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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-02-05Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News UpdateWednesday, 05/02/97CONTENTS[01] President Clerides gives two-hour television interviewPresident Glafcos Clerides gave last night a two-hour live television interview during which he replied to questions by a panel of journalists which focused on issues related to the Cyprus problem.More specifically the issues covered in the interview referred to the island's defence and the air base being built in Paphos, the anticipated American initiative, the moratorium on flights over Cyprus, the proposals for demilitarisation and for a multi-national force as well as the issue of the settlers in the occupied area. The President also referred to the issue of Cyprus' accession to the E.U. as well as to the factors he will consider before deciding whether to stand for re-election to the Presidency of the Republic. [02] Britain and Sweden agree on CyprusBritish Foreign Secretary, Mr Malcolm Rifkind, expressed his sadness for the continued division of Cyprus and for the presence of 30,000 Turkish troops in the northern part of the island.Mr Rifkind was replying to questions to the Press in Stockholm, Sweden, where he is paying an official visit. He referred to his recent visit to Cyprus and said he believed there is a good chance for face-to-face negotiations, to begin this year. He added: "It is important to remember that both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots do agree on the final objective: bizonal, bicommunal federation. So, if they agree on the end of that, they should make progress on the means towards that result. I think we had a step backwards in recent weeks with the Greek Cypriot proposal to purchase air defence missiles from Russia and it is also sad that the Turkish side overreacted to that. So we have had a difficult problem to deal with. But the efforts have to be maintained and I believe that the negotiations ought to begin. I hope before the Summer". On her part, the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Lena Hjelm Wallen, speaking to the Press after her meeting with the British Foreign Secretary, said that efforts should be made by all now in order to assist the sides towards finding a solution to the protracted Cyprus problem. "If something is not achieved now, things will be more difficult later", she added. [03] Hans van Mierlo: EU-Cyprus accession talks are not subject to any conditionsDutch Foreign Minister and current EU Council President, Hans van Mierlo, told the EU Foreign Affairs Committee on 4.2.97, the EU-Cyprus accession talks are not subject to any conditions and reiterated the E.U.'s adherence to a Council's decision to start membership negotiations with Cyprus, six months after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference.The Cyprus problem, he said, is a priority for the Dutch presidency and added that he discussed the problem with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The Dutch Foreign Minister stressed the need for cooperation and coordination between the EU and the USA in efforts towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and added that these efforts should be under the aegis of the UN Secretary General. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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