Addressing the official parade held in Lefkosa on the occasion of the 26th Anniversary of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Çiçek said Turkey would not support just any settlement in Cyprus, ruling out any solution that would deprive Turkish Cypriots of their legitimate rights.

Çiçek said Turkey's reply to those who use the Cyprus issue as a leverage against Turkey in the accession negotiations with the EU by asking "Cyprus or the EU?" would always be standing by the Turkish Cypriots.

Çiçek underlined that settlement negotiations could not go on infinitely and the existing window of opportunity would not be there for ever. He said everybody should well understand that Turkish Cypriots would not give up their rights and Turkey would not put aside its rights and responsibilities as a Guarantor state.

Çiçek called on parties not to sacrifice another opportunity to intransigence.

Minister Çiçek said a comprehensive settlement of the issue should be a partnership that would bring together the island on the basis of two equal communities with political equality, a single bi-zonal republic with with two equal founding states.

"Turkey's active and de facto guarantee will continue. The permanence of the settlement to be reached will be secured. We will never allow the integrity of the settlement to be corroded within the EU," said Çiçek.

Çiçek said TRNC was the utmost embodiment of Turkish Cypriots' struggle for survival and the most resolute expression of its will to defend its freedom and rights.

"Turkish Cypriot people set an example, with their democratic institutions, their state structure built on human rights and the rule of law and their libertarian and pluralist tradition," said Çiçek.

Çiçek expressed Turkey's support to the comprehensive settlement talks carried out in Cyprus under the auspices of the UN SG, noting that it stood by the Turkish Cypriots which actively and sincerely partakes in talks for a settlement.

"However we will never accept, an approach that would make Turkish Cypriots pay for the consequences of a deadlock, as it happened in the past," said Çiçek.

Çiçek said Turkey's greatest aspiration was to help TRNC reach a healthy, sustainable, productive, competitive and economic structure adding that Turkey supported TRNC's leading sectors to this end.

--HISTORY OF THE CYPRUS ISSUE--

Cyprus joined the EU as a divided island when Greek Cypriots in the South rejected the UN reunification plan in twin referendums in 2004 even though the Turkish Cypriots in the North overwhelmingly supported it. The promise made by EU foreign ministers before the referendums to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and establish direct trade with North Cyprus remains unfulfilled.

Gaining independence from the UK in 1960, Cyprus became a bi-communal Republic where Greek and Turkish Cypriot constituent communities would share power guaranteed by the UK, Turkey and Greece. However, reluctant to share power and pursuing a policy of Enosis (Union) with Greece, Greek Cypriots soon expelled Turkish Cypriots from power and terrorised and ghettoised them.

Decades long armed attacks on the defenceless Turkish Cypriots culminated in 1974 when an Athens-backed Greek Cypriot military coup on the island led to Turkey's military intervention. Although the Republic of Cyprus as described in the 1959 agreements is no longer there, Greek Cypriots continue to enjoy this title and international recognition while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a fully democratic government representing Turkish Cypriots, still suffers under an unfair political and economic blockade

Turkish Cypriot Federal Assembly in its extraordinary meeting on November 15, 1983 unanimously voted for the foundation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and ratified its independence statement.