TRNC MAY INTEGRATE WITH TURKEY

In his statement to Kıbrıs Newspaper, Turkish EU Minister and the Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagıs who has been in London said that there are all kinds of options at the negotiation table and integration with Turkey may be possible.

Bagıs said ‘ there are many options at the negotiation table. A solution is possible if both leaders in Cyprus reconcile or TRNC may integrate with Turkey. We hope two states unite in Cyprus under the framework of a unique state and both people live in prosperity’.

Moreover, expressing that as Turkey, they support each solution that leaders convince their people to accept in Cyprus, Bagıs said ‘there are both integration and separation in this. There is only one sensibility for Turkey. Political equality is very important in the island’.

EU Minister Egemen Bagıs also underlined that they would not address remarks to the Greek Cypriot Administration that will take over EU Term Presidency in July but their relations with the European Commission, European Parliament and the other member countries will continue.

THE OPPOSITION REACTS TO BAGIÅž

Leader of Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Özkan Yorgancıoğlu has reacted against the statements of Turkey’s Minister for European Union Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış. Stating that Bağış’s expression as “integration of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to Turkey is a choice” is unacceptable, Yorgancıoğlu pointed out that his party considers this statement as ‘extremely unfortunate statement’ and condemns this ‘vigorously’.

Yorgancıoğlu said: “it is not possible to consider the expression of the minister of a country which has an ambassador in TRNC as “TRNC might be integrated to Turkey” as an attitude based on historical relation and mutual respect”.

On the other hand, leader of Social Democratic Party (TDP) Mehmet Çakıcı stated that Egemen Bağış has no right to say “if there is not any solution, TRNC might be integrated to Turkey” and referred the statement as “an exceeder statement”.

Stating that the way of solution in the island can be determined by the Turkish Cypriot people not by Egemen Bağış, Çakıcı pointed out that they wanted to know if this statement is the personal opinion of the minister or the opinion of his political party.

Çakıcı argued that these statements are against the vision of ‘being one step ahead’ of TR Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Stating that the future of Turkish Cypriot people can be determined only by Turkish Cypriot people and they, as TDP, do not approve any practice except this understanding, Çakıcı said “in the current situation, we invite all related parties to be more constructive in the negotiation process and to take steps for finding a solution to Cyprus problem before 1st July”.

AVCI CRITICIZED CTP LEADER

Leader of Freedom and Reform Party Turgay Avcı criticized the leader of the main opposition party CTP-BG Ozkan Yorgancıoglu who previously criticized Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagıs.

Recording that a referendum was realized in 2004 and Turkey put forward her determination towards a solution Avcı said: “there is no change in her efforts towards a solution up to now. Avcı evaluated the condemnation of Egemen Bagıs due to his statements in London as trying to create different acknowledgements and distort public opinion. Indicating that Bagıs has always protected and defended rights and interests of Turkish Cypriot people and spent great efforts for the Cyprus problem Avcı added : “Statements of CTP leader regarding Bagıs are unjust.”

CHINISE COMPANY WANTS TO BE PARTNER OF THE 12. BLOCK

According to the Greek Cypriot Newspaper Politis, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) have expressed interest in acquiring a license to explore for natural gas offshore Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Newspaper noted that CNOOC have submitted a proposal to buy off exploration and exploitation rights in block 12 in the so-called exclusive economic zone of South Cyprus. It was underlined in the news that the detailed proposal of CNOOC which also covers buying Nobel Energy and Delek Companies have been proposed to the Council of Ministers which is dealing with the natural gas issues and Interior Minister of the Greek Cypriot Administration Neoklis Silikiotis is one of the members.