Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-10-21

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

Monday, 21 October 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides satisfied over Athens meetings
• [02] House President says Greek and Turkish Cypriots can live together in harmony
• [03] Fischer: Cyprus' EU membership will act as a catalyst for solution
• [04] Finnish FM: there is a historic opportunity for a solution to Cyprus problem
• [05] Cyprus expresses gratitude to Irish people
• [06] Cyprus' Government opposes reproductive human cloning

[01] President Clerides satisfied over Athens meetings

Speaking to the press, at Larnaca airport, after his arrival from Athens on Saturday evening, Mr. Clerides said that two issues were discussed at his meetings with the Greek government, namely, "our course towards the EU - as we are now at the final phase - and of course the Cyprus problem and the various possible scenarios", adding that "we reached unanimous decisions".

Asked whether Cyprus' accession course would be obstructed, the Cyprus President replied that he did not think obstacles would be raised, adding, "if obstacles do appear, they will not only be for Cyprus".

Asked about the Turkish side's reaction to a possible solution plan, the President said he did not receive any information from his meeting with the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Mr. Alvaro de Soto, after the latter's return from Ankara, adding that, from what Mr. de Soto had told him, it seemed that the Turkish side was insisting on its positions and that no convergence of views was evident.

Invited to say whether the Secretary-General had given any indications as to when he would submit his proposals, Mr. Clerides noted that Mr. Annan was considering the period after the 15th of November. However, he underlined that the Secretary-General had not decided yet if a plan would be submitted, as he would wait and see what government would be formed after the November elections in Turkey.

Asked whether the Greek Cypriot side would discuss any plan put forward by the UN, Mr. Clerides replied, "we will first look at it to decide if there are issues to be discussed or not".

On the content of a possible solution plan, he noted: "one should have in mind that a plan will include elements that we might not like and this is logical, without knowing what these elements will be", emphasising that such a plan would require tactful handlings. At the same time, he added, "I don't think that the Secretary-General would satisfy the positions of either side as a whole".

[02] House President says Greek and Turkish Cypriots can live together in harmony

The House President welcomed his Austrian counterpart to the mixed village of Pyla, which he described as the true Cyprus, since here, Greek and Turkish Cypriots live peacefully together. Mr. Christofias pointed out that in this community Greek and Turkish Cypriots have managed to live in harmony, resolving all the minor problems that appear from time to time. The Cyprus Government will do its best so that the whole of Cyprus can be reunited under a bizonal, bicommunal federation, where the human rights of both the Greek and Turkish Cypriots can be safeguarded, he said.

Finally, the House President expressed the belief that Cyprus' and Turkey's accession to the European family offered an opportunity for the two countries and Greece, which was already an EU member, to put an end to hatred and suspicion and to live peacefully in conditions of security, peace and prosperity.

For his part, Mr. Fischer congratulated the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot inhabitants of the village for successfully managing to coexist, proving that the two communities of Cyprus can live peacefully together.

Stressing that international problems can only be resolved peacefully, he appealed to the two communities to continue to work towards promoting common understanding and mutual respect between them.

[03] Fischer: Cyprus' EU membership will act as a catalyst for solution

Mr. Fischer added that if Turkey was interested in joining the EU, it was aware that some problems needed to be resolved before its EU membership could be considered.

He also made reference to the positive results of the Irish referendum, noting that "now, the enlargement process will go on" and that "we will greet Cyprus as a member of the European family according to schedule".

The Austrian official also met with the Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides, on Saturday.

[04] Finnish FM: there is a historic opportunity for a solution to Cyprus problem

"During my contacts in Cyprus, I reassured my fellow conversers that Cyprus is a country which is ready to accede to the EU and that there is for this country a historic window of opportunity for the solution to the Cyprus problem. The following weeks and months will be decisive and the message that I have brought to Cyprus and to all those concerned, is that the two sides should not let this window of opportunity to close, since I do not foresee any better opportunity than this in the near future."

Mr. Tuomioja, also said that during his contacts in Cyprus he discussed the efforts of the UN Secretary General to submit proposals at the negotiating table, which would be accepted by both sides.

"Of course, it depends on Mr. Annan to decide when he will submit these proposals to the two sides and, certainly, he will not do this unless he has solid evidence that his proposals will be acceptable to both sides", he added.

Mr. Tuomioja, pointed out that it would not make sense for Mr. Annan to simply submit certain proposals which would be rejected.

"We are all currently intensifying our efforts for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem", he concluded.

[05] Cyprus expresses gratitude to Irish people

One more obstacle has been overcome and the final decision to be taken in Copenhagen is now closer to us. We continue our efforts for accession firmly and earnestly, hoping that through our hard work and correct policy, Cyprus will soon realise its dream and become a member of the EU.

[06] Cyprus' Government opposes reproductive human cloning

At the national level, Ambassador Jacovides noted, Cyprus has already adopted binding legislation "endorsing the 1998 First Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Biomedicine, which prohibits the cloning of human beings for reproductive purposes".

"At the international level, we take into full consideration the relevant existing international instruments and the contributions of UNESCO, WHO and the UN Commission on Human Rights", Cyprus' UN Representative added.

He also expressed the Cyprus Government's support in the "step-by-step approach that would address, as a matter of priority, the elaboration of an international convention which would ban the reproductive cloning of human beings, thereby confirming the universal attitude of the international community that the reproductive cloning of human beings is not only unethical but also illegal".

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

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