Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-12-17

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

Tuesday, 17 December 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] Interior Minister's statements on aid measures for Turkish Cypriots
• [02] UN plan can be improved, says Foreign Minister
• [03] Commerce Minister visited Algeria for talks on natural gas import

[01] Interior Minister's statements on aid measures for Turkish Cypriots

Speaking to the press on the package of measures, Mr. Panayiotou noted: "If Turkish Cypriots come in hundreds or thousands after the President's announcement, we will prepare the service responsible for issuing passports, so that it can be in a position to respond and to these applications."

He added that "the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, whether Greek Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots, have always had the right to turn to the competent government service for obtaining a passport, provided of course that their Cypriot citizenship has been verified."

"In the cases where there is verification, no problem appears and it is only a matter of days to get a passport, like it is for all Cypriots", the Interior Minister said, adding that the fees for obtaining a passport are the same for all Cypriot citizens.

He also told reporters that his Ministry intended to make a proposal to the President regarding the services offered by the Land and Surveys Department, suggesting that the particular department be able to provide information to Turkish Cypriots living in the north about their properties in the free areas, "as long as the information does not involve selling the properties, since that is prohibited by law".

"No Turkish Cypriots living in the occupied areas can sell their property. Only Turkish Cypriots who remained in the Government-controlled areas or were abroad during the Turkish invasion and stayed there, can sell their property", Mr. Panayiotou stressed.

[02] UN plan can be improved, says Foreign Minister

Mr. Kasoulides was speaking to the press following a ceremony at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, during which he thanked the members of the diplomatic corps and the Ministry's staff for their contribution to the successful conclusion of Cyprus' EU accession course, last weekend in Copenhagen.

The Foreign Minister said that negotiations on the revised UN blueprint could continue with the other side, adding that "this negotiation should lead to a conclusion which will be the product of a free negotiation between the two sides, without abolishing the philosophy of the plan".

Invited to comment on statements by government officials that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Rauf Denktash was not contributing towards a solution of the Cyprus problem, Mr. Kasoulides noted: "we have always been saying that the key for finding a settlement lies with Ankara".

"Surely, the Ankara of Ecevit and Gurel could not have used any key", he said, adding that "if the new school of thought in Ankara prevails, then Mr. Denktash will not be able to continue being an obstacle to Turkey's wider pursuits".

Mr. Kasoulides also pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side still considered Mr. Denktash the representative of the Turkish Cypriot community, but the question was whether Turkish Cypriots still wanted to be represented by him.

Asked to say what he expected from the UN Security Council, which convenes today in order to be briefed by the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Mr. Alvaro de Soto, regarding the latest developments on the Cyprus problem, the Foreign Minister replied that he expected, last night, an update from Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, and that developments at the Security Council were being monitored.

Asked whether he was considering running for President at the presidential elections in February, Mr. Kasoulides said "surely not".

[03] Commerce Minister visited Algeria for talks on natural gas import

The two Ministers jointly inaugurated the Algerian Annual Oil Fair, in which 178 international companies and organisations, specialising in the field of energy, took part.

They also signed the Official Minutes of their meetings, providing for continued contacts and technological cooperation in the field of oil.

The Cyprus Ministry is expected to take a final decision regarding the transportation of natural gas to Cyprus, on Wednesday, following the completion of Mr. Rolandis' visit to Algeria as well as his previous contacts with Egypt and Syria, and the examination of an experts' report that the Ministry prepared in collaboration with the Electricity Authority of Cyprus. The Commerce Minister will then prepare his proposal to the Council of Ministers.

The Government aims for the transportation of natural gas to begin by 2007, at the latest.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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