Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-12-15

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Monday, 15/12/97

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides: "Luxembourg decision a historic step for Cyprus"
• [02] Conclusions of Luxembourg European Council favourable to Cyprus
• [03] EU regrets Turkeys negative reaction
• [04] British Prime Minister says no preconditions exist for Cyprus EU accession
• [05] Luxembourg's Foreign Minister very positive on Cyprus's EU perspective
• [06] Fifth European Conference on Mass Media Policy
• [07] Consumer price index for November, 1997

[01] President Clerides: "Luxembourg decision a historic step for Cyprus"

Speaking about the results of the Luxembourg European Council of 12-13 December, President Clerides said they are of historic importance to Cyprus because the EU has decided to include Cyprus in the first group to begin accession talks. He underlined the fact that the island's inclusion in the Union "will benefit all Cypriots, Greek, Turkish, Maronites, Latin and Armenians".

"Turkey's attempts to block our road to Europe have failed", he said. President Clerides continued:

"The Luxembourg decision has proved that for a country to enter the European Union the economic criteria are not sufficient... all EU states said that Turkey is an eligible country, but it must do certain things, apart from reaching the Maastricht criteria. It must improve its human rights record and - something that is very significant for Cyprus - it must constructively help in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the UN Security Council resolutions".

The President of the Republic pointed out that even the paragraph of the Luxembourg Presidency conclusions which asks aspiring members to respect other countries' sovereignty, be committed to security and good neighbourliness, respect the integrity and inviolability of external borders and the principles of international law and be committed to settling territorial disputes by peaceful means, in particular through the Hague International Court, is strong indication of where the European Union stands and a recommendation to Turkey that it must change its behaviour towards Cyprus".

[02] Conclusions of Luxembourg European Council favourable to Cyprus

In particular, paragraph ten of the Presidency conclusions said:

"The European Council has considered the current situation in each of the eleven applicant States on the basis of the Commission's opinions and the Presidency's report to the Council. In the light of its discussions, it has decided to launch an accession process comprising the ten Central and East European applicant States and Cyprus. This accession process will form part of the implementation of Article 0 of the Treaty on European Union. The European Council points out that all these States are destined to join the European Union on the basis of the same criteria and that they are participating in the accession process on an equal footing".

The framework to begin the enlargement process is laid out in paragraphs eleven and twelve that:

"The accession process will be launched on 30 March 1998 by a meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the fifteen Member States of the European Union, the ten Central and East European applicant States and Cyprus. A single framework for these applicant countries will be established.

The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the fifteen members of the European Union will meet their opposite numbers from the ten Central and East European applicant States and Cyprus as the need arises. Technical ministerial meetings could also be envisaged, bearing in mind experience with the structured dialogue".

A specific pre-accession strategy for Cyprus is set out in paragraph 22, which will be based on: "- participation in certain targeted projects, in particular to boost judicial and administrative capacity and projects in the field of justice and home affairs;

- participation in certain Community programmes and agencies (as in the approach followed for the other applicant States);

- use of technical assistance provided by TAIEX (Technical Assistance Information Exchange Office)".

The EU Presidency conclusions also made reference in paragraph 28 to the manner in which the accession process should help resolve the island's political problem and expresses its wish to see activated the Cyprus Government's wish to include the Turkish Cypriots in the negotiating delegation.

"The accession of Cyprus should benefit all communities and help to bring about civil peace and reconciliation. The accession negotiations will contribute positively to the search for a political solution to the Cyprus problem through the talks under the aegis of the United Nations which must continue with a view to creating a bi-community, bi-zonal federation. In this context, the European Council requests that the willingness of the Government of Cyprus to include representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community in the accession negotiating delegation be acted upon. In order for this request to be acted upon, the necessary contacts will be undertaken by the Presidency and the Commission".

Regarding Turkey's application, while the EU Council said "it confirms Turkey's eligibility for accession", it did not include it among the eleven candidates to begin talks with.

The conclusions said: "While the political and economic conditions allowing accession negotiations to be envisaged are not satisfied, the European Council considers that it is nevertheless important for a strategy to be drawn up to prepare Turkey for accession by bringing it closer to the European Union in every field.

However, the European Council recalls that strengthening Turkey's links with the European Union also depends on that country's pursuit of the political and economic reforms on which it has embarked, including the alignment of human rights standards and practices on those in force in the European Union; respect for and protection of minorities; the establishment of satisfactory and stable relations between Greece and Turkey; the settlement of disputes, in particular by legal process, including the International Court of Justice; and support for negotiations under the aegis of the UN on a political settlement in Cyprus on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

[03] EU regrets Turkeys negative reaction

A statements issued on 15.12.97 by the Luxembourg EU Presidency said that it hopes Turkeys reaction is not definitive. It adds that the negative presentation of the EU Councils conclusions by Turkey is not justified.

The Luxembourg Presidency emphasises that its conclusions on Turkey are not exclusive but that it has also devised a strategy to help Turkey prepare for EU accession and that it has confirmed its eligibility as a candidate.

The statements further stresses that it will follow up the contacts with Turkey and will implement as a strategy that will serve both the European Union's and Turkey's interests.

[04] British Prime Minister says no preconditions exist for Cyprus EU accession

"There is absolutely no precondition in terms of a settlement in Cyprus for accession negotiations. What is envisaged by all countries is that it will be easier to have this process of accession if there is a settlement in Cyprus. So the one is not a precondition of the other.

Of course, we will play whatever part we can as the presidency, both to take forward the accession negotiation but also to make sure we can bring about a good settlement in Cyprus. We very much hope to see that, and we want Greece and Turkey and the communities in Cyprus to work with this in order to ensure that this happens".

[05] Luxembourg's Foreign Minister very positive on Cyprus's EU perspective

Speaking to Cypriot reporters, Mr Poos said President Glafcos Clerides and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, who were present at the Luxembourg European Council, were "very happy with the solution decided, that Cyprus is among the six countries with which the EU will open negotiations in April".

Cyprus, he added, "has a true perspective to be a member of the EU".

Mr Poos further expressed the opinion that the whole of the island should be a member of the EU.

[06] Fifth European Conference on Mass Media Policy

Cyprus was represented by Minister of the Interior George Stavrinakis. The delegation included the Director of the Press and Information Office George Hadjisavvas and other senior officials.

The Cypriot Minister spoke to the Conference on the effects of the new communication technology on human rights and democratic values.

[07] Consumer price index for November, 1997

The average rate of increase of the Index for the last twelve months (i.e. December 1996 - November 1997) compared to the preceding twelve months was 3,49%.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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