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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-09-02Cyprus 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/>Monday, 2 September 2002CONTENTS[01] French FM: EU prefers the accession of a reunited CyprusFrench Foreign Minister Dominique de Villapin, speaking at a press conference on Saturday at Helsingor, Denmark, reiterated the European Union's commitment to keep to the enlargement timetable.Mr Villapin noted that the EU would determine the list of candidate countries, capable of concluding accession negotiations by the end of this year, during the informal European Council in Brussels at the end of October. He also said that the political commitment of the EU "15" to allow the candidate countries to participate in the 2004 European Parliament elections, as new member states, remained. With regard to Cyprus, the French official said that the EU member states support UN efforts for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem and that they would prefer a reunited Cyprus to join the EU. The informal meeting at Helsingor took place on 30 and 31 August 2002 and was at the Foreign Ministers' level. It has become an established tradition to have such an informal ministerial meeting during each EU Presidency. [02] President Clerides meets UN special adviserThe President of the Republic, Mr Glafcos Clerides, met with the UN Secretary-General's special adviser on Cyprus, Mr Alvaro de Soto, on Friday morning. Present at the meeting were Attorney General, Mr Alecos Markides, and Under Secretary to the President, Mr Pantelis Kouros.Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mr de Soto was asked whether he and the President discussed the agenda for the Paris meeting on 6 September 2002. The UN official replied that the agenda was already prepared. [03] Defence Minister optimistic about restoring status quo at PylaCyprus Defence Minister, Mr Socratis Hasikos, expressed optimism that the status quo at the mixed village Pyla would be restored soon."The Cyprus Government and the United Nations have taken all necessary measures, and we hope that the status quo will be restored soon", Mr Hasikos noted. The status quo was violated when the occupation forces constructed a wall near a Turkish military observation post, overlooking the village. [04] Cabinet approves shipping agreement with SloveniaThe Council of Ministers, during its meeting on 28 August 2002 chaired by President Clerides, has approved a commercial shipping agreement between Cyprus and Slovenia and has authorised the Minister of Communications and Works or the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to sign it.The agreement provides for: a) The equal treatment of vessels of one country, when docked in the ports of another, with respect to the services offered, excluding some activities to be decided by the national authorities. b) The mutual recognition of each country's ship certificates and the certificates and identity documents of seamen. c) The limitation of delays and the simplification of the relevant procedures. d) The assistance and offering of help in the event of an accident at sea. 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 |