Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-05-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] German Ambassador - EU - Cyprus

[02] Foreign Minister - Greek Foreign Under- Secretary

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[01] German Ambassador - EU - Cyprus

In a lecture on new challenges for the EU here, the Ambassador called for "minimum stability" in all EU current and future members and called on Cyprus to show understanding for legitimate concerns the EU expresses in relation to efforts for a solution in Cyprus.

She also made it clear that no third party has a right to interfere with Cyprus' accession process, expected to take another four to five years, and appeared disheartened by the Turkish Cypriots' unwillingness to join the ongoing membership negotiations.

In her remarks, she warned against any great expectations from the Group of Eight (G8 - seven most industrialised nations plus Russia), stressing their role would be supportive of UN efforts and ruled out a role of their own.

Ambassador Tilborch appealed to Cypriots to prepare the ground for a settlement on a sub-political level through contacts, cooperation in infrastructure, trade, cultural cooperation and tourism.

She pointed out that Cyprus can make the proposed Euro-Mediterranean Charta of Peace and Stability materialise.

Noting that Cyprus, with ten chapters of the substantive negotiations closed, is at the top of the list of candidate countries, the German Ambassador said "the effect of the accession process on the search for a political solution to the Cyprus problem has so far been rather negative than helpful since this process seems to give the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community a pretext to go off into a corner to sulk."

She described these leaders as "very skillful at finding pretexts and at blaming on others or on outside circumstances what in reality is an absence of their own free will to bring about changes to a situation which suits them well."

The doors in Brussels continue to be wide open to the Turkish Cypriots, should they wish to join the negotiations, she said.

"Should they continue to disregard the standing invitation as they are likely to do, it should also be clear to everybody that no third party has a right to interfere with the accession process," she added.

The Ambassador pointed out that "just as Cyprus herself is concerned about her stability under the unresolved situation, EU member states are concerned with regard to what Cyprus might bring into the Union."

On the role of the G8 group, she said the group's expected initiative in the Cyprus peace effort does not signal the introduction of a "new player on the stage."

"Whatever the G8 do or say at the Cologne summit can and will only be an attempt to give a fresh impetus to the efforts of the UN in its monitoring of the Cyprus peace process," she explained.

The G8, she stressed, "do not plan to play a role of their own, let alone to compete with the UN which must and will remain the single most important actor in this play."

CNA MM/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] Foreign Minister - Greek Foreign Under-Secretary

He also said the Cyprus question should be next in line to be dealt with by the international community, once the Yugoslav crisis is settled.

Speaking after a meeting with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, here today, Niotis, in charge of matters concerning overseas Greeks, said he expects the European Parliament to play a more decisive role in building a new Europe.

He said progress in Cyprus' accession negotiations, which started last year, was satisfactory. Cyprus has closed ten out of some 30 chapters in the negotiations and this places Cyprus at the top of the list of candidate countries.

"I hope that after a settlement in Yugoslavia, the Cyprus problem will be the top priority in Europe and the world's fora and we are ready to press on with the effort to bring the Cyprus question forward," Niotis said.

In his remarks, Kasoulides said discussions with Niotis focused on Cyprus, its accession process, the war in Yugoslavia and its repercussions on Cyprus and the Balkan region.

CNA MM/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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