Ozgurgun announces a population census for 27 November; Haberdar: The UN will not use the results of this census in the negotiations

Turkish Cypriot Afrika (19.11.11) reports that Huseyin Ozgurgun, self-styled minister of foreign affairs, stated yesterday that the breakaway regime has started preparations for holding a population census in the occupied part of Cyprus on 27 November 2011. In a written statement, Ozgurgun commented on the reference to the issue in the recent report of the UN Secretary-General. He noted that the “TRNC”, as he described the breakaway regime, is preparing for a population census like every state which holds a census for being able to establish its economic and social needs and prepare its plans to satisfy these needs.

Ozgrugun argued that the expressions used in the report of the UN Secretary ? General which could be interpreted as if the population census will be held upon the demand of the Greek Cypriot side do not reflect the reality and expressed his regret about these expressions. He noted that the “TRNC” is determined to take every necessary step, including a population census, within the framework of its efforts and plans for the prosperity and the happiness of its “people”. He said these efforts are not exerted with the aim of satisfying third parties.

Meanwhile, in statements to Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (19.08.11), Ozgurgun said that observers from the UN will follow the census.

Moreover, Haberdar’s editor-in-chief, Rasih Resat reports in his column today (19.08.11) that the United Nations (UN) decided not to use the results of this population census in the negotiations because the numbers will be clarified in the second half of 2012. According to Resat, in spite of the fact that the UN experts, who visited both sides of the island during the past few months, said that they would provide the necessary technical assistance, the results will not be used in the negotiations because they will not be clarified before the second half of 2012.