Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-12-04

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] SPOKESMAN - UNSG`S REPORT

[01] SPOKESMAN - UNSG`S REPORT

Palmas expressed the objection of the Greek Cypriot side to the upgrading of the Turkish Cypriot pseudostate in Cyprus occupied areas, noting that it seems that the main reason for this stance, in favour of the upgrading, is the rejection of the Annan plan by the Greek Cypriot community and its approval by the Turkish Cypriot community.

Referring to the UN Secretary Generals report on UNFICYP, Palmas said that one of the positive things of the report is the renewal of the mandate of UNFICYP by a further period of six months with the same numerical force, the same mandate and the same operational structure.

He also noted that the report refers to the ongoing violations of the status quo by the Turkish army in Strovilia and Louroujina and the restrictions applied in Famagusta, the Karpas peninsula and elsewhere to the movement of the UN peace-keeping force.

Despite the fact that, as usually, there is an effort to keep equal distances, it is clear that the stance of our side is generally described as constructive, despite the fact that the report says that political will is required from both sides to make progress, he added.

Palmas said that a negative point in the report is of course the lifting of the so-called isolation of Turkish Cypriots.

Our position is that we must put an end to this myth. From our point of view there is no isolation of Turkish Cypriots, either as individuals or collectively as a Turkish Cypriot community, he added.

Palmas said that despite this negative reference as regards the so called isolation of Turkish Cypriots, it must be noted that the report also said, twice in the relevant paragraph, that any actions towards this direction must be in line with the UN Security Council resolutions.

Replying to questions, Palmas said that in a letter to the UN, Cyprus Permanent Representatives at the international organization outlines the positions of the Republic of Cyprus about the report, noting some issues. He added that if the government considers it necessary it will make further representations at the political level.

Palmas also said that the Cyprus government will continue its efforts to explain to those engaged in an effort to upgrade the pseudostate that problems concerning the living standards of Turkish Cypriots and there so called isolation will be once and for all solved with the settlement of the Cyprus question.

On July 8 2006, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in the presence of the then UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari signed an agreement, involving bicommunal discussions by technical committees of issues affecting the day-to-day life of the people and, concurrently, consideration by expert working groups of substantive issues of the Cyprus problem.

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