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STATEMENT
BY THE TRNC MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE
It
has been announced with a NOTAM (Notice to Airman) issued
by the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus, on
7 February 2002, that the search and rescue (SAR) services
within the Nicosia FIR would be provided by the Larnaca
Rescue Coordination Centre as from 1 March 2002.
The
provision for SAR services were assumed by the United
Kingdom in the early 1950s during the establishment of the
Nicosia FIR, in accordance with the rules and provisions
of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
This has been recorded in the European Air Navigational
Plan and has remained so until today. The fact has also
been incorporated into the 1960 Treaties with the consent
of all parties.
The
unilateral hand over of authority on the provision of SAR,
from the UK to the Greek Cypriot administration, is
therefore, a clear violation of both the provisions of the
1960 Treaties and the ICAO rules which require regional
consultation for any change of plan.
It
is impossible to accept this unilateral change, which does
not have the consent of the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus. Our objection on this matter has been recorded
through a NOTAM, number 0009/02, issued on 28 February
2002.
The
TRNC Government, being the sole legitimate authority
representing the Turkish Cypriot people, has the necessary
means to provide all kind of search and rescue services
for humanitarian purposes within its territory and its
sovereign airspace. The SAR services could also be
provided within the limits of Ercan Advisory Airspace, and
works are underway to improve existing capabilities.
The
TRNC, together with her motherland Turkey, is taking the
necessary measures in order to provide this humanitarian
service in its region without facing any problem.
5
March 2002,
Lefkoşa.
STATEMENT
BY TRNC MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE
In
a statement issued yesterday the TRNC Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Defence evaluated the statement made to the
press by the President of the UN Security Council on the
Cyprus issue.
The
full text of the statement is as follows:
“Following
the meeting of the Security Council on 26 February 2002,
during which the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser
on Cyprus, Mr. Alvaro de Soto, gave a briefing on the
completed first phase of the direct talks in Cyprus, the
President of the Council has made a statement to the
press. In view of the statements and comments made in the
Greek Cypriot administered Southern Cyprus with regard to
this statement, clarification of certain issues is deemed
useful.
The
direct talks have commenced at the initiative of President
Denktaş. The joint statement outlining the format of the
talks was drafted by President Denktaş and the Greek
Cypriot leader Mr. Clerides during their first meeting on
4 December 2001. In his joint statement there is neither a
reference to Security Council Resolution 1250 nor to any
other Council resolution. On the contrary, the parties
have agreed to put forward their views freely at the talks
and without any preconditions.
Naturally,
the reference to Resolution 1250 in the press statement
made by the President of the Council should not be
interpreted as a development which would lead to a
deviation, at the second phase of the direct talks, from
the points agreed upon by the two parties as contained in
the joint statement on 4 December 2001.
Assuming
that the aim of both parties is to reach a permanent and
viable settlement in Cyprus, then clearly such a
settlement can only be shaped on the basis of the
realities in Cyprus.”
MEETING AIMED AT REVITALISING TRNC ECONOMY
HELD IN GIRNE
Yesterday
a meeting on “The Principles and Guidelines for the
Transition of the TRNC Economy to Growth Based Production”
took place at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel in Alsancak,
Girne. The meeting, aimed at briefing government officials
and entrepreneurs on the new Special Program of Incentives
directed at revitalising the TRNC economy, was inaugurated
by Şükrü Sina Gürel, the Turkish Minister of State in
charge of Cyprus Affairs.
Referring
to the envisaged incentives program, Mr. Gürel said the
main objective would be to provide support to small and
medium scale initiatives, He
also added that the remaining obstacles in trade between
the TRNC and Turkey would be removed for good this year.
The
Special Program of Incentives envisages the implementation
of plans and programs directed at developing research and
in particular preserving the environment. It aims to
increase employment opportunities, reduce the structural
imbalances between regions, to implement projects that
will not only enable international competition and bring
in the necessary modern technology, but also bring in
foreign currency.
ROUND
TWO OF TALKS
TRNC
President Rauf Denktaş and the leader of the Greek
Cypriot administration, Mr. Glafcos Clerides, today at
16:00 hours will have another meeting aimed at finding a
lasting solution to the Cyprus issue.
The
second round of the face-to-face negotiations between the
two leaders began on Friday (March 1). The new round will
continue with two meetings a week, on Tuesdays and
Fridays, and as from today the two leaders are expected to
go into details on the outstanding issues.
The
face-to-face negotiations will take place at the Nicosia
Conference Centre in the UN-controlled buffer zone in the
presence of the UN Secretary- General’s Special Adviser
on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, who will attend the talks as an
observer.
GREEK
CYPRIOTS BUY 12 ATTACK HELICOPTERS FROM RUSSIA
While
the process of face-to-face negotiations is continuing
between the two leaders in Cyprus, with the aim of finding
a just and lasting settlement to the Cyprus issue, the
Greek Cypriot side is continuing with its ongoing
rearmament campaign.
According
to news received from NTV, despite all objections from the
U.S.A and Turkey, the Greek Cypriot administration has
purchased 12 MI-35 type attack helicopters from Russia.
Additionally
within the framework of the 2002 defence budget the Greek
Cypriot administration is also considering the purchase of
T-80 tanks and BMP-3 armoured combat vehicles. The
purchase of a fleet of Mirage F-1 war planes, which will
be deployed in the Paphos Base, are also being planned.
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