Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.02.16) reports that Izzet izcan, the chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) stated that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan must learn to show respect to the existence and to the political will of the Turkish Cypriots.

Izcan was commenting on Erdogan statements regarding the “problem of
10,000 citizens of the Republic of Turkey who had acquired the right of becoming citizens of the TRNC but have not been granted the citizenship” yet and on the Turkish President’s demand that “legal” preparation to be made for the “citizenships”.

Izcan strongly criticized Erdogan for his statement and called on the “coalition government” of the Republican Turkish Party and the National Unity Party to protest against it. Arguing that there are “laws” that safeguard the granting of “citizenships”, Izcan said that this kind of statements in such a critical time for the Cyprus negotiations does not help towards reaching a solution. He also said that these kind of statements also carry the meaning that some circles want to blow up and to torpedo the peace talks.
(CS)