FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI: “GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION IS RESPONSIBLE FROM THE DEADLOCK IN THE CYPRUS PROBLEM”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý, speaking on BRT AKIS program, stated that the current deadlock in the Cyprus problem is the result of the Greek Cypriot administration’s stance, claiming to be the sole representative of Cyprus.

            Foreign Minister Avcý pointed out that while the Turkish Cypriot side was spending efforts towards a positive, just and a permanent settlement with good intention, the Greek Cypriot administration was still trying to drive the Turkish Cypriots into a corner and isolate them.

            Referring to the recent oil crisis, Foreign Minister Avcý said: “Greek Cypriots think that they are the rightful side regarding the issue of petrol. Their aim is to harm Turkey’s relations with its neighbour countries and the EU. Both Turkey’s and the TRNC’s stance is clear on this issue. Consequently, all the countries around have rights in inland sea.”

            Underlining that Greek Cypriots were in a more advantageous position in the process of the EU, because Greece was also the member of the Union, Avcý said Turkish Cypriots did what was necessary in 2004 and after that they had expectations. Avcý added that however, neither the Gambari process started, nor any concrete steps had been taken until today.

            Pointing to the fact that each step taken by the Turkish Cypriot side and every foreign contact they carried out was distressing the Greek Cypriots, Avcý said Turkish Cypriot side should everyday work more and more to integrate with the world. Foreign Minister Avcý added that the economy should be strong because weaker economy of the Turkish Cypriots compared to other countries was giving the opportunity to the Greek Cypriot side to continue to isolate them.

            Responding to a question, Foreign Minister Avcý said the joint aim was the EU, and a just, permanent and a bi-zonal settlement under Turkey’s guarantee, which would based on political equality. He added that while walking towards this aim, the integrity of the Turkish Cypriot people should be preserved.

MISSING PERSONS COMMITTEE...
BONES OF 75 MISSING PERSONS ARE READY FOR DNA TESTING

            Remains belonging to 75 missing persons exhumed during the individual and mass excavations in both Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides will soon be handed over to the Genetical Institute in South Cyprus for identity identification through DNA testing. By sending the remains of 75 missing persons out of the remains of 200 Turkish and Greek Cypriots, which were gathered in the Anthropology Laboratory set up in the buffer zone with this aim, to the Genetical Institute for DNA testing, the process of identity identification will be initiated. It was reported that the identity identification process of those 75 remains would take 2 and a half months.

            Within the framework of the program prepared by the Autonomous Missing Persons Committee formed of a Turkish, Greek and a UN representative, missing persons’ remains exhumed in both sides in Cyprus, were firstly gathered in the Anthropology Laboratory. Following the handing over of the remains of 75 missing persons to the Genetical Institute, the rest of the remains will be sent part by part to the Institute.

            Following the completion of the identity identification process, which would be carried out by both Turkish and Greek Cypriot experts in line with the agreement signed between the two sides, the process of handing over the remains of missing persons to their relatives will start.

            Turkish Cypriot side will send the samples of the remains of Turkish Cypriot missing persons gathered in the DNA Laboratory in Dr. Burhan Nalbantođlu State Hospital to the Genetical Institute.

            Meanwhile, the exhumation studies of the Missing Persons Committee are systematically continuing. Until the beginning of 2007, in addition to individual exhumations, about 10 mass grave exhumations have been carried out in both Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides.

GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION ARRESTED THE UKRANIAN CAPTAIN FOR ENTERING TO FAMAGUSTA PORT

            Greek Cypriot administration arrested the captain of a vessel coming from Malta for entering to Famagusta port.

            According to the Greek Cypriot dailies, Nikola Vikosor from Ukraine, the captain of the vessel of Malta, while approaching to Larnaka port on Monday (5 February), was arrested by the Greek Cypriot administration with the excuse of entering to Famagusta port a year ago.

            The dailies reported that the officials of Greek Cypriot Foreigners and Immigration Department investigated the ship’s journal and found out that, the vessel entitled ‘Neringa’ under the flag of Malta, which had nineteen Romanian crew, entered the Famagusta port on 26 September 2006 and stayed until 5 October 2006.