MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: "WE BELIEVE THAT THE STEPS TAKEN TO DEMINE THE ISLAND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING A SECURE ENVIRONMENT AND REACHING A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT"

On 12 August 2005, the TRNC Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry for Foreign Affairs issued a statement regarding the joint cooperation carried out by the Turkish Cypriot Security Forces Commandorate and the United Nations to demine the buffer zone.

The statement said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs believed that the steps taken to demine the island would contribute to creating a secure environment and reaching a comprehensive settlement.

The full text of the statement is as follows:

" The negotiations, held between our authorities and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), concerning the clearing of mines in the buffer zone in Lefkoşa and its vicinity have been concluded successfully and an agreement was signed on 5 August. The agreement shall enter into force as of today following the opening ceremony. As it is well known, the issue of demining along the Green Line was brought to the agenda on 24 July 2003 with the initiative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The TRNC considers the beginning of demining activities as a welcomed result of the efforts spent towards reaching an agreement on this issue. The fact that the work on this issue did not commence earlier is the result of circumstances beyond the control of the Turkish Cypriot side. To be able to start and conclude these activities before would naturally have been preferable.

The Turkish Cypriot side is determined to advance the cooperation between itself and the UN and UNFICYP. We believe that the steps taken towards the clearing of the mines will contribute to the creation of an environment of confidence as well as to the search for a comprehensive settlement on the Island.

In line with the agreement reached, the demining process will be carried out by expert institutions which will be determined by the Partnership for Future Programme. Within this context, we welcome the efforts of the UN as well as the contributions of the European Union which will provide the financing for the work of the UN Development Programme/Partnership for Future Programme".