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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-03-04
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Tuesday, 04 March 2003 President Papadopoulos meets EU-Cyprus
Parliamentary Committee President
[02] New Ministers assume office
[03] Film on Cyprus to be shown at UK Parliament
[01] President Papadopoulos meets EU-Cyprus Parliamentary Committee
President
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, received
yesterday at the Presidential Palace the Co-President of the EU-Cyprus
Joint Parliamentary Committee, Ms Mechtild Rothe, who was accompanied by
the Ambassador of the European Commission to Nicosia, Mr Adriaan Van Der
Meer. Speaking after the meeting, Ms Rothe said that she conveyed her
congratulations to Mr Papadopoulos, with whom she had collaborated for a
long time in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. She expressed hope that the
new Cyprus President would be successful in reuniting the island, noting
that Mr Papadopoulos had "said it very clearly" that his goal was to
achieve a solution so that a reunited Cyprus could accede to the EU.
Ms Rothe added that the EU had "a strong wish that a united Cyprus can join
the Union". She stressed that a solution of the Cyprus problem was not a
precondition for accession, but pointed out that it would be in favour of
the people of Cyprus to achieve a settlement. She acknowledged that there
were a lot of difficulties that had to be overcome first, but added that
she was still hopeful that a solution was within reach.
[02] New Ministers assume office
The Ministers of the new Cyprus Government, presided by Mr Tassos
Papadopoulos, assumed office yesterday, taking over their respective
Ministries from their predecessors and pledging their commitment to
implement Mr Papadopoulos' pre-election manifesto.
[03] Film on Cyprus to be shown at UK Parliament
The Committee "Friends of Cyprus" will organise the screening of a
documentary film on Cyprus and the situation in the Turkish occupied areas
of the island, on Monday 24 March, at the UK House of Parliament. The film
entitled "Paradise Denied" was directed by the American film director,
Carel Rowe, and was filmed over two years, 2001 and 2002. According to a
press release by the "Friends of Cyprus", the film presents a view of the
north of Cyprus which gives the background and explains the recent massive
demonstrations of Turkish Cypriots in occupied Nicosia. It reflects an
outsider's view of Cyprus, as the director balanced her own experience from
filming in the north of the island, with interviews with Turkish Cypriots
and an interview with a New York based Famagusta-born Greek Cypriot.
"'Paradise Denied' gives a voice to those in the Turkish Cypriot community
who would rather be Cypriots living in the reunited country in the European
Union than Turks in northern Cyprus separated from their compatriots on the
other side of the Green Line, dominated by Turkey, its interests and its
military, and, until the election of the new Government in Turkey, its
total neglect of their distinctiveness as Cypriots", the press release
reads. "The film shows that Cypriots have a common vision as well as a
divided nationalist past, that they love their country, are not satisfied
with the status quo and want change. What remains to be seen is whether
they can find a workable solution which Turkey will back and how much they
can persuade the international community and themselves that what is good
for Turkish Cypriots is good for Greek Cypriots and vice versa", it
concludes. "Friends of Cyprus" was founded in London in 1974. Its first
Chairman was Lord Caradon (the last British Governor of Cyprus). Its
current Chairman is Nicholas Bethell MEP. The members of the Committee are
mostly British parliamentarians in the British House of Parliament and the
European Parliament.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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