Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 00-12-15

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Friday, 15 December 2000

CONTENTS

• [01] Foreign Minister expresses Government's satisfaction with Resolution 1331

[01] Foreign Minister expresses Government's satisfaction with Resolution 1331

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Kasoulides said that the Government is satisfied with the resolution because it is a repetition of resolution 1251 of June 1999.

He noted the importance of the special reference to resolution 1251 of June 1999, in which the Security Council reaffirms its position that a Cyprus settlement must be based on a single state of Cyprus, with a single sovereignty and international personality, and a single citizenship, in a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation.

He also noted that the Security Council, responding this time to the content of the UN Secretary-General's report, calls on the Turkish Cypriot side, and for the first time on the Turkish forces, to rescind the restrictions and restore the status quo ante at Strovilia, where the Turkish occupation forces moved forward of their ceasefire line.

Mr Kasoulides said that after the resolution, the Greek Cypriot side had no reason not to participate in the sixth round of UN-sponsored proximity talks on the Cyprus problem. "We believe that the talks must continue according to the rules that have been set by the relevant United Nations resolutions and the modalities which started in November 1999", he said.

"Our side will not accept or tolerate nor does it consider ethically or politically proper any effort to appease Mr Denktash if there are things that he does not like", he said. "There is no question of changing the basis of the talks", he added.

Mr Kasoulides underlined that the Greek Cypriot side has shown its good will so that the talks can proceed smoothly and noted that the international community acknowledges this, as well as the fact that any effort to change the rules, the form or the modalities of the talks is not politically or ethically acceptable.

Mr Kasoulides also expressed satisfaction with the results of the Intergovernmental Conference in Nice. He said that the Government had put forward similar written positions on the European Union's institutional reforms, during the Portuguese EU Presidency. "The acceptance that every member state must have its own Commissioner, at least until the members become 27, and the position that there must be a need for double majority voting for all the subjects for which a majority vote is required, is fair", he said.

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