Turkish NTV news channel reports that European Union (EU) experts will come to Cyprus to begin work on the process with Turkish Cypriot officials, at the same time, adjusting the TRNC customs union in order to harmonise with the standards of the EU.

President Mustafa Akinci told NTV correspondent Selim Sayri that during the Presidents’ meeting on Monday, they had agreed to form a technical committee to work on economic harmonisation. The committee is expected to begin its work at the end of October 2015.

Akinci said that by bringing experts over from the EU, the aim is to complete the Turkish Cypriots’ preparations for adopting the Euro as soon as possible. He noted that it will take one year to adopt the Euro in the event of a solution being agreed by a referendum, during which time the Turkish lira will remain in use.

“This is a process. Adopting the Euro and the customs union will constitute the first stage. Afterwards harmonisation with the EU on the health, environment and other issues will come onto the agenda”, he noted.

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President Mustafa Akinci, speaking about the fire which broke out in Derinya, within the fenced off city of Varosha, said that the cause of the fire was unknown and added that the most important thing was to find how the fire broke out.

“I do not want to fuel any speculations as I have yet to receive any information as to how the fire started. There might be different views as to how the fire broke out. The important thing is for the truth to come out” Akinci said in response to various claims in social media and newspapers that the fire had been started deliberately.

Akinci said that he had followed developments closely with his staff from the very beginning and had been in contact with the chief of police throughout the whole incident.

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot side had offered assistance to help put out the fire, Akinci said: “Of course we shall resort to our means to put out such fires. But let me be clear that if needed to, we would have without hesitation asked for help from the UN and the Greek Cypriot side. Let me all remind you that from the very first day of my election, I have upheld the view that the other side is not our enemy but our partners for a common future”.

Akinci said that for years both sides had evolved through a culture of mistrust and conflict. “Our culture to assist each other has not developed enough. We need to change the way we look at things. They [Greek Cypriots] too are hesitating to accept help when experiencing such incidents. This needs to change. We need to stop seeing each other as enemies and start seeing each other as partners. These are my views but I believe it will take time to see things change in practice. At this point the important thing is that the fire was put out before it led to a disaster”, he said.

Akinci had given instructions for assistance to be sought from the Greek Cypriot side, the British bases, and the United Nations, if Turkish Cypriot fire-fighting teams could not cope.

The fire broke out shortly after noon last Friday and spread quickly due to strong winds. The fire was put under control at around 8pm with the help of two water-dropping helicopters from the British military bases as well as a fire fighting plane which arrived from Turkey.

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"Education is the way forward, Younger people the key": TRNC President Mustafa Akinci
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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited newly-elected Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci to New York for a meeting, Turkish Cypriot media reported on today.

President Akinci’s office issued a statement saying that the Secretary-General had telephoned him and invited him to meet face to face. The date of the meeting has not been set, however.

It’s reported that Ban said he was pleased that talks had resumed and that the leaders had discussed implementing a series of low-level confidence building measures (CBM).

On Sunday Akinci, addressing a bi-communal social event for young people in the TRNC, and greeting some of the participants in Greek, said a tough negotiations process lay ahead.

The leaders are due to meet twice a month with the second meeting scheduled for late next week. Their respective negotiators are set to meet more frequently

“The approach should not be seeing the person sitting before you as your enemy. Our view is to see the person sitting before you as a ‘future partner’ and this is extremely important,” Akinci said.

“Our generations and the generations before us shared pain, blood, tears and suffering on these lands.

Let the future generations share the peace, the blessings and the beauties of this island. I believe that with this mentality our future will be better.”

“This will not be easy, I have to say,” he said at a separate event on Monday. “There are great expectations and I will do it my utmost to respond to them. However, it is a process we must walk together. I won’t use the classical expression about taking two to tango because this gives the message that I am a good dancer. But if your partner steps on your foot, it will not make for a good rhythm.”

Akinci expressed the hope that “with determination and political will”, within a framework of a concrete road map, the necessary progress would be made in the coming months. He also spoke of the CBMs he and Anastasiades would be discussing, and said the leaders had also agreed to set up a joint committee on culture.

Greek Cypriot government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said on Sunday that Anastasiades and Akinci had asked their negotiators to prepare a joint list of ‘low politics’ CBMs.

Cyprus Mail

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President Mustafa Akıncı Made his first official overseas visit to Republic of Turkey. Akıncı and his delegation who went to Ankara from Ercan Airport with a private Jet of Republic of Turkey is welcomed with an official ceremony at Esenboğa Airport.

In Ankara Akıncı first met with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu then he met with the President of Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

At the joint press conference organized by two presidents, desire for a solution to the Cyprus Problem within this year is emphasized.

Turkey’s President Erdogan stated that they had the opportunity to talk about what steps to take about Cyprus issue and what role to take in the period in front of them. Erdoğan said: “We have supported all kinds of approach in good faith and UN’s efforts so far. We are hoping to reach a solution within the framework of principles of the Joint statement dated 11th February I want to underline specially this matter. It is not possible to get a result with only efforts and dedication of the Turkish side. So far our Turkish brothers have showed all kinds of effort, put strong will, and have proven that they are the willing party for a solution. From now on the Greek side should stop riding the job uphill, and show sincere effort. If this can happen we believe 2015 will be the year of solution in Cyprus. The opportunity for a solution should not be wasted like in 2004. We can however reach a solution at the negotiating table within the framework of the UN. Apart from this, putting pressure on Turkey or Turkish Cypriot side to reach an outcome is useless. So far however we supported till today, we will continue our support."

Erdoğan who gave information about the work to realize a major project he qualified as the "Century Project" to meet the water needs of the TRNC pointed out that 75 million cubic meters of drinking and irrigation water per year, will be brought to Cyprus with the drinking water supply project.

President Akıncı also stated that the Cyprus problem has come to an important threshold point and said: “After I have been elected, I’m observing a positive atmosphere in the international environment, which is an additional source of power. I believe at this new case that the international conjuncture has brought, we will show efforts to move further the vision of solution we have been continuing for so long.”

Akıncı pointed out that this will not be one sided effort, and that he wished for the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration Anastasiadis to share the solution vision he revealed during the election campaign and also in the handover ceremony later. Akıncı expressed that Anastasiadis is the only Greek Cypriot leader who said yes to 2004 referendum of Annan Plan but no longer carried on that position because of 75 percent of “No’s. Akıncı wished, Anastasiadis’s vision in 2004 comes up again today at the new situation, and they reach a conclusion of the negotiations which have been going on since 1968 by maintaining a useful dialogue process and the Turkish Cypriot community becomes part of the international community.

[Source]

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