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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 13 Hansard (26 November) . . Page.. 4708 ..

MRS CROSS (continuing):

Cyprus has, for many years, been existing in a way that is seen by many as unfair, untenable and personally disastrous for many of the citizens. Recently there have been moves which many are regarding as definitely positive and let many relax with a dash of optimism. The successful accession to the EU is one of these events, and it has already had an impact on the political developments in Cyprus and the overall optimistic feelings of people towards a good future.

The removal of the barbed wire by the occupying Turkish forces was a really positive step for that community. This opened the way for people to visit their place of birth, their original place of worship and relatives they had not seen for years. This was regarded as a partial lifting of restriction of movement but seen as a demonstrative step.

Neighbouring Turkey invaded Cyprus and occupied more than a third of the country. They continue to occupy this land, and this is a constant reminder for the people of the division of their country and the lack of independence their fellow Cypriots have in the occupied area.

There are many stories of misery, of destruction of homes, schools and places of worship. There are stories of separated families and people dispossessed because of the dividing line. Cypriot residents of countries around the world have worked and lobbied for almost 30 years to have the situation improved. The Cyprus community in Australia, and in particular those that I know in Canberra, have been tireless in this regard.

The new and somewhat limited freedoms are encouraging. We do need to grasp the small moves forward as this is what we have available. However, the small moves towards freedom of movement and family reunions do not negate the need for a comprehensive solution to the situation that exists.

Cyprus is one country and needs to once again be one country. It is demoralising and ridiculous that residents of a country need to show a passport to travel around in their own country. The unity and independence of Cyprus have been damaged as a result of the Turkish invasion of 1974. Neighbouring Turkey invaded Cyprus and occupies, since then, 37 per cent of the country's territory. Given the circumstances, the lifting of the restrictions does not constitute a step towards any form of solution.

In recent months popular demonstrations have taken place in the occupied territories, in the occupied areas where the Turkish Cypriot community calls for prompt resumption of negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement based on the Annan plan as submitted earlier this year. The president of Cyprus has expressed, on numerous occasions, the readiness of the government of Cyprus for immediate resumption of talks under the United Nations auspices and based on the Annan plan. The Annan plan calls for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal state as described by United Nations Security Council resolution 939, which states, inter alia:

... a Cyprus settlement must be based on a State of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded, and comprising two politically equal communities as described in the relevant Security Council resolutions in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation, and that such a settlement must exclude union in whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition or secession.

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