According to a press release by Akinci's office, during the meeting Akinci briefed Cavallari on the course of the Cyprus problem and on what was experienced in Crans Montana.

Akinci also conveyed the Turkish Cypriot side's concerns over the Greek Cypriot side's natural gas exploration activities in the Mediterranean and its unilateral steps in the exclusive economic zone. Finally, he expressed the importance of collaboration in the Eastern Mediterranean.

[04] Ozyigit: "The elections results were determined by the granting of 12,000 citizenships"

He also said that the "elections results" were determined by the granting of 12,000 citizenships and noted that 8-9 thousands of these persons are voters, which determined the results because they voted for the National Unity Party (UBP).

"Of course, everybody living in this country is our people and we should not ostracize them. […] However, granting citizenships aiming at the people's vote is what led the left parties to today's situation", he stated.

(CS)

[05] "TRNC" participated in the "Ferien-Messe 2018" tourism fair in Vienna

Fikri Ataoglu, self-styled minister of tourism and environment, said that they are undertaking works in order to ensure that more tourists will spend their holidays in the occupied area of Cyprus. He noted that they give importance to the participation in international fairs for tourism, adding that the "fair marathon of 2018" has started and "north Cyprus" should take part in every tourism platform.

(DPs)

[06] Reactions regarding "religious pressure" allegations in "Hala Sultan Divinity College"

Selma Eylem, chairperson of Turkish Cypriot secondary school teachers' trade union (KTOEOS), told the paper that the controller is expected today in the school and that her organization will be following the issue with their members at the school.

The letter of complaint sent to the "ministry" said that the teachers who had been assigned to the college from Turkey behaved as if they were the real administrators of the school, that pressure was exerted on the students by these teachers and that students who live at the college's dormitory were forced to wake up early in the morning and pray. It also noted that a contest for reading the Koran with expensive prizes had been organized, that theology teachers told the students that those who would participate in the New Year celebrations would be turned into stone, that a girl student was insulted because of what she wore and that boys and girls walking together were accused of committing a shameful act.

Referring to the issue, Asim Idris, general secretary of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that the "ministry" of education should immediately act on this issue and expressed his concern that the community will be divided into camps and the people will have conflicts with each other. He said that these conflicts will be experienced in the streets and added that "I am worried about the future of our children".

Erdogan Sorakin, general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said that "serious weaknesses" exist as regards the administration of the above-mentioned school and noted that it is neither "legal not ethical" for a person assigned from outside to become administrator in a school. He also described as "unacceptable" the incidents which have allegedly happened during extra-scholastic activities.

Meanwhile, the school's parent-teachers' association denied the "religious pressure" allegations and described the teachers who sent the letter of complaint to the "ministry" as "a marginal group". The chairman of the association, Hikmet Kaynarca argued that "our parents and students have knowingly chosen Hala Sultan Divinity College, which we believe adopts religious values, defends national and spiritual values, is successful in the field of education and aims at raising generations, which are devoted to the country and the nation".

(I/Ts.)

[07] The "exports" of halloumi/hellim to Turkey were increased in 2017

The following table shows the "halloumi/hellim exports" in 2016:

$ Quantity

USA 16,170.00 3.850

Bahrain 212,782.00 44.390

UAE 3,072,517.09 643.649

Iraq 109.200.00 28.00

Japan 5,400.00 600

Qatar 1,306,230.97 278.740

Kuwait 5,636,586.61 1,310.270

Saudi Arabia 4,678.951.46 957.142

Turkey 12,803,565.28 3,301.821

Oman 62,483.40 10.374

Jordan 986,176.00 229.030

Total: 28,890,062.79 6,807,866

The following table shows the "halloumi/hellim" exports in January-October 2017:

$ Quantity

USA 181,233.00 32.040

Australia 113,250.00 25.500

Bahrain 199,212.00 39.492

UAE 1,393,500.00 281.155

Japan 24,619.99 3.080

Qatar 855,016.40 213.667

Kuwait 4,831,756.65 1,213.246

Saudi Arabia 2,093,299.00 448.272

Turkey 15,973,570.95 4,199.353

Oman 43,890.00 7.980

Jordan 533,381.00 126.607

Total: 26,242,729.03 6,590.392

The paper also reports that the directors of the dairy products company Gulgun, Yunus and Mustafa Betmezoglu, told to the paper that foreign currency is one of the most important factors which influence exports.

(DPs)

[08] Erdogan: "Possible Afrin operation to be conducted with Syrian opposition groups"

"This fight is for them. We are helping our brothers there so that they can protect their own territories," Erdogan told reporters in Parliament.

"Those who stabbed us in the back and appear to be our allies ... cannot prevent it," Erdogan added, referring to the US administration.

He noted that he did "not even think" about calling U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the situation in Syria.

"For as long as he does not turn to me, I won't turn to him … America will come from 11,000 or 12,000 kilometers away to set up an army here? What will it name this army? A 'border protection' force? Whose border is being protected?" Erdogan said.

He further noted that the Syrian regime also sees the formation of such a force as a "threat," while also blasting NATO for "not responding" to harassment by the YPG on Turkey's border.

"You are duty-bound to take a certain stance against anything that harasses one of your partners," Erdogan said, addressing members of his AKP at Parliament.

(…)

[09] Erdogan discussed Syria developments with NATO Chief over the phone

The phone conversation followed a recent U.S. decision to form a border protection army in Syria with the terrorist PYD/PKK.

Erdogan told Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's Secretary General, that in the face of recent developments in Syria, Turkey will take all necessary measures to protect its national security.

Erdogan said that "the creation of a force" expected to be led by the SDF command and controlled by the PYD/YPG terrorist organization is entirely unacceptable to Turkey.

Stressing that Turkey -- a 65-year member of the alliance -- is an important country for NATO, Stoltenberg said that NATO was not consulted on the matter of creating this so-called army.

Earlier on Tuesday, Erdogan called on NATO to fulfill its responsibilities. "NATO! You are obliged to take a stand against those who harass the borders of one of your partners," Erdogan said.

[10] K?l?cdaroglu and Bacheli commented on the possible operation in Afrin region in Syria

"Every weapon you send to the Middle East will increase the pain. It will cause bloodshed and tears. For this reason, we should warn both the United States and Russia" said Kilicdaroglu

He called on Turkey, the US, Russia and Iran to play their role to prevent the spread of terrorism in the Middle East.

"Calling on the government to demonstrate common sense is our duty. We want peace in the Middle East. Heroic words have no place in diplomacy. Diplomatic channels should be enforced until the end," Kilicdaroglu said, recalling that more than 70 Turkish soldiers had been killed in an operation in Syria's al-Bab.

"We have been battling for [Syrian leader Bashar] al-Assad in Syria and 70 of our soldiers were martyred. If you cannot foresee what lies ahead of you, you cannot manage foreign politics," he said.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (17.01.18-http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/operation-in-syrias-afrin-is-turkeys-lawful-right-mhp-head-bahceli-125844) reports that the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said on January 16 that a possible military operation by Turkey in the Afrin region of northern Syria is the country's "lawful right".

Speaking in a weekly address to his party's parliamentary Deputies, Bahceli blasted the move by the US.-led international coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to establish a 30,000-strong border security force with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is largely controlled and manned by the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

"The US is safeguarding terror and terrorists in Syria. They are clearly violating international law," Bahceli said, warning that Turkey should act swiftly to "destroy the source of terrorism."

"If we do not, a plan to occupy Turkey is on the secret agenda of those shameless people who have gathered in the enemy camp," he added.

"Cutting the ties of the terror corridor with the Mediterranean Sea by entering Afrin at dawn, showing the iron fist of the Turkish nation, and legitimately intervening [against] terrorists is our lawful right," Bahceli said.

"Afrin should be cleared. Manbij and other sources, other terror camps and terrorist areas, should be destroyed," Bacheli further added. .

[11] Erdogan to meet Pope Francis in Vatican and visit Latin American countries

The meeting comes after Pope Francis voiced opposition to the United States' unilateral decision to recognize Jerusalem as the "undivided" capital of Israel. He also supported Turkey-sponsored initiatives to nix the US bid at the U.N. General Assembly.

Erdogan and the Pope spoke a number of times on the phone in early December, as the former invited the pontiff to attend an extraordinary summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) held in Istanbul amid the Jerusalem crisis.

Sabah reported that during the meeting, Erdogan plans to underline the need to protect Jerusalem as "the holy city of three divine religions" and will ask continued support of the Holy See as the representative of the Christian world. The two leaders will also discuss developments in Iraq and Syria, as well as ongoing migration flows.

Pope Francis made an official visit to Ankara in late 2014, becoming the first international guest of the massive presidential complex in Ankara. Erdogan's trip to the Vatican will be a return visit to the Holy See.

Following the Vatican trip, President Erdogan will embark on a tour to three Latin American countries - Venezuela, Brazil and Paraguay - Sabah reported, adding that the talks will be focused on economic cooperation.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro paid two visits to Turkey in 2017, first as part of an official trip and the second one as the head of the Non-Aligned Movement countries attending the OIC summit in Istanbul.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

(AK / AM)

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