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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-04-23
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Wednesday, 23 April 2003 The Cyprus Government's firm policy is to
ensure free movement for all its citizens
[02] United States remains committed to finding a just and lasting
settlement for Cyprus
[03] 23rd session of EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee begins
[01] The Cyprus Government's firm policy is to ensure free movement for all
its citizens
"It is the firm policy of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to
ensure the free movement of all the lawful residents throughout the
territory of the Republic of Cyprus," the Government Spokesman Mr Kypros
Chrysostomides has stated. In a written statement issued yesterday in
response to the decision by the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime to lift
restrictions on the movement of people to and from the Turkish-occupied
areas of the Republic of Cyprus, the Government Spokesman stressed that
"the human right of free movement of all the lawful citizens throughout the
territory was and remains a firm demand of the Government and the people of
the Republic of Cyprus". Mr Chrysostomides said that the restrictions
imposed by the occupying regime are illegal, adding that the Government,
welcomes any development which ends this illegality.
He explained that the formalities required by the Authorities of the
Republic of Cyprus concern mainly those who illegally enter or reside in
the occupied areas and noted that "for the lawful Turkish Cypriot citizens
such formalities will be kept down to the minimum and all such citizens
will be allowed to move freely, provided that they prove that they are
indeed lawful citizens of the Republic of Cyprus". The Government Spokesman
pointed out that "the recent announcement made by the occupying regime aims
for obvious reasons at creating impressions, thus diverting the attention
of the international public opinion from the negative stand of the Turkish
side and at pre-empting the measures which will be announced and implemented
by the Government." "In addition, through this announcement, Mr. Denktash
aims at showing that, allegedly, he exercises separate sovereignty over the
occupied areas and that they constitute a separate State. It is for this
reason that, for the Greek Cypriots' crossing over to the occupied areas,
he demands that the Greek Cypriots present a "passport" as if it is a visit
to a foreign "state"," he said.
Mr Chrysostomides said "it is unthinkable for the Greek Cypriots to give
validity to the Turkish Cypriot authorities by presenting their passport or
by signing any document in the form of a permit to move about." He stressed
that "any decisions made by the occupying regime are illegal, on the basis
of international law, the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and
the international judicial decisions which underline that the administration
in the occupied area of Cyprus is only subordinate to the occupying power,
Turkey, which continues to violate flagrantly the international norms by
the continuing presence of the occupying troops in Cyprus." In conclusion,
he repeated that the Government's aim is the termination of the occupation
and the reunification of Cyprus, "by means of a workable and viable
solution of the problem, for the benefit of all the lawful citizens of
Cyprus within the European Union".
[02] United States remains committed to finding a just and lasting
settlement for Cyprus
The US President, Mr George Bush, submitted yesterday his bimonthly report
to the US Congress "on progress toward a negotiated solution of the Cyprus
question", covering the period February 1, 2003, through March 31, 2003.
The previous submission covered events from December 1, 2002, through
January 31, 2003. In his letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives
and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Mr Bush said
that as in the past, U.S. officials including Secretary of State Colin
Powell, Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman, Special Cyprus Coordinator
Thomas G. Weston, and Ambassador to Cyprus Michael Klosson joined him "in
providing intensive diplomatic support to the efforts of United Nations
Secretary General Kofi Annan to foster a settlement to the longstanding
division of the island". "We hoped that the Secretary General's meetings
with the two Cypriot leaders in The Hague on March 10-11, 2003, would lead
to a breakthrough on the basis of the Secretary General's fair and balanced
settlement plan" he said, and added:
"Unfortunately, that meeting did not result in an agreement. Despite this
setback, the United States remains committed to finding a just and lasting
settlement for Cyprus."
[03] 23rd session of EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee begins
The EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee began its 23rd session
yesterday in Nicosia. The speakers addressing the session expressed
satisfaction for the signing of the EU Accession Treaty by Cyprus as well
as regret that the efforts to find a political settlement failed, thus
preventing a reunited Cyprus to join the European Union.
They noted the role Cyprus can play as a full member of the EU, especially
regarding relations with the Middle East and stressed that efforts to reach
a settlement of the Cyprus problem should continue. The Co-chairwoman of
the Committee Mrs Mechtild Rothe referred to the historic signing of the
Accession Treaty by ten new countries including Cyprus and said that
unfortunately it was not possible to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem
due to the intransigent stance of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. She
added, however, that there was still hope until 1st May 2004, for a
reunited Cyprus to accede to the European Union. As a full member of the EU,
Cyprus can contribute as ''a substantial bridge to the Middle East'' she
said. In his address read out by the Director of his Press Office Mr
Marios Karoyan, the President of the Republic Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, who
co-chaired the Committee from 1996 until his election this year, said the
Committee had faced great difficulties but managed to reach its aims in the
end. He praised the work of the Committee which was responsible for
many favourable reports and resolutions adopted on Cyprus.
President Papadopoulos expressed regret that "our Turkish Cypriot
compatriots could not join in the celebrations of Cyprus' accession to the
EU", but stressed his commitment to continue to participate in constructive
negotiations aimed at reuniting the island, so that Greek Cypriots and
Turkish Cypriots could live in conditions of prosperity, security and
respect of European principles and ideals, as members of a united
democratic European family.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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