ANKARA - Parliament on Thursday issued a declaration, pertaining to Cyprus question, supporting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The declaration said, ''Parliament stresses that the solution that should be found to Cyprus question should base on the equal status and equality of the two sides.''
After President Rauf Denktas of TRNC addressed the Parliament, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) parliamentarian Salih Kapusuz, Republican People's Party (CHP) Group Acting Chairman Mustafa Ozyurek, and True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar submitted a motion proposing the Parliament to announce a declaration supporting TRNC. The declaration, which was announced after the proposal was accepted, said:
''1-The Parliament, referring to the decisions it had taken on January 21, 1977, and July 15, 1999, once again announces the whole world that Parliament and the Turkish nation was in full solidarity and unity in this national cause.''
2-Parliament sincerely supports the efforts exerted by the TRNC to find a just and lasting solution to Cyprus question.
3-Parliament stresses that any solution that would be found to Cyprus question, should base on the equal status and equality of the sides.
4-Parliament reiterates that it would never accept damaging of the balance established between Turkey and Greece on Cyprus.
5-Parliament rejects the efforts to present solution of Cyprus question as a pre-condition in Turkey's full membership process to the European Union (EU).
6-It stresses once again that steps, taken to make the Southern Cyprus Greek Cypriot administration be a member of the EU before Turkey, was an open violation of the international agreements.
7-Parliament stresses the importance it attributed to the preservation of bi-zonality, which is the most important factor for the Turkish and Greek Cypriots to live in peace and tranquility for 28 years.
8-It reminds that all the proposals and initiatives, which will damage bi-zonality, will negatively effect security atmosphere in Cyprus, and drag the two sides into an atmosphere of clash again, and states that this should not be allowed.
9-It expresses the belief that reaching a peaceful and lasting solution on Cyprus, in case of abiding by those general conditions, would serve Turkey, Turkish and Greek Cypriots and the regional peace.
(AY) 06.03.2003