The TRNC House of Assembly has issued a written statement regarding the visit made by a delegation headed by Speaker of the Assembly Sibel Siber to Ankara.
The Cyprus negotiations, registration of hellim/halloumi, citizenship laws and the water issue were discussed at meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
According to the written statement, during the bilateral meetings of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the TRNC Assembly, the issue of sharing information and experience was discussed, as well as the need for increased cooperation. The statement read that they also agreed on in-service training and information sharing for some committees. It also noted that an agreement was made about enabling information sharing between the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s EU Commission and the EU committee of the TRNC Assembly.
A meeting was also held with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. They exchanged views and evaluated the issues of terrorism and refugees in the neighbouring region. On the Cyprus negotiations, it was stressed again that the Turkish side continues to do its part to reach a just solution in Cyprus and this determination will continue.
The statement added: “It is pleasing to see the positive reflection of the current positive atmosphere on the peoples of the island towards reaching a viable, comprehensive solution in Cyprus”.
During the meeting with President Erdogan, whose delegation was accompanied by the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Ismail Kahraman, many issues were discussed and particularly the Cyprus problem. There was focus on the current stage of the Cyprus talks and on the thorny issues of property and territorial adjustment. “During the meeting it was stated that the Greek Cypriot side’s emphasis that the Annan Plan is not on the table, naturally involves territorial adjustments. The importance of a solution to be found in Cyprus should be based on the two founding states was also stressed”, the statement read.
Discussing the geographical protection of hellim cheese, it was pointed out that there many difficulties in exporting the product. It was also mentioned that the citizenship law is now on the agenda of the relevant assembly committee. With this law many people will gain the right to citizenship. The statement said that “it was stressed that giving citizenship to the people who qualified is a major human right”.
In the meeting, Erdogan said that the water project is a huge project and that the water could also be shared with South Cyprus, as a peace project.
Star Kibris
