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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-09-08
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 08 September 2003 President Papadopoulos: T/C land expropriations
occur only when absolutely necessary
[02] Foreign Minister calls for a condemnation by the EU of the illegal
Turkey-pseudostate agreement
[03] Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary visits Moldavia
[01] President Papadopoulos: T/C land expropriations occur only when
absolutely necessary
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, has noted that the
expropriation of Turkish Cypriot land in the government-controlled areas
took place only when it was absolutely necessary for the completion of
construction projects such as refugees' settlements, and rejected the
Turkish Cypriot claim that there had been a surge of expropriations of land
belonging to Turkish Cypriots over the years. Commenting on the efforts by
the illegal occupation regime to promote mass appeals by Turkish Cypriots
to courts of the Republic of Cyprus for expropriations of their land in the
free areas, Mr Papadopoulos underlined that the Republic was governed by
the rule of law and that the courts would finally decide whether the
Government had a right to expropriate Turkish Cypriot land.
"What is impressive is that they talk of injustice against the Turkish
Cypriots, when they occupy the 37% of our land", President Papadopoulos
said. He further said that an effort was being made to inform Turkish
Cypriot land owners about the Government's intention to expropriate their
properties, noting that the order of expropriation was being published in
the press and the official Gazette, as provided by the law.
In addition, the Minister of Interior, Mr Andreas Christou, said regarding
land expropriations that absolutely no discrimination was made against
Turkish Cypriots, noting that the land of both communities that was
expropriated reflected their population ratio, namely, 80% and 20% or 75%
and 25%. Mr Christou further said that the owners of land that was
expropriated were being compensated, and added that compensations to Greek
Cypriots were paid based on the legislation in force, while compensations
for Turkish Cypriots were submitted to the Turkish Cypriot Properties'
Guardian Fund, according to the relevant law.
[02] Foreign Minister calls for a condemnation by the EU of the illegal
Turkey-pseudostate agreement
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Georgios Iacovou, speaking before the
informal EU General Affairs and External Relations Council that took place
in Italy on 5-6 September, stressed the need to come up with more effective
Community mechanisms for resolving disputes between EU member states and
among EU member states, acceding states and applicant countries. Mr Iacovou
referred specifically to the case of Cyprus and Turkey and said that the
latter was violating its obligations before the EU with the signing of the
so-called "framework agreement for a customs union" with the illegal regime
in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus. "This action, which bears
political ramifications, has not yet been condemned as it should have been,
despite the fact that a specific claim was submitted to the European
Commission and the Presidency of the European Council", Mr Iacovou
stressed.
[03] Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary visits Moldavia
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador
Sotos Zackheos, paid a two-day official visit, on 4 and 5 September, to
Moldavia which holds the presidency of the Council of Europe for the period
May-November 2003. During his stay in Moldavia, Mr Zackheos was received by
the Prime Minister of the country, Mr Vasile Tarlev, and had meetings with
the First Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrei Stratan and the
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the House of Representatives,
Mr Andrei Neguta. Mr Zackheos discussed with his interlocutors the
cooperation between Cyprus and Moldavia in international and regional
organisations, the Cyprus problem and other bilateral issues.
He further conveyed an invitation of the President of the Republic of
Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, to the Moldavian President, Mr Vladimir
Voroni, for the latter to pay an official visit to Cyprus. The invitation
was accepted and a tentative agreement was reached for the visit to take
place on 10 and 11 November 2003.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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