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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-05-29Cyprus 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 UpdateThursday, 29/05/97CONTENTS[01] Kasoulides meets Van den BroekCyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides had a meeting in Brussels yesterday with EU Commissioner for External Affairs and EU Enlargement, Hans Van den Broek whom he briefed on the latest developments in Cyprus and on the government's views for a solution to the problem.Mr Kasoulides thanked the EU official for the Union's interest in ongoing efforts for a Cyprus solution, pointing out that the Union's role could become an important factor towards achieving progress, especially at this stage. After the meeting, Van den Broek reconfirmed that negotiations for Cyprus' accession to the EU will begin early in 1998. He also said that the EU firmly supports current UN initiatives aiming at face-to-face talks. Van den Broek also expressed the hope that important steps will be made this year towards a solution, a move which will also facilitate Cyprus's bid to join the EU. [02] Argentine President hopes peace in Cyprus will not depend on presence of Blue HelmetsArgentine President, Carlos Menem paid a twelve-hour unofficial visit to Cyprus yesterday to meet with Argentine UN peace-keepers, serving on the island since 1993.Mr Menem's visit coincides with his country's day of the armed forces. Addressing Argentine soldiers at their UNFICYP camp in Skouriotissa (west of Nicosia), President Menem expressed the hope that future peace in Cyprus "will not depend on the presence of the Blue Helmets, but will be the result of the agreements that will be reached among all the peoples of the world". He said that he looked forward to the fulfillment of all the United Nations resolutions adopted on Cyprus. "Our soldiers have been in Cyprus since 1993 fulfilling the mission given to them and I would be very happy if on the day our soldiers return to their country, all the island's problems would already have been solved", Menem said. Mr Menem also paid a courtesy call on President Glafcos Clerides. The Cyprus President thanked the Argentine President for his country's participation in UNFICYP and for the Argentinian support to Cyprus in international fora. [03] Cyprus government welcomes NATO-Russia agreementGovernment Spokesman Manolis Christofides welcomed yesterday the agreement signed in Paris between NATO and the Russian Federation and described it as "historic". He said "this agreement opens new horizons to humanity and we hope it will lead to a new world order around the globe, but especially in Europe".[04] Greek and Turkish Cypriot party leaders underline importance of UN effortsGreek and Turkish Cypriot party leaders had a meeting at the Ledra Palace in Nicosia yesterday, under the auspices of the Slovak embassy. The meeting was also attended by the UN Secretary-General's resident Representative in Cyprus, Gustave Feissel.A statement read out after the meeting said: "The leaders underlined the importance they attached to the efforts under the auspices of the Secretary- General of the UN to pave the way for the urgent convening of direct negotiations between the two communities on an overall settlement of the Cyprus problem. The party leaders had a wide-ranging exchange of views on the substance of the Cyprus problem". 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 |