ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/01/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Cyprus Regrets Turkey's EU Accord Does Not Mean Recognition 2) Armenian Flag at Council of Europe Disappears 3) US Western Region Team Shines at Athens Games 4) Homenetmen Delegation Meets Greek President 1) Cyprus Regrets Turkey's EU Accord Does Not Mean Recognition NICOSIA (AFP)--The Cypriot government said it regretted Turkey's declaration that its signing of a key document on the path to European Union membership does not signify official recognition of the Cyprus republic. "The Republic of Cyprus expresses its deep regret that Turkey considers it necessary to make a unilateral statement on Cyprus at the time of signing the protocol," said government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides on July 30. "It is regrettable that a candidate for accession declares that it does not recognize one of the member states of the Union it wishes to join," he added. Greece also expressed disappointment at Turkey's declaration, and continuous refusal to acknowledge Cyprus as a state. A Greek foreign ministry statement called Ankara's declaration "unilateral," adding that Turkey "insists on the continuation of a political and legal paradox." On July 29, Turkey agreed to extend an existing customs accord with the EU to include the bloc's 10 newest member states including Cyprus, whose internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government Ankara refuses to endorse. The signing of the document was a key precondition set by Brussels for the start of accession talks between Ankara and the EU, set for October 3. Turkey, which invaded and occupied northern Cyprus in 1974, attached a declaration to the document stating that its signature did not amount to recognition. "The signing, ratification, and implementation of this protocol in no way means recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, which the protocol refers to," a Turkish foreign ministry stated. "Turkey will continue to regard the Greek Cypriot authorities as exercising authority, control, and jurisdiction only in the territory south of the buffer zone [in Cyprus]... and as not representing the Turkish Cypriot people and will treat the acts performed by them accordingly," the declaration said. The Cyprus government spokesman said Turkey could not sustain this position against Cyprus because Ankara's EU accession negotiations would involve all 25 states in the bloc. "We urge Turkey to abide by the EU's founding principles of equal treatment for all states and embark on a process of speedy normalization with the Republic of Cyprus," he said. However, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Ankara had kept its end of the bargain and expected membership talks to begin on schedule. "Turkey fulfilled its commitments. There are no longer any obstacles ahead of the launch of EU accession negotiations on October 3," Gul told NTV news channel. Cyprus plans to study the document closely to see if the declaration makes the signing of the protocol itself invalid under the preconditions set by Brussels for Turkey's EU accession negotiations to begin. Turkey is the only country to recognize the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) proclaimed in 1983 in the Turkish-occupied northern third of the Mediterranean island. TRNC leader Mehmet Ali Talat said July 30 that Ankara's qualified signature of the agreement would bring about "many changes" and "various crises," but could eventually be beneficial. "The result of these crises will be that the resolution of the Cypriot question is established to be imperative and cannot be delayed," he told Turkey's Anatolia news agency. He included that the Turkish Cypriots could use the accord to formulate new demands for a settlement. The last international effort to end the division of Cyprus failed in April 2004 when the Greek Cypriots voted down a UN reunification plan even though the Turkish Cypriots gave it overwhelming support. The outcome ensured that the Greek Cypriots alone joined the EU in May last year, leaving the breakaway Turkish Cypriots out in the cold. EU efforts to assist them economically and ease trade restrictions as a reward for their vote have been blocked by the Greek Cypriots. Turkey is eager for the peace talks to resume, wary that the Greek Cypriots could use their EU membership as leverage to block Ankara's own accession aspirations. Gul tried to minimize any concern about a possible veto by Nicosia, highlighting that EU leaders--including President Tassos Papadopoulos--had agreed to open talks with Ankara last December. 2) Armenian Flag at Council of Europe Disappears YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Armenia sent a note of protest to the leadership of the Council of Europe on August 1 against the mysterious disappearance of its national flag displayed outside the Strasbourg headquarters of the human rights organization. The Foreign Ministry in Yerevan said the red-blue-orange flag was found to be missing on July 30 from one of the 46 flagpoles in front of the building's main entrance that carry the national banners of all Council of Europe member states. A ministry statement said a plaque on the metal pole bearing Armenia's name was found twisted. "The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Armenia is vehemently protesting against that act and is demanding that the Council of Europe take necessary security measures on its territory and prevent the national symbols of its member states from being vandalized," it said. According to the Foreign Ministry, a top aide to Council of Europe, Secretary General Terry Davis, apologized for the incident but said the organization's security service is only responsible for what happens inside the sprawling building. "Control of the territory outside the building is carried out by the French police and the latter have already been notified about what happened," the statement said, adding that a new Armenian flag has already been hoisted in place of the missing one. 3) US Western Region Team Shines at Athens Games ATHENS--As the Homenetmen 7th Pan Armenian Games came to an exciting close in Athens, Greece, the USA West team came out on top. The A Division Women's basketball team was undefeated under the direction of Coach Jerry Armen. Team captain Tamar Kataroyan was honored as the Games' Most Valuable Athlete. The A Division Men's basketball team made an impressive showing throughout the Games as well, defeating the Tehran team during finals to clench first place. In the swimming competitions, the USA West team clenched second place, while the men's volleyball team reached the finals, but lost to the Athens team. 4) Homenetmen Delegation Meets Greek President Prior to the close of Homenetmen's 7th Pan Armenian Games in Athens on Sunday, a delegation representing the Armenian athletic and scouting organization had the opportunity to meet with the president of the Republic of Greece Karolos Papoulias. The delegation included Homenetmen Central Executive members Karnig Megerdichian, Stepan Der Bedrosian, Vahram Tanielian; organizing committee chair of the Games Boghos Cholakian; and ARF Greece Central Committee representative Krikor Erchanian. The group thanked Papoulias for hosting the games, and briefed the president about Homenetmen's mission and worldwide activities. Papoulias noted the centuries-long friendship between Armenians and Greeks, and in the example of the Pan Armenian Games, conveyed that thought should be given to organizing a similar activity for diasporan Greeks. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.