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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 99-07-14Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>Wednesday, 14 July 1999CONTENTS[01] Ecevit statements do not conform with international law, says Cyprus spokesmanCyprus' Government Spokesman, Costas Serezis, said yesterday that Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's recent statements to the effect that the Cyprus problem was solved with the Turkish invasion of 1974 " do not conform either with international law or with the way in which states think in the 20th century"."The medieval theory that one country has the right, through the use of force to solve international issues," Serezis said, is "something which should concern Europe, if it wants Turkey to join its ranks." Mr Serezis noted that Mr Ecevit himself had ordered Turkish troops to invade Cyprus in 1974 and occupy 37 per cent of its territory, an act which was internationally condemned. He said that if the Cyprus problem were solved, then why are UN, the European Union, the Group of Eight, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth involved in efforts to solve it and why does the European Court of Human Rights issue verdicts against Turkey for violating human rights in Cyprus. [02] Cyprus' EU entry cannot be underminedCyprus' application to join the European Union does not concern Turkey, but is a matter between the EU and Cyprus, Greece's Government Spokesman, Dimitris Reppas said yesterday."Turkey wishes to keep Cyprus as a hostage", he said and added that the EU's position is clear. He said that Cyprus' entry negotiations are proceeding normally and at a similar rate as that of other applicant countries. Greece's policy over Cyprus' entry into the EU cannot be undermined by any third party's actions, he said. [03] US and Greek Defence Ministers meetUS Defence Secretary William Cohen had talks in Salonica yesterday with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos.He will have talks in Athens today with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis. Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said that apart from bilateral issues, they had discussed a common effort for the stabilisation of the region, the situation in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. Mr Cohen said that the US supports the finding of a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem and that negotiations should be continued without preconditions. He expressed the hope that the time has come when such a solution can be reached. [04] Britain determined to get Cyprus negotiations underwayBritain remains determined to see a major sustained effort this year in support of the UN Secretary-General's initiative to secure a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus.Replying to a question in the House of Commons on Monday, the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Ms Joyce Quin, said that as a G8 member and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the UK has been closely involved in efforts to get negotiations on Cyprus underway. 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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