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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-08-07
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Thursday, 07 August 2003 President's letter to the UN Secretary General
circulates as a document of the UN General Assembly and the Security
Council
[02] Government raises the issue of the so-called "customs union" between
Turkey and the pseudostate with the European Union
[03] The Republic's Ambassador to Italy submits the ratification instrument
of Cyprus' Accession Treaty to the EU
[01] President's letter to the UN Secretary General circulates as a
document of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council
The President of the Republic Mr Tassos Papadopoulos expressed his
readiness to immediately engage in substantive negotiations on the basis of
the Annan peace plan with the view of reaching a viable and functional
solution to the Cyprus problem as soon as possible. In a letter dated 18
July 2003, addressed to the UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan, President
Papadopoulos submits his views in relation to the Turkish Cypriot leader's
letter of 11 July 2003. The full text of the letter, which was circulated
on 5 August 2003 as a document of the UN General Assembly, under agenda
item 54, and of the Security Council, reads as follows:
"I am writing this letter because I would like to communicate my views on
the positions put forth by Mr. Denktash in his letter to you of 11 July
2003, which he also copied to me. At the outset, I would like to point out
that Mr. Denktash/s approach, as defined in his letter, follows the logic
of his letter to me of 2 April 2003, by which he attributed the stalemate
at the Hague to "the 'socio-psychological' dimension of the problem and
especially the deep crisis of confidence between the two sides", a view
that is obviously unfounded. After the deadlock at The Hague, Mr. Denktash
has consistently engaged in an effort to eliminate every prospect for the
resumption of the talks on the basis of your plan and to disorient both
international and Turkish Cypriot public opinion about who is to blame for
the failure of the talks and the current stalemate. I consider it
worthwhile to note that the discussions on confidence-building measures
held in 1993-1994 resulted in a deadlock solely due to Mr. Denktash/s
insistence on pursuing his objective to promote the acknowledgement of his
secessionist entity. The interaction witnessed recently between Greek
Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots following the partial lifting of restrictions
on the freedom of movement, which have been imposed by the occupation
regime over the last 29 years, has provided concrete and sound evidence
that no lack of confidence exists among ordinary people and has unambiguously
shown that what is really lacking is a comprehensive settlement to the
Cyprus problem. I am certain that you share my position that the best hope
for us to proceed forward is through the resumption of negotiations, aiming
at reaching a viable and functional solution as soon as possible. I have
repeatedly expressed my readiness to immediately engage in substantive
negotiations on the basis of your plan of 26 February 2003.
Allow me to reiterate that (as I indicated in my letter of 2 April 2003 to
Mr. Denktash, which I also copied to you) if any resumption of the talks is
to be meaningful I believe that both communities should indicate at the
outset that they accept your plan as the basis for a further negotiating
process, within the framework of your good offices mission, in order to
achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem as provided for in
relevant Security Council resolutions."
[02] Government raises the issue of the so-called "customs union" between
Turkey and the pseudostate with the European Union
Government Spokesman Mr Kypros Chrysostomides said yesterday during his
press briefing that the so called "customs union" between Turkey and the
pseudostate is illegal and that the Government had raised the issue with
the European Union: "Regarding the so-called customs union between Turkey
and the pseudostate, this constitutes a political manoeuvre and lies within
the context of a wider illegality. However, the Government has raised the
issue to the European Union in order to examine mainly how this illegal
measure could affect the customs union of Turkey with the European Union
and the issue will also be raised at the United Nations".
Mr Chrysostomides stated that this was yet another indication of Turkey's
policy of supporting the occupation regime, which constituted an extension
of the occupation force. The Government Spokesman underlined the actions
that the Government of Cyprus had taken and would take by stressing the
necessity to end this illegality. Replying to a question regarding the
arguments raised in relation to the customs union agreement between Turkey
and the EU and how this could be affected, Mr Chrysostomides stated the
following: "Apart from the fact that the illegality of occupation and the
illegal support of the occupation regime by Turkey are once again
underlined, an issue which is also raised is whether this fictitious
customs union, between Turkey and the occupied areas, which is illegal,
affects trade between Turkey and the EU in the context of the customs union
which already exists between them". Invited to comment on whether this
question had been raised with the EU, Mr Chrysostomides replied in the
affirmative and added that it would be examined and discussed with the
Government of the Republic of Cyprus. Asked whether this matter could end
up in the European Court, Mr Chrysostomides said that the Government's
intention was to put the matter emphatically before the competent EU
organs. Invited to make a comment on Mr Denktash/s statement that it was
a humanitarian mission, Mr Chrysostomides said that this allegation had
also been raised 29 years ago in order to support the invasion of Cyprus by
Turkey. He added that such arguments had had been rejected by the
international community, the international courts and the European
Union. Commenting on Mr Denktash/s allegations that the embargo was
creating problems which the customs union with Turkey would alleviate, Mr
Chrysostomides said that Mr Denktash/s effort to distort the facts was
evident. "There is no embargo. If there are obstacles in the conduct of
trade with the occupied areas of the Republic this is precisely attributed
to the illegality of the occupation and the decisions that the European
Union has adopted. Therefore, Mr Denktash should not look for excuses. The
basic position, which I believe is the one adopted by the international
community, is that the illegality is continuing".
Replying to a question on how the Government evaluated the functioning of
the measures for the Turkish Cypriots and if there was any risk that the EU
could ask for further measures Mr Chrysostomides said that the evaluation
of the measures was carried out periodically, adding that what was expected
was the implementation of some of the measures that had been announced and
the European Union's cooperation in that direction. Mr Chrysostomides said
that there were some difficulties in the implementation of current measures
mainly with regard to trade, due to the demand for using the port of
Famagusta, the problem in finding solutions that respond to the laws and
regulations of the Republic of Cyprus, such as the VAT and the delay in the
announcement of measures by the EU. Mr Chrysostomides also said that
European experts were expected to arrive in Cyprus in September to
supervise the production of goods in order to facilitate trade.
[03] The Republic's Ambassador to Italy submits the ratification instrument
of Cyprus' Accession Treaty to the EU
Cyprus' Ambassador to Rome Mr Alexandros Zenon submitted yesterday on
behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, the ratification instrument of Cyprus'
Accession Treaty to the EU, which had been signed by President of the
Republic Tassos Papadopoulos on July 28 2003. The Treaty was received by
the Director General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Ivo
Braguglia, on behalf of the Italian government, during a special ceremony
at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the presence of the staff of the Cyprus
Embassy in Rome and senior ministry officials. Speaking during the ceremony,
Mr Zenon referred to the political significance of Cyprus' accession to the
EU and enlargement in general, noting that the Cyprus House of Representatives
unanimously ratified the Accession Treaty.| Cyprus is the third acceding
country to submit the ratification instrument in Italy. The first two were
Malta and Poland.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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