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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-10-02
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Thursday, 02 October 2003 President says Cypriots must be proud of the
Republic for its lingering struggle to uphold entity
[02] Military parade proved readiness of National Guard to defend homeland,
says President Papadopoulos
[03] EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee adopts recommendation
condemning Turkey and Denktash for violations in Cyprus
[04] European Commission urges Turkey to contribute to Cyprus settlement
[01] President says Cypriots must be proud of the Republic for its
lingering struggle to uphold entity
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, speaking
on Tuesday evening in Limassol at a special event to celebrate the
anniversary of Cyprus' independence and the establishment of the Republic
of Cyprus, said that Cypriots should feel proud of their State which had
managed to safeguard its entity and sovereignty through some very difficult
times ensuing from the 1974 Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of
the island's northern third. Referring to Cyprus' forthcoming accession to
the European Union, President Papadopoulos noted that it implied "the
Cyprus problem now takes on a European perspective and prospect", adding
that a viable and functional solution of the Cyprus issue, which would be
in full compliance with the acquis communautaire, "now becomes the wish,
demand and aim of the EU". As regards the Annan plan, Mr Papadopoulos
underlined that the Greek Cypriot side accepted the plan as a basis for
negotiations and expressed hope that "through negotiations, without terms
and preconditions, we will achieve improvements to the Annan plan that will
render the solution of the Cyprus issue move functional and thus viable".
Mr Papadopoulos said that the components of a functional and viable
solution were "the reunification of our people and our country, the
abolition of dividing lines, the withdrawal of Turkish troops and settlers,
the safeguarding of the fundamental freedoms and human rights, and the
establishment of the basic preconditions for the smooth operation of the
State". He further stressed that "all our suggestions for improvements are
within the parameters of the Annan plan and its philosophy, and more and
more people involved in the process recognise the validity of our arguments
and the need for amendments, especially as regards the economic provisions
of the plan and those regarding our constructive participation in EU
procedures". He added that the improvements that the Greek Cypriot was
suggesting would also serve the interests of Turkish Cypriots, who sought
their accession to the EU as equal citizens of a reunified Cyprus, full
member of the Union.
[02] Military parade proved readiness of National Guard to defend homeland,
says President Papadopoulos
President Tassos Papadopoulos expressed yesterday his full satisfaction
with the carrying out of the military parade, held within the framework of
celebrations for the 43rd anniversary of Cyprus' independence. Speaking to
the press after the parade, Mr Papadopoulos noted that "the military
systems exposed, the discipline shown, and the impeccable formations of the
units that marched in the parade, prove beyond doubt the readiness and
ability of the National Guard and Cyprus' Forces in general, to fulfil
their task as a flexible, effective and defensive force". The President
expressed gratitude to the Greek government for its "very significant help"
to Cyprus' defence build-up within the framework of the Joint Defence
Pact. He also congratulated the Defence Minister, Mr Kyriakos Mavronikolas,
the National Guard Commander, Lieutenant General Athanasios Nikolodemos, as
well as the officers and soldiers of the National Guard, saying that "with
this display of professionalism, they have provided our people with a sense
of pride and self-confidence as they have proved that they are in a
position to defend our homeland".
The Greek Minister of Defence, Mr Yiannos Papantoniou, who was present at
yesterday's military parade on behalf of the Greek government, also
expressed satisfaction with the high level of operational readiness, the
discipline and the excellent organisation of Cyprus' armed forces. He noted
that his presence at the parade underlined Greece's firm support of Cyprus,
both defensively and politically, in the important national causes which
remained unfulfilled. President Papadopoulos received the Greek Defence
Minister, yesterday morning at the Presidential Palace, and discussed the
Cyprus problem and issues regarding the security and defence of the
island. In remarks to the press after the meeting, Mr Yiannos Papantoniou
said that Cyprus' defence capability coupled with Greece's political
upgrading had significantly reinforced the clout of the Republic of Cyprus
at the peace negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus
issue.
[03] EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee adopts recommendation
condemning Turkey and Denktash for violations in Cyprus
The outcome of the European Convention on the Future of Europe and the
prospects for the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference, the demining of
the cease-fire line in Cyprus, and the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, were
the three issues on the agenda of the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary
Committee's 24th meeting, which convened on 29-30 September in Luxembourg.
According to a joint statement released by the Committee, the meeting was
co-chaired by Mrs Mechtild Rothe and MP Mr Nicos Cleanthous. "The
delegations from the Cyprus House of Representatives and from the European
Parliament discussed the political situation in Cyprus and the current
EU/Cyprus relations with emphasis on the state of preparations in Cyprus
for accession, after listening to statements by the Italian Presidency in
Office of the Council of the EU, the Foreign Minister of Cyprus, Mr George
Iacovou, the EU chief negotiator, Mr Leopold Maurer, the Cypriot Co-
ordinator for Harmonisation, Mr Takis Hadjidemetriou and the Rapporteur of
the European Parliament on Cyprus, Mr Jacques Poos", the statement read.
The EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) also adopted a recommendation
in which it "regrets the lack of progress towards a just and viable
settlement of the Cyprus problem which is due to the continuing intransigent
attitude of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Denktash, who enjoys the support
of the Turkish government, and to the continuing occupation of the northern
part of Cyprus by Turkish troops" and "emphasises that a successful
resolution of the Cyprus problem is a key factor in the development of the
EU-Turkey relations and, in particular, in reaching a positive outcome as
far as Turkey's accession course is concerned". In the recommendation, the
JPC condemns the so-called "framework agreement for a customs union"
between Turkey and the illegal occupation regime, and "reminds Turkey of
the need to respect and fulfil its commitments towards the EU, thereby
calling on her to rescind the aforementioned agreement": It further
"demands the opening-up of the Varosha area and its settlement by its
rightful citizens in accordance with United Nations Security Council
Resolution 550", and "condemns the policy of the Denktash regime in not
allowing the operation of the Greek Cypriot secondary school at Rizokarpaso
village", stressing that the fundamental right to education of the enclaved
should be fully respected. On the partial lifting of the restrictions on
movement along both sides of the divide by the occupation regime, the
Committee notes that it "demonstrates that Greek Cypriots and Turkish
Cypriots can live peacefully together, but, nevertheless, calls on the
regime of Mr Denktash to stop demanding the presentation of passports at
the crossing points". Lastly, the JPC requests that the Council of the EU
and the European Commission would do everything in their power to ensure
the implementation of the recommendation.
The final meeting of the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee will be
held in Cyprus in March 2004.
[04] European Commission urges Turkey to contribute to Cyprus settlement
EU Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen has called on Turkey to
contribute to a settlement of the Cyprus problem before May 2004.
Speaking to the press last Monday after a meeting with Turkey's Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul, Mr Verheugen said that there was still a chance for
resuming talks and reaching a solution on the basis of the Annan plan. He
added that the EU wished for a settlement of the Cyprus problem prior to
the island's accession to the Union on 1 May 2004. Mr Verheugen said Ankara
should not wait until it got a date for beginning its EU accession
negotiations to start working towards a settlement in Cyprus. He further
said that Turkey's EU accession course had a lot of difficulties and the
solution of the Cyprus issue would remove a major obstacle in that
course. With regard to the compliance with the Copenhagen political
criteria, Mr Verheugen noted that constitutional reforms in Turkey were
proceeding in a satisfying manner.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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