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Parades denounce UDI
Nicosia condemned and politicians decried the 24th anniversary of the =
illegal founding of the 'TRNC' as hundreds of students took to the =
streets to protest against secession.
In contrast, Turkish Cypriots marked the occasion with the customary =
display of military hardware and paradoxical claims that the occupation =
regime "isn't a symbol of division".
Hundreds of flag-waving students poured into the streets to stage at a =
mass rally in Nicosia's Eleftheria Square and denounce the Turkish =
Cypriots' Nov. 15, 1983 unilateral declaration of independence (UDI).
Waving Greek and Cypriot flags and unfurling banners reading, 'Cyprus =
belongs to its people', 'Our borders are at Kyrenia' and 'Greek =
Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots common struggle-common homeland', students =
endorsed a petition calling for a speedy return to settlement talks and =
the full implementation of the July 8 agreement.
"The international community must exert pressure on Turkey so that it =
can no longer hide behind the Turkish Cypriot 'yes' in the (Annan plan) =
referendums and so-called isolation to block progress," the petition =
read.
University Students' Union Federation President Paris Constantinou said =
the Cyprus Republic's sovereignty stands unassailable despite Turkey's =
creation in the occupied north.
The protesters later marched to the Ledra Palace checkpoint where some =
tried to break through a security cordon and cross into the buffer zone, =
but were thwarted by a strong police presence.
Obstacle
Nicosia registered its condemnation in a Foreign Ministry statement that =
blamed the continued occupation and Ankara's sustained bid to gain a =
status boost for the illegal regime as the greatest obstacles to peace.
"It has become apparent and it can be confirmed through the statements =
of Turkish officials as well as statements made by the President of =
Turkey himself, that the aim of the Turkish side is the creation of two =
separate states in Cyprus and not reunification," the statement said.
UN Security Council resolutions 541(1983) and 550(1984) condemned UDI as =
legally invalid and called for its immediate withdrawal.
"Despite persistent efforts by Ankara and its subordinate local =
administration in the occupied areas, no country, other than the =
occupying power, recognizes this illegal entity, in full compliance with =
the binding resolutions of the Security Council."
The Foreign Ministry also accused Ankara of trying to undermine the July =
8 agreement and re-affirmed Nicosia's commitment to a reunification =
settlement inline with international law norms, UN resolutions, EU law =
and the 1977-79 High Level agreements.
"A solution can only be functional and viable if it serves the interests =
of all Cypriots, restores human rights and reverses the faits accomplis =
created by the illegal Turkish invasion."
Presidential hopeful and House Speaker Demetris Christofias called for =
unity in the face of Ankara's persistent politics of division and urged =
Nicosia to define policy targets.
"The substance of the Cyprus issue is that the invasion and the =
occupation contravene international law.Turkey is attempting in every =
possible way to prevent a settlement reunifying the island," said =
Christofias.
Opposition
In a clear reprimand to London, the House Speaker said a prerequisite to =
re-unification is ridding the island of the Turkish occupation and =
"Britain's presence".
"This is the most important thing and it should be for the entire =
Cypriot people."
But Christofias lamented Turkish Cypriot UDI celebrations as evidence =
that the island is not yet closer to a reunification settlement.
Christofias also expressed parliament's strong opposition to UDI and =
continuing division during yesterday's plenum.
Christofias' election rival Ioannis Kasoulides said initiatives and =
genuine efforts are the only option available to Nicosia to prevent =
Turkish Cypriots celebrating what essentially amounts to the island's =
partition year after year.
"The greatest and best way to protest is to start a bid to rid ourselves =
of the occupation, something that isn't so today," Kasoulides told =
reporters.
Echoing Kasoulides was Disy deputy leader Averof Neophytou who said =
Nicosia's diplomatic waffling is in danger of sneaking permanent =
division "through the back door".
Presidential candidate Costas Themistocleous said the illegal regime =
will only disappear through a comprehensive Cyprus settlement.
Cypriot political parties roundly condemned UDI, but at the same time =
urged for diplomatic action on Nicosia's part to thwart the cementing of =
division.
In a statement, Disy said "vocal denounciations are no longer enough" =
and noted that Nicosia ought to take full advantage of its EU membership =
to forge a policy line that would realize an acceptable settlement.
In a similar vein, Akel said the July 8 agreement remains the only =
option now at hand to get full-fledged settlement talks restarted.
And for Ankara to be pressured into engaging the process is for Nicosia =
to continually undertake new diplomatic initiatives.
Striking an election note, Edek said in a statement that the Cypriot =
people's will to continue the struggle until a just end would be =
affirmed with President Tassos Papadopoulos's re-election in February.
Across the divide, tanks, missiles and soldiers paraded past Turkish =
Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Turkish Deputy Minister Cemil Cicek and =
a handful of foreign officials who accepted the invitation to attend =
celebrations.
"Time is working against a solution on Cyprus," Talat told a ceremony.
Cicek scolded Brussels for purportedly failing to live up to its =
promises of lifting Turkish Cypriot 'isolation'.
"Let me underline that the hand we extend for reconciliation will not =
stay there forever," said Cicek.
Among the foreign officials attending celebrations whose presence did =
not go by unnoticed was former FYROM President Nikola Kljusev.
The fact irked Athens which, through Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman =
George Koumoutsakos, condemned it as "unacceptable".
Koumoutsakos said the visit offered more proof of FYROM remaining =
"entrapped in a vicious circle of intransigence and provocation".
CAPTION
CONDEMNATION: Hundreds of students protested in Nicosia yesterday the =
establishment of the breakaway regime that flies in the face of =
international law.
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
<P>Parades denounce UDI</P>
<P></P>
<P>Nicosia condemned and politicians decried the 24th anniversary of the =
illegal=20
founding of the =91TRNC=92 as hundreds of students took to the streets =
to protest=20
against secession.</P>
<P>In contrast, Turkish Cypriots marked the occasion with the customary =
display=20
of military hardware and paradoxical claims that the occupation regime =
"isn=92t a=20
symbol of division".</P>
<P>Hundreds of flag-waving students poured into the streets to stage at =
a mass=20
rally in Nicosia=92s Eleftheria Square and denounce the Turkish =
Cypriots=92 Nov. 15,=20
1983 unilateral declaration of independence (UDI).</P>
<P>Waving Greek and Cypriot flags and unfurling banners reading, =
=91Cyprus belongs=20
to its people=92, =91Our borders are at Kyrenia=92 and =91Greek =
Cypriots, Turkish=20
Cypriots common struggle-common homeland=92, students endorsed a =
petition calling=20
for a speedy return to settlement talks and the full implementation of =
the July=20
8 agreement.</P>
<P>"The international community must exert pressure on Turkey so that it =
can no=20
longer hide behind the Turkish Cypriot =91yes=92 in the (Annan plan) =
referendums and=20
so-called isolation to block progress," the petition read.</P>
<P>University Students=92 Union Federation President Paris Constantinou =
said the=20
Cyprus Republic=92s sovereignty stands unassailable despite Turkey=92s =
creation in=20
the occupied north.</P>
<P>The protesters later marched to the Ledra Palace checkpoint where =
some tried=20
to break through a security cordon and cross into the buffer zone, but =
were=20
thwarted by a strong police presence.</P>
<P>Obstacle</P>
<P>Nicosia registered its condemnation in a Foreign Ministry statement =
that=20
blamed the continued occupation and Ankara=92s sustained bid to gain a =
status=20
boost for the illegal regime as the greatest obstacles to peace.</P>
<P>"It has become apparent and it can be confirmed through the =
statements of=20
Turkish officials as well as statements made by the President of Turkey =
himself,=20
that the aim of the Turkish side is the creation of two separate states =
in=20
Cyprus and not reunification," the statement said.</P>
<P>UN Security Council resolutions 541(1983) and 550(1984) condemned UDI =
as=20
legally invalid and called for its immediate withdrawal.</P>
<P>"Despite persistent efforts by Ankara and its subordinate local=20
administration in the occupied areas, no country, other than the =
occupying=20
power, recognizes this illegal entity, in full compliance with the =
binding=20
resolutions of the Security Council."</P>
<P>The Foreign Ministry also accused Ankara of trying to undermine the =
July 8=20
agreement and re-affirmed Nicosia=92s commitment to a reunification =
settlement=20
inline with international law norms, UN resolutions, EU law and the =
1977-79 High=20
Level agreements.</P>
<P>"A solution can only be functional and viable if it serves the =
interests of=20
all Cypriots, restores human rights and reverses the faits accomplis =
created by=20
the illegal Turkish invasion."</P>
<P>Presidential hopeful and House Speaker Demetris Christofias called =
for unity=20
in the face of Ankara=92s persistent politics of division and urged =
Nicosia to=20
define policy targets.</P>
<P>"The substance of the Cyprus issue is that the invasion and the =
occupation=20
contravene international law=85Turkey is attempting in every possible =
way to=20
prevent a settlement reunifying the island," said Christofias.</P>
<P>Opposition</P>
<P>In a clear reprimand to London, the House Speaker said a prerequisite =
to=20
re-unification is ridding the island of the Turkish occupation and =
"Britain=92s=20
presence".</P>
<P>"This is the most important thing and it should be for the entire =
Cypriot=20
people."</P>
<P>But Christofias lamented Turkish Cypriot UDI celebrations as evidence =
that=20
the island is not yet closer to a reunification settlement.</P>
<P>Christofias also expressed parliament=92s strong opposition to UDI =
and=20
continuing division during yesterday=92s plenum.</P>
<P>Christofias=92 election rival Ioannis Kasoulides said initiatives and =
genuine=20
efforts are the only option available to Nicosia to prevent Turkish =
Cypriots=20
celebrating what essentially amounts to the island=92s partition year =
after=20
year.</P>
<P>"The greatest and best way to protest is to start a bid to rid =
ourselves of=20
the occupation, something that isn=92t so today," Kasoulides told =
reporters.</P>
<P>Echoing Kasoulides was Disy deputy leader Averof Neophytou who said =
Nicosia=92s=20
diplomatic waffling is in danger of sneaking permanent division "through =
the=20
back door".</P>
<P>Presidential candidate Costas Themistocleous said the illegal regime =
will=20
only disappear through a comprehensive Cyprus settlement.</P>
<P>Cypriot political parties roundly condemned UDI, but at the same time =
urged=20
for diplomatic action on Nicosia=92s part to thwart the cementing of =
division.</P>
<P>In a statement, Disy said "vocal denounciations are no longer enough" =
and=20
noted that Nicosia ought to take full advantage of its EU membership to =
forge a=20
policy line that would realize an acceptable settlement.</P>
<P>In a similar vein, Akel said the July 8 agreement remains the only =
option now=20
at hand to get full-fledged settlement talks restarted.</P>
<P>And for Ankara to be pressured into engaging the process is for =
Nicosia to=20
continually undertake new diplomatic initiatives.</P>
<P>Striking an election note, Edek said in a statement that the Cypriot =
people=92s=20
will to continue the struggle until a just end would be affirmed with =
President=20
Tassos Papadopoulos=92s re-election in February.</P>
<P>Across the divide, tanks, missiles and soldiers paraded past Turkish =
Cypriot=20
leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Turkish Deputy Minister Cemil Cicek and a =
handful of=20
foreign officials who accepted the invitation to attend =
celebrations.</P>
<P>"Time is working against a solution on Cyprus," Talat told a =
ceremony.</P>
<P>Cicek scolded Brussels for purportedly failing to live up to its =
promises of=20
lifting Turkish Cypriot =91isolation=92.</P>
<P>"Let me underline that the hand we extend for reconciliation will not =
stay=20
there forever," said Cicek.</P>
<P>Among the foreign officials attending celebrations whose presence did =
not go=20
by unnoticed was former FYROM President Nikola Kljusev.</P>
<P>The fact irked Athens which, through Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman =
George=20
Koumoutsakos, condemned it as "unacceptable".</P>
<P>Koumoutsakos said the visit offered more proof of FYROM remaining =
"entrapped=20
in a vicious circle of intransigence and provocation".</P>
<P></P>
<P>CAPTION</P>
<P></P>
<P>CONDEMNATION: Hundreds of students protested in Nicosia yesterday the =
establishment of the breakaway regime that flies in the face of =
international=20
law.</P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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