Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-01-16

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

Wednesday, 16 January 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] Face to face talks on the Cyprus problem begin today
• [02] President Clerides meets with Alvaro de Soto
• [03] British Minister for Europe urges parties to work for a settlement in Cyprus
• [04] European Parliament President: time for reconciliation in Cyprus has come
• [05] Fred Eckhart: "Small window of opportunity" on Cyprus
• [06] US pleased that the talks continue to move forward

[01] Face to face talks on the Cyprus problem begin today

[02] President Clerides meets with Alvaro de Soto

Speaking after the working breakfast, the Government Spokesman Mr Michalis Papapetrou said that there would be no other meetings between President Clerides and the UN envoy prior to Wednesday's talks.

Replying to questions Mr Papapetrou said that President Clerides would be accompanied to the talks scheduled to start at 10.00 am by the Attorney General of the Republic Mr Alecos Markides, the Government Spokesman and the Under-Secretary to the President Mr Pantelis Kouros.

Asked whether there were any differences on issues of substance, Mr Papapetrou replied negatively, adding that substantive procedural issues would be addressed on Wednesday.

The Spokesman made it clear that the talks are taking place within the framework of the Secretary General's good offices mission and they begin after an invitation by the Secretary General. This is the usual role the UN play, he said, adding that they will play this role in the best and most productive way.

Invited to comment on recent statements by Mr Denktash, Mr Papapetrou said that the objective is for Denktash to be constructive and positive at the talks, in which case the Greek Cypriot side would be satisfied.

[03] British Minister for Europe urges parties to work for a settlement in Cyprus

According to a brief press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, "Mr Hain welcomed the decision taken by the two leaders to begin direct talks on 16 January in Cyprus under the auspices of the United Nations. He expressed the British Government's continued strong support for the efforts to secure a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus, and hoped that all concerned would participate in a constructive and flexible manner".

Speaking after the House of Commons meeting, Peter Hain said:

"These talks represent a real opportunity for all Cypriots and for all of us. I urge the two leaders to exert every effort to achieve a just and lasting settlement."

[04] European Parliament President: time for reconciliation in Cyprus has come

Asked if in his new capacity he intended to take any initiatives to assist the efforts for finding a solution of the Cyprus problem, Mr Cox referred extensively to the direct talks on Cyprus, from which many people have great expectations and expressed the hope that the time of reconciliation in Cyprus has come.

Mr Cox quoted Jean Monnet, one of the fathers of the European Idea, according to whom if you change the conditions then you also change the problem, and expressed the belief that the whole discussion on Cyprus' European Union accession had changed and was changing the framework and hopefully it would also change the problem.

Mr Cox said that his country's best relations with the United Kingdom had developed within the European Union, where the ground for reconciliation was cultivated. It would therefore be wonderful, he said, if the two men in Cyprus who carry the hearts and hopes of their communities would reach an agreement in this stage of the career and contribute, from Cyprus, to the renaissance of Europe through enlargement and the European ideal.

Referring to the Cyprus' adoption of the acquis communautaire, Mr Cox said that that was an easy task for Cyprus. The Cyprus EU Negotiator Mr George Vassiliou is the "Shumacher" of negotiators, and as in the case of Formula One, he is always in first position, he said.

The real difficulty, of course, is the challenge of the Cyprus problem, he said and expressed the hope that the time has come for peace and reconciliation.

[05] Fred Eckhart: "Small window of opportunity" on Cyprus

Speaking during his daily briefing on 14 January, Mr Eckhart said that it was no secret that this is a "major political pressure point" on the Cypriots to resolve their differences, "so that Cyprus could be accepted for membership in the European Union as a unified state".

The Spokesman said that direct talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders under the auspices of the Secretary-General's Good Offices Mission were scheduled to start in the UN Protected Area at 10.00 am, local time, on Wednesday.

He also referred to Monday's meetings the Secretary-General's Special Advisor for Cyprus Mr Alvaro de Soto had with President Glafcos Clerides and with Rauf Denktash.

Mr Eckhart said that Mr De Soto had said to journalists when he arrived on the island on 13 January, that he believed there were grounds for hope and optimism regarding efforts to find a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus. He also noted that the international community had been encouraged by recent developments in Cyprus, that he, himself was in Cyprus to help the two sides find a settlement and that he was ready to play a role in this context.

[06] US pleased that the talks continue to move forward

"I don't think I have anything new to say. We certainly have encouraged that process and we are pleased if they can continue to move forward in the rubric they have been using".

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

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