ERCAKICA: “TURKISH SIDE IS NOT UNDER
PRESSURE”
Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica ponted out that the
Greek Cypriot leader Tasos Papadopoulos was using the press
to manipulate the issues concerning the Cyprus problem and
laying blame of the unsuccessful 8 July process on the
Turkish Cypriot side.
Ercakica made the statement in an interview with the BRT
newsroom where he evaluated the Greek Cypriot side’s view
concerning the 5 September meeting which took place between
the two leaders of the island.
Referring to the meeting which took place between President
Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the Greek Cypriot
administration Tasos Papadopoulos and the UN Secretary
General’s special representative to Cyprus Michael Moller,
and to the contacts Moller made with the two sides, Ercakica
said that it was only natural that Moller would be holding
some contacts after the meeting between the two leaders. “It
is Moller’s duty as the good offices mission to find ways
for the two leaders to meet on the island”, he added.
Noting that the Greek Cypriot leader Tasos Papadopoulos had
said that he had asked for the 8 July process to be
implemented but that President Mehmet Ali Talat had rejected
this, the Presidential spokesman drew attention to the fact
that the Greek Cypriot leader didn’t even know what he
wanted.
Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side had clearly outlined
what it wanted, Ercakica said the main aim of the Turkish
Cypriot side is to find a comprehensive solution to the
Cyprus problem and they have adapted the principle that the
status quo is unacceptable.
‘The 8th of July process is the road that will lead us to
this aim, and we want to speed up the process,’ he said
adding that Mr Papadopoulos didn’t clarify what he wanted
and was manipulating the press.
Referring to Greek Cypriot leader Papadopolous’ statement
that he would ask the UN Secretary General when they
meet, to exert pressure to the Turkish side Ercakica said
the South Cyprus was trying to give the impression that the
Turkish side was under pressure but this was not true.
Ercakica emphasized that pressure should be exerted on
Papadopolous.
Ercakýca also explained that Moller has also confirmed that
the Turkish side’s demand for putting time limit to 8 July
process was not against to process.
TRNC’s TEMPORARY CHARGE D’AFFAIRES TO NEW YORK
MURAT SOYSAL: “GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION HAS VIOLATED THE
LEGAL RIGHTS OF NOT ONLY THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE, BUT
ALSO ALL EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES BY ITS INITIATIVES
TO EXPLORE OIL AND GAS IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN.”
TRNC’s Temporary Charge D’affaires to New York Murat Soysal
has said that the Greek Cypriot Administration has violated
the legal rights of not only the Turkish Cypriot People, but
also all Eastern Mediterranean countries by its initiatives
to explore oil and gas in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Mr Soysal’s sent a letter to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki
Moon, in response to an earlier letter by the Greek Cypriot
Permanent Representative to UN Andreas Mavroyiannis, who
claimed that the Turkish planes violated Greek Cypriot
airspace and Lefkosa Flight Information Region, (FIR).
In the letter, which was circulated as a UN document,
Soysal said that all such claims were wrong and purposeful,
noting that all flights over the airspace of the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus – are taking place with the
permission and approval of the TRNC State.
Stressing that the Greek Cypriot Administration has no `SAY`
over the flights in the airspace of the TRNC, he underlined
the fact that the TRNC Civil Aviation Department was the
only authorized body for the control of air flights.
Rejecting Greek Cypriot claims that the Lefkosa FIR was
being violated, he said all such accusations were based on
the Greek Cypriot Side’s claim that it has sovereignty over
the whole island.
Noting that these claims were far from reflecting the
realities on the island, he said `claims being repeatedly
raised by the Greek Cypriot Side and all initiatives to
present the legal rights of the Turkish Cypriot People as
illegal, were in vain.
Soysal also said that the Greek Cypriot Administration was
violating the legal rights of not only the Turkish Cypriot
People, but also all Eastern Mediterranean countries with
its initiatives to expand its territorial waters and explore
oil and gas in the Region.
TRNC HONORARY REPRESENTATIVE TO MUNICH, ULI
PILLER, ORGANIZED READING BY TURKISH AUTHOR KENAN KAYIS ON
31 AUGUST.
TRNC Honorary Representative to Munich, Uli Piller,
organized a reading by Turkish author Kenan Kayis on 31
August in Munich/Unterschleissheim as an event for the
benefit of “Kirmizi Güvercin”. Mr Kayis read parts of his
first novel “The Carob Tree” in which he tells the story of
Yunus and Mehmet. It is the story of two boys growing up in
the northern part of Cyprus. One of them leaves the island
to Turkey and when that very day arrives he gives his friend
a small Carob tree plant. He promises to be back before the
tree grows high. More than sixty years go by without return.
Kayis visited North Cyprus a couple of times and said he
liked the island very much. He was born in 1960 in Giresun,
Turkey, but came to Germany when he was 27 years old. There
he started to work as sports teacher and learned German.
That, he said, was the reason why he decided to write “The
Carob Tree” in German. He said it was necessary to combine a
political message with literary pictures. Between the lines
he asks for the recognition of Turkish Cypriot rights. One
day, Mr Kayis says, he wants to finish his Turkish
translation of the novel and present it to a Turkish Cypriot
audience in North Cyprus.
The reading was a benefit event for the local help
organisation “Red Dove – Kirmizi Güvercin” which was founded
in 2002 by Mrs Ursula Schölz-Koenig who is the daughter of
the first German ambassador to Cyprus, Josef Koenig.
Together with TRNC Honorary Representative Uli Piller she
travelled to North Cyprus in 2003 where she found out that
especially some rural hospitals in the TRNC could need some
help.
Ever since that time Mrs Schölz-Koenig has collected money
for her organisation. In spring 2007 she wanted to have
enough financial background to send first equipment to
Cengiz Topel Hastanesi in Lefke. Unfortunately, Mrs.
Schölz-Koenig suffered a heavy traffic accident and was
unable to travel to North Cyprus.
After the reading Mr Kayis said he wanted to support
“Kirmizi Güvercin” in the future, too.
TRNC Honorary Representative Uli Piller underlined that the
organisation is preparing the first delivery to the hospital
in early spring 2008.
