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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-09-02
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Tuesday, 02 September 2003 Syria affirms its constant support to Cyprus
and its cause
[02] House President condemns Turkey and occupation regime for stance on
Rizokarpaso school and Famagusta - Cyprus Government is making representations
on both issues
[01] Syria affirms its constant support to Cyprus and its cause
The President of Syria, Mr Bashar Al-Assad, has affirmed his country's
constant support to Cyprus and its cause, as well as Syria's unlimited
backing of Cyprus at international fora. Mr Al-Assad made the aforementioned
statement yesterday during a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mr Georgios Iacovou, who is on an official visit to Syria at the invitation
of his Syrian counterpart, Mr Farouk Al-Shara.
The Syrian President expressed pleasure over the visit of the Cypriot
Foreign Minister and made reference to the traditionally close and friendly
ties between the two neighbouring countries and their people. He also
congratulated Cyprus for its accession to the European Union, noting that,
in that way, Cyprus had managed to bring Europe close to the Middle East
and that "as of 1 May 2004, Syria will be the country of the region closest
to Europe". "This", he added, "will have positive repercussions in the
region and will enhance Cyprus' position on a regional and international
level." On his turn, Foreign Minister Georgios Iacovou briefed the Syrian
President on the situation of the Cyprus problem and the current impasse in
the efforts for a settlement due to the intransigent stance of the Turkish
side. He further reassured of the Greek Cypriot side's commitment and
readiness to reach a solution as soon as possible. Besides the Cyprus issue
and EU affairs, the two men also discussed the situation in Iraq, the
Middle East problem and other regional and international issues of mutual
interest. During his stay, Mr Iacovou will hold official talks with his
Syrian counterpart, Mr Farouk Al-Shara, the Syrian Prime Minister, Mr
Mohammad Mustafa Miro, the President of the Syrian Parliament, Mr Mohammad
Naji Al-Otri, and the Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius IV.
[02] House President condemns Turkey and occupation regime for stance on
Rizokarpaso school and Famagusta - Cyprus Government is making representations
on both issues
The President of the House of Representatives, Mr Demetris Christofias, has
denounced the expulsion by the illegal occupation regime in the north of
the two Greek Cypriot teachers who had crossed to occupied Rizokarpaso to
prepare the school there for the new academic year. Mr Christofias said
that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash was once more giving proof of his
intransigent and hard-line stance on the Cyprus problem. "This stance is
categorically condemned", he added and noted that the Cyprus Government had
already made various representations on the matter.
As regards the issue of Famagusta and in particular, the information that
Turkey intended to "hand over" the fenced-off area of Famagusta to the
occupation regime which would invite Greek Cypriot refugees to return under
Turkish Cypriot administration, Mr Christofias stressed that such action
was "unacceptable". "If he [Rauf Denktash] wanted Famagusta to be settled
by its legal inhabitants and send a message of good will, Turkey should
have first of all granted Famagusta to the United Nations, as foreseen by
the relevant UN resolution, and call on its inhabitants to return", he
said. The Cyprus Government has already made representations to foreign
officials in Nicosia and intends to continue protesting on both issues.
According to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sotos Zackheos, and the new Director for
the Cyprus problem Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Erato
Kozakou Markoulli, held talks yesterday, acting upon instructions from the
President of the Republic, with the Acting Special Representative of the UN
Secretary-General and Chief of Mission, Mr Zbigniew Wlosowicz, and a
representative of the Italian Presidency of the EU, respectively.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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