A delegation from the European Parliament's Contact Group yesterday (6 March) arrived in the TRNC for contacts with state and government officials, as well as with political party representatives.

The Acting President and Speaker of the TRNC Parliament, Fatma Ekenoglu yesterday received the members of the High Level Contact Group. Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer later received the Group.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Ekenoglu said during the meeting she had told the European Parliament delegation that Turkish Cypriots were not "Cypriots in the North", they were Turkish Cypriots and would never give up their identity. She also stressed that Turkish Cypriots should be represented in the European Parliament.

Indicating that despite the Turkish Cypriots voting 'yes' to the Annan Plan and it being stated in the UN Secretary-General's report that the "isolations must be lifted", Ekenoglu said the isolations were still continuing and the Greek Cypriot side was doing everything it could within the EU to oppress the Turkish Cypriots.

She said the lifting of the isolations would mean the further development of the Turkish Cypriot economy and that this would be the only way to get the Greek Cypriot side to come to the negotiating table.

For his part, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer said the Turkish Cypriot people supported a bi-zonal federation based on political equality and they still supported the will displayed in the 24 April 2004 referendum for achieving a settlement and a United Cyprus. He said the lifting of the Turkish Cypriot side's isolation would secure their integration with the world and would be the fundamental feature that would ensure economic development.

The Prime Minister said: "We are proud to be Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots are proud to be Greek Cypriots. We underlined that all national and communal structures should be in unity based on the values of democracy and equality".

Meanwhile, a group with TRNC flags and slogans protested the arrival of the European Parliament Group to the TRNC. It was stated that the purpose of the demonstration outside the TRNC Presidency and Ledra Palace was to show to the European Parliament Group that "it was Turkish Cypriots who existed in the Northern part of the island and not Cypriots in the North".

Within this framework, taking the decision not to meet with the European Parliament's Contact Group, the Democrat Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas said the party's reaction was not directed at the European Parliament but at the European Parliament's High Level Contact Group who had come to visit the TRNC.

Indicating that the party's reaction was against the Group's attitude towards the Turkish Cypriots and disrespect shown to their identity, Serdar Denktas said the Group was under the influence of the Greek Cypriot side.

Rejecting allegations to the effect that "Cypriots in the Northern part of the island were Cypriots living in the areas that were invaded by Turkey", Serdar Denktas said the Turkish Cypriot people also reacted to the Group's visit.

He said: "By protecting our rights, we will get the respect that is not been shown to us. If this disrespect continues we will convey our reaction within a democratic framework".