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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-07-31
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Thursday, 31 July 2003 UN Secretary General is prepared to start a new
initiative if there is real, genuine political will on the part of both
sides
[02] US Congresswoman criticizes Turkey for its illegal occupation of part
of Cyprus
[03] Members of the US House of Representatives condemn occupation of part
of Cyprus by Turkey
[01] UN Secretary General is prepared to start a new initiative if there is
real, genuine political will on the part of both sides
The United Nations Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan replied to the following
question on Cyprus during his mid year press conference at the United
Nations Headquarters yesterday: CNA: Mr. Secretary-General, on Cyprus, I
understand that you discussed the issue yesterday with the President of the
Council of Europe. Do you intend to move forward this fall with a new
initiative, or will you wait until Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash
gets out of the political spectrum? SG: That is a very blunt question. Let
me say that my position is still the same. I will be prepared to step back
in and help once there is real, genuine political will on the part of both
the parties. Mr. Denetash has recently made some proposals about moving
forward with confidence-building measures, but the reaction of the other
party had been that there was a proposal, a plan on the table, let us try
to work and move on that basis. I know that there will also be elections in
northern Cyprus in December. I do not know what that will bring and what
changes that holds for us, but my position is that, if the parties are
genuinely interested, we will assist them. But until then, I do not think
that it would be worthwhile.
[02] US Congresswoman criticizes Turkey for its illegal occupation of part
of Cyprus
United States Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney of New York has criticized
Turkey and the Turkish occupation regime for the lack of progress in the
Cyprus problem and urged her colleagues in Congress to help convince Turkey
to end its illegal occupation of Cyprus. Speaking at the US House of
Representatives on 25 July 2003 on the occasion of the departure from
Washington of Cyprus Ambassador to the United States Mrs Erato Kozakou
Markoullis, Mrs Maloney stated that "the one area where we have not
witnessed significant progress is in ending the ongoing Turkish military
occupation of Cyprus" and noted that this is not "the fault of the
Government of Cyprus which has continued to negotiate in good faith to end
the division of Cyprus. The fault lies with Turkey and with the occupation
regime." "I again urge my colleagues in Congress to continue working with
me and many of our colleagues, on a bipartisan basis, to help convince
Turkey to end its illegal occupation of one third of Cypriot territory",
she said. In her speech, Mrs Maloney paid tribute, inter alia, to Mrs
Markoullis/ great achievement in sustaining and enhancing the visibility of
the Cyprus problem and her efforts in strengthening Cyprus-US relations,
noting in particular the signing of the US-Cyprus mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty bringing into force the reciprocal Law Enforcement Treaty between
the two nations.
[03] Members of the US House of Representatives condemn occupation of part
of Cyprus by Turkey
Many members of the United States House of Representatives condemned the
occupation of a part of Cyprus by Turkey during a Special Order at the
House on 24 July 2003. Congressmen Michael Bilirakis, Christopher H Smith,
Adam B Schiff, James R. Langevin, Joseph Crawley, Steven R. Rothman, Robert
E. Andrews and Congresswomen Carolyn Maloney, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Nita M
Lowey, Hilda L. Solis and Barbara Lee condemned the continuing occupation
of Cyprus by Turkey and criticized the negative stance of the Turkish
Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and of Turkey in promoting a solution to the
Cyprus problem. In their remarks many Congressmen referred to the
constructive stance of the Greek Cypriot side during the recent peace talks
at The Hague, stressing that the responsibility for the failure of the
talks lies with the Denktash regime and Ankara. They underlined that the
partial lifting of restrictions on the freedom of movement between Greek
and Turkish Cypriots across the Green line should not be seen as a
substitute for a comprehensive solution to end the division of Cyprus and
expressed the hope that the improved climate that has resulted from the
lifting of restrictions will contribute to a negotiated settlement based on
the United Nations framework, in time for the accession of Cyprus to the
European Union in May 2004. They also expressed the need for Turkey to
comply with the laws of the international community and to immediately and
unconditionally withdraw its troops from Cyprus so that it (Turkey) can
also accede to the European Union.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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