Open Letter to the Turkish Cypriot Community

Open letter from Euro MP Marios Matsakis to the Turkish Cypriot Community

Dear Turkish Cypriot co-patriots,

In June this year elections will be held in Cyprus (and in the rest of the European Union), for the election of members of the European Parliament. All Cypriots are eligible to vote and be voted in these elections. This applies equally, of course, to all the Turkish Cypriots who are EU citizens as of the 1st of May 2004. As with all other Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots must apply before the 2nd of April for their names to be put on the Electoral Register. Once this is done they can exercise their right to vote and/or to declare their candidacy if they so wish.

Inevitably, voting has to take place in the Government controlled areas of Cyprus but this shouldn't be much of a problem as there is free access across the Green Line and since distances in Cyprus are very small.

It is with much regret that I have been informed that, the spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Talat has yesterday stated his opposition to the participation of Turkish Cypriots in June´s European Parliament elections.

This, in my view, is not a very constructive attitude to have. If Turkish Cypriots exercise their right to vote and be voted, they can elect 1-2 Turkish Cypriot representatives in the European Parliament and surely this cannot be a bad thing for the Turkish Cypriot Community.

Neither will it interfere with the current negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. On the contrary, it will enhance the trust between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots and will increase the chances of achieving an amicable solution in the near future.

Dear co- patriots, the right to vote and be voted is sacred. And the European Union Elections are important for you just as much as for all citizens across Europe. Do not waste the opportunity to exercise this right and chose your representative(s) in the European Parliament.

PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE ELECTIONS NOW AND LET YOUR CHOICE COUNT!

Dr. Marios Matsakis,

Cypriot Member of the European Parliament