The Turkish Cypriot people will mark the 32nd anniversary of the Turkish Peace Operation in Cyprus with celebrations.

In the official ceremonies, which are to be attended also by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, martyrs will be remembered and various events and concerts will take place in Lefkoşa, Gazimağusa, Girne, Güzelyurt, İskele and lefke.

The Turkish Stars, the acrobatics plane team of the Turkish Air Force, will be performing in the skies of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on July 20th as part of the celebrations.

Besides Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, delegations representing the Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and the Turkish Grand National Assembly , 20 politicians from 8 countries and over 70 reporter representing 33 states will participate in the ceremonies.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and accompanying delegation arrived in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus today to attend 20th July Peace and Freedom Day celebrations. Erdogan during his stay will also participate to a meeting on the Cyprus issue to be held between Turkish Delegation and TRNC authorities and participate to several openings.

During his stay in the TRNC, the Turkish Prime Minister and his delegation will be received by President Mehmet Ali Talat, and have separate meetings with the Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Fatma Ekenoglu and Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer. Mr Erdogan will also visit the 1st President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Mr. Rauf Denktas today.

Following the meeting on the Cyprus issue Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan will meet with the party leaders having seats in the TRNC parliament.

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza, who is in the island for contacts on the Cyprus issue, following his contacts in South Cyprus yesterday came to the TRNC and held contacts with the TRNC officials.

Bryza was received first by President Mehmet Ali Talat and later in the day, held talks with Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas.

The US State Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Bryza held a press conference at the UN Buffer Zone at the end of his contacts.

Matthew Bryza reiterated the US support for a comprehensive and just settlement to the Cyprus problem based on a bi-communal,  bi-zonal federation.

Speaking at the press conference Bryza expressed his country’s full support to the United Nations efforts on the Cyprus issue and said his major goal was to receive information and develop thoughts to move forward to bring a lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem. He added that it was a pleasing development that the Greek Cypriot Leader Papadopoulos and the TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat agreed to come together.

In spite of Papadopoulos’ hindering policy, 445 European, who were under fire in Lebanon yesterday discharged with a ship under a Georgian flag. With the contributions of the TRNC authorities, who fully cooperated with Sweden the EU citizens were transported to Mersin.

The Greek Cypriot Administration, which announced that it would also take part in the rescue operation, changed its mind at the last minute. 445 European could not use Larnaka Airport because of Greek Cypriot administration Leader Tasos Papadopoulos’ efforts to prevent the operation with the excuse that Turkish Cypriot ships were going to be used during the transport of the people.