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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-04-28Cyprus 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 UpdateTuesday, 28/04/98CONTENTS
[01] Cyprus government awaits specific indication for Turkish side's participation in talksGovernment Spokesman Christos Stylianides said that the government is awaiting US Presidential Emissary Richard Holbrooke's visit to Cyprus at the end of this week in order to see in a concrete and precise way what the Turkish stance regarding a return to the negotiating table is.Replying to questions during his press briefing yesterday, Mr Stylianides clarified that following the short meeting President Clerides had at Athens airport on 24.4.98 with US State Department Special Co-ordinator for Cyprus Tom Miller, Mr Clerides was not as pessimistic as before and was awaiting developments. The US official gave President Clerides the impression that the Turkish side will not insist on "recognition" of the Turkish Cypriot pseudostate in order to return to the negotiating table, Mr Stylianides said. "We are now waiting for the American side to give a specific indication that the Turkish side is ready to participate in negotiations, aiming at a bizonal, bicommunal federation in the framework of the intercommunal dialogue under the aegis of the UN", the Spokesman said. Replying to another question, Stylianides stressed that neither the US nor Britain have proposed to the Cyprus government any form of recognition of the pseudostate. [02] Turkey does not set "recognition" of pseudostate as a precondition for talksAccording to a Reuters report from Ankara yesterday, Turkey will not set the "recognition" of the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of Cyprus as a precondition for the resumption of intercommunal talks."I do not believe (recognition) should be considered as a precondition, but it is an important element", Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sermet Atacanli told a news briefing, Reuters reports. Atacanli nevertheless added that Turkey had not dropped demands that the regime be granted international recognition. [03] Cyprus Ambassador presents credentials to EU CommissionCyprus Ambassador Nicos Agathocleous yesterday presented his credentials to the Commission of the European Union.Mr Agathocleous' credentials were given on the occasion of the deliberations of the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg. On behalf of the EU Commission's Presidency, British Minister of European Affairs Doug Henderson assured Mr Agathocleous for the continuation of efforts in promoting Cyprus' EU accession process and in achieving progress in the Cyprus issue. [04] Greece not ready to approve EU funding for TurkeyGreece does not object to the convening of the EU-Turkey Association Council scheduled for 25 May 1998, but it continues to have reservations on the adoption by the European Council of a financial protocol for Turkey, given that Ankara has yet to make any move towards normalising relations with Greece, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said yesterday.Speaking at a press conference after the General Affairs Council which took place in Luxembourg yesterday, the Greek Foreign Minister explained that Turkey continues its provocative and expansionist policy and referred to the occupation of part of Cyprus and its stance on Imia. Moreover, Mr Pangalos also tabled to the Council a memorandum indicating that Turkey in a new provocation now challenges Greek sovereignty of four inhabited islands in the Aegean, namely Fournoi, Agathonisi, Farmakonisi and Pserimos. The Greek Minister stressed that his country is not ready to lift its veto over Turkey's funding from the EU. [05] Cyprus removed from "high risk" money laundering listFinance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou announced yesterday that Cyprus has been removed from the list of "high risk" money laundering countries.Speaking after a meeting with a committee of representatives of the Council of Europe (CoE), Christodoulou said a CoE Financial Action Task Force had evaluated the island's efforts on the problem and had decided to remove it from the list of high-risk countries. This had come about, he added, "as a result of important measures we have taken". Cyprus has ratified two international conventions on money laundering (Vienna & Council of Europe) and set up a special team to combat the crime. 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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