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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-10-02Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] SG COUNCIL OF EUROPE - TURKEYCouncil of Europe Secretary-General Terry Davis has described as ``unfortunate`` statements by the Turkish President about the existence of two religions in Cyprus.Abdullah Gul claimed, during an illegal visit to the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus on September 18, that there are ``two democracies, two states, two languages and two religions`` on the island. ``I think that (Gul`s) reference to two religions was unfortunate,`` Davis said replying to a question by CNA. Gull will be addressing the CoE`s Parliamentary Assembly tomorrow but will not be meeting Davis. ``I have not been asked,`` for a meeting, Davis said. Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus` northern part, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. In the recent past, Ankara`s designs aim at giving a legal status to the Turkish Cypriot regime, in occupied Cyprus. [02] BRITISH ENVOY - CYPRUS ISSUEThe July 8 agreement on Cyprus remains the only show in town and has the full support of the UK government and the UN Security Council, British Prime Ministers Special Representative for Cyprus, Joan Ryan, has stated. In an article titled Time for a Cyprus peace deal ahead of her visit this week to Cyprus the Labour MP sees a window of opportunity in 2008 for a solution to the Cyprus problem. If this is not seized with both hands, the prospects for a settlement look bleak. It would be a grave mistake to delay any longer, she warns.The British representative says the impetus for a solution to this long-running conflict must come from Cypriots themselves and calls on the Cypriots of both communities to learn from lessons taken in the Northern Ireland question. In her article Rayan outlines what she hopes to achieve in her new capacity. Whilst there is much that my new role shares with that of other special envoys and representatives, my job is different in one key respect: my task is to strengthen the government`s relationship with the British Cypriot community. She notes that the Cypriot community in the UK is in many ways a model for multicultural Britain. The 300,000 or so Cypriots living in the UK retain strong ties with their country of origin, and at the same time are fully integrated into British culture, making important contributions to all aspects of society. They also act as a vocal interest group, calling the government to account on foreign policy issues. After three months in this job, and many years working with Cypriots in my Enfield Constituency, there is one big question that I particularly want to explore during my time in Cyprus: what role can the Cypriot diaspora play in helping to heal the wounds of its homeland? Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |