In an interview to Anadolu News Agency during his latest visit to Ankara, Ozersay evaluated the latest developments on the Cyprus problem.

Claiming that the negotiations process had ended in failure with the Crans Montana summit held last year, Ozersay said that "negotiating just for the sake of holding negotiations was not a good thing".

"The Turkish Cypriot people have been prisoners of a negotiations process for the past 50 years" he claimed, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side did not desire a new round of endless negotiations which will not achieve any results.

He claimed that the Greek Cypriot side needed to show that it was ready to share power and the island's wealth with the Turkish Cypriots.

Ozersay expressed his view that negotiations cannot be the purpose but only a means to an end and he added that the fact that the negotiations have not restarted should not be a source of concern.

"We have tangible and important goals which we have been postponing for years. And that is economic and social development" he said.

On the issue of hydrocarbons, Ozersay said that the "island's natural wealth was the property of both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriot"s.

"For the Turkish Cypriots, the natural wealth around this island is not disputed. The wealth belongs to both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots and everyone accepts this" he said.

Ozersay however alleged that the Greek Cypriot side's current stance on the issue was unacceptable.

"Acknowledging the Turkish Cypriot peoples' share to be generated from natural gas revenues but keeping the Turkish Cypriots out of the whole decision making process as well as stating that they (Greek Cypriots) will decide when, how much of these revenues will be given to Turkish Cypriots is totally unacceptable and contradictory" he added.

Claiming out that the Turkish Cypriot side was not pursuing a power diplomacy over the issue, Ozersay said that the Turkish Cypriot side's channels for diplomacy were open.

"We are open to dialogue if the Greek Cypriots decide to share to act together with us. But if they ignore us, the Turkish Cypriot side, before resorting to force or deterrence, will be giving a firm the authority to carry out its own activities on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots, just like they have done so" he concluded.

[05] Columnists comments on the right of the mix marriage's children to hold a passport of the Republic of Cyprus

"There is a group, they will travel abroad. Around 40 young people. Their educators asked them: 'Let raise their hand those who hold a Republic of Cyprus passport'. There were 7 persons!

(Because you need the Republic of Cyprus passport in order to travel abroad without being asked for visa. Actually it is a shame of Turkey's embassy in Lefkosia. The enormous Turkey state could not even say 'it belongs to us the visa expenditures and travelling cost', at least for the cultural and athletic groups. It gives permission openly to this discrimination.)

These children were of 15,16,17 years old. The new generation of Cypriot youth. Nearly all of them were born here [Translator's note: in the occupied area of Cyprus]. The majority of them their mother or father too. Some of them their grandmother or grandfather came from Turkey. And some others, either their mother or their father, one of the two is Turk from Turkey. It is what we call 'mix marriage'.

Do you see, how the population structure has also changed?

The family structure, which we call 'Cyprus origin' has dissolved or has transformed.

I know that from my own family.

We are three siblings, my two brothers are part of the 'mix marriages', their children are also like that.

So, what will happen if the children of the children of the families who came to Cyprus after 74', could not be able to establish a bond with the Republic of Cyprus?

There is also a reality! According to me the 'planned and conscious' movement of the population transformation oriented at the norhern part of Cyprus cannot be accepted as 'legitimate' by the Republic of Cyprus.

If they say 'you always want', they are also rights.

Because, just as these children, have a right at the 'passport', then the children of the children of the Greek Cypriot families have also a right at Varosha, they have a right at the share of the hotel from their grandfather in Lapithos, they have a right at least to a certificate for the citrus fields or for an industrial factory.

Only 7 children from the group of 40 persons held the Republic of Cyprus (passport)! There are a lot of question marks for the other 33 children are wrangling to promote 'Cyprus folk dancing'. It is said that an agreement was reached at the negotiation table in order these people to be citizens of the 'new Cyprus'. This 'consensus' should be also valid for the Cyprus identity; however, with the approval of both sides a 'line' should be drawn.

Moreover, columnist Fatma Azgin, writing also in the Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (08.03.18), under the title "The unbearable advantage of the Republic of Cyprus", argues that because the two sides could not reach an agreement yet in the island since 1974, the "continuous situation" of the non-solution, not only it creates politically tension and uncertainty, but also leads to many social problems, especially in the north.

She further writes: "To demand a Republic of Cyprus (EU) identity for the children who were born from a Cypriot father or mother with a 'mix marriage' is not like to want a 'right' from an authority that you do not recognize and you are trying to prove that it is separatist?"

(DPs)

[06] Atakan stated that they will evaluate different alternatives for the operation of the illegal Lefkonoiko airport

He went on adding that they will evaluate different alternatives concerning the airport including attempts to operate for "maintenance of the planes", or for cargo activities or for aviation as a hobby.

Atakan stated further that it is necessary to have an active and usable airport in the "country" in case of a state of war of for natural disasters. Atakan underlined that the main problem exists today in the occupied Lefkonoiko airport is the transferring of direct electricity, he, however, added that as he was informed, the necessary works will be launched the soonest possible in order for this problem to be overcome.

Atakan also said that he would have a meeting in the near future with the "company they have signed a contract" in order to discuss the companies' plans and program about the "airport".

Referring also to works taking place in the illegal Tymbou airport, Atakan claimed that the works continue intensively. He further said that their goal is for the works at the illegal Tymbou airport to be concluded during the second half of 2019 and added that they have determined a symbolic date for the "inauguration ceremony" which is the 15 of November, 2019.

(AK)

[07] Confirmations that a religious sect from Turkey started operating in the occupied area of Cyprus

A few days ago there was a report in a Turkish Cypriot newspaper that some persons who are connected with the Ahmet Hoca order were reading the Islam, khutba, (Translator's note: sermon delivered at the noon prayer on Fridays and on certain other occasions) and several important mosques in the occupied area of Cyprus with the permission of the "religious affairs department".

Commenting on the issue, the "head of the religious affairs department" of the breakaway regime Talip Atalya stated that no permission was given to any other that employees of the "department" to perform any religious ceremony or readings at the mosques and noted that these persons are dangerous.

(CS)

[08] Reactions regarding the "administration" of Dome Hotel in occupied Keryneia

In statements to the paper on the issue, the "chairman of TES", Bayram Karaman stated that they have received a letter from the lawyer of the "Vakif Administrtaton", which notes that they have decided not to extend the "term of contract". Karaman, commenting on the allegation that the "administration of the hotel will be handed over to a private company", argued that the "workers in the hotel" who performed their work successfully for years will not go out from the hotel, pointing out to all negative effects that a possible privatization of the hotel could bring to the "economy of the TRNC".

(AK)

[09] Germany reconsidering Turkey travel warning: Turkish FM

Speaking to reporters at an international tourism fair in Berlin, Cavusoglu said he raised the issue during his meeting with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on March 6.

"Now the Foreign Minister is reconsidering the travel warning," he said, adding that the current travel advice was not reflecting the current situation in Turkey.

"German tourists will be very comfortable and safe when they come to Turkey," he added.

Turkey has been one of the most popular travel destinations for German holidaymakers, but the number of visitors declined in recent years due to a series of terror attacks in Turkey and political tensions between Ankara and Berlin.

The number of German tourists dropped from 5.5 million in 2015 to 3.9 million in 2016, according to official figures. In 2017, around 3.5 million German tourists traveled to Turkey.

Amid political tensions with Ankara, the German government warned its citizens last July to exercise caution when travelling to Turkey, saying several German citizens were arrested in the country as part of counter-terrorism investigations.

Cavusoglu said Turkey has left behind a difficult process of normalization after a defeated coup in 2016, adding that Ankara and Berlin were now taking steps to rebuild trust.

"As two foreign ministers we did our best to normalize our relations, to create more positive atmosphere in our relations," he said, referring to his efforts with Gabriel in recent months to overcome tensions.

[10] The secret of the Felicity Party -