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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-05-19
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 19 May 2003 President Papadopoulos categorically denies
Denktash's allegations
[02] Foreign Minister to attend EU General Affairs Council
[03] The European Commission will introduce proposals in the framework of
rapprochement
[01] President Papadopoulos categorically denies Denktash's allegations
The President of the Republic Mr Tassos Papadopoulos dismissed as a "vulgar
fabrication", the allegations by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that
there was talk about his execution following his arrest at a village of the
Karpass peninsula in October 1967. The President's statement issued
yesterday reads as follows: "I categorically deny the allegation of Mr
Denktash. There has never been nor have I ever participated in any meeting
at which there was a discussion or mention concerning Mr Denktash's
execution following his arrest at a village of the Karpass peninsula.
Neither I, nor the late Spyros Kyprianou or anyone else would have ever
thought of such a criminal, illegal and hideous act.
It is a vulgar fabrication denied even by the version given by Mr Denktash
himself. Mr Denktash says that at the time of his arrest, the Council of
Ministers was allegedly having a meeting and that it was during that
meeting that the alleged discussion took place. Such a meeting and such a
discussion never took place. Besides, if my memory serves me right, Mr
Denktash's arrest took place at dawn, and it would have been highly
unlikely that the Council of Ministers was having a meeting at dawn. After
his arrest, which became almost immediately known to the whole village, Mr
Denktash was transferred to Police Headquarters in custody. I myself had
been informed of his arrest, 24 hours later. When the arrest became known
after 24 hours, Mr Denktash already had been in safe custody at the Police
Headquarters. The next day or later on, Mr Clerides visited Mr Denktash at
the Police Headquarters and had with him a long discussion on the Cyprus
problem and Mr Denktash's thoughts concerning the relations between the two
communities. Later on, Mr Clerides briefed Makarios and some of the
Ministers on the contents of his discussion with Mr Denktash. I was not
present at that briefing. Mr Denktash must admit that at that time, all
Makarios' associates including myself, showing respect for the principles
of the rule of law and the laws of the Republic, had agreed, when the issue
was later raised before the Council of Ministers, that Mr Denktash should
be released in order to be transferred to Turkey, as he himself had
requested."
[02] Foreign Minister to attend EU General Affairs Council
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr George Iacovou departed for Brussels
yesterday to attend the European Union General Affairs Council.
Speaking to the press on his departure at Larnaca Airport, Mr Iacovou said
that the EU Council will address European Union administrative issues as
well as foreign, security and defence policy issues. The Foreign Minister
noted that he has requested meetings with the European Commissioner on
Enlargement Mr Gunter Verheugen and with the EU High Representative on
Common Foreign and Security Policy Mr Javier Solana. He said that with Mr
Verheugen he will have the opportunity to discuss, inter alia, the set of
measures prepared by the EU for the support of the Turkish Cypriots and
with Mr Solana, European Union issues as well as the Cyprus problem.
Invited to comment on the statement by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan that the Greek Cypriots would be allowed to visit Turkey on the
condition that they travel through the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus,
the Foreign Minister said that Mr Erdogan and Mr Gul should start facing
the existing problems with seriousness instead of confining themselves to
slogans and aphorisms. Replying to a comment that the Acquis Communautaire
takes on a new significance in relation to the Cyprus problem, Mr Iacovou
said that Cyprus is a member of the European Union and therefore it is
inconceivable for the EU and its member states to ignore the implementation
of the Acquis Communautaire in Cyprus. All the EU officials have shown
great interest in the implementation of the Acquis Communautaire, he added.
Finally, asked to comment on the issue of the recent incidents in which
priests were obstructed by the Turkish occupation regime to perform
liturgies in churches in the occupied areas, the Foreign Minister said that
there would be an enlightenment campaign on the issue not only in the EU,
but also in other organizations which have an obligation to show interest
in such issues.
[03] The European Commission will introduce proposals in the framework of
rapprochement
Mr Jean-Christophe Filori, Spokesman for the EU Commissioner for Enlargement
Mr Gunter Verheugen stated that in the framework of rapprochement on the
island, the European Commission will submit at the beginning of June,
proposals which will aim at facilitating exports from the Turkish occupied
areas of Cyprus to the European Union. Replying to questions during his
press briefing on 16 May, Mr Filori categorically denied that there is an
"embargo" on goods from the occupied areas and noted his objection to the
use of this term. "There is a decision by the European Court of 1994, which
replies to the question on whether the export certificates issued by the
authorities that control the northern part of Cyprus can be accepted by the
European Union", Mr Filori said, stressing that the reply of the Court was
that they could not be accepted.
Mr Filori pointed out that there are other ways of exporting goods from the
Turkish occupied areas, namely through the Republic of Cyprus. In the
framework of rapprochement, the European Commission will introduce measures
that will facilitate exports from the occupied areas to the EU, he
added.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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