Hasipoğlu: AKPA's Maraş Decision Cannot Deter Us from Our Path

He made these remarks following the approval of the Maraş report and decision by PACE, led by rapporteur Italian MP Piero Fassino.

Hasipoğlu, representing the TRNC Parliament at the Political Affairs and Democracy Committee of PACE from June 26-28, expressed his views during the General Assembly in Strasbourg on the topic titled "Return of Maraş to its legal residents," chaired by Fassino.

According to a statement from the UBP, Hasipoğlu intervened in various debates regarding the content of the decision, engaging in discussions before the voting session with the Turkish delegation led by Tuğrul Türkeş and Piero Fassino.

The General Assembly accepted the section of the report recommendations unanimously alongside the Turkish delegation, while the overall decision was passed by a majority vote.

In his comments, Hasipoğlu underscored concerns over the decision’s contradictions and its failure to address the unique rights of Turkish Cypriots, highlighting the need for a fair approach in Cyprus negotiations that respects their equal status and addresses issues such as direct trade rights and the lifting of sports embargoes.

"The decision, filled with contradictions," Hasipoğlu continued, "fails to acknowledge that 'Closed Maraş' is also part of TRNC territory and not under the UN's jurisdiction. It erroneously describes Turkey's intervention in 1974 as both an occupation and an intervention in different paragraphs."

He concluded by thanking the Turkish delegation to PACE, led by Tuğrul Türkeş, for their solidarity in voting against the decision, which he believes will serve as evidence within the international community against flawed political assessments over time.