of failure in the negotiations, the primary goal should be lifting the isolations and embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriots.
Siber received the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Tuğrul Türkeş and his accompanying delegation yesterday. During the meeting, Siber stressed that the Cyprus negotiations have entered a new dimension, and that this process is considered as the final phase, and expressed her hope that a solution can be reached in Cyprus. Siber added that in the event the negotiations fail, the result should be evaluated in an objective manner, and that Turkish Cypriots should not be punished by the global public opinion and the United Nations.
Siber underlined that Turkish Cypriots desire a solution based on bi-communality, bi-zonality, and political equality. The Speaker stressed that this model for a solution has been subject to 50 years of negotiation, and that a new model should be found should the negotiations collapse.
In his speech, Türkeş said that Turkey desires the unjust isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots to be lifted as soon as possible. He pointed out that the whole world should be able to see which side does not want a solution to be found in Cyprus.
President Akıncı and the negotiation team to hold meetings in Ankara
Negotiation team, headed by Negotiator Özdil Nami, travelled to Ankara this morning as part of the preparatory work ahead of the Conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana, to be held on 28th of June.
President Akıncı will also travel to Ankara this evening. Besides his high level meetings in Turkey, President Akıncı will also attend the working sessions of the negotiation team.
Ertuğruloğlu: “Turkish Armed Forces will continue to exist in Cyprus”
Discussing the presence of the Turkish Armed Forces on the island ahead of the Conference on Cyprus in Switzerland on 28 June, Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu said, “The Turkish Armed Forces will continue to exist in Cyprus.”
Foreign Minister Ertuğruloğlu was replying to questions from an AA reporter regarding the Cyprus negotiation process and the Conference on Cyprus that will reconvene on 28 June in Crans-Montana.
Ertuğruloğlu stressed that Turkish and Greek Cypriots were old partners during the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. However, he emphasized that the main problem now is the attitude of the Greek Cypriot side which considers Turkish Cypriots a minority instead of a partner. Ertuğruloğlu also said that it is the Turkish Cypriot side who desires and requests an agreement in Cyprus, and that if an agreement is not reached, this should be officially declared by the UN. “We are expecting Crans-Montana to be the last stop” said Ertuğruloğlu.
Emphasizing that Turkey should have a unilateral right to intervention in case the Greek Cypriot side tries to take over the control of the whole island again, as they did in 1963, he said that the presence of the Turkish Armed Forces will be maintained on the island and that Turkey will have the right to unilaterally intervene if required.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
To read more news and information from the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, please click here
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TRNC News 20.4.2017 Serbian children denied entry to TRNC by South Cyprus
Statement regarding the refusal of entry into TRNC of a Serbian group of children that arrived in South Cyprus in order to attend the 19th International 23rd of April Children’s Festival
Children’s performance groups from various countries including Serbia were invited to participate in the 19th International Children’s Festival being held on 23rd of April which was organized as part of the annual 23rd of April National Sovereignty and Children’s Day celebrations.
A group of children from Serbia that arrived at Larnaca Airport in South Cyprus in order to attend the festival was refused entry into TRNC by Greek Cypriot police after being kept waiting for hours. Our Ministry’s diplomatic efforts to allow access for the Serbian group in the presence of the UN Peacekeeping Force throughout the day were unfortunately rejected and with no warning and without being allowed to exit the airport, the Serbian children aged 10-11 were sent back to their country in a cruel and inhumane way by Greek authorities in a private aircraft.
The aforementioned incident is the product of such a mentality that cannot even tolerate Turkish Cypriot children’s interaction with children from foreign countries and represents the latest example of Greek Cypriot Administration’s well known policy that intends to isolate Turkish Cypriots from the rest of the world.
It is once again proven that the current vision and mentality of the Greek Cypriot side has not changed, and that its restrictive attitude as well as its desire to subjugate the Turkish Cypriots still continues. The attitude of the Greek Cypriot side makes one re-question how a new partnership is to be established and even if realised, how it is to be maintained.
Ertuğruloğlu visits Qatar
Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu has travelled to Qatar within the framework of his meeting programme in Gulf countries.
Ertuğruloğlu, who began his meetings in Qatar’s capital Doha yesterday, met with Vice Chairman of Qatar Chamber, Muhammad Bin Ahmed Bin Towar Al Kuwari. During the meeting, Kuwari and his delegation were briefed by Ertuğruloğlu on tourism, trade and higher education in the TRNC. Ertuğruloğlu stressed that Qatar businesses will be able to cooperate and develop trade relationships with businesses in the TRNC.
Speaking about the Cyprus issue and the ongoing negotiation process, Ertuğruloğlu warned that the Greek Cypriot side is not making efforts to establish an equal partnership with the Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus, rather to tie the Turkish Cypriot people to lengthy negotiations and enforce heavy embargoes on them.
Ertuğruloğlu also pointed out that the Greek Cypriot Administration has recently prevented children who came to the island via South Cyprus from attending the Children’s Festival celebrations to be held in the TRNC on 23rd April.
Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu also attended the opening of the “Expo Turkey by Qatar” fair in Doha. Ertuğruloğlu, who participated in the fair as the guest of honour, in order to develop commercial relations between Turkey and Qatar and to enable joint investments, inaugurated the opening ceremony at the fair.
Additionally, Ertuğruloğlu met with President of the Tourism Commission of Qatar Hasan Al-Abraham.
Responding to questions, Ertuğruloğlu gave a briefing to Al-İbrahim about the Cyprus problem, the negotiation process and the latest developments with regards to the Cyprus issue. He also addressed the recent developments around Cyprus’ natural resources.
Pointing out that there are very strict trade and political relations between Qatar and Turkey, Ertuğruloğlu said that he was surprised that a Qatari company will cooperate with the Greek Cypriot side on natural gas in Cyprus.
Ertuğruloğlu emphasized that Turkish Cypriots share the rights of natural resources in Cyprus and that this should be taken into account. He also noted that Turkey would not allow a unilateral step in the name of natural gas.
Negotiations continue as leaders meet today
Cyprus negotiations will continue today, as President Mustafa Akıncı and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades are set to meet at 18:30 (local time) at the UN buffer zone.
The negotiation process, which had been stalled due to the Greek Cypriot Parliament’s decision to commemorate the Enosis plebiscite in schools, resumed on 11 April after the Greek Cypriot side took the necessary steps to revert the Enosis decision. Following a two months pause, leaders discussed the new negotiation process at their first meeting and agreed on four meeting dates. Following today’s meeting, the two leaders will meet again on the 2nd, 11th and 17th of May.
Within the framework of the new negotiation process, negotiators Özdil Nami and Andreas Mavroyannis held a meeting yesterday at 12:00 (local time), under the direction of the leaders.
Burcu: “The Greek Cypriot side preventing children from attending International Children Festival is unacceptable”
Presidential Spokesperson Barış Burcu has said that the Greek Cypriot side’s decision to turn away Serbian children who arrived on the island via South Cyprus to attend the International Children’s Festival Celebrations in the TRNC is unacceptable
In a written statement Burcu stated that, “efforts by the Greek Cypriot Administration to prevent children to attend this festival is inadmissible. There is no reasonable justification or explanation for preventing these children from crossing into the TRNC, rather than sending them back to Serbia”.
Stating that the Greek Cypriot Administration continues its efforts to isolate the Turkish Cypriots from the world, Burcu said that the act was “unacceptable at such a time, when we are trying to continue our efforts to find a solution in Cyprus.”
National Sovereignty and Children’s Day celebrations have started at the TRNC Assembly
Activities to celebrate the National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, which is on 23 April, have started as the torch was lit at the TRNC Assembly yesterday.
Around 500 primary school students from 6 different countries, including the TRNC, met at the TRNC Assembly to participate in the activities.
The torch was lit by Minister of National Education and Culture Özdemir Berova and Speaker of the Assembly Sibel Siber, symbolizing the beginning of the activities. The students from Turkey, Russia, Tatarstan, Kyrgyzstan and Lithuania represented their countries by wearing their local dress.
Addressing the students, Berova and Siber referred to the importance of this date, in which the first gathering of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, proclaimed by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, is commemorated.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
To read more news and information from the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, please click here
Pictures shown are courtesy of the TRNC Public Information Office Facebook page.