CYPRUS SUMMIT IN ANKARA

President Derviş Eroğlu is paying a one-day official visit to Ankara today, as guest of the Turkish President Abdullah Gül. President Dervis Eroglu will be holding a series of contacts in the Turkish capital Ankara. First meeting will be with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, second will be with the Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and third will be with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu. Eroğlu’s contacts in the Turkish capital are expected to focus on the fate of the Cyprus negotiations, as a critical phase awaits the process.

President Eroğlu will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Huseyin Özgürgün, his Special Representative Kudret Özersay and some members of his negotiating team during his contacts in Ankara. The delegation will turn back to TRNC tonight.

TALAT “IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE SCENARIO WOULD DEVELOP THIS WAY"

TRNC former President Mehmet Ali Talat made a statement concerning the Cyprus negotiations and stated that “it is known from the beginning that the scenario would develop this way”, and pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side is not in a hurry for a solution, the side which should be fast-moving is the Turkish Cypriot side, however the process has not developed in this way and it goes towards a deadlock, in fact the deadlock has been reached but it has been extended.

Defending that the policy followed by both sides is “a policy of deceiving and putting the blame on the other side”, Talat stated that even the score of match is 0-0, Turkish Cypriot side will lose, because the unrecognizing of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue. He expressed that solution is the sole thing which rescues Turkish Cypriot side.

SWEDISH BISHOP SVEN-BERNHARD FAST VISITED ATALAY

It was stated that Bishop of Sweden Sven-Bernhard Fast and his wife Eva Fast visited the Head of Religious Affairs Talip Atalay.

Swedish Bishop is the first Christian leader who visited the Religious Affairs Administration. It was also stated that the President of Religious Social Democrats Movement of Sweden, Peter Weiderud accompanied Fast during his visit.

In his speech, Weiderud said that Fast has been in the island to arrange the activities of Swedish Church, and at the same time, to execute the studies in order to establish an interfaith council in Sweden.

Moreover, in his speech, Sven-Bernhard Fast expressed his satisfaction to find an opportunity to speak with Atalay and said that as Muslim and Christian leaders, they have very important missions and common aims.

Expressing that they have common views for peace, Fast said that Atalay satisfied him with his speech made on behalf of peace because their common aim is to be leaders for the politicians to reach peace.

Adding that Fast has assumed an important initiative for establishing a dialogue, Atalay said that there are respect and confidence on the base of Islam.

Mentioning to his meetings with Archbishop Hrisostomos, Atalay said that religious functionaries should open ways for the politicians and should not be behind them. Atalay also expressed his satisfaction for Fast’s being the first Christian leader who visited the Religious Affairs Administration.