Brussels, 22/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Monday the European Commission welcomed the results of the parliamentary elections of 20 February in the self-proclaimed Republic of Northern Cyprus. The results indicate a real desire for the Turkish community to continue preparations for full integration into the Union, affirmed the Commission in a press release, adding that the “results also demonstrate that Turkish Cypriots are committed to reunification of the island”. The Commission used the occasion to call on the Council, once again, to approve aid of EUR 259 million for Turkish Cypriots and a settlement of the question of directive trade between the North of Cyprus and the EU.
The vice president of the Socialist group at the European Parliament, Jan Marinus Wiersma, welcomed the victory of the Turkish Republic Party (TCTP) of Mehemet Ali Talat and pointed out that Talat and his party had campaigned for “a peaceful resolution to the conflict and a return to the negotiating table”. The MEP said that this victory was also an incentive to the Socialist group to actively work with the CTP and “our sister party, the EDEK, in an attempt to actively integrate all Cypriots into the work of the European Union”.