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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-03-31
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 31 March 2003 Cyprus is far away from the military operations
in Iraq
[02] The Committee to Protect Journalists denounces attacks on the Press in
the occupied areas of Cyprus
[03] Spokesman: Government will continue efforts towards a solution
[01] Cyprus is far away from the military operations in Iraq
In view of the current situation in Iraq, the Government of the Republic of
Cyprus announces the following: Cyprus has not been directly affected by
the war, and visits to the island should be considered safe for tourism, as
well as for the use of its international airports for stop-over flights.
There is no serious reason for concern, because Cyprus is far away from
military operations. The Government and competent authorities of the
Republic follow closely the situation and assure those wishing to visit the
island for vacation or other reasons that life in Cyprus continues as
usual. According to the latest travel advice issued by the British Foreign
and Commonwealth Office, concerning Cyprus as a destination, "The vast
majority of visits to Cyprus are trouble free. Cyprus is not directly
affected by the situation in Iraq."
[02] The Committee to Protect Journalists denounces attacks on the Press in
the occupied areas of Cyprus
The Committee to Protect Journalists, in its Annual Report entitled,
"Attacks on the Press 2002", which was circulated on 31 March 2003, points
out that, during 2002, opposition Turkish Cypriot journalists in occupied
Cyprus were attacked by the "regime" and its supporters, due to their
frequent and critical reporting against the so called "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus". In its chapter on Cyprus, the Committee to Protect
Journalists also refers to the political situation on the island and points
out that 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the self proclaimed
"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" which was founded after Turkey
invaded the northern half of Cyprus in 1974. In its Report, the Committee
states that the island remains divided into a more prosperous ethnic Greek
sector in the south and an isolated and impoverished ethnic Turkish sector
in the north. Special reference is made to the daily Turkish Cypriot
newspaper "Afrika", known for its critical reporting about senior
politicians in Turkey, Turkish military officials stationed on the island
and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, and which had received
multiple threats. At the same time, it underlines that two of its editors,
Sener Levent and Memduh Ener, were imprisoned in August and served two
months for allegedly libeling Denktash. The Committee refers to the case of
Turkish Cypriot journalist, Kutlu Adali, who was gunned down outside his
home in July 1996, noting at the same time the reopening of the case by the
European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Adali, a left wing opposition
journalist for the Nicosia daily Yeni Duzen, opposed Cyprus's division and
criticised the policies of Denktash and Turkey and had received death
threats prior to his assassination. "An ultranationalist group with links
to Turkish security forces claimed responsibility for his killing", the
Committee concludes in its Report.
[03] Spokesman: Government will continue efforts towards a solution
"Our side will continue to make efforts towards reaching a solution to the
Cyprus problem, even after 16 April, a day on which the Accession Treaty
will be signed in Athens by the new ten candidate countries." This was
stated by the Government Spokesman, Mr Kypros Chrysostomides, during his
meeting on Friday with the Italian Ambassador in Cyprus, Mr Gherardo La
Francesca. At the meeting, Mr Chrysostomides, briefed the Italian
Ambassador on the latest developments of the Cyprus problem and pointed out
that, the sole responsibility for the failure of the UN Secretary General/s
initiative at The Hague should be attributed to Mr Denktash, due to his
continuous negative and intransigent stand.
On his part, Mr Gherardo La Francesca, said that he regarded as very
positive the stand that the Greek Cypriot side maintained at The Hague,
including the way it views the course of the Cyprus problem even after the
signing of the Accession Treaty by the new ten candidate countries.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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