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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-05-05Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] CYPRUS GOVERNMENT - OCCUPIED AREAS - CENSUSCypriot Undersecretary to the President Christodoulos Pashiardis described here Friday the result of the census carried out Sunday in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus as plasmatic and unreliable, noting that the census is aiming to legitimize the illegal settlers ``undermining in this way efforts for a mutually accepted settlement of the Cyprus question.``In a statement issued after the announcement of the preliminary results of the census, Pashiardis said the census was carried out with a view to prepossess any future discussion of the issue by the Technical Committees between the two communities. A joint statement issued after a meeting in Paris on February 28, 2006 between UNSG Kofi Annan and the Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said that the leaders of both communities (in Cyprus) have agreed that bicommunal discussions on a series of issues, agreement on which is needed for the benefit of all Cypriots, will be undertaken at the technical level. The preliminary results of the census, according to the so-called prime minister of the occupied regime Ferdi Sabit Soyer, presented a population of 264,172 people, recording a 31% increase of the population in the occupied areas, compared to result of the census carried out ten years ago. [02] US AMBASSADOR - CYPRUS QUESTIONUS Ambassador to Cyprus Ronald Schlicher expressed his country`s support to UN Secretary-General Special Representative in Cyprus Michael Moller`s efforts for the recommencement of discussions on the Cyprus question, noting that each day that passes by without negotiations is ``an opportunity wasted.``In statements after a visit to Paphos Municipality, Schlicher said that he expressed to the Mayor of Paphos the support of the United States to the efforts currently underway by Mr. Moller, with the parties. ``We very much hope that Mr. Moller and the parties will find a way forward and reach agreement to begin discussions on those issues which the parties have agreed to discuss at the technical level and that the parties and Mr. Moller will also find a mutually agreed basis to discuss the political issues as well,`` he added. Invited to comment the fact that many politicians in Cyprus and in Athens believe that after the May 21 parliamentary elections in Cyprus, the US government intends to bring back the Annan Plan, that was rejected by 76% of the Greek Cypriots during a referendum on April 24, 2004, to the negotiating table, Schlicher said that elections in one country don`t figure to the US calculations, adding that ``we think that the Cyprus issue needs to be addressed as soon as possible under UN leadership.`` ``And in fact that is precisely why we have been very strongly supporting the efforts of Mr. Moller and the parties right now,`` Schlicher said, noting that he does not believe that the elections ``are the main thing that we need to worry about.`` ``We want to see a process of negotiations started as soon as possible. If that turns out to be June that`s good if it turns out to be earlier than that that`s even better,`` he added. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |