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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-08-07

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

  • [01]Thursday, 07 August 2003 President's letter to the UN Secretary General circulates as a document of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council
  • [02] Government raises the issue of the so-called "customs union" between Turkey and the pseudostate with the European Union
  • [03] The Republic's Ambassador to Italy submits the ratification instrument of Cyprus' Accession Treaty to the EU

    [01] President's letter to the UN Secretary General circulates as a document of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council

    The President of the Republic Mr Tassos Papadopoulos expressed his readiness to immediately engage in substantive negotiations on the basis of the Annan peace plan with the view of reaching a viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem as soon as possible. In a letter dated 18 July 2003, addressed to the UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan, President Papadopoulos submits his views in relation to the Turkish Cypriot leader's letter of 11 July 2003. The full text of the letter, which was circulated on 5 August 2003 as a document of the UN General Assembly, under agenda item 54, and of the Security Council, reads as follows: "I am writing this letter because I would like to communicate my views on the positions put forth by Mr. Denktash in his letter to you of 11 July 2003, which he also copied to me. At the outset, I would like to point out that Mr. Denktash/s approach, as defined in his letter, follows the logic of his letter to me of 2 April 2003, by which he attributed the stalemate at the Hague to "the 'socio-psychological' dimension of the problem and especially the deep crisis of confidence between the two sides", a view that is obviously unfounded. After the deadlock at The Hague, Mr. Denktash has consistently engaged in an effort to eliminate every prospect for the resumption of the talks on the basis of your plan and to disorient both international and Turkish Cypriot public opinion about who is to blame for the failure of the talks and the current stalemate. I consider it worthwhile to note that the discussions on confidence-building measures held in 1993-1994 resulted in a deadlock solely due to Mr. Denktash/s insistence on pursuing his objective to promote the acknowledgement of his secessionist entity. The interaction witnessed recently between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots following the partial lifting of restrictions on the freedom of movement, which have been imposed by the occupation regime over the last 29 years, has provided concrete and sound evidence that no lack of confidence exists among ordinary people and has unambiguously shown that what is really lacking is a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem. I am certain that you share my position that the best hope for us to proceed forward is through the resumption of negotiations, aiming at reaching a viable and functional solution as soon as possible. I have repeatedly expressed my readiness to immediately engage in substantive negotiations on the basis of your plan of 26 February 2003. Allow me to reiterate that (as I indicated in my letter of 2 April 2003 to Mr. Denktash, which I also copied to you) if any resumption of the talks is to be meaningful I believe that both communities should indicate at the outset that they accept your plan as the basis for a further negotiating process, within the framework of your good offices mission, in order to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem as provided for in relevant Security Council resolutions."

    [02] Government raises the issue of the so-called "customs union" between Turkey and the pseudostate with the European Union

    Government Spokesman Mr Kypros Chrysostomides said yesterday during his press briefing that the so called "customs union" between Turkey and the pseudostate is illegal and that the Government had raised the issue with the European Union: "Regarding the so-called customs union between Turkey and the pseudostate, this constitutes a political manoeuvre and lies within the context of a wider illegality. However, the Government has raised the issue to the European Union in order to examine mainly how this illegal measure could affect the customs union of Turkey with the European Union and the issue will also be raised at the United Nations". Mr Chrysostomides stated that this was yet another indication of Turkey's policy of supporting the occupation regime, which constituted an extension of the occupation force. The Government Spokesman underlined the actions that the Government of Cyprus had taken and would take by stressing the necessity to end this illegality. Replying to a question regarding the arguments raised in relation to the customs union agreement between Turkey and the EU and how this could be affected, Mr Chrysostomides stated the following: "Apart from the fact that the illegality of occupation and the illegal support of the occupation regime by Turkey are once again underlined, an issue which is also raised is whether this fictitious customs union, between Turkey and the occupied areas, which is illegal, affects trade between Turkey and the EU in the context of the customs union which already exists between them". Invited to comment on whether this question had been raised with the EU, Mr Chrysostomides replied in the affirmative and added that it would be examined and discussed with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. Asked whether this matter could end up in the European Court, Mr Chrysostomides said that the Government's intention was to put the matter emphatically before the competent EU organs. Invited to make a comment on Mr Denktash/s statement that it was a humanitarian mission, Mr Chrysostomides said that this allegation had also been raised 29 years ago in order to support the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey. He added that such arguments had had been rejected by the international community, the international courts and the European Union. Commenting on Mr Denktash/s allegations that the embargo was creating problems which the customs union with Turkey would alleviate, Mr Chrysostomides said that Mr Denktash/s effort to distort the facts was evident. "There is no embargo. If there are obstacles in the conduct of trade with the occupied areas of the Republic this is precisely attributed to the illegality of the occupation and the decisions that the European Union has adopted. Therefore, Mr Denktash should not look for excuses. The basic position, which I believe is the one adopted by the international community, is that the illegality is continuing". Replying to a question on how the Government evaluated the functioning of the measures for the Turkish Cypriots and if there was any risk that the EU could ask for further measures Mr Chrysostomides said that the evaluation of the measures was carried out periodically, adding that what was expected was the implementation of some of the measures that had been announced and the European Union's cooperation in that direction. Mr Chrysostomides said that there were some difficulties in the implementation of current measures mainly with regard to trade, due to the demand for using the port of Famagusta, the problem in finding solutions that respond to the laws and regulations of the Republic of Cyprus, such as the VAT and the delay in the announcement of measures by the EU. Mr Chrysostomides also said that European experts were expected to arrive in Cyprus in September to supervise the production of goods in order to facilitate trade.

    [03] The Republic's Ambassador to Italy submits the ratification instrument of Cyprus' Accession Treaty to the EU

    Cyprus' Ambassador to Rome Mr Alexandros Zenon submitted yesterday on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, the ratification instrument of Cyprus' Accession Treaty to the EU, which had been signed by President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos on July 28 2003. The Treaty was received by the Director General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Ivo Braguglia, on behalf of the Italian government, during a special ceremony at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the presence of the staff of the Cyprus Embassy in Rome and senior ministry officials. Speaking during the ceremony, Mr Zenon referred to the political significance of Cyprus' accession to the EU and enlargement in general, noting that the Cyprus House of Representatives unanimously ratified the Accession Treaty.| Cyprus is the third acceding country to submit the ratification instrument in Italy. The first two were Malta and Poland.

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


    Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
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