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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-02-24Cyprus 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 UpdateMonday, 24/02/97CONTENTS
[01] Cyprus Foreign Minister in BrusselsForeign Minister, Alecos Michaelides left yesterday for Brussels to attend the 18th Meeting of the Cyprus-European Union Association Council due to take place tomorrow, February 25.The Meeting will discuss issues concerning EU-Cyprus relations as well as the country's harmonisation process with the EU. Upon his departure at Larnaca airport Michaelides said that as regards progress on the implementation of the Association Agreement, he will express the view that Cyprus is ready to start negotiations for the second and last phase of the Customs Union. He stressed that at the same time, Cyprus' accession negotiations will also commence and the harmonisation process will continue. Therefore, he said, some priorities related to harmonisation will have to be set. The Cyprus-EU Association Council will be followed by a Political Dialogue between the EU and Cyprus, the Minister said. Michaelides will also give a joint press conference with President of the EU Council of Ministers, Hans van Mierlo and EU External Relations Commissioner, Hans van den Broek. Van den Broek is due to visit Cyprus from 26-28 February for separate talks with Greek and Turkish Cypriots. [02] Cyprus Problem: Test case in Greco-Turkish relationsAddressing a gathering in Athens last week on the subject "1997, The year of Cyprus", President Glafcos Clerides stressed that such events offered the opportunity for serious thought to be given to the strategy that should be adopted to achieve the soonest possible by peaceful means a just, viable and workable solution of the Cyprus problem that would be to the benefit of all Cypriots. At the same time, the opportunity is offered for messages to be sent in various directions about what we seek and also what we expect from others if there is to be, finally a solution of the Cyprus problem.In a discussion entitled "The Cyprus problem, test case in Greco-Turkish relations" that followed,Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides underlined that in the drawing up of our policy and strategy we have always been in constant touch with the Greek Government. The drawing up of our strategy was based on certain conclusions, the Minister added. Firstly, he said, past experience demands that a new initiative should aim at a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. Secondly, in order to be strong politically, we built close and friendly relations with our neighbours, Arabs and Israelis, the Minister emphasized. Thirdly, in order to get out of the stagnation which facilitated Turkish hopes and aims, we promoted the process for Cyprus' accession to the EU. This development poses a dilemma to Turkey; it either cooperates for a solution to the Cyprus problem enabling the Turkish Cypriots to share the benefits, or it continues its policy of no solution and leaves the Turkish Cypriots in isolation, the Minister added. Fourthly, Mr Michaelides said, we have built the Joint Defence Doctrine which means that in case of a new Turkish provocation, Greece will be both politically and militarily on our side. Minister Michaelides concluded by saying that Greece and Cyprus continue on their course with the responsibility for safeguarding a better future for Cyprus. "A future of peace, security and progress for all the inhabitants of Cyprus". The discussion continued with interventions by the Greek Minister of Defence Mr Akis Tsohatzopoulos and by former Minister, New Democracy MP, Mr Stavros Demas. [03] IMF/World Bank Constituency Meeting in CyprusFifty delegates from twelve member states of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank today end the deliberations of a meeting which started in Nicosia on 22 February.Welcoming the group of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from the Netherlands, Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Israel, FYROM, Moldavia, Romania and Ukraine, the Cyprus Minister of Finance Mr Christodoulos Christodoulou said that the key topics of the meeting, which were "Capital Flows" and "The changing Role of the State", have become of greater importance for the IMF and World Bank institutions and their member countries with the increasing globalisation and liberalisation of markets in the world economy and as economies transit to more market- based economic systems. Mr Christodoulou added that this constituency meeting is taking place when major developments are occurring in international financial markets and in the leading industrial economies referring to the recent surge in the US dollar and the pound sterling against European currencies and the Japanese Yen, the issue of sharply rising unemployment in Germany and the issue of how the United States Congress is responding to requests by the US Administration for increasing its actual financial contributions to international financial institutions. "The nature of this response could be important in determining the future funding and policies of the World Bank and the IMF", Mr Christodoulou added. The Minister also referred to the state of the Cyprus economy stressing that Cyprus has experienced rapid economic growth over the period since the Turkish invasion in 1974. Real GDP rose at an annual average rate of 6,5 per cent over the years 1976 to 1995 in conditions of domestic and external economic stability. He also said that as Cyprus will begin accession negotiations with the European Union six months after the conclusion of the current intergovernmental conference, present policies are largely directed toward harmonising our legislation, policy instruments and institutions with those of the European Union. [04] Part of Limassol-Paphos Motorway officially openedThe new motorway from Erimi to Avdhimou of total length 20.5 km was open to traffic on 22 February. President Glafcos Clerides officially opened this part of the Limassol-Paphos motorway. It is estimated that the users of the new road will save at least 15 minutes travelling time between Limassol and Paphos.This road was the most difficult technically and the most expensive motorway ever built in Cyprus because of the mountainous terrain. The total expenditure reached approximately 51 million Cyprus pounds, half of which was spent on tunnels and bridges. Minister of Communications and Works Adamos Adamides said that this motorway is one of the most important infrastructure projects ever constructed in Cyprus which will contribute substantially to the economic development of the island. "As from today the connection of the Paphos district with the rest of the island is upgraded and we can say substantially changed". The whole project of the Limassol-Paphos motorway will be completed by 1999. [05] Annual General Meeting of Cyprus Shipping CouncilThe contribution of Merchant Shipping to the national income is comparatively small, although the sector itself has greatly developed in Cyprus, President Glafcos Clerides said in his address to the Eighth Annual General Meeting of the Cyprus Shipping Council on 22.2.97.In his address the Minister of Communications and Works Mr Adamos Adamides referred to the tangible assistance of the Cyprus Shipping Council to the development of Cyprus in merchant shipping. He said that the government policy of aiming for the optimum and the overwhelming choice of our people in favour of Cyprus joining the European Union, impose on the merchant shipping sector the application of quality standards and harmonisation with the acquis communautaire. "This twofold reference relates basically to two aspects: The mainly technical one, which concerns matters of maritime safety, the protection of the marine environment and the working conditions of seafarers, and the economic aspect, which concerns issues of competition and state aids". The Minister said that "1997 will constitute the main expression of a new era for our merchant shipping which was launched in 1993. This year we expect to see the first results of the decisions and actions conceptualised in 1993, whose implementation began in 1995". [06] Greek Cypriot youth illegally arrestedTurkish occupation troops illegally arrested on 21.2.97 a Greek Cypriot youth near the Turkish occupied village of Akhna, in the eastern part of the island.Savvas Louca Sidereniou had most probably lost his way and entered the occupied areas, a UN Peace-keeping Force (UNFICYP) Spokesman said. Siderenios was detained in Famagusta and was then transferred to the occupied part of Nicosia. The Spokesman said UNFICYP was in touch with the illegal Turkish occupation authorities and was making every possible effort to secure Siderenios' release as soon as possible. [07] New Patriarch of Alexandria a CypriotPetros Papapetrou, a Cypriot, born in the town of Kyrenia in 1949, is the newly-elected 114th Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.Papapetrou who was until now the Metropolitan of Cameroon and Western Africa speaks English, French and Arabic and has represented the Patriarchate of Alexandria at numerous ecumenical meetings. The new Patriarch succeeds the late Parthenios, who died last July. 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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