European Parliamentary Assembly Working On New Formula To Allow For Representation Of Turkish Cyprus

NICOSIA (CIHAN) - The European Council Parliamentary Assembly is working on a new formula which will allow for Turkish Cypriot parliamentarians to take seats in the Assembly. The final decision is expected to be made known in October.
If the formula is accepted in October, Turkish Cypriot parliamentarians will be accepted as 'elected representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community' at the Assembly. One permanent and one substitute Turkish Cypriot representative will be able to attend meetings of the General Assembly along with all sub-committee meetings. They will be allowed to deliver speeches at these meetings but they will not have the right to vote.
A regulation amendment from Turkey enabling the representation of Turkish Cypriot parliamentarians at the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Council on behalf of Turkish Cyprus and not on behalf of the Cyprus Republic (Greek Cyprus) was rejected in the Assembly in April. The Assembly decided on the representation of Turkish Cypriot parliamentarians on behalf of the Cyprus Republic (Greek Cyprus) instead. However, Turkish Cypriot representatives rejected this decision and the European Parliamentary Assembly has been working since then on a new formula.
The Cyprus Republic (Greek Cyprus), which claims to be the legitimate government of the whole island, has so far tried to block Turkish Cypriot representation under the name of Turkish Cyprus in the assembly.