NORTH WEST MEP CALLS FOR HIS OWN SUSPENSION

8.13.25am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 11th Feb 2005

A North West MEP has demanded that he be suspended from the European Parliament if disciplinary action is taken against a colleague criticised for using an airport in an 'illegal' part of Cyprus.

Chris Davies, the Leader of the British Liberal Democrats MEPs, has told the

Parliament's President that he too has used the airport at Ercan, near Nicosia, when visiting Turkish Cypriot elected representatives.

And he has accused Greek Cypriots of using their influence within the EU to keep their Turkish Cypriot neighbours impoverished by blocking their call to be allowed to trade directly with the rest of Europe.

Mr Davies's call for his own suspension was made in response to Greek Cypriot demands that the Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford be disciplined for using the airport while on a fact-finding visit to Cyprus last week.

Greek Cypriots allege that the MEP's action implied recognition of the 'illegal' Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, and was contrary both to UN resolutions and the rules of the European Parliament.

But Mr Davies says that he used the airport himself for a similar purpose five years ago while he was a member of the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee, and that tens of thousands of British holidaymakers have done the same.

He said: "It is time to stop this name-calling nonsense and for Greek Cypriots to learn how to act like Europeans instead of behaving as playground bullies."

"I am very concerned that Greek Cypriots are using their influence within the EU to ensure that Turkish Cypriots are treated as second class citizens. Verbal and legal games are being played to avoid the need for compromise and reconciliation."

The divided island of Cyprus joined the European Union last year but Turkish Cypriots are still in an anomalous position. The internationally recognised government is elected by Greek Cypriots, but it controls only 60% of the island and refuses to accept the authority of Turkish Cypriot representatives.

The Turkish Republic of North Cyprus is recognised only by Turkey and all flights to the state have to touch down at Istanbul.

ENDS