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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-08-13
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Wednesday, 13 August 2003 Government Spokesman briefs French State
Secretary on Cyprus problem
[01] Government Spokesman briefs French State Secretary on Cyprus
problem
The Government Spokesman, Mr Kypros Chrysostomides, had a meeting yesterday
with the French State Secretary for Sustainable Development, Ms Tokia Saufi,
in the presence of France's Charge d'Affaires to Cyprus, Mr Guillaume
Rousson. During the meeting, Mr Chrysostomides briefed the French official
on Cyprus' EU accession course and the latest developments regarding the
Cyprus issue. "All Cypriots are content with the fact that Cyprus will join
the European Union", Mr Chrysostomides noted and expressed hope that the
prospect of EU accession would act as a catalyst for an agreement for a
comprehensive settlement of the political issue on the basis of the Annan
plan. With regard to the partial lifting of restrictions on movement across
the ceasefire line by the illegal occupation regime in the north, the
Government Spokesman said that the movement of a large number of Greek
Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots along both sides of the divide had refuted
the longstanding argument of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on the
impossibility of co-existence of the two communities.
Commenting on recent statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader claiming that
18 Greek Cypriots had submitted applications to the occupation regime for
compensation for their properties in the occupied areas, Mr Chrysostomides
said he was not aware of whether those statements were accurate or not. "In
any event, the Government does not intend to impose any restrictions on
Cypriot citizens. The issue will soon be placed before the European Court
of Human Rights which will decide whether Mr Denktash's claim that Greek
Cypriots have to submit applications for property claims first to the so-
called "Compensations Committee" of the occupation regime and then to the
European Court is valid", the Government Spokesman added. On her turn, the
French State Secretary, Ms Saifi, expressed the hope that Cyprus' accession
to the European Union would promote further the "traditionally extremely
good" relations between France and Cyprus. The French official, who is on a
private visit to the island, also met yesterday with the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Mr Georgios Iacovou, with whom she discussed issues of
common interest of the two countries.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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