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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-03-28
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Friday, 28 March 2003 President Papadopoulos meets Russia-Cyprus
Friendship Group
[02] President appoints new Attorney General
[03] EU officials express concern over T/C arrests in occupied Cyprus
[04] De Soto briefs UN Security Council on Cyprus peace talks
[05] Spanish Prime Minister's statements on Cyprus
[06] US Congressmen condemn Turkish side for collapse of peace efforts
[01] President Papadopoulos meets Russia-Cyprus Friendship Group
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, received
yesterday a six-member delegation of the Russia-Cyprus Friendship Group in
the State Duma, led by its President Mr Nicolay A. Daykhes. The delegation
is on a five-day official visit to Cyprus, after an invitation by the
Cyprus House of Representatives. In statements after the meeting, the
Director of the President's Press Office, Mr Marios Karoyian, said that
President Papadopoulos informed the delegation of Russian parliamentarians
on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem, following the
collapse of the talks in The Hague due to Turkish intransigence.
"The President of the Republic thanked once more the Russian government and
the Russian Duma for their constant support and reinforcement of the
struggle of the people of Cyprus for a viable and functional solution to
the Cyprus problem", Mr Karoyian further said. He added that Cyprus and
Russia stressed the need to strengthen their traditionally close ties in
the political, economic, cultural, scientific and social fields.
On the issue of Iraq, Mr Karoyian noted that the Russian delegation
expressed its opposition, since the war against Iraq did not have the
authorisation of the UN Security Council. He added that President
Papadopoulos said that any action must be based on UN decisions, and that
the Cyprus Government had granted the minimum facility, namely the use of
its airspace for humanitarian purposes. The delegation of Russian
parliamentarians also met yesterday with the President of the Cyprus
Parliament, Mr Demetris Christofias.
[02] President appoints new Attorney General
President Papadopoulos appointed yesterday Mr Solonas Nikitas as Attorney
General of the Republic, with effect as of 1 May, 2003. Mr Nikitas has been
serving as Judge of the Supreme Court since 1988.
Last Wednesday, the President accepted the resignation of incumbent
Attorney General, Mr Alecos Markides, with effect as of 24 April,
2003.
[03] EU officials express concern over T/C arrests in occupied Cyprus
The President of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, expressed his concern,
yesterday, over the arrest and detention in Morphou, in the Turkish-
occupied areas of Cyprus, of six members of the Platform "This country is
ours" for having organised a symbolic referendum on the Annan plan.
Mr Cox made the following statement, "I appeal to the authorities to
respect the plurality of opinion on an issue on which the people hold
deeply-felt convictions and views. I call for the immediate release of the
opposition leaders who have been detained. I call for tolerance, not a
heavy hand." In addition, Mr Jean-Christophe Filori, the Spokesman for EU
Enlargement Commissioner Mr Gunter Verheugen, expressed concern over the
arrests of Turkish Cypriots by the Denktash regime in occupied Cyprus.
Asked to comment on the arrests, during the daily press briefing yesterday
in Brussels, Mr Filori said, "We are concerned because pluralism is one of
the foundations of democracy and our democratic societies, together with
freedom of expression and the right of assembly. We call on the authorities
that control the northern part of Cyprus to respect these values."
[04] De Soto briefs UN Security Council on Cyprus peace talks
The UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Mr Alvaro de Soto,
briefed on Wednesday the five permanent members of the UN Security Council
about the collapse of the latest intensive peace efforts to find a
comprehensive settlement in Cyprus prior to the signing of the EU Accession
Treaty on 16 April, according to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA). The
Government Spokesman, Mr Kypros Chrysostomides, who was asked to comment on
the issue during yesterday's press briefing, said that the Cyprus
Government had not yet been informed, but noted that the final report of
the Secretary-General was expected to be submitted to the Security Council
by the end of the week. Mr Chrysostomides further said that the Government
wished to see the Good Offices of the UN Secretary-General continue, in
order to keep the efforts for the attainment of a comprehensive settlement
to the Cyprus problem.
[05] Spanish Prime Minister's statements on Cyprus
The Spanish Prime Minister, Mr Jose Maria Aznar, made reference to Cyprus
in his address before the Spanish Parliament last Wednesday, noting that
the Spring European Council in Brussels had discussed the Cyprus problem
and called on the Turkish Cypriot leadership to review its stance as
regards the UN Secretary-General's efforts for a comprehensive settlement.
Mr Aznar, who was briefing the Parliament on the conclusions of the
Brussels Summit and the Iraq war, pointed out that the Cyprus problem was
among the issues discussed in Brussels. "We have encouraged the UN
Secretary-General in his efforts for a solution to the problem of division
of the island. We would like a just and viable solution to be reached, and
the European Union will continue to work towards that goal. We have called
on the leaders of the Turkish Cypriots to reexamine their stance", the
Spanish Prime Minister said in his statement on Cyprus.
[06] US Congressmen condemn Turkish side for collapse of peace efforts
The criticism against the Turkish side for the collapse of the intensive UN-
led peace efforts in The Hague continues at the US House of Representatives,
as three more Congressmen have condemned the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf
Denktash and Ankara for their non-constructive stance at the negotiating
table. The Republican MP Mr Doug Bereuter, of Nebraska, in his address
before the House last Tuesday, expressed disappointment over Mr Denktash'
stance at the UN peace talks and his refusal to put the solution plan to a
referendum. "It was highly regrettable, to this Member, that Mr Denktash
refused to let the Turkish Cypriot people have the opportunity to determine
their own future on an agreement which would have reunited the island and
which would have served the best interests of the Turkish Cypriot
community. This Member was also disappointed with the government of Turkey
for their apparent unwillingness to exert influence on Mr Denktash to agree
to the plan at such critical time", Mr Bereuter said.
In addition, the Democratic MP Mr James Langevin, of Rhode Island, stated
in his address before the House, on the same day, that Mr Denktash had put
most of the blame for the collapse of the peace talks "on his own shoulders
for this lost opportunity". "By not allowing the Turkish Cypriots to vote
on the UN settlement plan by a referendum, Mr Denktash has made the
decision for the Turkish Cypriots that they will not live under the
European Union's laws or reap its economic benefits", Mr Langevin pointed
out. The third member of Congress to criticise the Turkish Cypriot leader
was the Democratic MP Mr Steven Rothman, of New Jersey. Speaking before the
House on 20 March, Mr Rothman said he was "very disheartened" to learn
about the collapse of the talks in The Hague, pointing out that "it is
apparent that while the Greek-Cypriot people and their leaders are ready
for a peaceful settlement to this longstanding problem, the Turkish-Cypriot
leaders, and possibly the leaders of Turkey as well, are not committed to a
peaceful settlement at this time". He urged the Turkish side and Mr
Denktash, in particular, to re-evaluate their opposition to the unification
of the island, especially in light of Turkey's desire to become an EU
member. In total, nine members of the US Congress have so far made
statements condemning the Turkish Cypriot leader and Ankara for the impasse
in resolving the Cyprus problem.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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