TRNC’S
TWENTY-SECOND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED
15 November, which marks
the twenty-second anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus, has been celebrated with ceremonies throughout the
TRNC with the slogan of "Our Republic is the symbol of our sovereignty".
Speaking at the ceremony at
Dr. Fazýl Kucuk Boulevard, President Mehmet Ali Talat stressed that the
lifting of isolations was the most effective way to contribute to a
settlement.
"This step which will be
the result of the Turkish Cypriot people’s determination for a settlement
is very important for our communal integrity and economic welfare.
Therefore, our peace policy which will continue with stability will be
communally reinforced and give us the strength to resist until we reach a
settlement", the President said.
President Mehmet Ali Talat
stated that a state structure whose institutions were strengthened and
became efficient would facilitate the unification and prevent any problems.
Therefore, he said this would support the stability in the region and
contribute to Turkey’s progress in its EU path and shortly, lifting of the
isolations would be beneficial for everybody. The President added that
this would also be very beneficial for the Greek Cypriot side if they gave
up their policy of dominating the Turkish Cypriots.
Continuing, President
Mehmet Ali Talat said:
"We have to prove to the
European Court of Human Rights and the EU that we are not a local
administration of Turkey as they assume. This is today’s main duty. This
is the only normalization to be reached in Cyprus without a settlement."
In addition, President
Mehmet Ali Talat stressed that a state structure whose institutions were
not strong and civilized would not be able to protect the Turkish Cypriot
people’s rights.
Speaking at the ceremony,
Turkish State Minister Responsible for Cyprus Affairs and Deputy Prime
Minister Abdullatif Sener underlined that it was time to lift the
isolations imposed upon the Turkish Cypriots.
Reminding that the
international community had given clear promises and commitments to end
the injustices that the Turkish Cypriot people have been experiencing for
forty years, Sener said that they were expecting these promises to be kept.
Sener also pointed out that
Turkey was aware of the mentality of Papadopoulos leadership, which was
aimed at making the Turkish Cypriot people a minority and that Turkey
would never allow this to happen.
DRAFT LAW FOR
SEA COMPETENCE AREAS OF TRNC UNANIMOUSLY PASSED
The draft law for Sea
Competence Areas, which identified the TRNC’s competence areas in the sea
and for the first time regulated the principles of an "adjacent region"
and "restricted economic region", was approved unanimously by the General
Assembly of the TRNC Parliament on 14 November 2005.
The draft law, which gives
sovereign rights and adjudicatory power in regions identified by law in
the sea, includes regulations in all fields such as archeological fields
and natural resources in the sea. The draft law, which includes
regulations regarding foreign ships or ships carrying harmful materials,
envisages up to 10 years imprisonment and up to 1 million New Turkish
Liras fine for those who violate this law.
Following its approval by
the General Assembly of the Parliament the draft law except from the third
article on crimes and fines will be implemented as from 21 March 2003. The
draft law also includes an article, which preserves the legally guaranteed
rights stemming from Treaties of Guarantee, Alliance and Establishment.
In the draft law it was
also stressed that since South Cyprus administration identified its sea
competence areas through a law and announced an "adjacent region" and "restricted
economic region", this required the TRNC to make a similar law in order to
identify its own sea competence areas.
The Greek Cypriot
administration following its announcement on sea competence areas signed
and agreement with Egypt with the aim of oil exploration.
