EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: TURKEY SHOULD WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM EU TERRITORY

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.07.2008 13:41 GMT+04:00

The Cypriot government welcomed the decision by the European Parliament
Committee on Petitions calling on Turkey to withdraw troops from the
EU territory, starting with Famagusta.

"This is a very important document for the Cypriot
refugees. Famagusta’s return is represented as a separate process
but not as an element of the Cypriot problem solution," a government
member said.

According to the recommendations, "UNSC Resolution 550 (1984) must be
respected, and implemented without further delay by all parties and,
with regard to the petitioners’ concerns, the institutions of the
European Union must actively support and promote a solution which
leads to the full restoration of property to its legitimate owners
in Varosha."

Furthermore, it says that "Turkey must withdraw its occupation military
forces from the Republic of Cyprus, an EU territory, starting with the
return of the Famagusta sealed-off section to its lawful inhabitants
in compliance with the above resolution."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied
its northern third. The July 2006 agreement was clinched between former
Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet
Ali Talat, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of then UN
Undersecretary for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari. It provides
for a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the
day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern
substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement
of the Cyprus problem.

The talks on re-union will resume on September 3.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress