Turkey > citizenship being granted to 22 thousand families in Turkish-occupied Cyprus

Latest info from Turkish occupied Cyprus provides a major provocation to the policies outlined by BOTH candidates in the elections for President of the Republic of Cyprus this Sunday -- "Turkish Cypriot daily 'Afrika' newspaper (22.02.13) reports that the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs, Besir Atalay, has said that they will grant the citizenship of the breakaway regime to 22 thousand families. According to the paper, “the reason why the [Turkey] Justice and Development party (AKP) insistently wants Irsen Kucuk is coming to surface” and adds that “the citizenship is being granted to 22 thousand families”.

The paper writes that during a meeting held at the Turkish self-styled embassy in the occupied part of Lefkosia last Monday, some insults were heard for the Cypriots and the “ministers” of the breakaway regime. Chairmen of organizations of Turkish settlers also attended the meeting. When some participants in the meeting said that they consider Turkey’s interference [in the National Unity Party’s (UBP) congress] to be “unfavorable”, Besir Atalay replied the following: “We are working for you. We will make 22 thousand families TRNC citizens”.

Meanwhile, in statements at a press conference yesterday, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime, Irsen Kucuk said that those [foreigners] who have worked in the occupied area of Cyprus for over five years could apply for being granted the “citizenship” of the regime.

http://www.moi.gov.cy/MOI/pio/pio.nsf/All/CE0B70E0E7496664C2257B1A0043A519?OpenDocument