Candan speaks to Italian press: “Turkish Cypriots are a part of the EU, they are Europeans”

The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Deputy and Foreign Relations Secretary Armağan Candan gave an interview to the Italian media in Strasbourg during the General Council of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Candan and Italian parliamentarian Roberto Rampi answered the questions of the Radicale Media Organisation together regarding the Cyprus problem. In his interview, Candan said that the Turkish Cypriots are a part of the European Union who showed their will to the whole world in 2004 with their ‘yes’ votes for the Annan plan.

“We as Turkish Cypriots want to reach peace with the Greek Cypriots in the Island of Cyprus. We are still working with this aim. The Greek Cypriots should share their administration and power with the Turkish Cypriots” Candan stressed. Candan also pointed out that the Turkish Cypriots cannot carry out direct trade and many other ordinary things under the current conditions, and one of these is that the Turkish Cypriots cannot attend international sport activities.

Adding that the Turkish Cypriots take place at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe with a special status, Candan said that they have right to speak but cannot vote therefore a way should be found to strengthen the status of the Turkish Cypriots.

Furthermore, the Italian parliamentarian Roberto Rampi conveyed his views regarding the developments in Cyprus. Expressing that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is the only international organization where the Turkish Cypriots are represented, Rampi said that this can serve as a model for the European Parliament. Stressing that the European Parliament elections will be held in the near future, Rampi said that the Turkish Cypriots who are the European Union citizens will not have the opportunity to be represented in the European Parliament. “This is a problem because North Cyprus is a part of Europe. The European Union should take steps on the issue and especially should give hope to the youth. The Turkish Cypriots are a part of the European Union therefore they do not deserve any restriction, including sports”.