News from Cyprus

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

(Greek) Cypriot FM: EP’s Petition Committee draft on Famagusta unacceptable

Marcoullis has described as “unacceptable” a draft report by the European Parliament Petition Committee, adding that the Ministry has made representations to the European Parliament (EP). A Committee delegation visited Cyprus in November 2007 on a fact finding mission following efforts by the Famagusta Refugees Movement for the return of the city. The text refers to Talat as “the counterpart of the President of the Republic of Cyprus'' and as ''the President of the Turkish Cypriot Authorities'', while it states that Famagusta cannot be returned before a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem. ''We have read the unacceptable contents of this report and we immediately made representations demanding its withdrawal,'' Marcoullis said, pointing out that the current text is ''by no means'' the final text and explaining that ''it was entirely drafted by a member of the Committee's Secretariat.'' Marcoullis said that both the Cypriot government and the Cypriot MEPs are making representations not only to the Committee members who visited Cyprus but also to the other Committee members. Meanwhile “Famagusta Mayor”, Alexis Galanos expressed regret over the content of the draft report. ''Instead of dealing with the illegal presence of the Turkish occupation forces on European territory, instead of examining the rights Famagusta's European citizens, it deals with matters relating to the solution of the Cyprus problem, a matter that, with all due respect, does not fall within the competencies of the Committee,'' he said.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

UN official briefs Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political party leaders and their representatives were briefed on the Cyprus issue on Wednesday by Michael Moller, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and UNFICYP Chief of Mission. A joint communique issued at the end of their regular meeting at Ledra Palace in the buffer zone, under the auspices of the Slovak embassy, and read by Slovakia’s Ambassador to Cyprus Anna Turenicova said the leaders “evaluated their bicommunal activities and initiatives during the past year in the process of rapprochement”. “In the second part of the meeting, the leaders have been briefed about the discussion on the Cyprus issue in the Security Council in December 2007 by Mr. Moller, and exchanged views on this issue with him”, Turenicova added. The next meeting will be held on 19 March, at 1030 Ledra Palace.