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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-07-14
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 14 July 2003 Denktash's moves are a diversion from UN efforts
to find a settlement, says President Papadopoulos
[02] President's statement on proposals by the Turkish Cypriot leader
[03] Confidence building measures cannot be a substitute for settlement,
says British Minister
[01] Denktash's moves are a diversion from UN efforts to find a settlement,
says President Papadopoulos
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, has said
the international community recognised that the moves by the Turkish
Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, and, in particular, his recent proposals
for the reopening of the Nicosia Airport, were in essence a diversion from
the UN peace process and an attempt to mislead the international public
opinion. Speaking yesterday at Larnaca Airport, upon his return from the US
where had undergone medical examinations, President Papadopoulos said that
Mr Denktash's recent proposals for confidence building measures were
anticipated and fell within the framework of the Turkish side's strategy
launched after the collapse of the talks at The Hague last March.
Outlining that strategy, Mr Papadopoulos noted that the Turkish Cypriot
leader continued to insist that the existing status quo constituted a
solution of the Cyprus issue and the only thing remaining was the
establishment of 'good neighbourly relations'. "On that basis, he [Mr
Denktash] keeps inviting us for talks and all his so-called initiatives aim
at achieving that and only that", he added. Replying to press questions, Mr
Papadopoulos noted that the National Council would convene today to examine
the proposals by the Turkish Cypriot leader and prepare a reply to his
letter. He further reiterated the official position of the National Council,
namely that the Greek Cypriot side was ready and willing to resume talks
for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the
Annan plan.
Asked whether he anticipated any new initiative by the international
community in the Fall, President Papadopoulos expressed the belief that at
the moment there were no prospects for the resumption of the talks. He
stressed, at the same time, that the Greek Cypriot side's intention was to
achieve the resumption of the talks on the basis of the Annan plan, the
soonest possible, so that a reunited Cyprus would join the EU in May
2004.
[02] President's statement on proposals by the Turkish Cypriot leader
President Papadopoulos has noted that the proposal of the Turkish Cypriot
leader Rauf Denktash to reopen the Nicosia Airport was part of the Turkish
side's tactic of maintaining the occupation regime on the island and
establishing 'good neighbourly relations'. In a written statement issued
last Friday following Mr Denktash's letter of proposals to the UN Secretary-
General, the President reiterated the Greek Cypriot side's readiness to
resume talks on the basis of the Annan plan for a comprehensive settlement
of the Cyprus problem, and said he had called a National Council meeting
for today, Monday, to assess the Turkish Cypriot leader's letter and
proposals. The statement, which was read out to journalists last Friday by
the Government Spokesman Mr Kypros Chrysostomides, is as follows:
"Mr Rauf Denktash has withdrawn from the bicommunal talks, on 10 March 2003
at The Hague, since he rejected the Annan plan as a basis for negotiations
to find a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. Instead of talks
for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, Mr Denktash has since
then launched, in full cooperation with Ankara, a new strategy for
maintaining the occupation regime and establishing just 'good neighbourly
relations'. The talks he [Mr Denktash] is proposing for the reopening of
the Nicosia Airport, and possibly other measures, are incorporated into
this strategy. Indeed, for the lifting of the illegal blockade by the
occupation troops, he is seeking in return the lifting of what he
unfoundedly and arbitrarily calls an 'embargo' against the Turkish
Cypriots. It is worth reminding that the confidence building measures,
discussed in 1993-1994, had collapsed due to Mr Denktash's insistence then
to have a separate state entity and sovereignty of the pseudostate
recognised. I reiterate our firm policy, which constitutes an almost
unanimous position of the National Council, that we remain always ready and
willing to resume talks on the basis of the Annan plan for a comprehensive
settlement of the Cyprus problem that will lift the division and bring
about a reunited Cyprus, where the entire people, Greek Cypriots and
Turkish Cypriots, will enjoy equally the benefits of peace and prosperity
in the context of a single state with a common sovereignty.
I have called for a meeting of the National Council, next Monday, to
examine and take a decision on the wider issue raised by Mr Denktash's
letter and, in particular, the proposal for the reopening of the Nicosia
Airport."
[03] Confidence building measures cannot be a substitute for settlement,
says British Minister
The British Minister of State for Europe, Mr Denis MacShane, has noted that
confidence building measures could not be a substitute for a comprehensive
settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Annan plan.
Replying to questions on Cyprus at the House of Commons last week, Mr
MacShane said that the proposal by the Turkish Cypriot leader for the
reopening of the Nicosia Airport was "an issue for the two sides to discuss
within the context of the measures introduced in response to the partial
lifting of the restrictions on the freedom of movement". "We welcome all
efforts to improve relations between the two communities, which have
demonstrated that Greek and Turkish Cypriots can live together peacefully.
However, confidence building measures cannot be a substitute for a
comprehensive settlement on the basis of the UN plan", the British Minister
added. Replying to another question on the rights of Turkish Cypriots
resident in occupied Cyprus after Cyprus would join the EU, Mr MacShane
pointed out that "Cypriot nationals, wherever they may reside, will have
the same rights as current EU nationals to live and work in any of the
existing member states from accession. Like current EU nationals, they will
be able to remain in the UK for as long as they are exercising their EC
Treaty rights, for instance, by working, studying or being self-sufficient."
"EC law obliges EU member states to admit EU nationals on production of
their valid passport or identity card so the UK will not impose any visa
requirements on Cypriot nationals from accession", he concluded.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO)
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