(NICOSIA) - Cyprus pressed ahead towards ratification of the European Union's Lisbon Treaty on Thursday despite its rejection by Irish voters, with MPs set to approve the document over the opposition of President Demetris Christofias's communist party.

The debate began at 0800 GMT but a vote was not expected before 1630 GMT because of the number of MPs who wanted to speak.

Christofias's AKEL party voted to oppose the treaty in a June 23 ballot, but the president has made clear his government will back the treaty despite his party's eurosceptic stance.

"We will vote against the treaty because we judge its content not to be in the interests of the people of Europe, especially the workers," AKEL parliamentary spokesman Nicos Katsourides said last month.

"We did not join Europe as mere observers or applauders, but to support to the extent of our capabilities the interests of the peoples of Europe," he added.

AKEL is the senior partner in a government coalition and joint largest party in the 56-seat parliament with 18 seats, the same number as right-wing opposition party DISY.

But DISY has pledged to back ratification, as have AKEL's coalition partners -- centre-right DIKO with 11 seats, and socialists EDEK with five seats -- ensuring the treaty's safe passage through parliament.

In the debate there was strong criticism of AKEL's position from DISY MPs who argued that Cyprus should back the new EU treaty as it had been one of the beneficiaries of the bloc's eastward expansion.

"Staying faithful to our long history and belief in Europe we will vote in favour of the Lisbon Treaty despite its shortcomings," said DISY vice president Averoff Neophytou.

Fellow DISY MP Eleni Theocharous asked: "What are we to say to our European partners? That enlargement is bad, that same enlargement that included Cyprus?"

Cyprus will be the 20th of the European Union's 27 member states' parliaments to vote to ratify the treaty, although its rejection by Irish voters on June 12 technically leaves it a dead letter. Every member state must ratify the treaty for it to come into force.

Ireland was the only country to try to ratify it by referendum -- an obligation under its constitution -- whereas the other 26 nations are holding votes in parliament, despite calls in some for referendums.

The treaty, which is aimed at streamlining EU bureaucracy to take account of the bloc's expansion, has since suffered a further blow with Polish President Lech Kaczynski refusing to sign it until Irish voters have approved it in any new Irish referendum.

"If Ireland makes another decision -- but not under pressure, and without changing its constitution -- in the same way as the first, then Poland will not place a block on the treaty," Kaczynski told AFP in an interview on Wednesday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted on Wednesday that she is still confident about the treaty's future.

"I remain confident. I believe it is important that we map the way forward with our Irish partners in a comradely manner," Merkel told N-24 television.

"The current contractual basis of the European Union is not one which allows us to work in an optimal manner and that is why we have a new contract, which in my opinion is and should remain the Lisbon Treaty."

Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004. It did so as a divided island after Greek Cyriot voters rejected a UN reunification plan that was approved by Turkish Cypriots.

EU rules remain suspended in the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north of the island pending the outcome of a new round of reunification talks.

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