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CYPRUS MAIL

Parties unhappy with UN report on forces

The Greek Cypriot side was yesterday not pleased with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon’s comments on the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots in his six-monthly report on Cyprus. Cyprus Permanent Representatvie to the UN Andreas Mavroyiannis had already written a letter objecting to some statements in the report, and government spokesman Vassilis Palmas said if necessary, further representation would be made on a political level. Palmas said the comments were the negative aspect of Ban’s report and he attributed them to the fact that Greek Cypriots had rejected the Annan Plan. “Our position is that we must put an end to this myth. From our point of view there is no isolation of Turkish Cypriots, either as individuals or collectively as a Turkish Cypriot community,” he said. In his letter of objection, Mavroyiannis said: “This is something of determining importance for us.” But he also said the report made no reference to the significance of the return of refugees and of their properties and to the consequences of the construction boom and the destruction of the cultural and religious heritage.