LONDON
Baroness Meral Huseyin Ece, the first Turkish Cypriot member of House of Lords at UK Parliament, said that EU, instead of UN, should take action and undertake responsibility in Cyprus issue.
Speaking to AA on Tuesday, Ece expressed hope that Turkey's EU membership process would be speeded up during EU presidency term of Ireland which would take this mission over from Greek Cypriot administration next month.
Noting that Turkey should pursue the reforms within the scope of the membership process, Ece said that Europe needed Turkey which had a young population.
Ece said that Turkey was a bridge between eastern and western worlds, adding that if Turkey became a member of the EU, it would bring benefits for both western and eastern worlds.
Ece noted that Cyprus issue should not be put as an obstacle before Turkey's EU membership.
Noting that the UN failed to solve Cyprus issue many times, Ece said that the method of UN did not work so it was time for EU to take responsibility.
EU, although a solution was not reached, accepted the accession of Greek Cypriot administration in the Union, said Ece.
Ece said there was no need for such a high number of troops in a small island, but she thought it was not possible for Turkey to withdraw its troops from the island as long as a peace agreement was not signed.
57-year-old Baroness Ece has been in the House of Lords since May 2010.
Reporting by Asli Aral
