Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-06-01

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

Friday, 1 June 2001

CONTENTS

• [01] Renewal of UNFICYP does not need Turkish consent, says government
• [02] Congressmen urge US Secretary of State to make position on Cyprus clear

[01] Renewal of UNFICYP does not need Turkish consent, says government

Asked to comment on a letter sent by Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Denktash to the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Anan, requesting that a reference indicating that the occupying regime will also have to approve UNFICYP's presence on the island be included in Mr Anan's forthcoming report on the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said yesterday that the Turkish side is continuously trying to create a situation similar to that of the addendum and for this purpose letters are being sent and other political manoeuvres are undertaken by the Turkish diplomacy.

"The Cyprus government is taking the necessary measures in order to promote our political position on the matter", he emphasised.

In a letter to the UN Secretary-General, Cyprus' Permanent Representative at the UN, Mr Sotos Zakheos, points out that in accordance with Security Council resolution 186 (1964) the only required and relevant consent for the extension of the mandate of UNFICYP is that of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.

It is obvious that the UN cannot sign an agreement with a secessionist entity which has been condemned by the Security Council as "legally invalid", and which the European Court of Human Rights has described as "a subordinate local administration of Turkey", he adds.

Mr Zakheos stresses that the Cyprus problem is a question of foreign invasion and occupation of one third of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus by a powerful neighbour, the Republic of Turkey, which has effective control over the occupied territory, in view of the massive presence of its military forces, finances its budget and on who the subordinate local administration depends entirely.

[02] Congressmen urge US Secretary of State to make position on Cyprus clear

Initiators of the letter were Congressmen Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Robert Menendez, who express their support for the US to take an active role in efforts to reunite Cyprus and their belief that the island's entry into the EU would contribute to a solution of the Cyprus problem, stability in the region, as well as serve US and NATO's interests in the region.

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

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