Post by depletedreasons on Jul 21, 2008 7:29:37 GMT -5
Remembering the Cyprus invasion fallen
Sunday 20 July 2008, by ANA/MPA
NICOSIA (ANA-MPA - A. Viketos) — Greece’s Education Minister Evripides Stylianidis had a meeting with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias on Sunday, after attending a memorial service for Greek and Greek-Cypriot fallen during the invasion of northern Cyprus by Turkey in 1974.
In statements afterward, Stylianidis said that he had conveyed the support of the Greek government and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis for the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and that there had been an "interesting exchange of views" that had also focused on Cyprus’ reforms to its higher education system.
Landing of the Turkish solidier in Cyprus, July 1974
"We are in a similar phase of reforms in Greece and it is worth while looking at models that have been tried and are starting to yield results," the minister said, while he also pointed to a gigantic effort underway in Greece to improve the quality of academic papers and exchange of knowhow.
Stylianidis, who is representing the Greek government at events in Cyprus for the anniversary of the Turkish invasion, had earlier stated that the presence of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the occupied territories of Cyprus "provoked and did not assist in the direction of finding an agreed solution to the Cyprus issue".
He also stressed that the events helped remind the international community of the illegal invasion and continuing occupation of the north part of the island.
"We honour the memory of the people from Greece and of Cyprus that lost their lives in order to defend freedom and express the undivided support of the Greek people and the Greek government for Cyprus’ efforts to arrive at an agreed solution for a bizonal, bicommunal federation whose operation will be based on the principles of the European Union and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, thus preserving a single character, national sovereignty, a single nationality," the minister stressed.
Time's Cover from 1974
Stylianidis and delegation of Greek MPs representing all parties in Parliament laid wreaths at Makedonitissa Tomb in Nicosia, where a memorial service for the fallen during the Turkish invasion was carried out in the presence of Christofias.
Bakoyannis on Cyprus invasion anniversary
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis repeated a call for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue, during a statement on Saturday to mark the anniversary.
"The coming day reminds everyone, not just of the Turkish military invasion of Cyprus but also of the continued illegal occupation for 34 years of the territory of a European state, a member of the European Union, in violation of the relevant resolutions and decision of the United Nations Security Council," Bakoyannis said in statements on Saturday.
She stressed the need for an end to the "unacceptable situation by achieving a just, viable and functional solution that will lead to a bizonal, bi-communal federation with a single sovereignty, a single nationality and one international identity. A solution based on the decisions of the Security Council and the European acquis".
Bakoyannis also underlined Greece’s support for efforts in this direction by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the country’s leadership.
Regarding Turkey, she called on its leadership not to encourage intransigency but, instead, to encourage a moderate and level-headed stance that would allow a new, well-prepared and substantive negotiating effort to commence under UN auspices.
The minister underlined, however, that "the current status quo on Cyprus is unacceptable" and needed to change so that both communities, Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot, would be able to enjoy the benefits of Cyprus’ membership of the EU.
www.phantis.com/cosmos/spip.php?article122
Sunday 20 July 2008, by ANA/MPA
NICOSIA (ANA-MPA - A. Viketos) — Greece’s Education Minister Evripides Stylianidis had a meeting with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias on Sunday, after attending a memorial service for Greek and Greek-Cypriot fallen during the invasion of northern Cyprus by Turkey in 1974.
In statements afterward, Stylianidis said that he had conveyed the support of the Greek government and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis for the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and that there had been an "interesting exchange of views" that had also focused on Cyprus’ reforms to its higher education system.
Landing of the Turkish solidier in Cyprus, July 1974
"We are in a similar phase of reforms in Greece and it is worth while looking at models that have been tried and are starting to yield results," the minister said, while he also pointed to a gigantic effort underway in Greece to improve the quality of academic papers and exchange of knowhow.
Stylianidis, who is representing the Greek government at events in Cyprus for the anniversary of the Turkish invasion, had earlier stated that the presence of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the occupied territories of Cyprus "provoked and did not assist in the direction of finding an agreed solution to the Cyprus issue".
He also stressed that the events helped remind the international community of the illegal invasion and continuing occupation of the north part of the island.
"We honour the memory of the people from Greece and of Cyprus that lost their lives in order to defend freedom and express the undivided support of the Greek people and the Greek government for Cyprus’ efforts to arrive at an agreed solution for a bizonal, bicommunal federation whose operation will be based on the principles of the European Union and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, thus preserving a single character, national sovereignty, a single nationality," the minister stressed.
Time's Cover from 1974
Stylianidis and delegation of Greek MPs representing all parties in Parliament laid wreaths at Makedonitissa Tomb in Nicosia, where a memorial service for the fallen during the Turkish invasion was carried out in the presence of Christofias.
Bakoyannis on Cyprus invasion anniversary
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis repeated a call for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue, during a statement on Saturday to mark the anniversary.
"The coming day reminds everyone, not just of the Turkish military invasion of Cyprus but also of the continued illegal occupation for 34 years of the territory of a European state, a member of the European Union, in violation of the relevant resolutions and decision of the United Nations Security Council," Bakoyannis said in statements on Saturday.
She stressed the need for an end to the "unacceptable situation by achieving a just, viable and functional solution that will lead to a bizonal, bi-communal federation with a single sovereignty, a single nationality and one international identity. A solution based on the decisions of the Security Council and the European acquis".
Bakoyannis also underlined Greece’s support for efforts in this direction by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the country’s leadership.
Regarding Turkey, she called on its leadership not to encourage intransigency but, instead, to encourage a moderate and level-headed stance that would allow a new, well-prepared and substantive negotiating effort to commence under UN auspices.
The minister underlined, however, that "the current status quo on Cyprus is unacceptable" and needed to change so that both communities, Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot, would be able to enjoy the benefits of Cyprus’ membership of the EU.
www.phantis.com/cosmos/spip.php?article122