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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 96-09-20Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News Update20/9/96CONTENTS[01] European Parliament condemns TurkeyUs policy on CyprusThe European Parliament approved on Thursday (19.9.96) a resolution on Cyprus condemning "the murders of the two young Greek Cypriots by the Turkish army of occupation and members of the unlawful Denktash regime, and expresses deep concern at the indiscriminate use of violence by the Turkish occupation forces."Moreover, the European Parliament "condemns the fact that members of the Turkish extremist organisation "Grey Wolves" were brought from Turkey to Cyprus so that they could enter into conflict with unarmed demonstrators and takes the view that this policy is endangering peace and security in Cyprus". The European Parliament resolution calls on Turkey "to cooperate by taking all necessary measures to identify, arrest and bring to justice all those implicated in the murders and the decision to fire on unarmed civilians." Finally the Parliament expressed support for the proposal of the Cyprus government for the demilitarisation of the island and asks Turkey to withdraw its occupation forces and abide by the UN resolutions on Cyprus. [02] Foreign Minister welcomes E.P. resolutionCyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides, commenting on a resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Thursday which slammed Turkey for its poor human rights records and its provocative behaviour against Cyprus and the Kurdish population in Turkey, said:"This is a hard blow on the policy followed by Turkey and a strong message to this country if it wants to come closer to Europe. If Turkey wants to come closer to Europe and at the same time keep on violating every principle of democracy and human rights, if it wants to continue the occupation of Cyprus and the Kurdish problem, then the reply of the European Parliament is negative: It will not accept closer relations with Turkey." [03] E.U. accession window of opportunity for CyprusIrish Minister of State Mitchell, speaking at the debate at the European Parliament on Wednesday 18.9.96, as representative of the Irish presidency of the European Union, said: "The prospect of membership of the European Union offers an historic window of opportunity to find a solution to the Cyprus question. It is vital that this opportunity is grasped and that the pre-accession period is used constructively to make progress towards an equitable and sustainable settlement"."The Union is actively seeking to ensure that the advantages of membership are understood by all Cypriots. We will pursue our efforts to convince both sides that there is everything to gain and nothing to lose from the entry of unified Cyprus into the European Union." [04] Budgets for 1997 submitted to the House of RepresentativesFinance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou tabled on Thursday, 19.9.96, the three budgets for 1997. The budgets - ordinary development and refugee - envisage total expenditure of (Cyprus Pounds) CP1476,3 million and revenue of (Cyprus Pounds) CP1087,5 million.The budget deficit will be CP338.8 million, an increase of CP47.1 million over 1996. Emphasis is given to development projects and particularly for road construction (CP51.4m), water development (CP 23.5m), the Larnaca and Paphos airports (CP15.1m), education (CP 13.4m), the Cyprus University (CP14.1m) and health (CP11.5m). 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 - Next Article |
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