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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-07-22
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Tuesday, 22 July 2003 Cyprus could act as a bridge between EU and
Middle East
[02] T/C products can now be transported by lorries from the occupied areas
to the government-controlled areas
[03] US State Department's comments on Denktash's threats to settle
Varosha
[04] Cyprus ratifies treaty banning nuclear testing
[01] Cyprus could act as a bridge between EU and Middle East
Cyprus could assume a more active role in the Middle East peace process due
to its geographical location and close ties with the countries involved.
Along those lines, Cyprus' Foreign Minister Mr Georgios Iacovou will visit
the region in September in an effort to promote the peace process.
The above position was put forward at a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs
and External Relations Council, yesterday in Brussels, during which the
question of the Middle East was discussed extensively. On the sidelines of
the Council meeting, the 25 Foreign Ministers of the EU member states and
acceding countries - including Cyprus - had separate meetings with their
Israeli and Palestinian counterparts, Mr Silvan Shalom and Mr Nabil Shaath,
respectively, with whom they discussed ways of promoting the 'road map' for
peace in the Middle East. In a draft declaration, the 25 Foreign Ministers
stressed that there could be no alternative to a swift and full implementation
of the road map. They further said that the EU was ready to "contribute in
a substantial way" to resolving the Middle East crisis.
Furthermore, the European Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Iran
and underlined the need for terminating Tehran's nuclear programme in order
to avoid a possible military intervention by the US. It is noted that Mr
Iacovou will discuss the EU positions on that matter with the Iranian
government during his visit to Tehran on Saturday.
[02] T/C products can now be transported by lorries from the occupied areas
to the government-controlled areas
As of yesterday, Turkish Cypriot products can be transported from the
occupied areas to the government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus
by Turkish Cypriot lorries. The Communications and Works Minister, Mr Kikis
Kazamias, has pointed out that Turkish Cypriot lorry drivers would first
have to visit the transport department of his Ministry in order to be
issued day-passes and also have their vehicles checked.
"If a vehicle passes the checks, the owner would then have to apply to the
transport department again for a road permit, which will be issued within
15 days", Mr Kazamias said. He underlined that the procedures, vehicle
checks and conditions for issuing a road permit regarding Turkish Cypriot
lorries were exactly the same as those for lorries registered in the
Republic.
[03] US State Department's comments on Denktash's threats to settle
Varosha
The US State Department's Deputy Spokesman, Mr Philip Reeker, was asked by
a journalist yesterday to comment on the recent threat by the Turkish
Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to settle the fenced-off area of Famagusta. Mr
Reeker said, inter alia, the following: "Let me be very clear that we
support the UN Security Council resolutions from past years, which call for
the maintenance of the status quo in Varosha until it is returned to its
rightful owners. And so we, in that vein, are also supporting the efforts
of the Secretary-General and his plan. Certainly we continue to welcome
genuine, mutually acceptable confidence-building measures that would foster
contact between both the Greek Cypriot community and the Turkish Cypriot
community, that would increase understanding between the communities on the
island, and improve the atmosphere for achieving a just and durable
settlement." The US Spokesman also made reference to the letter sent by Mr
Denktash to the UN Secretary-General, on July 11, proposing the reopening
of the Nicosia Airport, and pointed out that the issue of Varosha was not
in fact addressed in the letter itself.
[04] Cyprus ratifies treaty banning nuclear testing
The Republic of Cyprus has ratified, on 18 July, the Comprehensive Nuclear
Test Ban Treaty, demonstrating its firm commitment to the promotion of
peace and the eradication of the danger of a nuclear disaster.
The treaty, drafted on 24 September 1996 following a decision by the UN
General Assembly, has been signed by 165 countries so far and ratified by
94 of the signatories. In order to be put into effect, the treaty must be
ratified by the 44 countries that have the capacity to produce nuclear
weapons. The instrument of ratification was deposited to the legal
department of the United Nations, on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, by
the Charge d'Affaires of Cyprus' Permanent Mission to the UN, Mr George
Kasoulides.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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