TURKISH CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF BUYUKKANIT IN THE TRNC

Turkish Chief of General Staff Full General Yaşar Büyükkanıt came to the TRNC yesterday (26 March) upon the official invitation by President Mehmet Ali Talat. Full General Buyukkanıt will carry out various contacts in the TRNC until Saturday (29 March).

Within the framework of his contacts Buyukkanıt was first received by President Talat.

Welcoming General Buyukanıt at the Presidential Palace, President Talat pointed out that the Turkish Armed Forces are providing security to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and are in Cyprus in line with international agreements. Talat said that they will remain in Cyprus until a just and lasting solution is found to the Cyprus problem and added that the Turkish Cypriot side’s target was a just and permanent solution.

President Talat stressed that the Turkish Armed Forces are working very hard for the security of the TRNC.

For his part, General Yasar Büyükanıt said the Turkish Armed Forces would continue its duty in Cyprus until a just and lasting solution is found to the Cyprus problem.

Stressing that officials of Turkey and the TRNC know what kind of peace could be just and lasting, he said `this should be understood by collocutors and the Greek Cypriot side as well`.

Pointing out that Turkish troops are in Cyprus for peace, he said the troops will continue the work they started in 1974 until a just and lasting peace was brought to the island.

As part of his other contacts in the TRNC, Büyükkanıt met with the Speaker of the Parliament Fatma Ekenoğlu, Prime Minister Ferdi Fabit Soyer, the first TRNC President Rauf Denktaş and Turkish Ambassador to Lefkosa Türkekul Kurttekin.

 

 

6 WORKING GROUPS AND 7 TECHNICAL COMMITTEES TO BE FORMED

The two side’s advisers have agreed, in accordance with the agreement reached by the leaders, to establish 6 working groups and 7 technical committees.

President Talat's Special Representative for EU and UN talks Ozdil Nami and Greek Cypriot Administration Commissioner George Iacovou met at buffer zone at the UN Special Representative to Cyprus Michael Moller’s residence with the aim of deciding on the establishment of the technical committees.

Following the meeting the number and the names of the working groups and technical committees were announced.

According to the statement by the two advisers, they decided to establish as soon as possible, the following working groups and technical committees:

Working Groups

Governance and power-sharing

EU matters

Security and guarantees

Territory

Property

Economic matters

Technical Committees

Crime/Criminal matters

Economic and commercial matters

Cultural heritage

Crisis management

Humanitarian matters

Health

Environment

Subject to need, both advisers agreed to establish further working groups and technical committees, as required, in order to ensure that their respective leaders may be able to negotiate as effectively as possible on the full spectrum of issues to be discussed.

The advisers have agreed to meet again on Friday (28 March).

 

 

STUDIES FOR THE OPENING OF LOKMACI BORDER GATE

President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias, had decided for the opening of the Lokmacı border gate for crossings during their meeting on 21 March and in line with this decision the United Nations have carried out a safety check in the region yesterday.

The United Nations has announced that it’s completed a safety check in the area between Lokmacı Barricade and Ledra Street to make sure that it is cleared of all mines and booby traps before the opening of a new crossing point in the capital Lefkosa.

In a statement, the United Nations Development Programme “Partnership for the Future -- Mine Action Centre” said that a six-person mine action team carried out the search, with support from UNFICYP, during which no dangerous items were found.

The check for unexploded ordnance was the first phase of the studies towards the opening of the gate.