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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-05-02Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] SPOKESMAN - TURKEYCyprus is not indifferent to the political situation in Turkey, Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis has said, pointing out that political developments in this neighbouring country cannot justify Ankaras intransigence on Cyprus.Speaking after a meeting of the Council of Ministers, Pashiardis said that ``Naturally developments in Turkey not to leave us indifferent, given that they affect developments in the Cyprus problem, since it is well-known that the policy and the final decisions on the Cyprus problem are taken in Ankara.`` ``It is not up to Cyprus to comment on the functioning of democratic institutions in Turkey,`` the Spokesman said, adding however that ``what we can say now is that developments in Turkish politics cannot be projected as justification for Turkish intransigence on Cyprus.`` ``Turkey remains rigid on Cyprus. Irrespective of developments in Turkish politics, our side remains ready to cooperate for the implementation of the July 8 agreement,`` he added. In Brussels, commenting on the political situation in Turkey, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said that if a country wants to become a member of the EU, it needs to respect the principles of liberty, democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the supremacy of democratic power over the military, on which the EU is founded on. Furthermore, commenting on remarks by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Pashiardis said that the Turkish side reaffirms constantly that its aim is not the reunification of Cyprus but the political upgrading of the illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus. Talat had said that ``the request for diplomatic recognition can be brought back on the agenda, if the partition of the island seems permanent.`` ``If, as Mr Talat says, the policy of diplomatic upgrading resurfaces, then the Turkish side has every reason to contribute to the failure of talks relating to the July agreement and the Turkish side is doing exactly that to constantly confirm that its aim is not the reunification of Cyprus through a federal solution but the political upgrading of the illegal regime,`` the spokesman said. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. President Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of UN official Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. [02] HOUSE PRESIDENT - ARCHBISHOP OF GREECEThe solution of the Cyprus problem is mainly up to Turkey, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos has said. Christodoulos, on an eight-day official visit to Cyprus, has met with House President Demetris Christofias, who briefed him on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem. Christofias ``analysed various aspects of the Cyprus problem, the solution of which is mainly up to the neighbouring country, Turkey,`` the Primate of the church in Greece said. He added that ``the analysis by Mr Christofias was very important and detailed for us and it shed light on many aspects of the problem.``Christodoulos said that both he and the Primate of the Cypriot Church, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, assured Christofias that ``the two Churches will stand by their people`s efforts to solve their problems.`` ``We thank him for the opportunity we had, which enriches even more our experience during this most important visit to the island,`` Christodoulos concluded. A House of Representatives press release issued after the meeting says that Christofias ``presented a historical review of the problem and a thorough briefing on the latest developments in Cyprus and also referred to the continued efforts for rapprochement between the two communities, including the efforts taken by political parties.`` ``Christofias and Christodoulos exchanged views on developments in Turkey concerning the Turkish presidential elections and how these may affect the prospects for a settlement of the Cyprus problem, in the framework of wider international developments,`` the release writes. [03] EU COMMISSIONER - MISSING PERSONSThe European Commission shares the pain and grief of all the families in Cyprus who miss one or several of their relatives who disappeared during the unrest in the 1960s and until 1974, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has said, stressing that relatives have a fundamental right to know what became of missing persons. In a written reply to Cypriot Member of the European Parliament, Ioannis Kasoulides on the issue of a 5-year old boy Christakis Georgiou, one of the youngest persons missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion, Rehn expresses the Commission`s support to the efforts of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), established in 1981.``The Commission shares the pain and grief of all the families in Cyprus who miss one or several of their relatives who disappeared during the unrest in the 1960s and until 1974. Since then, about 1500 Greek Cypriots and 500 Turkish Cypriots have been missing. Relatives have a fundamental right to know what became of missing persons,`` Rehn notes. According to Rhen, the case of Christakis Georgiou is being dealt with by the CMP, charged with enquiring about the fate of the missing. Rehn also recalled that in a press release issued on 7 March 2007 in relation to this case, the CMP said it ``wishes to reiterate its commitment to following-up on and investigating any information throwing new light on the fate of missing individuals``. ``The EU supports the efforts of the Committee, including financially. Under the EU aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, 1.5 million has been earmarked for its work,`` Rehn concludes. [04] MAVROYIANNIS - SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM CYPRUSCyprus Permanent Representative to the United Nations Andreas Mavroyiannis underlined the benefits for Cyprus from its participation in the General Assembly procedure for the Security Council Reform.Mavroyiannis was speaking before UN correspondents last week, in his capacity as member of the facilitators appointed three months ago by chairwoman of the General Assembly Haya Rashed Al Khalifa to negotiate with member states and make suggestions for the overall reform of the Security Council. Also participating in the meeting were the permanent representatives of Tunisia, Ali Hachani, Croatia, Mirjana Mladineo, Chile, Heraldo Munoz and the Netherlands, Frank Majoor. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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