The reference to examination of Turkish Cypriot applications for Turkish Cypriot citizenship based on the 2007 criteria is like "that is to admit that they arbitrarily keep people's applications on hold without examining them for about 17 years"
Many questions on the issue of the citizenship of the Republic of Cyprus have remained unanswered after the announcement of the measure concerning this matter, commented Kudret Ozersay saying that "discrimination on the citizenship of the children and spouses of Turkish Cypriots must stop".
The president of the People's Party is the first Turkish politician to comment on the 14 MOU package unilaterally announced by the Cypriot government and the relevant statement of President Christodoulidis, saying that the reference to examination of Turkish Cypriots' applications for Cypriot citizenship based on criteria of 2007 is like "that is to admit that they have been arbitrarily keeping people's applications on hold without considering them for about 17 years".
According to Kudret Özersay, the measure does not answer the question of whether children of mixed marriages can acquire citizenship, it is a serious conundrum and reinforces the concern that there will be discriminatory practices among applicants.
"If the Greek Cypriot leader really wants to act like an EU member state, he should just apply the laws of the Republic of Cyprus and the EU acquis. It is enough that he does not discriminate when applying his laws. In other words, to grant citizenship to all children (coming) from marriages of Turkish Cypriot citizens who are citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, regardless of who they marry and where they marry," he said.
Because, as he added, when granting citizenship to children from marriages between Greek Cypriots and Cypriot citizens, it is not taken into account where the marriage took place, when it took place or where the children were born. Discrimination continues as the same law is applied differently to Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot children. And under these circumstances, words like 'EU member state, EU law' do not carry much meaning or weight."
Mr. Ozersay concluded by saying that announcements have been made about citizenship, but many questions have not been cleared and uncertainty continues.