Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 00-07-12

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

Wednesday, 12 July 2000

CONTENTS

• [01] Government condemns the arrest of Turkish Cypriot journalists in the occupied area
• [02] Report on Cyprus' EU accession discussed at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament

[01] Government condemns the arrest of Turkish Cypriot journalists in the occupied area

In a statement made yesterday, Mr. Arotis stressed that "The arrest of the publisher and journalists of the newspaper Avrupa on charges of espionage aims at their muzzling, abolishing the right of freedom of the press and terrorising the citizens in the occupied area.

The Cyprus Government condemns such practices and calls on the international community, particularly the Council of Europe and the European Union, to show an interest and intervene so as to safeguard the rights of the arrested persons".

The arrest of the journalists sent shock waves in leftist circles. The representatives of 20 organisations, including the Republican Turkish Party and Patriotic Union Movement, made a joint statement protesting the arrests. Representatives of labour unions, political parties and civil foundations made statements demanding the resignation of Ali Nihat Ozeyranli, Commander of the so-called "Security Forces".

The paper further reports that the Union of Cyprus Journalists, in the meantime, applied to the UN Secretariat and to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, demanding that the journalists be released.

[02] Report on Cyprus' EU accession discussed at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament

During a debate, following the presentation of the report, Mr. Poos stressed that the EU can play a more active role in efforts towards a Cyprus settlement with the direct involvement of the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Mr. Javier Solana. Mr Poos also said that the demilitarisation of Cyprus is a pre-condition to a resolution of the Cyprus problem.

Moreover in her intervention, Co-President of the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee Ms Mechtild Rothe, made a special reference to Cyprus' achievements in the harmonisation process with the acquis communautaire, noting that Cyprus should not face any particular problems in adopting the acquis nor in acceding to the European Union.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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