Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-10-14

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Monday, 14 October 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus' representative addresses UN First Committee on disarmament
• [02] Commerce Minister discusses Cyprus-Egypt Economic Zone in Cairo
• [03] Cyprus and EIB sign loan agreements
• [04] Cyprus provides financial support to East Timor

[01] Cyprus' representative addresses UN First Committee on disarmament

In his address before the UN First Committee, Mr. Christofides noted: "despite the continuing foreign occupation of almost 40% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and against a background of a constant threat posed by some 40,000 occupation troops stationed on the island, we are currently exerting all efforts to complete the ratification process before the end of the year".

As concrete demonstration of Cyprus' political will on the matter, Mr. Christofides added, the Government has taken specific action such as mine- clearance operations, refurbishment of existing minefields and the destruction of stockpiles. He also pointed out that "the Government of Cyprus has since 1983 cleared ten minefields adjacent to the buffer zone and during the last two years destroyed more that eleven thousand mines of various types". Moreover, the Government has put forward a proposal for the cleaning of all minefields laid within the buffer zone.

The Cyprus Representative recalled, before the UN Committee, President Clerides' proposal for the demilitarisation of Cyprus "as a genuine offer for peace on the island and in the region at large". This proposal, Mr. Christofides noted, called for a specific programme aiming at the dismantling of all local military forces, the withdrawal of all foreign forces and settlers from the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and its demilitarisation, as stipulated in the relevant UN resolutions. It also envisaged the stationing in Cyprus of an international force with an appropriate mandate from the Security Council.

It was within that context, he said, that the Cyprus Government proceeded, with the assistance of UNFICYP, to the destruction of approximately 4,500 small arms, which had been under UN custody since 1972. "This unilateral move by the Government of Cyprus was aimed at improving the climate of the peace talks and at heeding the call of the UN Secretary-General to reduce armaments on the island", Mr. Christofides concluded.

[02] Commerce Minister discusses Cyprus-Egypt Economic Zone in Cairo

During their meeting, the two ministers confirmed the existing agreement for the delimitation of the Cyprus-Egypt Exclusive Economic Zone, which will be signed in the near future.

Mr. Rolandis also met with the Egyptian Minister of Tourism Mr. Mamduh El Beltagui, with whom he reviewed bilateral relations with regard to tourism, as well as other matters of mutual interest.

The Cyprus Minister visited the Egyptian capital at an invitation of the Minister of Petroleum of Egypt, Mr. Fahmi.

[03] Cyprus and EIB sign loan agreements

The loan agreements provide for 65 million euros for the construction of the new campus for the University of Cyprus, 55 million for the funding of the Air Traffic Services project, which involves the construction of a new area control centre and the purchase of equipment for the new centre, and finally, 100 million euros for the funding of the Cyprus Electricity Authority.

The Finance Minister, Mr. Takis Klerides, who signed the agreements on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus with the EIB Chairman Mr. Philippe Maystadt, expressed satisfaction about the agreements and said that three more projects were already being appraised for funding by the EIB, relating to the construction of new school buildings, government information technology systems and the Nicosia sewage system.

[04] Cyprus provides financial support to East Timor

Mr. Zackheos congratulated Mr. Guterres on the struggle of the people of East Timor, which ended foreign occupation, and welcomed the country's efforts to improve its relations with Indonesia, aimed at the conciliation and cooperation between the two countries. He added that Cyprus was willing to provide concrete help to East Timor, to help it find its place in the international community.

Mr. Zackheos also referred to the struggle of the Cyprus people for justice and noted the importance of reinforcing international law and solidarity among small and vulnerable states in particular, in order to safeguard the respect of human values; that, he said, was a fundamental precondition for global justice, peace and legitimacy.

His counterpart from East Timor, Mr. Guterres, thanked the Cyprus Government for its continuing support during the difficult years of East Timor's struggle for independence and noted that this support had created warm and friendly sentiments for Cyprus among the people of his country, which supported a solution of the Cyprus problem in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.

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