NICOSIA, June 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The Cypriot parliament approved theEU constitution on Thursday after a two-day debate.

    The constitution was ratified by the Cypriot House of Representatives with 30 in favor, 19 against and one abstained.

    The Greek Cypriot legislators voted heavily in favor of thedocument because they considered it can reinforce their rights inany prospective settlement with Turkish Cypriots and strengthentheir claim to return to their properties in the Turkish-occupiednorth of Cyprus.

    But the opponents, most of whom are members of the communistAKEL party, said the constitution favored corporate interests atthe expense of workers.

    Cyprus joined the European Union in May 2004 together with 9other countries despite the Greek Cypriots rejected a UN plan forthe reunification of Cyprus in a referendum in April 2004, whileTurkish Cypriots in the north approved it.

    The EU constitution has to be ratified by all member states tobecome effective. However, voters in two founding EU members ofFrance and the Netherlands rejected it in their referendums somefour weeks ago, causing a serious constitutional crisis in theEuropean bloc. Enditem