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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-07-10
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Thursday, 10 July 2003 Cyprus offers financial assistance to China for
its fight against SARS
[02] Greece continues to safeguard the security of Cyprus through the
unified defence doctrine, says Greek Defence Minister
[01] Cyprus offers financial assistance to China for its fight against
SARS
The Republic of Cyprus has donated the amount of 50 thousand dollars to
China, as support in its battle against the Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS). The cheque was handed over yesterday by the Foreign
Minister, Mr Georgios Iacovou, to the Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus, Mr
Zhang Limin. Presenting the cheque, during a special ceremony at the
Cypriot Foreign Ministry, Mr Iacovou said that the 50.000-dollar assistance
was a symbolic amount expressing the friendly sentiments of the Cyprus
people towards the people of China.
On his part, the Chinese Ambassador expressed gratitude to the government
and people of Cyprus for the gesture of good will. "SARS is the common
enemy of mankind and thanks to the understanding and support of the people
of the whole world - including the Cypriot people - China won a decisive
victory over the killing decease", Ambassador Zhang Limin noted and
recalled that the World Health Organisation had removed Beijing from the
list of SARS-infected areas, on 24 June. He further noted that most
restrictions had been lifted against Chinese travellers and expressed the
hope that the ban would be lifted in Cyprus as well.
Referring to the Cyprus problem, the Chinese Ambassador underlined that his
government continued to favour a permanent and viable solution to the
problem on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions.
[02] Greece continues to safeguard the security of Cyprus through the
unified defence doctrine, says Greek Defence Minister
Greece's National Defence Minister, Mr Yiannos Papantoniou, has affirmed
the powerful and indissoluble defence bonds between Greece and Cyprus and
underlined that Greece would continue to safeguard the security of the
Republic of Cyprus in the framework of the Unified Defence Doctrine, which
was still in force. Speaking yesterday during a joint press conference with
his Cypriot counterpart, Mr Kyriacos Mavronicolas, who is on an official
visit to the Greek capital, Mr Papantoniou said that he had discussed with
Mr Mavronicolas issues of cooperation between the two countries regarding
defence, the Cyprus problem and cooperation in the framework of the
European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
With regard to the Cyprus problem, he said that they had determined the
insistence of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on their
intransigent positions, which had led the peace negotiations to a
deadlock. He further said that the influence of the international community
and the strong motive of the Turkish Cypriot community to become part of
the EU would eventually have a positive impact on the negotiations for a
just and functional solution of the Cyprus issue.
Replying to a question, the Greek Defence Minister underlined that there
was no prospect of demilitarisation for as long as the Turkish side would
retain its intransigent stance. "We insist on the maintenance of a strong
National Guard in Cyprus, which will function preventively towards any
possible threat", Mr Papantoniou added. On his part, the Cypriot Defence
Minister said Greece had been contributing for decades to the substantive
defence of the Republic of Cyprus and the existence of the National Guard,
which constituted the deterrent force against Turkish occupation troops.
Mr Mavronicolas assured that for as long as the Turkish side refused to get
the messages of the times, the Cyprus National Guard would continue to
function and be strengthened with the help of Greece.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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