Lots of news on Cyprus

TRNC NEWS HEADLINES

25.01.2008

REHN: “USE OF TRNC SEAPORTS IS LEGAL”

European Commissioner in charge of Enlargement, Olli Rehn; sent a letter in reply to the complaint by Greek Cypriot European Parliamentarian and candidate in the Greek Cypriot presidential elections, Marios Matsakis, who had sent a written complaint of the Famagusta-Lattakia ferry route arguing that that the route was illegal and requested EU intervention to the issue.

In his letter, Rehn reiterated that the use of TRNC seaports was not illegal with respect to international law.

Greek newspapers commented on Rehn’s written reply to Matsakis as “the European Commission’s backstab to the Republic of Cyprus ”.

On the other hand, in his statement made in Brussels , Marios Matsakis stated, “It is time the Cyprus government (Greek Cypriot Regime) speaks honestly to its public. It is time to realise the negative point in which Mr. Papadopoulos has taken Cyprus within the past 5 years.”

AVCI: “IT HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN CLARRIFIED THROUGH OLLI REHN’S REPLY THAT THE USE OF TRNC PORTS IS LEGAL”

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Turgay Avcı, underlined that the reply of European Commissioner in charge of Enlargement, Mr. Olli Rehn, to European Parliamentarian Marios Matsakis which stated, “With respect to international law, the use of TRNC seaports is not illegal”, is once again a clarification that the seaports of the TRNC are lawful and legitimate.

Avcı reiterated that the reply to the allegation made by Matsakis whom alleged that, “Ferry routes between Famagusta-Lattakia are illegal”, is evidence that the counter campaigns conducted by the Greek Cypriot Regime are totally deprived of legal foundation.

In his written evaluation of the reply by Olli Rehn, Turgay Avcı underlined that the reply by Rehn is evidence that the isolations adopted to Northern Cyprus contains no legitimate basis, similarly to as it has no moral basis.

EU AUTHORITIES MET WITH POLITICAL PARTIES

European Union (EU) authorities establishing harmony activities with Turkish Cypriots, met yesterday with political parties.

The EU delegation chaired by the president of European Commission’s Enlargement General Directory of Turkish Cypriot Activities Unit, Andrew Rasbash and Director for the EU Support Office, Alain Bothorel, provided information with respect to harmony activities of Turkish Cypriots under 12 headings, and received observations from political party representatives.

The headings of the established harmony activities include; “The free movement of Capital”, “Public Contractual Tenders”, “Corporate Law”, “Competition Law”, “Financial Services”, “Agricultural and Rural Developments”, “Food Safety”, “Transport Policies”, “Statistics”, “Social Policy Activities”, “Environment”, and “Health and Consumer Protection”.

The EU delegation provided a briefing of the Harmony Activities to the Council of Ministers the day before.

BRITISH BASE; A MEANS FOR GREEK CYPRIOT BLACKMAIL

The Greek Cypriot publication, Flielephrios newspaper, stated that the status of the British Bases on the island is being re-evaluated and that two commissions was established for the evaluation.

The newspaper written that the base issue came about as a means of pressure in response to the developments with respect to the lifting of isolations adopted upon the Turkish Cypriots which had arisen from strategic alliance agreement signed between Turkey and England .

On the other hand, the adversary Alithia newspaper, commented on the Greek Cypriot Regime President, Papadopoulos, stating, “The day before, a letter informing England that the status of their bases were being re-evaluated was in actual fact an appealing action to the public before the elections.”

In its news commentary, the newspaper wrote the following: “The Papadopoulos government has neither addressed the base issue to the UN, nor within the EU and has neither taken issue to any court. On contraire; the status of the bases was confirmed in the signing of the EU participation agreement (Protocol 3). Furthermore; the bases issue was not officially taken to the British High Commission or to the Cyprus High Commission in London , or to the Foreign Affairs Ministry and was not even officially addressed within the high level agreements. Apart from the fact that the government has not affectively brought into issue the status of the bases; it is impossible to even argue the possibility of the case.

TURKISH CYPRIOT WOMEN VISIT BRUSSELS …

A delegation of approximately 30 women representing the women’s branches of political parties and civil society organisations had undergone various activities in Brussels to voice their disapproval against the unjust isolations adopted upon the Turkish Cypriots.

With the leadership of the President of the Patriot Women’s Union and wife to President Mehmet Ali Talat, Oya Talat, the message; “Stop evading Turkish Cypriots”, was utilised within the activities hosted by Dutch Parliamentarian, Ms. Emine Bozkurt in retaliating against the isolations.

Within the framework of the activities, an arts exhibition designed by Ayhatun Ateşin entitled “Hundred of Footsteps: Turkish Cypriot Woman’s Journey against Isolation” was on display.

Preceding the activities, shoes brought from Northern Cyprus and which were on display were then donated to the international aid establishment, OXFAM.