By David Ferguson in Brussels

The European Parliament saw another settlement proposal for Cyprus this week. A group of eight university professors, together with Cypriot MEPs, presented their study on "A Principled basis for a just and lasting Cyprus settlement in the light of International and European Law'.

"I was astonished when I heard that Greek Cypriots rejected the Annan peace plan," said Belgian Professor Silvio Marcus-Helmos. "But I was even more astonished when I actually read the Annan plan. I could not understand how the UN could draw up such a plan." Marcus-Helmos says the UN plan would deny any recourse to international bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

"The European Court's decisions holding that fundamental rights have been continuously violated in northern Cyprus since 1974 have still not been implemented," argued the professors. "Both the present state of affairs in Cyprus and the terms of the 'Annan Plan' are thoroughly inconsistent with the fundamental principles of the European Union and international law, mainly self-determination, liberty, democracy; respect for human rights and the rule of law."

At the presentation, Cyprus MEP Yiannakis Matsis refuted suggestions that the south is holding up international and European aid measures for the north: "Greek Cypriots have nothing against measures to raise the living standards and economy of Turkish Cypriots. But it is not legal to offer such special EU assistance to the north as it is not a separate country, but an occupied part of the EU," said Matsis. "The whole of Cyprus entered the EU last year, except for the northern part due to the 40,000 Turkish troops and 200,000 illegal settlers."