TURCHIA OGGI: BOLLETTINO DI INFORMAZIONI (turchia

2nd CONGRESS OF WORLDWIDE TURKISH CYPRIOTS
The 2nd Congress of Worldwide Turkish Cypriots organized by the Foundation of Worldwide Turkish Cypriots that will last 3 days started yesterday in Acapulco Hotel in Girne.
The opening speeches of the Congress were made by Prime Minister Ýrsen Küçük and the Head of Board of Trustees of Worldwide Turkish Cypriots Foundation Vedat Çelik and President Derviþ Eroðlu and the Foreign Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün who couldn’t participate to the Congress sent messages.
At the first phase of the Congress held yesterday academicians and politicians discussed the latest developments of the Cyprus issue at a panel discussions under 4 chapters.
President Eroðlu with his message sent to the Congress extended his thanks to the Foundation of Worldwide Turkish Cypriots for organizing such a Congress and expressed his belief that the Congress which started its works last year will bring positive contributions for the Turkish Cypriot people as well as the humankind.
Explaining that active efforts and lobbying activities which have been carried out for years are much more needed today in the current process President said the more the Turkish Nation and Turkish Cypriot people get united towards the same goals the more their security and welfare would increase.
Referring to the developments regarding the negotiations between him and Greek Cypriot leader Christofias President Eroglu said:
“It has not been possible for us to reach a settlement for almost half a century because of the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigent stance. Greek Cypriot side, which would take over the EU term presidency as of 1 July, instead of spending effort for reaching a settlement, is planning to further isolate the Turkish Cypriot people from the rest of the world and prevent them from cooperating with other countries and participating in any international activities including sports competitions. However, we share the same views with Motherland Turkey; we will not accept the Greek Cypriot side as our collocutor as the EU term president. The EU, which had not kept its promises given to the Turkish Cypriots, by making the Greek Cypriot side the term president despite all the realities on the island, is preventing a settlement in Cyprus, instead of contributing to it.”
Speaking at the inauguration of the Congress, Prime Minister Ýrsen Kucuk expressed his belief that the valuable evaluations and presentations which would   be submitted at the 3-day Congress would make significant contributions to the efforts and activities continued   towards   explaining and defending the Turkish Cypriot people’s right cause at the international fora.
Noting that   it was important to act as a single voice in both domestic and foreign arenas for the national cause and to make and undertake initiatives within the framework of the determined state policy, Kucuk said that the Turkish Cypriot side have fulfilled its responsibility more than its due by participating in the negotiations continued for nearly half century under the auspices of UN in good faith, however, a positive result could not be reached due to the intransigent stance of the Greek Cypriot side.
Stating that the new partnership’s being   under the safeguard of the Treaty of   Guarantee and Alliance including Turkey’s active and effective guarantee   is among their red lines, Prime Minister Kucuk continued:
“the Turkish side expresses at every opportunity that if a comprehensive solution is not attained in the island by   July 2012 when the Greek Cypriot side within the scope of its illegal EU membership, will undertake the EU term presidency, the opportunity window for a solution in the island will be closed . As the Turkish Cypriot side, our aim is to reach a solution before this date and the new partnership state to undertake the EU term presidency. However, it is clear that there is no political will or intention from   the Greek Cyrpiot side towards this end”.
Foreign Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün at his message sent to the congress underlined the importance of being in unity with the Turkish people living abroad.
Minister Özgürgün at his message said “There is serious movement in the region lately due to “the Arab Spring” and the one sided oil and natural gas exploration efforts of the Greek Cypriots. The Foreign Ministry is showing outmost effort to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people both at the island and abroad with the help of Turkey.
TRNC is ahead of many western countries in terms of democracy, human rights and rule of law and we are ready to share our experience and knowledge at these fields with the friendly people of the region. Recent developments at the countries of the region created an opportunity to form positive and warm relations with some countries that have stayed away from forming relations with the TRNC in the past.
We are aware of the great chance and opportunity this new situation presents and we are spending great effort with Turkey to create an environment that Turkish Cypriot people is more understood and accepted while the region is at a new reformation process.
The Greek Cypriot side is signing restricted economic zone treaties with the countries around Cyprus in recent years and they have tried to present us with a fait accompli with their one sided natural gas exploration efforts. We, as TRNC and Turkey warned against their unacceptable approach in order to maintain the peace and tranquillity in the eastern Mediterranean and suggested the formation of a common committee for the fair and friendly solution of this issue but the Greek Cypriot side just ignored and refused our call.
The negotiations within the scope of the UN’s good offices mission continue while such important developments occur at the region. Turkish Cypriot side is at the negotiation table to reach a fair and lasting settlement that will ensure that the tragic events of the past will not be repeated. Turkish Cypriot side is always ready to reach a settlement within the scope of established UN parameters.