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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-01-19Cyprus 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/>Friday, 19 January 2001CONTENTS[01] US will remain engaged in the search for a Cyprus settlement"I think the Cyprus issue is very important, it has been a problem that has been lingering, festering as a sore in that region and as an irritation between those two countries most concerned with it, Greece and Turkey," the new US Secretary of State, General Colin Powell stated on 17 January, at the Confirmation Hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.Replying to questions, the Secretary of State said that the US government would remain engaged in the search of a Cyprus settlement. "We will support the UN Secretary General's actions. We will encourage both parties to come to these proximity talks", he said. Mr Powell said he understood the differences of view that exist between Greece and Turkey and expressed the hope that his country can play a useful role. "We hope we can play a useful role, since we have friendly relations with both of those nations, and encourage them to not only support the process but to encourage Mr Denktash to engage as soon as he possibly can," he added. [02] Belgian State Secretary expresses satisfaction with progress in Cyprus- EU accession negotiationsThe Belgian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Annemie Neyts, who arrived on the island for a day visit, said yesterday that Cyprus' accession negotiations with the European Union are proceeding smoothly and Cyprus is making good progress."We are satisfied that lots of progress has been made and Cyprus has made great efforts in order to transpose in its legislation and its regulations the bulk of the acquis communautaire", she said. She noted however, that there still remains some work to be done. Speaking after official talks with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Mrs Neyts said that she visited the island in view of her country's taking over the presidency of the European Union in July 2001. She also said that with her Cypriot counterpart they discussed the Cyprus EU accession negotiations as well as the Cyprus problem. Mrs Neyts expressed concern over the fact that the proximity talks had not continued and seemed unlikely to be taken up again very soon. She also said that she would be meeting Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus, to find out the reasons why the peace talks could not continue. Belgium is the living proof that institutional arrangements can be found to accommodate the different, sometimes opposing or contrasting aspirations of different communities, she said. [03] Italian Under-Secretary of State arrives in Cyprus for official visitThe Head of Cyprus' European Union negotiating team, Mr George Vassiliou, had a meeting yesterday with Italian Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Umberto Ranieri, who arrived on the island for a two-day official visit.Speaking after the meeting, Mr Vassiliou said that Mr Ranieri expressed satisfaction with the progress made by Cyprus so far in closing various chapters of the acquis communautaire. He said that they exchanged views on the possibility of co-operation on third pylon issues such as money laundering and illegal immigrants and that Mr Ranieri assured him that Italy supports the Cyprus Government's efforts towards accession to the European Union and is ready to assist Cyprus on the technical level as well. 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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