The
Cyprus Government expressed satisfaction
with Security Council Resolution 1303
June 30, 2000
The Cyprus Government
has expressed satisfaction with Security Council resolution 1303 renewing for a
further six-month period the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
and made it clear that all its attention now was put on the resumption of the
UN-proximity talks on July 5 in Geneva.
Resolution 1303 was
adopted unanimously by the members of the Security Council on June 15 after the
Cyprus Government gave its consent following a diplomatic battle not to include
an addendum to the Secretary-General’s report with a Turkish Cypriot demand
for separate consultations with UNFICYP. The Cyprus Government strongly opposed
the inclusion of the addendum to the report because it said it was part of
efforts by the Turkish Cypriot side to secure recognition of the illegal regime
unilaterally set up in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkish troops since
1974.
TURKISH
CYPRIOT MEASURES AGAINST UNFICYP UNACCEPTABLE
On June 29 the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash announced measures against the UN peace-keeping force which come in retaliation t the non-inclusion of an addendum to the UN Secretary-General’s latest report for the renewal of UNFICYP with a Turkish Cypriot demand for separate consultations with the force. The Cyprus Government expressed regret with the measures underlining that they are not in line with UN decision. the Government Spokesman Mr. Papapetrou called on the international community to question these measures, which the government is examining both in their political and legal context. “Denktash’s decision is contrary to and undermines Security Council decisions on Cyprus” Mr. Papapetrou said.
The measures force
UNFICYP soldiers to pass into the areas occupied by Turkey only through a single
point, to insure their vehicles with “Turkish Cypriot insurance companies”
and pay the illegal regime for the water and electricity they use in camps in
the occupied part. The Turkish Cypriot leader announced the measures only a few
days before a third round of proximity talks begins in Geneva, on July 5. The
Spokesman said “the Cyprus Government will complain and make representations,
as it already has..” and he added that the government is in contact with the
UN to which it conveys its views.
JOINT
COMMUNIQUE BY POLITICAL PARTIES ON RECONCILIATION
AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING
A joint communique by Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders issued on June 29 announced a decision to organize a “festival of mutual understanding” in September to promote communication and a spirit of understanding between the island’s two communities. The parties also announced they will set up a coordinating committee to deal with details of the festival and said they would meet again in August at the Ledra Palace hotel, in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia.
The meeting was
organized by the embassy of the Slovak Republic and the communique was read to
the press by the Slovak Ambassador Mr. Dusan Rozbora. He said that the parties
“continued an exchange of ideas on certain practical issues of contacts
between the two communities as well as exchange views on the various aspects of
the Cyprus problem.”
“In an effort to
promote communication and the spirit of understanding between the two
communities, they agreed to organize a festival of mutual understanding in
September 2000 at the Ledra Palace,” the Ambassador added.
Greek Cypriot
participation included, among other representatives, Panayiotis Demetriou of the
Democratic Rally, AKEL General Secretary Demetris Christofias, President of the
Democratic Party Spyros Kyprianou, Movement of Social Democrats’ Leader Vassos
Lyssarides and from the United Democrats part Michalis Papapetrou.
On the part of the Turkish Cypriot parties Serdar Denktash and Rauf denktash (grandson of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash) from the Democratic Party, Mehmet Ali Talt from the Republic Turkish Party, Gungor Gunkan from the Communal Liberation party and Alpay Durduran from the Patriotic Unity Movement.
PRESIDENT CLERIDES SENDS MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES TO SYRIAN PEOPLE
Cyprus President Glafcos
Clerides said that the Cypriots participate in the mourning of the people of
Syria over the death of their President, Hafez al-Assad on June 10.
In a message of
condolences which was sent to Haysam Douehi, Minister to the President of the
Syrian Arab Republic, President Clerides notes that “it was with profound
grief that we received the sad news of the passing away of the great leader of
Syria, President Hafez alAssad who for many years led the people of Syria with
great dedication and wisdom.”
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