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  • ASBAREZ Online [08-01-2005]

    ASBAREZ ONLINE
    TOP STORIES
    08/01/2005
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    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.


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