Speaking at the Committee of Refugees, Asylum-Seekers and Displaced Persons, Mehmet Çağlar, Deputy of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) who participated in the meetings of the Assembly of Parliamentarians representing the Republican Assembly, highlighted that a population exchange took place in 1974, and that the Turkish Cypriots as well as the Greek Cypriots, left their property behind.

According to a statement made by the TRNC Strasbourg Representative Office, the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) General Council meetings continued yesterday. The meetings were attended by CTP Deputy Mehmet Çağlar and UBP Deputy Erdal Özcenk,

Çağlar and Özcenk also attended the meetings of the committees of “Refugees, Asylum-Seekers and Displaced Persons” and “Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development” yesterday.

In his speech at the committee, CTP Deputy Mehmet Çağlar stated that a population exchange in Cyprus took place in 1974, and reminded listeners that Turkish Cypriots also left their properties behind – as well as Greek Cypriots.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side has set up the Immovable Property Commission in accordance with the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights, Çağlar also gave information about the works and activities of the commission.

Çağlar emphasized that it is not possible for the Turkish Cypriots to vote in the European Parliament elections, and their status at the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly has been limited to that of an observer member.

“We hope our rights as the Turkish Cypriot community will be enhanced in the international arena” said Çağlar.