Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-04-04

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

Thursday, 4 April 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] The Permanent Representative of Cyprus addressed the UN the Security Council on the Middle East crisis
• [02] The UN Secretary-General continues to believe a solution can be achieved by June
• [03] British MP's have contacts in Cyprus

[01] The Permanent Representative of Cyprus addressed the UN the Security Council on the Middle East crisis

"The Government and the people of Cyprus express profound concern and sorrow at the worsening situation in the Middle East and condemn violence and any actions resulting in innocent victims, be they Israelis or Palestinians.

We express full sympathy and solidarity to President Yasser Arafat, whom we consider the legitimate leader and representative of the Palestinian people and we call upon the Israeli troops to withdraw immediately from Ramallah and the Palestinian territories. We also call for an immediate cease-fire and for resumption of a dialogue in order to rescue the peace process. In this respect, we join the entire international community in calling for the immediate and full implementation of resolutions 1397 and 1402 of the Security Council".

Mr Zackheos further underlined that the Cyprus Government strongly condemns any and all forms of terrorism, for which there is no justification and supports the right of Israel and all states of the region to live in peace and security, and concluded:

"Finally, allow me to reiterate Cyprus' unwavering support to the pursuit of peace in the region. The Government and people of Cyprus with traditionally strong bonds of friendship with both the Palestinian and Israeli people stand ready to play a constructive role towards the achievement of this goal. It is in this context, that my Government has offered to host later this month, in Nicosia, the next meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, which we hope will contribute in its own way to building the necessary bridges of understanding between the Palestinian and Israeli people".

[02] The UN Secretary-General continues to believe a solution can be achieved by June

"The Secretary-General continues to believe that it is possible for the two leaders to complete their working June 2002 given political determination and an enhanced sense of urgency".

[03] British MP's have contacts in Cyprus

The British delegation had separate meetings with the respective Presidents of the European Affairs Parliamentary Committee and the Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committee, Mrss Tassos Papadopoulos and Demetris Syllouris and their members, yesterday.

During the two meetings, the British MP's were briefed on the latest developments on the Cyprus problem, and especially on the course of the talks between President Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash.

The British MP's expressed their support, as well as the support of the British Government and the opposition for Cyprus' accession to the European Union with or without a solution to the Cyprus problem prior to accession, according to the relevant decision of the European Council in Helsinki.

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

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