PRESIDENT TALAT: “WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE SIDE SUPPORTING SOLUTION”

President Mehmet Ali Talat sent a letter to the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan stating that despite all the problems being experienced on the Cyprus issue, the Turkish Cypriot Side would continue to support efforts towards finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

President added that  the Turkish side has given all the necessary support to the Annan Plan for  the comprehensive settlement  of the Cyprus issue.

Talat said  the Turkish side   has submitted the comprehensive UN plan for the unification of the island to referendum  and as a result of this continued  to its vision of supporting and   searching for solution.

Reiterating that the political wilderness in the Cyprus issue has forced them  to  produce a  comprehensive settlement,  Talat said the Turkish Cypriot side’s determination to continue working towards finding a comprehensive solution on the island in spite of the obstacles that may emerge, should be  acknowledged and appreciated.

President Talat  said   for  achieving these goals  they  decided to take a new initiative  and  added that they were ready  to contribute  to a solution based on mutual  trust.

President Talat  explaining that in light of the proposals made in June 1996 with the UNFICYP, the Turkish Cypriot side was ready to start a new round of talks on the Cyprus Issue, the President stressed that the military authorities from both sides could met to discuss  to carry out  their exercises  in the buffer zone  by refraining form  reflecting any voice and image.

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side was working on ways to open a new crossing point at the Lokmaci area, President Talat said that the North was ready to work with the UNIFCYP to find alternative formulas to facilitate such an opening.    He also recommended that a ‘compromise committee’ with equal representation from the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot side should be set, to facilitate mutual respect, understanding and tolerance.

Talat  in his letter also stressed that they were ready to discuss  confidence building measures issue  with the Greek Cypriot Side and the United Nations. 

Stating that they were ready to make all the necessary contribution to the agreement made, between the Turkish Cypriot  Authorities and the UNFICYP, on de-mining, President said  the Turkish Cypriots were ready  for a solution on the bases of the Annan Plan.

 

AFTER 33 YEARS MARONITES CARRIED OUT A RELIGIOUS SERVICE IN THE MONASTRY IN GURPINAR

Maronites living in the Greek Cypriot South Cyprus  for the first time in 33 years  carried out a  religious service  at (Ay. Marina) Profiti Ilia  Monastery in Gurpinar village.

Following special arrangements made by the Deputy Prime Ministry and  Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  permission was given to Maronites to  carry out a religious service in the monastery. Accordingly,  roads leading to the Monastery have been repaired and cleaned to ease access.

The monastery,  which was built in  1735, carried great religious importance for the Maronites  and the last  religious service in the monastery was carried out in  1973.

Around500 Maronites attended to the religious service organized by Saint Elias Maronite Monastery’s Abbot.

 

NTV’S LEKKOSA CAMERAMAN SUICMEZ WAS ATTACKED BY GREEK CYPRIOTS

Turkish TV Channel NTV’s  Lefkosa cameraman  Abdullah Suicmez was attacked by a group of Greek Cypriots,  while filming Greek Cypriot’s demonstration  condemning 20 July Turkish Peace Operation.

            The Head of  Foreign Press Union  Mesut Gunsev  strongly condemn the  attack in a statement issued.

            Gunsev stated that Suicmez  was attacked, while he was on duty to film  the Greek Cypriot’s demonstration condemning the Turkish Peace Operation  organized by  Greek Cypriot “anti-occupation” group on 21 July,  at Ledra Palace Gate. He said Suicmez could hardly save his life by passing to the Turkish side.

            Evaluating the event as an attack to press and strongly condemning it, Gunsev  said in an atmosphere, where the international community   was spending efforts to achieve peace  and built confidence between the sides, this attack could not be accepted. 

 

THE LAWYER OF ORAMS CHERIE BOOTH QC (BLAIR): “TRNC IS  A DIFFERENT  PLACE FROM THE CYPRUS REPUBLIC”

The British High Court’s hearings into the case filed by a Greek Cypriot citizen against the British couple Elizabeth and David Orams, who was  taken to Greek Cypriot court and then to British High Court  for having built a house on a plot of land formerly owned by a Greek Cypriot  in TRNC,  was made on 21 July 2006.  The court is expected to announce its verdict in Autumn.

Defense lawyers for the Orams, led by Cherie Blair, the wife of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, by  saying that “the TRNC was a different place  from the Cyprus Republic” warned the Judge that implementing the Greek Cypriot Court decision would mean to  violate EU  laws.

Cherie Blair  stating that, it would be wrong for the British High Court  to acknowledge and implement the  Greek Cypriot court decision, ordering the  demolition of the house,   reminded that  the Cyprus issue has still not solved  and  the result would be achieved trough inter-governmental  diplomacy  and negotiations.

The Greek Cypriot court in South Cyprus had ordered the demolition of the house, the return of the land, and for compensation to be paid to the former Greek Cypriot owner.  Another case was filed in British court  for implementing the Greek Cypriot Court decision   and if necessary to make a seizure to the couple’s property in UK.