A promotion tour was organized from the Gazimagusa port of the TRNC to Latakia port of Syria within the framework of increasing tourist traffic between the two countries.

As the tourism season starts in the TRNC, a delegation, consisting of officials from the Foreign Ministry, representatives of tourism agencies, hoteliers and media members, is in Syria for a four day visit.

The members of the delegation yesterday (29 April) met with Syrian officials from the tourism sector in a workshop.

Speaking at the beginning of the workshop the TRNC Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s Undersecretary Hasan Kilic stating that the relations between Syria and the TRNC were developing rapidly said the start of ferryboat services would further improve these relations.

Speaking on behalf of Syrian tourism agencies Zeina Tabbaa pointed out that this organization was important in terms of helping the tourism agencies of both countries to benefit from business opportunities and building a friendship bridge on business and tourism sectors between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý will also be flying to Syria tomorrow to join the delegation.

In a written statement issued by the Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turgay Avcý noted that the ferryboat services which started after 30 years break between the TRNC and Syria would contribute to developments especially in the fields of economy, culture and tourism.

Stating that the tour was organized to enable the two countries to better understand each other’s tourism potentials, Avcý said in the delegation there are 25 tourism and hotel representatives as well as the representatives of the press.

During its stay in Damascus, the delegation will hold contacts with Syrian officials on the launch of passenger transportation services and the organization of package tour programs.

IHSANOGLU: “WE FOLLOW AN ACTIVE APPROACH FOR ENDING THE UNJUST AND INHUMAN EMBARGOES IMPOSED ON THE TURKISH CYPIOTS”

OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu stated that the Secretariat would follow an active approach for ending the unjust and inhuman isolation on the Turkish Cypriots.

Ihsanoglu who went to the UK for receiving an award and delivering a speech at the Oxford University will also meet with UK Foreign Minister David Miliband and other British authorities. Responding to the questions of the Anatolian News Agency (AA) on the isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots Ihsanoglu said the OIC was actively working to end the isolation and initiated important studies towards developing commercial, tourism and cultural relations with the TRNC. 

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN HASAN ERCAKICA ON 29 APRIL 2008

The negotiation process between the Turkish Cypriot side and the Greek Cypriot side is being maintained at the level of Working Groups and Technical Committees. The Working Groups undertaking the issues of substance and the Technical Committees negotiating the issues affecting our daily lives are also maintaining their works.

These works which were planned to be held on only Tuesdays and Thursdays have been extended to other weekdays as well, as a result of the initiative of those working in the committees. As the representatives of the two leaders, Mr. Ozdil Nami and Mr. Georges Iacovou meet every Friday and revise the works of both the groups and the committees.

At this point, it should be stated that we welcome the progress of the works undertaken at the level of Working Groups and Technical Committees. However, it should also be stated that these works should be intensified by this week.

Meanwhile, the visit President Mehmet Ali Talat paid to Ankara last week on Thursday and Friday should also be pointed out. The contacts carried out in Ankara proved to be quite fruitful.

During his visit which aimed at meeting with those shaping the public opinion in order to provide support for the new process, President Talat has also had the opportunity to meet with President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and Mr. Deniz Baykal, leader of the main opposition party Republican People’s Party (CHP) and confirmed the support of Turkey to the process once again.

While the efforts to prepare the comprehensive settlement negotiations regarding the Cyprus problem are being maintained, with the support of the authorities of Greece from time to time, the spokespersons of the Greek Cypriot side are trying to shape the ground for negotiations according to their own will by making various statements.

They seem to spend efforts to end the negotiations without negotiating. One of the primary issues stressed in these efforts of “setting the ground” or ending the negotiations without even they have started is that they will not accept the UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan also known as the Annan Plan, as the ground for negotiations.

It is not down only to the Greek Cypriot side to set the ground for negotiations. The Turkish Cypriot side deems the UN works including the UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan as the ground for negotiations and the UN body of work will be our primary resource during this process.

As a pretext to this position of theirs, the Greek Cypriot side puts forward the rhetoric that the Annan Plan was rejected by the Greek Cypriot side. However, it should also be remembered that the Turkish Cypriot people have accepted the said settlement plan. The Turkish Cypriot side is still committed to the will they put forward in the referendum held on 24 April 2004.

This effort the Greek Cypriot side employs creates the impression that they do no deem this new process as a constructive process of negotiation but as an operation to eliminate the burden of voting “no” for the UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan which has led to concern on our part.

A similar effort is also being spent by the Greek Cypriot/Greek side in terms of the issue of guarantees. While claiming that “An EU member Cyprus would not need any other guarantees”, they should be reminded that this does not reflect the feelings and thoughts of the Turkish Cypriot side. If the Turkish Cypriot side still feels the need for the guarantees provided by the 1960 Agreements, it should not be forgotten that the primary reason for this is the fact that it was the Greek Cypriot side who did not allow the order facilitated by those Agreements to prevail. The Turkish Cypriot side is in favor of maintaining the system of guarantees provided by the 1960 Agreements.

During the days Mr. Demetris Christofias was elected as the Greek Cypriot leader, we have stated that time would determine whether this change meant a genuine change in the Greek Cypriot policy as well.

It has gladly been observed that the new Greek Cypriot administration continues to provide its positive contribution so as to advance the negotiation process aiming to reach a comprehensive settlement for the Cyprus problem. What could not have been achieved in one and a half year with Papadopoulos administration has been completed only in a couple of weeks.

However, there are some negative developments as well.

While it has been met with surprise that the cases filed in European Court of Justice against the European Commission within the framework of the Financial Aid Regulation are not withdrawn, it has also generated concern that a military agreement reached with France in last February, instead of being suspended, has been advanced and submitted to the Greek Cypriot Parliament for approval.

Also, the Greek Cypriot side continues to hamper the efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side to represent themselves in the international arena. Trying to hamper the international activities of the Lefkosa Turkish Municipality is only one of such examples.