Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcı yesterday (23 September) went to Rome, Italy in order to carry out various contacts.

According to the information given by the Press Office of the Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Foreign Minister has a busy agenda for Rome which includes contacts with state officials, parliamentarians, members of political parties, particularly with Radical Party members who recently visited the TRNC and representatives from various media institutions.

During his stay, Foreign Minister Avcı will also have a meeting with the two members of the Italian Radical Party- Maurizio Turco and Marco Perduca- who were previously granted the TRNC citizenship. During the meeting, Mr. Avcı will be personally presenting them their TRNC passports and identity cards.

His agenda also includes meetings with businessmen in order to discuss the opportunities of investment in the TRNC.

On his arrival to Italy Turgay Avcı was received by Turkish Ambassador to Rome Ugur Ziyal. Foreign Minister Avcı held his first meeting with Laura Mirichian the Italian Foreign Ministry’s General Director for EU Member States. Avcı during the meeting gave information on the latest developments of the Cyprus issue including the 5 September meeting and the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposal which was rejected by the Greek Cypriot side.

Expressing the Turkish Cypriot people’s readiness for comprehensive settlement negotiations, Avcı said they wanted to receive support form EU member states such as Italy on this issue. He also added that they wanted to show the Turkish Cypriots side’s good will for solving the Cyprus issue.

Foreign Minister Avcı yesterday also gave interviews to Italian Radio Radicale and Il Reformista newspapers where he especially explained the 5 September process and the Turkish Cypriot people’s expectations from the European Union.

Ferry services between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Syria have been re-launched after an interval of 28 years. A promotional voyage was held yesterday between Gazimagusa and Laskiye.

Foreign Minister Turgay Avcı wished a safe journey for the first travelers consisting of media representatives, businessman, academicians and civil servants preparing to leave for Syria.

Speaking there, he said that with the start of ferry services between the TRNC and Syria a bridge between the TRNC and Eastern Mediterranean was established and what was important was the continuation of these services. He also said that regular services might start before the Ramadan Bayram. 

Avcı stating that the Ferry services have started after 28 years as a result of the contacts between the two country officials said the Head of the Syrian Navigation Chamber Abdulkadir Sabıra has played an important role in the start of ferry services. Thanking Sabıra, Avcı reminded that they previously had announced that the ferry services would start with Ramadan Bayram, however the services might start earlier because the close interest of the peoples of both countries to the ferry services.

Avcı pointed out that the ferry services between Gazimagusa and Laskiye would only contribute to the improvement of relations between Syria and the TRNC but also to the development of trade relations between the TRNC and other countries in the region. He said: “As long as the Greek Cypriots’ intransigent stance continues, we will carry on with our openings.”

Laskiye as a harbour city has similarities with Gazimagusa and it takes around 3 hours to travel from Gazimagusa to Laskiye.

Turkish Cypriot delegation was received by Syrian officials and after participating to a reception given in their honour in Le Meriden Hotel they made a city tour by buses where they visited touristic and historical sites of the city.

Meanwhile, National Syrian swimmer who had started to swim from Zafer Burnu to Laskiye with the aim of breaking a record successfully completed his trial.

Human rights violations against Turkish Cypriots will be taken up in international meetings in Poland’s capital Warsaw.

According to the information received by the Cyprus Turkish Human Rights Foundation, Turkish Cypriots will be represented for the first time at the international meetings organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).