The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Serdar Denktas, and his accompanying delegation yesterday (23 September) visited Turkish Cypriots living in Limassol and listened to their problems.

Serdar Denktas said unlike previous governments, the current government was dealing with the problems faced by Turkish Cypriots living in Limassol and would have negotiations in order to overcome these problems.

Meeting face-to-face with the Turkish Cypriots living in Limassol and listening to their problems, Serdar Denktas said: "Turkish Cypriots living in Limassol are our representatives, our citizens. It’s our duty to support them and listen to their problems".

Pointing out that although a Cyprus settlement has not been achieved, some positive steps have been taken on the island, Serdar Denktas reminded that a Greek Cypriot secondary school had recently been opened in Karpass for the Greek Cypriots living in the region. He said a similar initiative was necessary for the 40 or so Turkish Cypriot children living in Limassol and if reciprocal steps were taken and both sides acted in good will this would be a positive factor in the opening of a Turkish Cypriot school in Limassol.

Explaining that it was important to improve the quality of the living standards of the Turkish Cypriot people living in the South, Serdar Denktas said he would pass on the information he’s received from these people at first hand to the north and what was important was the will and desire to achieve a settlement and unite with the world. He said although this had not been achieved, from now on they would consider if it could be achieved.

Under the organization of the TRNC Ministry for National Education and Culture, officials from four universities in the TRNC (Eastern Mediterranean University, Girne American University, International Cyprus University and Lefke European University) are preparing to go to Brussels to carry out harmonization studies and search for ways of benefiting from EU funds.

In the preliminary meeting that will take place in Brussels on 27 September, it is expected that the TRNC universities will obtain the ‘erasmus charter’, which is necessary for carrying out harmonization studies and receiving EU funds.