The issues were raised by the main opposition UBP "deputy" Oguzhan Hasipoglu who stated that the outcome of the EU summit was a true disappointment and that he was expecting "both the president and the Foreign Ministry to issue statements on the matter".

Also touching upon the issue of aid delivered to Maronites living in the breakaway regime, Hasipoglu questioned "whether the Maronites residing in the TRNC truly needed this aid".

"Deputy parliamentary speaker and UBP deputy" Zorlu Tore who also spoke said that "the European Union took sides on the Cyprus problem and that the Turkish Cypriots had to act together with Turkey".

Responding to the comments, the "deputy prime minister and foreign ministerKudret Ozersay said that the EU was adopting a wrong stance towards the Turkish Cypriots". He said that this was due to the fact that the "Greek Cypriot administration", as he called the Republic of Cyprus, as an EU member is influencing the other EU members.

Stating that the "European Council had acted like a court, accusing Turkey of violating international law, Ozersay said that these statements were not even funny". Ozersay also stated that the EU was adopting Resolutions by hiding behind the term solidarity. He drew attention to the decision taken by the International Court of Justice against Turkey regarding the issue of maritime zones, particularly in such a short period of time. "These statements are not even funny. The issue is not a legal one, it is political" Ozersay alleged.

Also responding to a comment by the UBP "deputy" Hasipoglu that in order to be an actor within the EU, the Turkish Cypriots needed to be in Brussels, Ozersay said that the Turkish Cypriot side's efforts and activities will continue.

"Please do not try to lay the blame of the EU's biased stance and the responsibility of the decision on the foreign ministry and the government which has only be in office for the past 30 days" he said.

On the issue of aid to the Maronites, Ozersay also said that it would be wrong to perceive the changes made to an earlier decision to end a 40 year long practice as a step backwards.

"The way to end the Greek Cypriot side's policy of portraying themselves as the victims passes through open mindedness and winning the hearts and minds of these people" Ozersay said.

[06] Akdag to speed up the cooperation on the health system in the occupied area of Cyprus

Speaking in a meeting with the self-styled minister of health Filiz Besim and her accompanied delegation in Ankara, Akdag said that he is responsible on behalf of Turkey's government for the "economic cooperation with the TRNC" and the development issues, adding that he is very happy with this duty.

Reminding that there is a "3-year cooperation programme between Turkey and the TRNC", Aksam noted: "We have a long-term cooperation programme. While the works are conducted within the framework of 2016-2017-2018 programme, I started to work eagerly on adding new products or by speeding up the work."

Stating that the field of health has a special place for him amongst the other areas where cooperation exists between the two "countries", Akdag said they could realize a transformation in the "TRNC's health system" similar to the one they had succeeded in establishing in Turkey which had won the world's admiration.

Besim for her part expressed her condolences to those who were martyred during Turkey's Operation Olive Branch in Afrin. She said that "the health system is amongst the top priorities of the newly established government in the TRNC".

"One of the biggest reasons why we could not establish a successful healthcare system is our failure to establish a general health insurance system. Introducing a general health insurance system is being discussed in the TRNC since 2000 but we haven't shown the necessary will nor have we been able to find the funds. In the end, we could not build the system within the framework of the general health insurance" Besim said.

Stating that "laws" regarding circulating capital and patient rights could not be ignored, she said "it is both the governments and my priority to build a system on solid foundations and to create a better health system."

Moreover, Besim explained that they work closely with Akdag, adding that they are already doing kidney transplants with a team from Hacettepe Univeristy and they have also had a protocol of cooperation with the Medical Faculty of Antalya Mediterranean to start very soon heart transplants.

(DPs)

[07] A demonstration by Famagusta Initiative and Famagusta is Our Town for the opening of the crossing-points

In a statement read by Okan Dagli on behalf of the Famagusta Initiative, "The city of Famagusta is divided into two. The one side is condemned to live with us as a lifeless body. We cannot accept this and we cannot approve it".

Dagli further said: "Our demand is the opening immediately of all the crossing points and ways that will unite us".

In a statement read by Pavlos Iakovou on behalf of the organisation Famagusta is our town, "the aim is to create a homeland in which people will feel themselves not as Turkish Cypriot or Greek Cypriot but as Cypriot".

(DPs)

[08] Turkish Cypriots visit Portugal

According to a statement issued by KTEZO, during the four-day visit, they had the opportunity to examine the Regional Development and Coordination Center, which is approved and supported by the EU and to exchange views on the development program. The Turkish Cypriot delegation visited also the Evora University, where they discussed the role of research in the regional development.

Hurrem Tulga, coordinator of KTEZO, said that they have been working for six years with the producers on the issue of cooperatives and clusters and therefore their visit to Portugal is very important from the point of view of sharing experiences.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Erhurman: "1 July is more appropriate for the local elections"

(I/Ts.)

[10] Self-styled interior ministry says that there is no "rule" to prevent AKP for opening a branch in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to Baybars, there is no "law" to prevent the opening of such an office in the breakaway regime.

(CS)

[11] Illegal universities will participate in EUSA's games

Speaking during a press conference yesterday, the chairman of the "federation", Huseyin Askin Kiraci said that their "universities" were able to participate in international games until today due to the possibilities offered to them by Turkey's University Sports Federation and explained how they reached the above-mentioned result.

(I/Ts.)

[12] TAK's new director is Turkish

According to the paper, the new director of TAK is Fehmi Gurdalli who worked previously in NTV and Turk TV.

(CS)

[13] Erdogan receives Qatari FM in Ankara

A closed-door meeting continued for one hour and 45 minutes in the presidential complex.

[14] Erdogan, Putin discuss Syria summit, confirm determination to improve bilateral relations

The two leaders also confirmed that both countries are determined to develop bilateral relations even further in every field.

Taking place in Ankara with the participation of both leaders, as well as Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani, the summit will discuss ongoing de-escalation efforts in Syria.

[15] Turkish court denies release of two Greek soldiers caught crossing the border

Greek lieutenant Aggelos Mitretodis and noncommissioned officer Dimitros Kouklatzis were detained after being discovered by patrolling Turkish troops near Pazarkule on March 2.

The soldiers claim that they got "lost" while following "suspicious footsteps on the snow" in the border area and crossed into the Turkish side by mistake.

Yesterday's court session was to review the earlier arrest order of the court. Their lawyer argued that the soldiers had freely provided passwords for their personal cellphones, and the local Greek Consulate had submitted a written letter guaranteeing that both officers could reside in the city during the trial.

The Edirne court denied their release, arguing that both posed a flight risk and law enforcement officers were yet to compile and analyze all the evidence.

Investigators are still analyzing the contents of the USB drive as well as two personal phones and a military-issue encrypted phone the two men had in their possession.

Mitredotis had earlier denied all the charges brought against them. He said the video on the phone was shot on the Greek side.

A judicial source told Anadolu Agency there is a concrete evidence showing that the crime has been committed by the suspects, and the envisaged punishment for the act is 5 years imprisonment.

The arrests have further strained relations between the two NATO allies who have longstanding disputes over maritime boundaries and commercial rights.

Greece has asked for assistance from the European Union, NATO and the United Nations for their release.

[16] Turkish Defense Minister: Purchase of Russian S-400s does not affect purchase of American F-35s

"Turkey entered the F-35 project many years ago and their deliveries will start next year," Nurettin Canikli told journalists.

The Defense Minister said Turkey has fulfilled its obligations for the project.

"We are paying the cost, it is unrelated [to the purchase of the S-400]," said Canikli, while pointing to the international agreement on the purchase of F-35 fighter jets.

Bozkir had said the U.S. was "not positive" on selling F-35 aircrafts to Turkey if Turkey bought the S-400 missile systems from Russia.

Turkey and Russia have completed the negotiations on the S-400 deal and the first deliveries are scheduled for early 2020.

The S-400 is Russia's most advanced long-range anti-aircraft missile system with a capacity of carrying three types of missiles capable of destroying targets, including ballistic and cruise missiles.

The system can track and engage up to 300 targets at a time and has an altitude ceiling of 27 kilometers.

Meanwhile, Turkey had already placed an order for the first two F-35 jets for the projected fleet of 100 F-35A aircraft in 2014 and plans to deploy the aircraft by 2019.

The modern F-35 fighter is being developed and built by the U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin for the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Italy, Norway, Turkey, the Netherlands, Denmark and Canada in a project worth about $400 billion, making it the world's most expensive weapons' program.

[17] Foundation to be laid for Akkuyu nuclear power plant next week

Speaking in a parliamentary group meeting on March 27, Yildirim said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin would attend the groundbreaking ceremony.

Turkey's first nuclear power plant will be built by Russia's Rosatom in the Akkuyu district of the southern province of Mersin for a $20 billion price tag.

Yildirim was also optimistic about Turkey's estimated growth rate for 2017. In the same speech, he said Turkey grew between 7 and 7.5% last year.

The official growth data for the fourth quarter of 2017 will be announced by the Turkish Statistic Institute (TUIK) on March 29. As the data for all four quarters of 2017 will be announced, the 2017 data will be calculated partly. TUIK will release the final data for 2017 in September.

"Turkey's 2017 growth rate will be between 7-7.5 %. This is a record," said Yildirim.

Turkey aims for an annual economic growth of 5.5 %until 2020 in its medium-term economic program.

"Despite all the negative campaigns against Turkey," Yildirim also said tourism bookings for this year were on the rise compared to previous years.

"According to the estimations, we will be hosting 38 million guests in Turkey this year," he said.

Turkey hosted over 32 million tourists in 2017, bringing in $26.5 billion in revenue.

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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS/ AM)

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