TURKEY: TRNC'S EU SEATS MUST NOT BE TAKEN BY GREEK CYPRIOT REPRESENTATIVES - EP OFFICIALS.(European Parliament)(Brief Article)

IPR Strategic Business Information Database, May, 2004

According to "Dunya", Greek Cypriots should not try to occupy European Parliament seats intended for Turkish Cypriots, two prominent EP leaders said. Underlining that two of the six seats set aside for Cyprus in the EP belonged to Turkish Cypriots, Joost Lagendijk, co-chairman of the EP-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, stated that Turkish Cyprus should send members to the EP as observers until a settlement is reached on the island.

Furthermore, criticizing Greek Cypriots for their rejection of the UN Cyprus plan in last month's referendums, EP Turkey Rapporteur Arie Oostlander echoed Lagendijk's remarks, saying that Greek Cypriots could not occupy the two seats belonging to the Turkish side.