Cyprus considers US position on weapons in occupied areas "unfair".
Nicosia, Mar 3 (CNA) - Government Spokesman Kypros
Chrysostomides described as "unfair" the US insistence to abide
by a legislation which considered a large number of American armament in
Cyprus in the hands of the Turkish occupation forces as legal and the
presence of some American armaments in the Greek armed forces as illegal.
He was commenting on statements made yesterday by US State Department
Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli that there has been no transfer of
weapons in the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus.
"This 'love of the law' causes deep regret because while the whole
Turkish operation since 1974 has been illegal based on international law,
the presence of this armament is considered legal", said
Chrysostomides.|
Invited to comment on Ereli's statement that for a Cyprus settlement there
is the Annan Plan, Chrysostomides said it was bizarre that "a
democratic country (the US) is ignoring the fact that the Annan Plan was
not accepted at the time by the majority of the Greek Cypriot community
following a democratic procedure".
He also wondered whether "the US people at large who are imbued with
democratic ideals, agree with their officials".
Ereli repeated yesterday that "there has been no transfer of
weapons", when he was invited to comment on Democratic Rally party
leader Nicos Anastasiades' remarks who described Ereli's statements about
Turkish transfer of US weapons in Cyprus as ''unacceptable''.
The US Deputy Spokesman also said he did not accept the parallel when
questioned why the US asks Syria to leave from Lebanon and not Turkey from
Cyprus.
The reporter, quoting Anastasiades asked Ereli if Cuba occupied Miami,
would the Americans allow the use of the illegal airports and seaports, as
in the case of Turkish occupying forces in Cyprus and he replied
"we're dealing with one set of realities and you're talking about a
completely different set of unrealities".
Ereli said that for a settlement to the Cyprus problem, "there is a
plan", the Annan plan. "That is a plan that we feel addresses
the problem of the long division of that island and it is a plan to which
we have given our support and which we have called on all parties that
want to see a resolution of the Cyprus problem endorse and support. So,
you know, that's the solution for Cyprus and that's what we want to see
applied," he said.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and
occupied the island's northern third.
The Greek Cypriots rejected the Annan Plan in a referendum in April 2004,
saying it would not reunite the country and satisfied Turkey's demands
instead of meeting the needs of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
