18 MARCH MARTYRS REMEMBRANCE DAY…  
AVCI “LESSON SHOULD BE TAKEN FORM SACRIFICES OF  MARTYRS WITH REGARD TO THE ESTABLISHMENT   OF A CONSCIOUSNESS ON HISTORY AND NATION  AND THE  TRANSFER OF THESE PRINCIPLES TO YOUNG GENERATIONS”

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avci  in a message issues  with regard to 18 March Martyrs Remembrance Day  stressed  that Turkish Cypriots  owe a great deal to their martyrs   and said “we  have never forgotten and will never forget our martyrs”.

 

Avci said: “lesson should be taken form sacrifices of  martyrs with regard to the establishment of a consciousness on  history and nation  and the  transfer of these principles to young generations”

 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Avci  pointed out that  Canakkale Victory   was a turning point in Turkish  and world history, and was an answer given 93 years  ago to those who coveted  Turkish nations   independence, sovereignty and territories.

 

Avci  stating  that he  commemorate  and remember  martyrs with respect and  gratitude said:

 

“We once more remember the obstacles and hardships,  which the Turkish Cypriots went through  until today to reach a  peaceful and  secure  life in their country. The Turkish Cypriot people  is determined to  protect and preserve their  legitimate rights and interests  if the bitter experiences of past was to be repeated…”

 

 

 

ERCAKICA: “FRIDAY’S MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO LEADERS WILL SHOW  IF THERE IS A NEED FOR 8 JULY PROCESS OR NOT”

 

Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica  stated that  Friday’s face-to-face   meeting between  President Talat  the Leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Dimitris  Hristofyas  would  show if  Hristofyas was willing to sit  at the negotiation table for comprehensive  negotiations or not.

 

Evaluating the 8 July process Ercakýca   said  the process was an  initiative  to overcome the intransigent stance of the former Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopolous.

 

Ercakica said: “Since Papadopolous lost the elections  and Hristofyas is the new leader  and this change was evaluated as a  new hope  we want to see the reflection of this chance in Greek Cypriot side’s policies. However, if Hristofyas interprets 8 July process just like Papadopolous did  then it means we have a problem.”

 

“If Hristofyas symbolizes a chance  in the Greek Cypriot attitude   and is ready a for comprehensive  negotiations  then it means  we reached the aim targeted by the 8 July Process. The Turkish side evaluates the 8 July process as  a   method to overcome the intransigent stance of the former Greek Cypriot Leader Papadopolous towards  refusing to sit  at the negotiation table.”

 

Stating that 8 July process  was not mentioning to a negotiation process that the two Leaders would participate with full capacity, Ercakýca said “the  then UN Secretary General’s Undersecretary for Political Affairs Ýbrahim Gambari in his letter  explaining the process said  it was a process to prepare the necessary ground for  the restart of the full fledged negotiations for reaching comprehensive settlement.”

 

Ercakýca pointed out that at the point reached the 8 July Process   turned to  a mean which blocks the negotiation process between the leaders, this was also raised in the UN Secretary-General’s  reports.

 

Ercakýca said “if the chance in the Greek Cypriot leadership  has eliminated the reservation  on  comprehensive  negotiations  then it means  8 July process has reached  to its aim  and there is no need for it any more.”