FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI EVALUATES UN SECURITY COUNCIL’S DECISION ON SECRETARY GENERAL’S REPORT ON CYPRUS 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý has reacted to the UN Security Council’s decision on the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s latest report dated 2 June 2008 on Cyprus which included the UNFICYP’s (United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus) activities within the last six months and the extension of its mandate on the island for another six months.

In a written statement, Turgay Avcý pointing out that at a time when an atmosphere of confidence was very necessary and the Turkish Cypriot side was working very hard for the start of full-fledged negotiations with the aim of reaching a just and permanent settlement in Cyprus Avcý and that the Turkish Cypriot people has acted in harmony with the international community until now, Avcý said that no conclusion will be reached with an approach or a decision which considers the Greek Cypriot Administration as the ‘Government of Cyprus’.

He also complained that the isolations on the Turkish Cypriot People was not referred adequately in the report and was completely ignored in the resolution.

Foreign Minister Avcý called upon the UN Security Council to take the necessary steps as a stabilizing force.

Avcý noted that all subjects included in the ‘Joint Statement’ issued following the meeting between the two leaders in Cyprus in 23rd of May had not been reflected in the resolution which expanded the mandate of the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus.

Continuing, Foreign Minister Avcý stressed that the said resolution only included the expression of “bi-zonal, bi-communal federation based on political equality” as defined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions which is also supported by the Greek Cypriot side. He added that however the expression that a partnership to be established would consist of a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State was not included in the resolution and this was unacceptable for the Turkish Cypriot side.

Foreign Minister Avcý touching upon the reference to the UN Security Council’s decision 1251 (1999) on the so-called “demilitarization” of Cyprus in the said resolution, said one should remind the recent joint military exercise carried out by the Greek Cypriot side, Greece and France. Avcý stressed that such military exercises at only served to deepen the mistrust between the two peoples in the island.

Also referring to the call made in the resolution to the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish troops on the issue of Akyar region, Avcý said despite the Turkish Cypriot side has many times stated that the said region is within the borders of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the UN Secretariat continues to refer to the region as a buffer zone. Foreign Minister Avcý reiterated that whatever happens in the Akyar region concerns only the Turkish Cypriot authorities.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REACTS TO BAKOYANNI’S STATEMENT
BAKOYANNI SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A SETTLEMENT IN CYPRUS

The TRNC Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry of Foreign  Affairs  has called on the Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni to stop her efforts aimed at diluting Turkish Cypriots’ rights and interests under the name of a ‘European’ Cyprus.

“It’s better for the European Greece to make contributions to the efforts aimed at bringing a solution to the Cyprus problem” a statement from the ministry said.

It also called on the Greek Foreign Minister, who is in on a visit to South Cyprus, to  stop tampering with the issue of guarantorship and instead to encourage the Greek Cypriot leadership to start full-fledged negotiations.

Referring to Mrs. Bakoyanni’s statement that a European Cyprus would not be in need of Turkey’s guarantorship, the Ministry said that Greece is in fact well aware of the reasons behind the need for Turkey’s guarantorship over the island and of its vital importance for the security of the Turkish Cypriot People.

It also stressed that Turkey’s active and effective guarantee over the island is a sine qua non for the Turkish Cypriot people, adding that `the Turkish Cypriot People does not want to re-experience the bitter events of the past and that the maintenance of Turkey’s guarantorship is the only guarantee of this`.       

It said it is unacceptable for Mrs. Bakoyanni to talk on be half of the whole island, including the Turkish Cypriot People, on the future of Cyprus.

 

GREEK CYPRIOT INTERVENTION IN THE FREQUENCIES OF TURKISH-TURKISH CYPRIOT CHANNLES ART, ATV, NTV AND GENC TV

The Supreme Broadcasting Board (YYK) has presented a memorandum to the United Nations to protest the disruption of broadcasts of some television channels in Turkey and the TRNC by two Greek Cypriot channels.

A delegation from the Supreme Broadcasting Board went to the Ledra Palace on Friday (13 June) to present the memorandum to UN Officials complaining that two Greek Cypriot television channels, which recently increased their powers, are causing disruption to the broadcasts of ART, ATV, NTV and Genc TV.

The letter was handed by the President of the Supreme Broadcasting Board Ilkay Diren who explained that parasite effects caused by increased power of the PIK and ERT channels are disrupting the broadcasts of the four TV channels.

Diren said the move is in violation of the Turkish Cypriot People’s right to spread its own culture, which he said is one of the basic human rights and called on the Greek Cypriot administration to act with common sense.

He also noted that the Supreme Broadcast Board has been showing the necessary sensitivity while determining the frequencies and channels and increasing power not disrupt the broadcasts of its neighbors in the South, calling on the Greek Cypriot side to adopt a similar approach.