Evaluating the "elections" to various media organizations in Turkey, Eroglu argued that an important period awaits the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey.

"We need a strong and stable government during this period" he said.

In a statement issued by his press bureau, Eroglu said that the National Unity Party, of which he is the honorary leader of, "emerged as the winner of the elections but failed to win an absolute majority".

He alleged that "a coalition government which would safeguard the interests of the country needed to be formed".

Touching upon the possibility of "early elections" he stated: "Both the majority of the people and I desire a coalition government to be formed as soon as possible. The law dictates that failure to form a government in 60 days will result in new elections".

Also referring to the Cyprus problem he claimed that "the ultimate goal of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo was to bring the island under Greek hegemony".

Alleging that the Greek Cypriots continue their hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean by ignoring the "rights" of the Turkish Cypriots, Eroglu said: "An important period is waiting for Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot people. We need a strong and stable government during this period."

[05] Ozersay urged Akinci to take initiative on the issue of the delimitation of the EEZ

Point out to the importance of the issue, Ozersay proposed to Akinci to take initiative on the issue by sending a letter to the UN Secretary General and to meet with the Ambassadors of the permanent member countries of the Security Council.

He also claimed that it is not a coincidence that President Anastasiades did that close to the presidential elections, adding that he did that to collect points against his opponents and to create tension in the region.

(DPs)

[06] Messages by Akinci, the Turkish MFA and other Turkish Cypriot politicians on the 6th anniversary of the death of Rauf Denktas

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci signed the special book and wrote: "The struggle you waged against the Greek Cypriots who were working towards Enosis to unite the island with Greece and the struggle you fought so that the Turkish Cypriots would not become a minority on the island and can live freely and the sacrifices you made will never be forgotten by the Turkish Cypriot people'.

'We will continue to work to create the conditions needed so that the Turkish Cypriot people can live freely with their head held high in equality and in security within the framework of international law, may you rest in peace'" wrote Ak?nc?.

Also, during the speech he delivered at the ceremony Ak?nc? commemorated and praised Denktas by saying that he played a saviors role by leading the Turkish Cypriot" people" during a time when the Turkish Cypriot "people's identity" was trying to be erased from the island.

"The late Rauf Raif Denktas and the late Dr. Faz?l Kucuk worked together and shaped the Turkish Cypriot people's struggle for existence, they left their marks in history and are important leaders of our country" Ak?nc? alleged.

Arguing that security and peace was achieved on the island thanks to the effort of Rauf Denktas and Dr. Faz?l Kucuk and their friends who fought for this "country", together with the support of Turkey, Ak?nc? further alleged that today he was acting with the same responsibility.

Also, the leader of the Democratic Party, and so-called deputy prime minister Serdar Denktas issued a message via his social media account commemorating the 6th anniversary of the death of his father. In his message, he wrote: "Rest assured father, the sovereignty, independence and state that you entrusted to us continues to strengthen".

He continued to claim that: "if today people are able to think differently, if people are able to go to elections because they want to elect those who can improve the education system, the health system and the economy and if improvements are able to be made to develop the country, then that is called sovereignty.

If today we can communicate in our own country using our own language, if we can raise our children and practice our religion freely, then that is called independence. We don't have anywhere else to go and if we are saying that we were born here, we will live here and we will die here, then this is called our state. This is why we are commemorating the late founding president Rauf Raif Denktas who dedicated his entire life to the sovereignty, independence and freedom of the Turkish Cypriot people and the state", Denktas alleged.

Moreover, so-called prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun, issuing a written message, he said: "Our fundamental duty is to protect the state that was entrusted to us by the late founding president Rauf Raif Denktas and to eternalize it'.

Supporting that Rauf Raif Denktas had dedicated his entire life to the Cyprus cause and that until his last breath he had worked hard to make sure to protect the "rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people",Ozgurgun claimed that "thanks to the pioneering of Rauf Denktas, the Turkish Cypriot "people who had waged a struggle for years, had been able to obtain their own state and live freely and in sovereignty without fear".

(…)

Also, in a separate message, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has issued a message to mark the 6th anniversary of the death of Rauf Denktas.

The message read: 'The late founding president Rauf Raif Denktas dedicated his entire life to the Turkish Cypriot peoples struggle for existence. Denktas with tenacity and devotedly fought for the rights, equality and freedom of the Turkish Cypriot people together in harmony with motherland Turkey. He displayed outstanding leadership in overcoming all problems and has won a place in history and everyone's heart".

[07] Ankara Court's decision to suspend Akkuyu nuclear plant construction

In a written statement, the platform noted that "the decision opened the way again to evaluate the dangers that the nuclear power plant will create for the future of Turkey's people and for the surrounding people", adding that the decision is a "legal gain" that may also affect other environmental cases.

(DPs)

[08] Increase to the "Green line trade"

According to the paper, the sales were up to 2.422.887,47 Euro.

(CS)

[09] Unemployment within university graduates increases

"While there are around 45 thousand foreign workers in our country, we also have around 11 thousand unemployed young persons", he notes arguing that this situation is not sustainable, because the approximately 2,000 young persons who go every year to university, become members of the "army of the unemployed persons with diploma".

(I/Ts.)

[10] Turkey condemns in a written statement US' PKK/PYD-led army plan in Syria

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Turkey had reiterated on numerous occasions that it was "wrong and objectionable" to cooperate with the PKK/PYD terrorist organization on the ground in Syria in order to fight Daesh and stabilize the areas liberated from it.

"On the other hand, the establishment of the so-called 'Syria Border Protection Force' was not consulted with Turkey, which is a member of the coalition," the statement said.

The Ministry added that it was also not known which coalition members approved this decision. "To attribute such a unilateral step to the whole coalition is an extremely wrong move that could harm the fight against Daesh," it said.

"Such initiatives, through cooperation with the PYD/YPG in contradiction with the U.S commitments and statements, endanger Turkey's national security and the territorial integrity of Syria, and are totally unacceptable," it said.

"We condemn insistence on this wrong approach and remind once again that Turkey is determined to and capable of eliminating any threats against the country," it added.

(…)

[11] Erdogan warned for a possible operation in Syria's Afrin within the next days: "Terror clearance operation to continue in Syria's Afrin"

"Keep watching us. Any slightest harassment on our borders will be seen as a signal flare of the steps to be taken," Erdogan said during a speech at a provincial congress meeting of the ruling Justice and Development (AKP) in the Central Anatolian province of Tokat.

"Turkey will continue the operation to clear our southern border from terror with Afrin," he said.

(…)

Erdogan reiterated his famous saying "We can come overnight all of a sudden."

Erdogan also slammed again the U.S. for supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) whose main components are YPG fighters that Ankara sees the YPG as the offshoot of the PKK in Syria.

"Do you fool us?", he said calling to the "west" for not cooperation with the terrorist organizations in a bid to fight another terrorist organization. He warned "western countries" that they should know such attitude is harming bilateral relations. "Despite everything, we believe we have in common interests with America in the region, we hope to act together. Because it's time to help Turkey, time to qualify strategic cooperation," he noted.

Ankara expects "its friends to support Turkey's legitimate efforts" and be in a position that "suits them in such a sensitive, critical issue" Erdogan said referring to the Turkish government's struggle against the PKK and its affiliations.

Erdogan asked its allies, not directly naming the U.S., of not siding the YPG for Turkey's possible military operation into Afrin. "I hope these forces will not make a mistake of appearing on the same stage with the terrorist organization during the Afrin operation," he said.

Meanwhile, a Turkish military convoy including tanks has been dispatched to the Syrian border in Turkey's southern Hatay province, a security source said on January 13.

A military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media, said the tanks were sent as reinforcements to the Turkish border units.

Early on Jan. 14, a source in the region said that the Turkish military hit several People's Protection Units (YPG) targets in the Afrin district of Syria's Aleppo province to prevent a "terror corridor" from forming along Turkey's borders.

The military operation follows President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's call for the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the political wing of the YPG and affiliated to the PKK , in Afrin to surrender.

"Turkey will interfere "if the terrorists in Afrin do not surrender," Erdogan also said, adding that Turkish forces "are destroying the western wing of this corridor with the Idlib operation."

[12] Celik: "Turkey will not accept a 'privileged partnership' with EU"

German politicians lately proposed the "privileged partnership" for Turkey, instead of full EU membership.

"No one can offer a second-class status to Turkey in its EU relations," Celik said, underlining Turkey's clear position on this.

He also criticized Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.

"Although he is the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, he wants to cut Turkey-EU relations."

(…)

Celik stated that Turkey wants to open Chapter 23 on the judiciary and fundamental rights and Chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

https://www.pio.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio2013.nsf/All/EDB254ABD6F3EAE1C225816F00425E83?OpenDocument

(AK / AM)

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