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In the proposed motion that was unanimously approved in the TRNC Parliament's second session yesterday (2 December) it was stressed that, during Turkey's EU process, pressure exerted on Turkey to recognize the "Cyprus Republic", which is under the administration of the Greek Cypriot Administration, would prevent a bi-zonal, bi-communal settlement based on political equality as envisaged by the UN. The Parliament said if a settlement was to be reached as soon as possible all initiatives should be implemented.

The approved resolution, which was prepared by an 8-person Ad-hoc committee formed by deputies from the National Unity Party (UBP), the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the Democrat Party (DP), the Communal Liberation Party (TKP) and the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH).

"In order to achieve a mutually acceptable Cyprus settlement, at the end of the negotiation process carried out under the auspices of the UN, in the 24 April 2004 referendum the Turkish Cypriot people displayed to the whole world that they were ready for a settlement. However, as a result of the vast majority of 'no' votes from the Greek Cypriots in the 24 April referendum, the Annan Plan, which was supported by the UN and the EU, could not be implemented.

At this stage, the stance of the Turkish Cypriot people is to improve the settlement process and not to lead the Cyprus issue into an impasse. In this context, during Turkey's EU process, to pressurize Turkey to recognize the "Cyprus Republic", which is under the administration of the Greek Cypriot Administration, will pave the way for the emergence of many new legal and political problems in Cyprus. The request for Turkey to recognize the 'Cyprus Republic', which is under the administration of the Greek Cypriots and does not represent the Turkish Cypriots, totally ignores the struggle which the Turkish Cypriots have carried out, for years, for democracy, freedom and peace by the Turkish Cypriots and will create an environment for making it more difficult to achieve a settlement.

At this stage, the TRNC Parliament, points out that this request is wrong and will prevent a bi-zonal, bi-communal settlement based on political equality, as envisaged by the UN, from being reached; and calls upon all initiatives to be implemented in order to achieve a settlement as soon as possible.

The TRNC Parliament, deems it as its historical duty to underline the fact that the most important element that will contribute to regional and world peace is Turkey's recognition of a new joint structure in which the Turkish Cypriot people will have political equality and not the 'Cyprus Republic', which is contrary to the 1960 Partnership agreements and under the administration of the Greek Cypriots.

The TRNC Parliament, reiterates once more to the whole world, that, just as much as the Greek Cypriot Administration, the Turkish Cypriot side is also one of the parties that is directly and indirectly concerned with all the developments regarding the Cyprus issue".