Turkish Cypriots seek Parliament observer status

Date: 07/04/05

Turkish Cypriot parliamentarians travelled to Brussels this week to press for observer status in the European Parliament, in a fresh bid to end Northern Cyprus' international isolation.

Two deputies from the ruling Republican Turkish Party held meetings in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday with European Commission officials and MEPs.

Özdil Nami and Salik Izbul took part in a European Socialist Party meeting on Wednesday (6 April) as observers, a move they hope will be a first step in deepening ties with Parliament.

Under rules set out at the time of Cyprus's accession to the EU, the island has six MEPs, four from the Greek south and, when the island is reunited, two from the north.

A spokesperson for the Socialist group, which has no Greek Cypriot MEPs, said that the move aimed at helping to end the North's isolation.

"It is to show them that we have not forgotten them," said Enda McKay. "We felt it was time to extend the hand of friendship."

Nami, who recently took part in the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, heralded the meeting as a breakthrough. "It is very important… it offers an opportunity for our voice to be heard," he said.

Almost a year on since the Turkish Cypriot community voted in favour of a UN-sponsored reunification plan, which was rejected by Greek Cypriots, the North of the island remains economically and politically outside the mainstream.

Nami says continued isolation risks jeopardising any further peace plan and fuelling anti-EU sentiment in the North among opposition parties.

Article reports that Turkish Cypriot parliamentarians travelled to Brussels on 5-6 April 2005 to press for observer status in the European Parliament, in a fresh bid to end Northern Cyprus' international isolation. Two deputies from the ruling Republican Turkish Party held meetings with European Commission officials and MEPs. Under rules set out at the time of Cyprus's accession to the EU, the island has six MEPs, four from the Greek south and, when the island is reunited, two from the north.