Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-07-25

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

Thursday, 25 July 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus condemns deadly Israeli air attack in Gaza
• [02] Presentation of Credentials
• [03] Miller: US is focusing on efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem

[01] Cyprus condemns deadly Israeli air attack in Gaza

"The Government categorically condemns yesterday's attack by Israeli forces against civilians, which resulted in the death and wounding of a large number of people, among whom were a lot of children. The excuse that the target of the attack was the leader of a military organisation, does not at all diminish our opposition and condemnation, because no objective can justify blind attacks against populated areas and entire buildings inhabited by civilians. In the same way that the Government condemned terrorist attacks against innocent Israeli citizens in the past, it does not hesitate to condemn, with doubled intensity, this attack, which does not come from a terrorist organisation but a state.

I would like to emphasise what Mr Solana said yesterday, while expressing his opposition and condemnation of this attack, namely, that Israel's attack occurs at a time when there were serious indications and signs that the attacks by Palestinian terrorist organisations were in the process of being dealt with, and this makes Israel's action particularly negative."

[02] Presentation of Credentials

The Croatian President noted that "both Croatia and Cyprus belong in the group of countries that will join Europe some day", which, he said, offered "good prospects for the cooperation and further development of mutual relations".

Finally, Mr Mesic availed himself of the opportunity to ask Mr Epaminondas to convey to President Clerides his "cordial greetings and wishes".

For his part, Mr Epaminondas referred to the good relations between the two countries and expressed certainty that they would develop even more, and serve the common interests of the two countries.

The Cypriot Ambassador assured Mr Mesic that President Clerides and the Cypriot Government would continue, in good faith, their efforts for "a total, just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, in accordance with human rights which will give Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots the opportunity to live peacefully in the land of their ancestors, in a united Cyprus".

[03] Miller: US is focusing on efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem

Mr Miller said that he and Mr Richard Holbrooke were among the first to believe that Cyprus' EU accession course would facilitate the solution of the Cyprus problem, a position he still maintains.

He also pointed to the fact that the decision for Cyprus' accession to the EU was to be made by the EU, rather than the US. The United States, he added, would focus its efforts on finding a solution to the Cyprus problem before accession.

The American official also referred to the important fact that Cyprus had closed almost all the chapters in the process of harmonising its legislation with the acquis communautaire.

Finally, he expressed the view that there was a way to find a solution that covered the needs and concerns of both sides.

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

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