ELECTIONS FOR TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS

Early day motion 317, tabled 17 December 2003 by Andrew Dismore (Labour). Signed by 31 members.

That this House congratulates the opposition parties led by Mehmet Ali Talat, Mustafa Akinci, Izzet Izcan and Ali Erel on their success in the elections for the Parliament of the unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; notes that despite the widespread intimidation, bribery, rigging of the electoral register and a bias of state broadcasting by its illegal Denktash regime, the two main opposition parties still secured 50 per cent. of the seats and a majority of the popular vote in favour of their policies for a settlement based on the Annan plan and EU entry as a united island; expects that this will maintain their vital unity round their common election protocol; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to do all it can to support their efforts towards a solution to enable Cyprus to join the EU in May 2004 as a reunited island after 30 years of illegal Turkish occupation.

Signatures by party: Labour 23, Labour/Co-operative 3, Liberal Democrat 3, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.