Emine Kaya becomes DTP's new parliamentary group leader

Democratic Society Party (DTP) parliamentary group leader Ahmet Turk stepped down from his post yesterday during the group's closed meeting in Parliament. The deputies elected Mardin deputy Emine Ayna as the new parliamentary group leader. Ayna was the party's acting president when Nurettin Demirtas, former president of DTP, was conscripted and had to resign from his post. Turk is expected to run for party helm at DTP's general congress scheduled for July. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat, currently in Brussels, said that the Cyprus issue could be solved by the end of this year. In an interview with Associated Press, Talat said, "I am really optimistic, because there's a change in the Greek Cyprus administration. It's possible to reach a solution by the end of 2008." Talat said that he asked European Union officials to exert pressure on Greek Cypriots to be determined for a solution.