It was claimed that in “Paralimni” town in Famagusta district in the Southern Cyprus, a mass grave was found belonging 13 Turkish Cypriots who were killed by Greek Cypriots in year of 1964.

Greek Cypriot Haravgi newspaper noted that in accordance with the information gained from Greek Cypriots who experienced the period of 1964, The Committee on Missing Persons carried out excavations at the area of Laksia in Paralimni, and reached to the bones of third missing Turkish Cypriots till now as a result of excavations.

According to the newspaper the grave is believed to have the bones of the fourth Turkish Cypriot, the Committee received the information about the area that 13 Turkish Cypriots were buried, so it is believed that there are more mass graves .

According to the news, information received by the committee was that 13 Turkish Cypriots working at the Famagusta port in 1964 were killed by Greek Cypriots and were buried at the area.

The second “Build Peace” conference will be held on 25-26 April in Cyprus with the aim of increasing the effect of information and communication technologies as games and communication networks on peacebuilding initiatives.

The conference will bring together 250 peace and technology experts, academicians and activists from 30 countries.

The activity which will be held both in Northern and Southern parts of Nicosia walled city, is supported by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Regarding the activity, UNDP Programme Manager Cristopher Louise said “Both Cyprus ‘ geographical position between Europe and the Arab countries and knowledge and experience wealth of Cypriot civil society towards peace initiatives, makes Nicosia a unique venue for the conference.”

Louise also added such an important event will be a great opportunity for learning and sharing for both Cypriots and International Community.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu answered the questions of Channel 7 Ankara representative Mehmet Acet’s questions on Ülke TV and touched on the issues of relations with Greece and Cyprus problem.

Regarding Greek Cypriot side’s leaving the negotiation table, Çavuşoğlu said that primarily Greeks should be determined for a solution in Cyprus. Noticing that the Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Anastasiadis should stop hiding behind Annan plan, Çavuşoğlu said “Anastasiadis should return to the table, Annan plan has passed, he should stop hiding behind it.”

 Referring to the natural gas exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, Çavuşoğlu said that it is not possible to apply the steps taken in the region by excluding Turkey, adding “We will not tolerate this, sale of the natural gas and petrol taken out from here will be over Turkey, our suggestions are fair”.

Indicating that Turkey is ready to give all kind of support to collaborate with the new government of Greece, Çavuşoğlu said: “Greece’s stabilizing economically and politically will be beneficial for us for solving problems and Cyprus negotiations”. Çavuşoğlu also indicated that he has sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece and will make a phone call with him in these days.

Presidential spokesman Osman Ertuğ said that Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Konstandinos Kutras’ statement “There is a single State in Cyprus” was a denial of the reality and towards ignoring Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which was established with the free will of Turkish Cypriot people.

 In his written statement made yesterday, Ertuğ said: “Mr. Kutras is mixing up the presence of a state with the political subject recognition to each other on purpose and trying to impose on us the so called ‘Cyprus Republic’ which they exclude Turkish Cypriots by force of arms and extorted in 1963”.

Expressing that despite the change of Government in Greece, this type of monopolistic statements show that Greece’s policy about Cyprus hasn’t changed, Ertuğ said “However, we expected more constructive approaches from the new government”.

Furthermore, Ertug said that the Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman was reacting to Eroglu’s statements that there were two equal and sovereign sides on the island; however this kind of action was a violation of the spirit of the joint statement.

Ertuğ also expressed “The New Greek Government should respect to the Joint Statement and convince the Greek Cypriot side to return to the negotiation table without precondition”.

Communal Democracy Party (TDP) delegation consists of TDP leader Cemal Özyiğit, Famagusta MP Hüseyin Angolemli, Deputy Secretary General Responsible for Foreign Affairs Deniz Birinci is continuing their official contacts in the UK.

According to the statement of TDP press office, within the framework of the programme, after meeting various groups of deputies from UK parliament, TDP delegation also attended the conference organized in the Parliament as a speaker the day before.

Furthermore, it was stated that the delegation attended the panel organized by TDP London Solidarity Association at the Turkish Cypriot Community Center for evaluating recent developments in Cyprus yesterday.

Today, TDP delegation will be guests of various media organizations and will gather up with Turkish Cypriots living in England at a dinner meeting. TDP delegation will return to the island on Saturday.

“Nicosia Economic Forum” composed of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO), Greek Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Greece Union of Chambers, Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey held their 3^rd meeting in Athens yesterday.

The importance of resumption of the negotiation process was stressed in the final declaration of the forum.

According to the written statement of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, in his speech, the head of the Greece Union of Chambers and host of Nicosia Economic Forum meeting Konstantin Michalos said that their aim is to make contribution to the solution of the Cyprus problem with this activity.

The form ended with discussion talks about the agenda and publishing the final declaration.

 In the final declaration, it was stated “The current deadlock is not beneficial for both sides.  The Form highlights commitment to the importance of resumption of the negotiation process. We also believe that the negotiations should be done in an environment that will result in a constructive setting and should be in a way to bring peace and prosperity to Cyprus and Eastern Mediterranean to reach a win-win scenario.”

Spokesman of Turkish Foreign Affairs Ministry Tanju Bilgiç said “the subjects especially concerning the Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa vessel stated by Greek Prime Minister Aleksis Çipras during his visit to South Cyprus do not contain the factors which will help to achieve a solution based on political equality of two peoples in the island”.

Bilgiç stated that Turkey wishes recommencement of the negotiation process in Cyprus and a solution based on political equality of two peoples to be found in the island as soon as possible and said “Turkish Cypriots’ benefiting exactly from the natural resources in the island is a priority for us. Hence, Turkey will always continue to support Turkish Cypriots”.

Turkey’s Minister of European Union and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkır made a statement concerning the visit of Greek Prime Minister Aleksis Çipras to South Cyprus and said “Cipras’s including the representatives of Turkish Cypriot NGOs in his first visit to South Cyprus is positive.” Bozkır said that he hopes steps will be taken for ending the 50 year-old Cyprus problem.

Bozkır replied the questions of journalists before leaving for Washington at the Atatürk Airport. Bozkır said “Greece is our neighbor. Of course we wish our neighbor to be economically prosperous and in stability because the problems which may arose there will be reflected to Turkey. A process based on good relations between Turkey and Greece continues for a long time. When our Prime Minister went to Greece, he met with the present Prime Minister Çipras. Indications are such that there will be no negative effects on the relations between Turkey and Greece. Greece has great problems so she will not envisage adding new factors to these problems.”

The Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Government Spokesperson Bülent Arınç said:  “Tsipras does not behave different from us. When a new government is established in Turkey and the new Prime Minister takes office, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the first country to be visited traditionally”.

Arınç made statements following the Council of Ministers and said:

“When Tsipras assumed office as the Prime Minister, he visited South Cyprus and made some statements. We are on the negotiating table. We are determined to reach a solution. For this reason, we do not need to make comments for the statements made with regard to the internal policy. There are Turkish people living in the island. They have their own parliament, government and sovereignty rights. There is an opinion that the people living in the island have rights in all resources in the island.”

Arınc said that according to the international and the national law, it is the Turkish Republic’s right to make explorations in the island with her own vessel and continued: “There is criticism against this, even the Greek Cypriot side left the negotiation table for this reason and declared it. We do not believe that all of these will destroy the relations between Turkey and Greece. Both Turkish Cypriot and Turkish governments desire a solution and help the starting of a new process in order to find a solution based on the realities in the island.

Slovakian Ambassador to South Cyprus Oksana Tomova and Polish Ambassador to South Cyprus Barbara Tuge-Ereciska met with the UBP President Hüseyin Özgürgün yesterday.

UBP Parliamentarians Tahsin Ertuğruloglu and Ersan Saner also participated in the meeting which took place at the UBP Headquarters.

Press was allowed to take pictures before the meeting however no statement was made.