Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-05-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - TURKEY

[02] FM - LISBON TREATY

[03] BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER - CHRISTOFIAS-TALAT MEETING

[01] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - TURKEY

In its latest progress report on Turkey, adopted by a large majority of 467 votes in favour, 62 against and 61 abstentions, the European Parliament welcomes recent legislative activities in the country, while insisting that the speed of reforms must pick up.

The own-initiative report, drawn up by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (EPP-ED, NL), ``welcomes the commitment of Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan that 2008 is going to be the year of reforms`` and ``urges the Turkish government to fulfill its promises`` by implementing them.

On the Cyprus issue, the Euro MPs stressed the need to achieve an overall settlement of the issue. At the same time, they welcomed the agreement of 21st March between the leaders of the two communities on the island and called on both sides to seize the opportunity to achieve an overall settlement within the UN framework, based on the principles that the EU was founded on.

They cited earlier European Parliament resolutions which note that the withdrawal of Turkish troops would ease negotiations for a solution.

Six working groups and seven technical committees, set up in the context an agreement between President Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, are meeting in Cyprus to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between the two leaders.

The EP also urges the Turkish government to launch ``a political initiative favouring a lasting settlement of the Kurdish issue, including a ``comprehensive master plan to boost the socio-economic and cultural development of the south-east of Turkey.``

In light of the drafting of a new constitution, the report stresses that it should ``ensure gender equality, avoid the use of vague criteria such as general morality, refrain from perceiving women primarily as family or community members and reaffirm women`s human rights as their individual rights.``

The MEPs expressed their concern about ``the excessive use of force by Turkish police against demonstrators at this year`s May Day parade in Constantinople.

[02] FM - LISBON TREATY

Kyprianou was speaking before the members of parliamentary Committees on Foreign and European Affairs whom he briefed about the Lisbon Treaty.

He remarked that no strict timetables were set up for the ratification of the Treaty by the Parliament, pointing out that half of the EU states-members have already ratified it.

The government, continued, respects the House of Representative and its procedures and stressed that he would not expect any delay for the ratification.

Kyprianou said that there will be no extensive public campaign about the treaty but a special website to this effect will be created by the Foreign Ministry.

[03] BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER - CHRISTOFIAS-TALAT MEETING

Speaking to the press after a meeting here with Health Minister Christos Patsalides, Peter Millett, British High Commissioner, expressed hope that the importance of the March 21 agreement will be confirmed tomorrow at the meeting between the Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat.

I hope that tomorrow, the two leaders can agree to accelerate the work of the working groups and the technical committees to help direct negotiations begin as soon as possible, he added.

Six working groups and seven technical committees, made up of experts from both communities, have been meeting in the past four weeks to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between the two community leaders.

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