Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-04-22

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Tuesday, 22/04/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Government welcomes Sir David Hannay's advice to Denktash regime
• [02] The Government encourages worshippers exchange visits
• [03] Greek Foreign Minister godfather to Cypriot victim's daughter

[01] Government welcomes Sir David Hannay's advice to Denktash regime

Government spokesman Manolis Christofides said on Monday (20.4.97: "We consider positive and realistic the comment by Sir David Hannay that Denktash must abandon his insistence on recognition and sovereignty on important areas. We welcome [Sir David's] opposition to the recognition of two "Cyprus states", his reference to the fact that Turkey has settled through violence in the northern area of the Republic of Cyprus. Sir David has made his assessments and in these references I see a positive spirit and realism".

The government spokesman also welcomed Sir David's comments that the regime in the north had been established by force.

In an interview with the BBC World service on Sunday (20.4.97), Sir David said no country recognised the regime of Rauf Denktash, despite his efforts to gain such recognition by unilatterally declaring a republic in 1983.

"I think that if you have gone for that long and you are only recognised by one country (Turkey), it is probably wise to recognise you are on a losing streak and that you'd better turn your eyes in a different direction", Sir David said.

Stressing that the regime in the north should "not try to get recognition for the part of a country, which is in any case disproportionate to the population and established by force", he suggested that the way to achieve the objectives of the Turkish Cypriots was "through a federate state which is what the UN plan offers". Such a state, he said, would allow for quite a high level of regional autonomy for the Turkish Cypriots who would be masters in their house for a whole range of issues like education, health and transport.

Describing the Cyprus problem as "very intractable", Sir David said it was too soon to say whether the UN initiative currently under way would be successful, but pointed out that due to rising tensions on the island and its prospects for joining the EU, "we will not stumble as we have done before".

[02] The Government encourages worshippers' exchange visits

"They are developments we welcome. It is a good step which shows respect for the religious convictions of every citizen of the Republic of Cyprus and for their place of worship", he told his daily press briefing.

And he added: "It is the first breaking of the ice and it is reasonable for someone to expect it will have favourable repercussions on the political problem".

He said the visits were arranged for humanitarian reasons and ran parallel to, but did not form part of, a package of goodwill measures being discussed at the proximity talks.

The spokesman was replying to questions on last Saturday's event, when more than 400 Turkish Cypriots crossed over to the government controlled areas of the Republic to pray in one of the Moslem world's holiest shrines near the southern coastal town of Larnaca, to celebrate Moslem Kurban Bayram.

As an exchange gesture, the Denktash regime has allowed between 600 and 700 Greek Cypriot worshippers to travel to the Turkish-occupied Karpass on Easter Sunday for an Easter service at Apostolos Andreas monastery.

The visit was arranged through humanitarian affairs commissioner Takis Christopoulos.

Christopoulos told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that 1,000 people had applied and priority was given to those who have relatives enclaved in the Karpass or who come from the area.

He said more visits are planned for August 15 - the Annunciation of the Virgin - and November 30 - Saint Andrew's day.

Christopoulos expressed the hope the visits would be the beginning of continuous communication between the two communities.

He said that in co-operation with the UN he would try to arrange visits for smaller groups from both communities to different part of Cyprus.

[03] Greek Foreign Minister godfather to Cypriot victim's daughter

The baby was born one month after her father's brutal murder and the government of Greece had declared its intention to undertake her upbringing expenses. She will be given the name Anastasia (the greek word for Resurrection) which was also the father's name.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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