Erk suddenly remembers the rights of the Turkish Cypriots in the Republic of Cyprus’ Constitution
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (21.01.14) reports that Alexandra Attalides, Acting Head of the European Parliament Information Office-Cyprus, held a meeting with the general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Kutlay Erk, and gave information about the forthcoming European Parliament elections to be held in May.
According to the paper, Attalides stated that the Republic of Cyprus is taking initiatives so that Turkish Cypriots to be able to participate in the elections.
Erk issued a statement following the meeting, stating that two out of the six seats of Cyprus at the European Parliament belong to Turkish Cypriots and alleged that these seats are under the Greek Cypriots’ occupation. He went on and added that the Turkish Cypriot side must take initiatives at the EU in order to solve this issue and added that according to the 1960 Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, the elections of the political representatives of the two communities are conducted separately; therefore Turkish Cypriots must conduct their own elections in their side for the two seats of the European Parliament. He went on and added that they want the EU to find a solution on this issue and at least the Turkish Cypriots to gain the “observer” status at PACE. “Different kind of solution is contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus”, he argued.