FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI IN ITALY

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý went to Italy in order to give a conference and carry out various contacts.

Foreign Minister Avcý would attend a conference organized by the United Journalists’ Association in Italy, where he will give a lecture entitled ‘Now and Then: The Turkish Cypriot People and Its Expectations from The World’.

The President of the Italian Senate Franco Marini, the former Foreign Minister and the President of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate Lamberto Dini, an MP, the President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian House of Representatives Umberto Ranieri and many Senate members and academicians will attend the conference.

Within the framework of his contacts, Foreign Minister Avcý yesterday met with the Italian Foreign Ministry’s Director General for Europe Ambassador Laura Mirachian.

Foreign Minister Avcý will also give interviews to several media institutions in Italy.

CYPRUS SUMMIT AT PACE

Turkish Cypriot, Greek Cypriot, Turkish and Greek deputies held a meeting on the Cyprus issue for the first time at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) yesterday (19 April).

The meeting, which took place under the chairmanship of the PACE President Rene Van der Linden, was aimed at increasing dialogue between the political leaders of the two communities in Cyprus.

Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Mevlut Cavusoglu, Greek Deputy Elza Papadimitru, Turkish Cypriot Deputy Ozdil Nami and Greek Cypriot Deputy Andreas Kiprianu attended the meeting.

Speaking to Cyprus Turkish News Agency (TAK) following the meeting, Ozdil Nami pointed out that during the meeting, Rene Van der Linden’s visit to Cyprus in February 2007 was evaluated and the issues of Lokmacý (Ledra Street) border gate, including TRNC universities in the Bologna process, meeting of Turkish and Greek Cypriot religious leaders and preservation of the cultural heritage were discussed. Nami stated that all the sides promised Linden to pursue a constructive attitude on these issues.

Nami considering the meeting as ‘very positive’, stated that during the meeting Linden said following the completion of the PACE report on Cyprus, he would invite the President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos to PACE.

However, Linden stressed that the PACE’s Cyprus rapporteur would start to write the report when there is a positive atmosphere in Cyprus.

Linden also expressed his expectation from the sides to take positive steps on the issues discussed during the meeting and said the Bologna process, which was an EU initiative, should not be politicized.

Linden called upon Turkish, Greek, Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot MPs to focus on “parliamentary diplomacy’ in the Cyprus issue.

Linden speaking after the meeting, stated that they had the opportunity to evaluate his visit to Cyprus in February.

Pointing out that the MPs had important responsibilities for improving dialogue between the two communities and for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Linden said: “As parliamentarians, we should use our power effectively.”

SECOND INTERNATIONAL CIVIL DEFENCE EXERCISE CARRIED OUT SUCCESFULLY

Second International Civil Defense Exercise organized by the TRNC Civil Defense Organization was carried out last night (19 April) at Dr. Fazil Kucuk Park in Taskinkoy.

The Exercise, where the scenario of an earthquake was animated, was carried out with the cooperation of Civil Defense Organization, military, police and institutions and organizations. Delegations from 36 countries attended the Exercise.

President Mehmet Ali Talat evaluated the Exercise as “impressive” and stressed the importance of being prepared for possible bad scenarios.

Talat said they were disappointed as a result of the Greek Cypriot side’s “unfriendly stance” towards both the Exercise and the studies carried out for the international conference held before the Exercise.