In a statement via social media, Ak?nc? claimed that he was watching with amazement how conspiracy theories were being created over the issue. "The second round of the presidential elections which will be held in south Cyprus on the 4th of February is an internal issue which concerns only the Greek Cypriots. Just as the Turkish Cypriots decide and vote for their own leader and TRNC president, it is only natural that the Greek Cypriots too decide on who their own leader will be. Our interference in the elections in the south is out of the question", he alleged.

Ak?nc? further explained that the Turkish Cypriot side's request from Mr. Eide in July following the developments in Crans-Montana and Mr. Anastasiades were only fulfilled in December and that the map had been returned to the Turkish Cypriot side. "This issue was only made public recently following the inquiry of the media. It is out of the question to accept attempts made to present this issue as interference in the elections in the south" he claimed.

[03] Ozgurgun: "The statements regarding the map are comical"

Ozgurgun was speaking after a meeting of UBP where he said that the fact that the Turkish Cypriot side submitted a map on the first place "was one of the biggest mistakes took place against the Turkish Cypriot people". He also said that his party warned against the submission of the map which as he alleged provides that the most vital zone of the breakaway regime were to be handed to the Greek Cypriots. According to Ozgurgun, despite their warnings Akinci did even discuss with them these issues.

Finally, Ozgurgun wished the best for the "new government" and expressed the hope that Akinci will work with it better, since, as he alleged, the Turkish Cypriot leader participated in its formation.

(CS)

[04] Burcu replied to Ozgurgun and accused him of not reading the Cyprus talks archives

Burcu who issued a written statement, accused Ozgurgun of not reading the archives of the Cyprus talks adding that this is the reason that the UBP leader made this comment.

He also said that Ozgurgun is not happy for losing the "prime ministry" adding that he has to search and find out "why he was not able to form a new government after his party came first at the elections".

Burcu said that after the Greek Cypriot side withdrew its proposal, the Turkish Cypriot side asked form the UN the map that it submitted in Geneva. Following this, the map was returned to the Turkish Cypriot side on December 8, 2017.

(CS)

[05] The priorities of the new "government"- The "coalition partners" maintain their positions on the Cyprus problem

The "protocol" provides for the quick completion of the "draft-law" as regards the reforms in the "public sector" and for amending the "labour law". According to the "protocol", the criteria for granting "citizenship" will change so that the "arbitrary practices" applied in this field are prevented and some boundaries will be put to granting "citizenship". After a certain period of time those who work in the occupied area of Cyprus with a "work permit" will be granted a "white card" and will have the opportunity to obtain all the "citizens' rights" except for the "right to vote" and be "elected". Furthermore, a "law" will be implemented providing that the new "citizens" will not have the "right to vote" in the first elections after they were granted "citizenship".

The parties also agreed that they will deal with the "lawless", "irregular" and "corrupted" actions of the past regardless of which party had been in "power" when they were committed, that they will undertake initiative before the "police" and the "attorney general's office" and that if necessary "immunities" will be lifted. Moreover, the "protocol" provides that they re-examine and amend the "election law", which was implemented for the first time in the "early parliamentary elections" held on 7 January, 2018 and was subject of criticism.

The "protocol" provides also that the "government" will undertake an initiative to sign a new "mutual assistance agreement" with Turkey which will make personal record control possible during entering or exiting the occupied area of Cyprus.

In the "protocol" the four "coalition partners" state also that they will maintain their positions on the negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. It is noted that the "government" will "take care of keeping the dialogue" with the Turkish Cypriot leader as regards the Cyprus negotiations at the "most healthy level".

(I/Ts.)

6 An increase to the occupancy rate of hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus in 2017

Under the title "Tourism breathed a sigh of relief in 2017", Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.02.18) reports that the average occupancy rate of tourist facilities in the occupied area of Cyprus increased in 2017 to 58.5%, by increasing 20.4% compared to 2016. The average occupancy rate was 48.6% in 2016.

The average occupancy rate of the casino hotels was 62.7%, while the average occupancy rate of the other hotels was 48.7%. The data also showed that accommodation increased by 20.3% and overnight at 23.6%.

According to tourism data released by the "tourism planning department", the number of Turkish citizens, who use the tourist facilities in the occupied area of Cyprus, has increased by 14.3% in 2017 compared to 2016, from 621,819 persons to 710,889 persons.

Meanwhile, there was an increase of tourists, who were referred to as "other foreigners". In 2017, 345,584 from the 410,082 persons, who travelled to the occupied areas of Cyprus from third countries, which is equivalent to 84.27% stayed in tourist facilities.

(DPs)

[07] The "state planning organization" announced a decline on the "inflation" in January