Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-12-30

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

Monday, 30 December 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] First technical committee meeting planned for 7 January
• [02] Defence Minister's statements on the Cyprus problem and the demonstrations in the occupied areas

[01] First technical committee meeting planned for 7 January

"The United Nations has today received from each side to the negotiations on Cyprus the names of their members of the technical committees that the two leaders (Greek Cypriot leader H.E. Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader H.E. Rauf Denktash) agreed to create on 4 October 2002, in the presence of the Secretary-General.

The first committee meetings are scheduled to take place on January 7, 2003 under the chairmanship of the UN."

[02] Defence Minister's statements on the Cyprus problem and the demonstrations in the occupied areas

Speaking to the press on Friday, Mr. Hasikos told reporters that there was a will by the people of Cyprus for a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus problem and that "this was proven beyond any doubt by the peaceful revolution of the Turkish Cypriots against the Ankara military regime".

He noted that "the weapons of the occupation troops have now turned against the people living in the occupied areas as well".

The Defence Minister also pointed out that large quantities of weaponry had been stolen recently from various military camps in northern Cyprus and that this should render the Government "particularly cautious".

As regards the possibility of a provocation by the Turkish occupation troops, Mr. Hasikos stressed that both the Government and the National Guard were monitoring closely what was happening in the north.

Asked whether he was concerned that Turkey might gain advantages on the Cyprus problem in order to support the US in a war against Iraq, he said that the philosophy of the UN solution plan was the framework for peace negotiations and could not be changed in any way.

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

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