Dervis Eroglu has sworn in as the third President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Eroglu took oath at General Assembly in the Parliament this afternoon.
Deputies and a public crowd witnessed the oath ceremony at the Parliament together with other high level guests.
Later, the President-elect laid wreaths at the Atatürk Monument in North Nicosia and the tomb of the late leader Dr. Fazıl Küçük.
Dervis Eroglu then moved on to the Presidential Palace for the hand-over ceremony where Turkey was represented by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
The outgoing President Mehmet Ali Talat delivered his farewell speech and Eroglu presented him with the presidential pennant as a memory.
Eroglu addressed the audience too, following Talat’s farewell speech.
NEW PRESIDENT DERVIS EROGLU SAYS SINGLE SOVEREIGNTY AND SINGLE CITIZENSHIP WILL BE CLARIFIED
The new President Dervis Eroglu who officially took over the presidency today has given clear messages on the Cyprus peace negotiations. Speaking the Anatolian News Agency, Mr Eroglu said the new administration will not ignore the progress being achieved until now however it will clarify some issues like single sovereignty and single citizenship.
He also expressed the hope that the United Nations would revise its decisions over the non-recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as long as the Greek Cypriot Side keeps its intransigent attitude.
Underlining that there are two equal peoples in Cyprus, Mr Eroglu said it is hard to form a new state by ignoring these realities and there should be an understanding of setting up a new partnership based on two sovereign people.
Eroglu said that he was in favour of meetings between delegations rather than tete-a-tete meetings during Cyprus talks.
Eroglu said he would try to set a common strategy during his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu which is to take place today.
Noting that the most difficult topic in Cyprus talks would be property and territory issue he stated that he did not think the issue of guarantees would be solved easily on the negotiation table.