Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-01-17

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

Wednesday, 17 January 2001

CONTENTS

• [01] President presides over National Council meeting
• [02] Verheugen: it is illusory to think that northern Cyprus may join the EU as part of Turkey

[01] President presides over National Council meeting

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Government Spokesman, Mr Michalis Papapetrou said President Clerides briefed the National Council on his contacts with US Special Presidential Emissary, Mr Alfred Moses, Special Coordinator for Cyprus at the State Department, Mr Tomas Weston, and UK Special Representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, who recently visited Cyprus.

"The President also informed the Council on a number of letters he sent to the UN Secretary-General, the five permanent members of the Security Council, the President of the Security Council and the Prime Minister of Sweden, current President of the European Union, and on a number of actions and representations taken by the Government recently," he said.

Mr Papapetrou said that the National Council examined the situation and there was an exchange of views on current developments, especially after the unacceptable negative stand of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Denktash, who refuses to attend the proximity talks on a Cyprus settlement. It also discussed the Turkish threats to annex the occupied part of Cyprus to mainland Turkey. "The National Council confirmed the Greek Cypriot side's readiness to continue the proximity talks and calls on the UN Secretary-General to set a date for the resumption of the talks", he added.

Asked to comment on information that Mr Denktash is demanding from the Secretary-General to change the procedure of the talks, the Spokesman said: "The President of the Republic has outlined in a categorical manner to the diplomats who have recently visited Cyprus and to every direction, the position that our side will not tolerate any effort to appease Mr Denktash. The procedure and the rules of the game were not set by us and each player cannot change them to suit himself at any phase of the whole effort to solve the Cyprus problem."

[02] Verheugen: it is illusory to think that northern Cyprus may join the EU as part of Turkey

"I am worried about developments over Cyprus. Recent statements by Turkey's Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Rauf Denktash, the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, suggest that they are hardening their position," Mr Verheugen said.

It is recalled that the Turkish side has set as a condition for participating in the next round of UN-led proximity talks on a Cyprus settlement, the prior recognition of the illegal regime in the occupied area.

Mr Verheugen stressed that the "Commission is doing everything in its power, working hand in hand with the UN Secretary-General, to support efforts to resolve the conflict", and appealed to all concerned to work towards a solution.

Noting that the time factor is becoming acute, he added: "There are not going to be any separate accession negotiations with northern Cyprus and it is absolutely illusory to think that it might join the EU as part of Turkey".

Replying to journalists' questions, the European Commissioner expressed the view that the Cyprus-EU accession negotiations should facilitate the efforts for a Cyprus settlement. However, the solution of the Cyprus problem is not a precondition for Cyprus' accession to the EU, he added.

Referring to the Turkish threats to annex Cyprus' Turkish-occupied areas to the mainland, Mr Verheugen said that this would constitute an additional violation of international law, which is something that the European Union would not accept.

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

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