Lots of News on Cyprus

CYPRUS MAIL

‘How did it come to this?’

Tomorrow’s visit to the north by Schroeder has evoked “concern” and “sadness” across the political spectrum. Opposition leaders wondered out loud yesterday how things got so bad for the Cyprus Republic. Christofias expressed his sandness over the high-profile visit warning it was something which ought to worry the whole political spectrum, not just the government. “It is a worrying message which should lead us to be more alert,” said the AKEL leader. He also referred to the invite extended by the British House of Lords to the Turkish Cypriot foreign minister as a worrying trend. Christofias argued there was no preventive policy to deal with such developments that open the north to key figures in the international scene. “There has been talks of Schroeder’s visit for over a month now. I wonder what measures we have taken to avoid this development,” he pondered. DISY presidential candidate Ioannis Kasoulides went back in time to when Schroeder and Klerides met and Schroeder expressed his admiration for Klerides to solve the Cyprus problem. “Looking at today’s developments, I honestly feel great sadness and really wonder how did we get to this point,” he said. DISY spokesman Tasos Mitsopoulos highligted that Schroeder may not hold political office any more but he remains a former chancellor of the most powerful member state in the EU, popular and influential among his people.

CYPRUS MAIL

‘Turkish Cypriots asked for 1974-era rifles back’

A number of Turkish Cypriots are said to have written to the Cypriot authorities asking for the return of their hunting rifles which were confiscated in 1974. According to yesterday’s Phileleftheros, the guns were confiscated by the government as a form of ‘sisarmament’ in an effort to avoid possible conflicts. Greek Cypriots also lost their hunting rifles as part of the same process. But apparently, a number of Turkish Cypriots have written to Attorney-General Petrol Clerides asking for the return of their rifles on the grounds that they cirmcumstances are now favourable and not what they used to be. Around 1,800 hunting rifles belonging to the Turkish Cypriots are believed to be held in police storage.

Wednesday, January 30

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

President: G/Cs in a more powerful position with EU - Turkey decision

With the initiatives and methodical efforts, the Government has achieved the recent decision of the EU General Affairs Council for the reviewed EU-Turkey partnership text, and today the Greek Cypriot side is in a more powerful position to succeed in the Cyprus efforts for political settlement, Papadopoulos said. “We are in a more powerful position today and we are allowed to be optimistic”, the President said, responding to questions. Asked about the visit to the north of Cyprus of the former Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schroeder, Papadopoulos said it is a sad development, noting that Schroeder is an ordinary citizen. “As an ordinary citizen he continues to have the same feelings for Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots as he had before”, he said.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

MEPs express support for return of Famagusta

Members of the European Parliament expressed their support to the legitimate inhabitants of Famagusta to return to their hometown. The MEPs attended an event at the European Parliament in Brussels organized Wednesday by the ‘Famagusta Municipality.’ ‘Famagusta Mayor’ Alexis Galanos said that “the return of the town of Famagusta constitutes a European responsibility” adding that “Famagusta, a European town, is occupied by Turkish troops”. Spanish MEP and member of the EP Petitions Committee, Willy Meyer Pleite, who visited Cyprus last November as part of an EP delegation, said he experienced himself the denial of the Turkish army to the legitimate inhabitants to enter their home town. “I experienced myself the denial of the Turkish army to enter Famagusta when together with other members of the EP delegation we tried to enter the fenced off city but the Turkish occupation army did not allow us to enter”, the Spanish MEP said. Pleite expressed his support for the struggle of the legitimate inhabitants of Famagusta and pledged he would work for their return. The delegation of the ‘amagusta Municipality’held a series of meetings with other MEPs including members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Petitions Committee and the Joint Parliamentary EU – Turkey Committee. alanos also participated in the meeting of the ''Union for Europe of the Nations'' Group which was attended by over 200 people, mostly MEPs. Chairman of the EP Committee on Petitions Marcin Libicki pledged that the final report would include clear references on Turkey’s responsibilities and the relevant UNSC resolutions.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

(Greek) Cypriot FM in Finland and Estonia for talks

Marcoullis pays a working visit to Finland, during which she will hold a meeting with her Finnish counterpart Ilkka Kanerva to discuss various issues such as the Cyprus problem and bilateral relations. During her visit in Helsinki, Marcoullis will meet with Minister of Europe and Migration Astrid Thors and Chairman of the House External Affairs Committee Pertti Salolainen. After concluding her contacts there, the (Greek) Cypriot Foreign Minister and her entourage will head for Estonia. Marcoullis will be received by President of Estonia Toomas Henrik Ilves, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and hold a meeting with her Estonian counterpart Urmas Paet.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Countries aspiring for closer EU ties should sign treaties for immigrant reentry

(Greek) Cypriot Minister of Interior Christos Patsalides said that countries neighbouring with the EU, countries that have the candidate status, such as Turkey or aspire to have closer ties with the Union, should realize they have the responsibility to sign treaties for the reentry of immigrants with the EU. Speaking to the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council that took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, holder of the EU presidency, Patsalides reiterated his call for a common policy on the issue of immigration. Referring to a recent agreement between Libya and Italy for joint sea patrols, Patsalides said that such agreements in the future should be the result of European Convention with third states and not of bilateral agreements of EU member states and third states. He further explained that the aim of this is such issues ''relating to illegal immigration would be included in the EU foreign policy, something which would significantly assist smaller member-states, which do not have important political weight and capabilities.'' Patsalides welcomed the efforts for the practical cooperation between Member States on asylum, pointing out that the EU partners should be cautious on the two different aspects of asylum, that is, the member-states considered as a ''first-stop'' by illegal immigrants and those member-states considered as a ''second-stop.'' Cyprus ranks first in the EU, regarding asylum applications compared to its population, Patsalides said. ''Therefore Cyprus supports the creation of a European support office since this would assist all member-states and especially the member-states considered as ''first-stop'' which face the strongest pressure,'' he added.

ABHABER

Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC approved a draft proposal on isolation

The Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of the Islamic Conference has approved a draft proposal which envisages greater cooperation between Islamic countries and the Turkish Cypriot people in the fields of politics, economy, culture and sports with the aim of easing the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. The draft proposal, which was approved yesterday (29 January) by the Committee, will be forwarded to the 5th Conference of the OIC Parliamentary Union for approval which is taking place in the Egyptian capital Cairo tomorrow. The Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Fatma Ekenoglu and her delegation are representing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus at the conference.The draft proposal approved by the Executive Committee of the OIC’s Parliamentary Union is seen as an important step in efforts aimed at lifting the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people. The draft proposal, presented earlier by the TRNC and Turkey underlines the need to exert efforts in order to achieve equal representation for the Turkish Cypriot people at international organizations, until a settlement is found to the Cyprus problem. The draft proposal also emphasized that the Cyprus problem should be solved on a bi-zonal, bi-communal order based on the political equality of the two sides and under the UN supervision. During the Executive Committee’s session participants were called on to take initiatives aimed at promoting the Turkish Cypriot people’s equal representation at international institutions. Previous proposals approved during the 4th Conference of the OIC Parliamentary Union were also once again confirmed. These included the representation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus under the title of the ‘Turkish Cypriot State’ as well as the launching of an initiative towards the removal of the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people.