FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI RETURNED TO THE TRNC

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý who was in Ankara in order to attend the certificate ceremony of the TRNC Foreign Ministry’s young diplomats and carry out various contacts, returned to the TRNC on Friday night (18 January).

Foreign Minister Avcý on the last day of his contacts met with Turkish Minister of State for Cyprus Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek and with the President of the Turkish Council of Higher Education Dr. Yusuf Ziya Ozcan.

During his meeting with Cemil Cicek at the Turkish Prime Ministry, Foreign Minister Avcý gave information about the latest economic developments in the TRNC.

Avcý and Cicek also exchanged views on the future investments to be made in the TRNC and evaluated the studies towards strengthening the TRNC’s economy.

During his meeting with Dr. Yusuf Ziya Ozcan at the building of the Turkish Council of Higher Education, Foreign Minister Avcý invited Ozcan to the TRNC in order to see the development of the universities in the country.

Avcý evaluating the meeting stated that despite the recent developments in the country’s infrastructure, the capacity of the universities was not full adding that this problem was felt especially in the field of economy.

Stressing that the development of the universities sector which is vital for the country, would highly contribute to the TRNC’s struggle in the international arena, Avcý said he requested the support the President of the Turkish Council of Higher Education for increasing the number of students who will come from Turkey next year.

Avcý: “As the Turkish Cypriot side we are ready for negotiations towards finding a comprehensive settlement”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý responded to the questions with regard to the Cyprus problem in a press meeting held in Ankara on Friday.

Reminding that President Talat had proposed the technical committees to start studies and to reach a comprehensive settlement by the end of 2008 during his meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos on 5 September 2007, Foreign Minister Avcý said the Greek Cypriot side had rejected these proposals. Avcý stating that there were strong indications that a new initiative will be taken following the February’s presidential elections in South Cyprus, said as the Turkish Cypriot side they were ready for negotiations towards finding a comprehensive settlement.

Stressing that it was impossible to start from scratch on the solution of the Cyprus problem which has 40 years of history, Avcý said the most comprehensive solution plan presented on the Cyprus issue so far was the Annan Plan. Avcý added that the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon was approaching to the Cyprus issue with hesitation in order not to experience the failure in the Annan plan again, but after February it was expected that he would send a delegation to the island to seek the views of the two sides.

Responding to a question, Foreign Minister Avcý stressed that the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island was out of question and said: “Withdrawal of even a single Turkish soldier from the island is out of question”. Reminding that the withdrawal of Turkish troops by progressive stages was present in the Annan plan which was rejected by the Greek Cypriot side, Avcý said the Turkish troops came to the island by using their rights stemming from the Treaty of Guarantee and were ensuring the security of the Turkish Cypriots.

As for ferry services between the TRNC and the Syrian city of Latakia which have currently been suspended, Avcý said ferry services will start again in the coming days by using the Turkish flag on ferries.

Explaining that the Greek Cypriot side had spent intensive efforts and applied to the EU for the suspension of the ferry services, Avcý said the response of the EU was to the effect that there was neither an EU nor a UN document showing that the ports in North Cyprus were illegal. Avcý underlined that this issue was between the two sides and the Direct Trade Regulation was on the agenda because the ports in North Cyprus were legal.