SOYER WILL SEND A LETTER TO REHN AND EU LEADERS:
“TURKISH CYPRIOTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN LINE WITH EU STANDARDS”

Prime Minister Soyer speaking prior to the Council of Ministers Meeting yesterday (30 January) stated that he will send a letter to the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn and all the leaders of EU member countries stressing that the Turkish Cypriot people have the right to prepare themselves for the EU process as much as the Greek Cypriot people and that they were in favor of a solution in Cyprus.

Prime Minister Soyer pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot people have the right to live in line with EU standards said it was not upon the Greek Cypriots to decide about this because this was against EU norms and principles.

Soyer also announced that a committee will be formed for the implementation of the EU harmonization process under 12 chapters and with formation of the committee harmonization would directly start.

Pointing out that Markoulli made very angry statements on this issue on her way to Brussels, Soyer said:

“In the forthcoming days I will send a letter to Olli Rehn and all the EU leaders on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people. The main topic of this letter is that the Turkish Cypriot people have the right to live in line with EU standards as much as the Greek Cypriot people and they were in favor of a solution in Cyprus.

Living in line with EU standards cannot depend on the consent of the Greek Cypriot side. Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Markoulli, by objecting to this harmonization process, in fact objected to a solution. I want to emphasize that Markoulli’s attitude cannot be accepted.”

 

 

 

IHSANOGLU: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS’ ISOLATION IS UNFAIR AND SHOULD END”

Organization of Islamic Conference’s Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu stressed that the isolation imposed upon the Turkish Cypriots was not fair and should be lifted.

Responding to the questions of the Anatolian News Agency (AA) during the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Cairo, Egypt stated that in line with the OIC’s resolutions there were initiatives to lift the isolation on Turkish Cypriots.

Speaker of the TRNC Assembly Fatma Ekenoglu who is also participating the conference, pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot people expected the decision taken in Istanbul Declaration towards the lifting of the isolation to be implemented. She continued by saying that in line with this decision ferry services started between Famagusta and Latakia ports, however this has not produced the expected results.

“The start of ferry services was just a beginning, however tourism offices have not yet been opened and economic relations haven’t started. Therefore, within the framework of this decision we expect to start cooperation with Islamic countries. For the solution of the problem between Turkish and Greek Cypriot people the isolation should be lifted and the Turkish Cypriot people should be strengthened. Cooperation in economy and tourism sectors would contribute to a solution. Solution should be within the UN framework, be bi-zonal, bi-communal and on the basis of political equality. Our expectation from the Islamic countries is the implementation of the decisions taken at OIC meetings without losing any more time”, said Ekenoglu.

 

 

 

GAU AND EMU SELECTED AMONGST 1000 BUSINESS SCHOOLS OF THE WORLD

Girne American University (GAU) and the Eastern Mediterranean University have been announced as the part of the official selection of 1000 Business Schools selected by the Scientific Committee of EDUNIVERSAL amongst 4000 universities from 150 countries.

International Scientific Committee has 9 members who are experts in the educational field that come from the 5 different continents; 2 executive members and a consultative member from the Academic Council of the United Nations.

International Scientific Committee has selected 1000 Business Schools of the official selection for the international and national recognition and influence using different criteria including:

International accreditations; State recognition; International and national awards and rankings;

Membership in international academic associations and guilds; Size and quality of international networks and partnerships; Quotations in main publications and websites; Experts’ inputs on local specificities.