Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-03-29

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

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[01] Cyprus starts membership talks with EU

0950:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus starts membership talks with EU

Nicosia, Mar 29 (CNA) -- For the past eight years the Cyprus Republic's bid to join the European Union has been in the forefront of the island's political life.

At times hopes that an unhindered accession process would go ahead were high, but there were days when they were dampened, mainly because of the island's political problem and Turkish Cypriot reactions.

Today, Cyprus' accession process is becoming a reality and negotiations will be formally launched on Monday, March 30, in Brussels.

Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, is in Brussels for this occasion, which is important not only for Cyprus but also for five central and eastern European countries, whose applications for membership have been accepted.

The EU will start intergovernmental conferences with Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia on Tuesday, March 31.

The Foreign Ministers of five other applicant countries, namely Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria, will also be present at the launching of the accession process.

The EU has decided that the opening of talks with these five central and eastern European countries will be open to annual review and only when they bring their economy in line will a decision for accession talks be taken.

The accession process will be launched on Monday, March 30, with an address by the EU Presidency, followed by the Commission, in the presence of the ministers of all eleven applicant countries.

Cyprus chief EU negotiator, George Vassiliou, has said that "hard work is needed" to harmonise the Republic's economy, laws and social norms with the EU.

The former President, who submitted Cyprus' application for entry into the EU in July 1990, said "Europe is not just a motto but a difficult reality and hard work is needed to overcome them."

He believes that Cyprus, with a market-oriented economy, will not face serious problems in its accession process, but has its political problem to overcome.

Cyprus Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides described the beginning of accession talks on Monday as "an historic event opening a new era in the island's political and social life."

He pointed out that the road ahead is difficult, but expressed certainty that with the cooperation of all political parties and the Greek government the final goal will be achieved.

Stylianides stressed that "the Cyprus government wants the Turkish Cypriot community to be involved in this historic challenge."

EU - Cyprus relations

Relations between Cyprus and the then European Economic Community, began in December 1972, when an Association Agreement, that came into force six months later, was signed.

It provided for the gradual elimination of all trade barriers on both sides and the creation in two stages of a customs union between the Community and Cyprus.

Under the Association Agreement the first stage of the customs union should have ended in 1977 but was extended until the end of 1988.

A Protocol signed in October 1987 provided for the implementation of Stage Two and set a new timetable. The Protocol divides the second stage into two phases, the first for 10 years (1988-1997), and the second from 1988 to 2002-03.

In July 1990 the government of Cyprus submitted to the Council an application for membership to the European Community, about two months after the European Commission opened its office (Delegation) in Nicosia.

A Joint EU-Cyprus Parliamentary Committee was also set up, in line with a European Parliament decision. It met for the first time in March 1992 and two meetings per year follow since.

A landmark date in Cyprus' EU course was June 30, 1993, when the Commission issued its opinion on the Republic's application, considering it eligible for membership. The Council adopted the opinion in October 1993.

Two European Councils held during 1994, in Corfu in June and Essen in December, noted that the next phase of enlargement would involve Cyprus.

This was confirmed in June 1995 at a European Council meeting in Cannes.

Another important step was the EU Council of Ministers agreement of March 6, 1995, on the general policy framework for the development of a structured dialogue with Cyprus with a view to opening membership negotiations six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference.

On June 12, 1995 the EU-Cyprus association council meeting in Luxembourg adopted a joint communique reaffirming its March 6 conclusions, and a month later the Council adopted the procedures for the structured dialogue.

In its blueprint dubbed "Agenda 2000", made public in July 1997, the Commission confirmed the start of accession negotiations with Cyprus.

The EU summit held in Luxembourg in December 1997 decided to convene bilateral intergovernmental conferences in March 1998, thus opening negotiations with Cyprus and the five central and eastern European countries.

The European Council conclusions note that "the accession of Cyprus should benefit all communities" and requests from the Cyprus government to act upon its willingness to include representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community in the accession negotiations.

Earlier this month President Glafcos Clerides submitted to the British EU presidency a proposal "inviting Turkish Cypriots to nominate representatives to be included as full members of the Cypriot team which will conduct the negotiations."

His proposal has been turned down by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who claims that the Cyprus Republic does not represent the Turkish Cypriots and he is against accession before Turkey becomes an EU member.

The Cyprus government has often said it cannot be Turkey's victim for a second time, the first when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory, in 1974.

However, according to surveys carried out in the Turkish occupied areas, most Turkish Cypriots favour EU accession.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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