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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-10-31
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Friday, 31 October 2003 Jaakko Laakso: a census in the occupied areas
is necessary
[02] German Bundesdag Vice Chairman hopes for Cyprus settlement by May
2004
[01] Jaakko Laakso: a census in the occupied areas is necessary
Finnish MP and former PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe) Rapporteur on the illegal colonisation of the occupied areas of
Cyprus by Turkish settlers, Mr Jaakko Laakso, has noted that Turkish
Cypriots were a minority in their own community and called for a census in
order to determine the exact number of settlers living in the north.
Speaking yesterday after a meeting with Foreign Minister Mr Georgios
Iacovou, Mr Laakso, who is visiting the island, further said that there was
a real problem regarding the democratisation of the occupied areas. "I have
unfortunately noticed that Mr Denktash uses the Turkish settlers to
influence the result of the next elections. Of course, this action is
contrary to international law", he added. Noting that since his last visit
to the island there had been a great change in Cyprus with positive
prospects for a solution, the Finnish Deputy said at the same time that
while Mr Denktash remained the leader of the Turkish Cypriot side, there
were no real prospects for resolving the Cyprus issue. "Mr Denktash rejects
the Annan plan and tries in every way to put obstacles in its implementation.
If Mr Denktash wins the next elections, it seems that there will not be a
possibility of solving the Cyprus problem based on the Annan plan", Mr
Laakso also said. Replying to a question on conducting a census in the
occupied areas, he emphasised that such a thing was "necessary" and
suggested that in the future discussions on the Annan plan there should be
an agreement for a census. "I think it would be good if we knew about the
circumstances in which settlers lived in Turkey and see the reasons why
they came to live in the occupied areas", he added, noting that Turkey
should not interfere in the internal affairs of an independent Cyprus by
allowing Turks to move to the island with the incentive that they would be
granted the Cypriot citizenship and the right to vote.
Mr Laakso also met yesterday with the President of the House of Representatives,
Mr Demetris Christofias.
[02] German Bundesdag Vice Chairman hopes for Cyprus settlement by May
2004
The Vice Chairman of the German Bundesdag, Mr Norber Lammert, has expressed
hope that the Cyprus problem would be resolved by 1 May 2004, the date of
Cyprus' official accession to the European Union. Speaking yesterday after
a meeting with Foreign Minister Mr Georgios Iacovou, Mr Lammert, member of
a German Parliamentary delegation currently visiting the island, noted, "We
express our hope that Cyprus' membership to the EU will also contribute to
solving the domestic problems of this country at best before the entrance
date of 1 May next year, if not as soon as possible after that date".
Foreign Minister Mr Iacovou briefed the German delegation on the latest
developments regarding efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue and Cyprus'
forthcoming accession to the EU. Mr Iacovou stressed that the Greek Cypriot
side was ready to resume peace talks within the framework of the UN
Secretary-General's Good Offices Mission, as provided by the relevant
Security Council resolutions. He further noted the Turkish side's refusal
to proceed to the negotiating table and Mr Denktash's statements that the
Annan plan was 'dead and buried'. Regarding bilateral relations, the
Foreign Minister pointed out that the governments of Cyprus and Germany had
very good relations and held frequent meetings within the EU framework.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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