TRNC NEWS HEADLINES

TALAT AND CHRISTOFIAS CAME TOGETHER

It was stated that President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Administration Leader Dimitris Christofias came together at a reception at the Ledra Palace. Various party representatives from the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, Slovenia ’s Cyprus Ambassador Anna Turenicova, representatives of both leaders Özdil Nami and Yorgo Yakovu participated in the reception arranged within the framework of the activities with the aim of bringing both communities together. Moreover, it was stated that President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot Administration Leader Dimitris Christofias who came together in the reception decided to continue their meetings.

‘ TURKEY AND GREECE SUPPORT EFFORTS OF LEADERS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION IN CYPRUS ’

It was stated that Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ali Babacan said that Turkey and Greece supported the efforts of leaders for a comprehensive solution in Cyprus . Babacan who is in Strasbourg for the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe met with Greece’s Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni within the framework of his bilateral contacts. In his statement made after the meeting, Babacan said that after the visit of Greece ’s Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis to Turkey after 49 years, the two countries started a new period in their relations. However, Bakoyanni said that both leaders had willpower for a solution in Cyprus and they hoped to find a just and permanent solution as soon as possible. As an answer to the question of a journalist related to the time of a solution, Greece Minister said ‘I can not tell anything about the time of this issue, this depends on the two leaders’.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE :“THE NEWS ON COLLECTING VAT IS NOT TRUE”

Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) stated that the news published in Greek Cypriot press that VAT would be collected from the sales made from North Cyprus to South Cyprus within the context of the Green Line Regulation, was not true. In the statement made by TCCC, it was stated that “VAT cannot be collected from the trade made as stated in the regulation due to the trade could not be subjected to ‘import’ proceeding by the Greek Cypriot competent authorities”.

SOYER “SUPPORTING YACHTING IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTRY AND ITS FUTURE”

TRNC Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer emphasized that it was a requirement to develop the marinas for yachting that is very important for tourism and forms an important potential for the TRNC. Soyer announced that TRNC had 2 marinas with total 550 yacht capacity and this amount would be increased to 2,500 by building 3 marinas with 1,500 yacht capacity. Soyer stated that the government, by taking the development of the country into consideration, supported an investment for a marina with 500 yacht capacity in Karpaz Marina and this support would continue. Stating that this marina would be supported with two 5 stars hotels, Prime Minister Soyer pointed out that the total cost for investment project of the marinas and hotels would be 200 million USD and this company would not demand any financial support from the government.