ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Monday that the decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) in favor of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was an important step, helping Turkish Cypriot people defend their rights in international platforms in a better way.
Under the decision of PACE, two TRNC parliamentarians will be able to attend all sessions at the PACE including sessions of the general assembly and commissions. Parliamentarians will be able to explain their views, but they cannot vote.
After meeting Alcee Hastings, the president of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE-PA), Gul told reporters that Turkish Cypriot parliamentarians would represent themselves separately at the PACE from now on, and they would not be integrated to the Greek Cypriot delegation.
Gul said, ''by this decision, everybody sees that it is right to acknowledge and recognize elected representatives of the TRNC from now on.''
Answering a question on inclusion of the Greek Cypriot administration in the Customs Union, Gul said that economic and special relations between Turkey and the TRNC would continue without any change.
-ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN DISPUTE-
Answering another question, Gul confirmed that Palestinian Ambassador to Turkey Fouad Yaseen brought a message regarding Israeli operation against Gaza, and expressed concern over the incidents and death of so many people.
On the other hand, Alcee Hastings said that they discussed organizational reforms in OSCE with Gul, and expressed hope that EU Commission's progress report on Turkey would be positive.
(BRC-MS) 04.10.2004