Turkish Cypriot Representative Addresses Lords

Hasan Taçoy, a Turkish-Cypriot political representative in charge of public works and transport, made a speech to 100 guests at the House of Lords in the UK upon the invitation of Lord Maginnis of Drumglass.

According to Turkish-Cypriot authorities, Taçoy said “the Turkish Cypriot people was left out in every stage; the return of their vested rights was linked to a settlement and they were forced to live under an inhuman isolation”.

The Turkish-Cypriot people was particularly "frustrated by Great Britain which gave promises during the Annan plan that isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people would be lifted," he said.

Although 5 years have passed, "no isolation or even a restriction has been lifted," added Taçoy.

Northern Irish Ulster Unionist Lord Maginnis is a well-known supporter of the Turkish-Cypriot breakaway state TRNC.

Meanwhile, in Cyprus, delegation from the Greek-Cypriot political party DISY led by Nikos Anastasiades paid a visit to the Turkish-Cypriot National Unity Party, said Turkish-Cypriot broadcaster BRT. The parties held a two-hour meeting to exchange views on the settlement talks and agreed a return visit in January 2010.

Anastasiades described the meeting as 'interesting', and although there are differences between the views of the two parties, the "aim is to create a common homeland."