General Assembly
Fifty-eighth session

Agenda item 30

Question of Cyprus

Security Council

Fifty-ninth year

Letter dated 28 May 2004 from the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to refer to the policy of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus vis-à-vis the Turkish Cypriots, pending an agreed settlement of the

Cyprus

problem. You may recall that a package of measures, which has been described as generous by the international community and led to tangible economic and other benefits to the Turkish Cypriots, has been implemented by the Government since last year. As a result, more than 12 per cent of the Turkish Cypriots are already working in the Government-controlled areas. Moreover, a considerable number of Turkish Cypriots enjoy economic and social benefits, including free-of-charge use of the medical facilities of the Republic.

In addition to this package, the Government of the Republic announced, on 26 April 2004, its intention to expand the trade, subject to the procedures and rules of the European Union, of wholly obtained goods (agricultural, mining and fishery products), as well as the intra-island trade of the industrial goods produced in the occupied area. Furthermore, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus has advocated that the 259 million euros earmarked for the years 2004-2006, by the European Union for the Turkish Cypriot in the event of a

Cyprus

settlement, be made available as from now. Moreover, the Government has asked that the number of crossing points at the dividing line for both persons and goods be increased, in agreement with the United Nations and the Turkish Cypriot side.

I would like to underline that all of the above measures aim at promoting the reunification of the island and allowing the Turkish Cypriots to enjoy the benefits of the accession of

Cyprus

to the European Union, effective as of 1 May 2004 . It is for this reason that the Government welcomes and fully supports all similar efforts consistent with international law. Unfortunately, the Turkish Cypriot leadership has been engaged in a campaign to exploit the intentions of some parties, in order to achieve political gains of the illegal regime of the north, thus consolidating the de facto division of the island. We regret, that in the course of carrying out this policy, the Turkish Cypriot leadership has not hesitated, in many instances, to sacrifice the economic advancement of the Turkish Cypriot community for the sake of achieving its political ends.

I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that it has never been the policy of the Government of Cyprus to promote any form of isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community. In this context, it should be emphasized that the so-called “isolation” of the Turkish Cypriots is mainly the consequence of the illegal occupation of part of Cyprus, the divisive policies of Turkey and the refusal of the Turkish Cypriot leadership to comply with principles of international law, established rules and procedures, as well as decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Community. Furthermore, the process of bicommunal talks over the years can bear no effect whatsoever on the legal personality of the Republic of Cyprus, a sovereign member of the United Nations, the Government of which cannot exercise control over the whole island owing to the illegal occupation of part of its territory. Therefore, using the ending of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community as a pretext to promote separate membership or participation in international forums is totally unacceptable and contrary to international law.

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 30, and of the Security Council.