STRASBOURG - Murat Mercan, the Chairperson of the Turkish Delegation in Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA), Wednesday called Greek and Greek Cypriot parliamentarians not to miss the opportunity to solve Cyprus issue.
Speaking in the Parliamentary Assembly session in which Cyprus report was discussed, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy leader Mercan said that the government was determined to solve Cyprus issue.
Mercan noted that opportunity to solve the issue should be seized.
Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) had taken constructive steps for a solution, Mercan stated.
Mercan said, ''we expect Greece and Greek Cypriot side to exert the same effort.''
Republican People's Party (CHP) parliamentarian Abdulkadir Ates criticized Greek and Greek Cypriot parliamentarians of assuming a provoking and negative attitude during their speeches.
Ates said, ''Parliamentary Assembly session is an international platform. Parliamentarians should not consider it a place to send messages to their votes.''
Turkey favored a lasting solution which would take under guarantee rights of two nations in the island, Ates stated.
The resolution adopted in session asked COE Committee of Ministers to make active contribution to settlement of Cyprus issue.
During the session, many European parliamentarians made speeches supporting and praising efforts of Turkish government to solve Cyprus issue.
(BRC-AÖ) 28.01.2004