Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-01-15

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

Wednesday, 15 January 2003

CONTENTS

• [01] "We are within striking distance of reuniting Cyprus", says UN Chief
• [02] Washington supports T/C demonstrations calling for peace
• [03] Greek Premier supports accession of reunited Cyprus to EU

[01] "We are within striking distance of reuniting Cyprus", says UN Chief

Asked to comment on the massive demonstration of Turkish Cypriots yesterday in occupied Nicosia calling for the resignation of their leader, Mr. Rauf Denktash, the UN Chief noted: "I am pleased that the people are out in the streets promoting peace, demanding peace and demanding unification", adding that "this is something that we have worked on very hard, and many people in the region had hoped for it".

With regard to UN efforts for resolving the Cyprus issue and whether a solution would be possible with Rauf Denktash as the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Mr. Annan said, "Obviously, it is up to the people to decide who their leader is and up to the leader to decide whether they persist or resign. But whether a leader resigns or stays on, I think the people are speaking, and it is very difficult not to listen to the people when they come out in those numbers".

He also urged the leaders to listen to the voices of the ordinary people "about their desire for peace" and said that he would leave "the future political plans up to the leader to decide".

He added that the UN was going to press ahead with the negotiations and that the deadline of 28 February was a firm one.

[02] Washington supports T/C demonstrations calling for peace

Asked to state Washington's official reaction to what seemed like "a popular move afoot on the Turkish Cypriot side", Mr. Boucher noted that "peace is a good thing, and people demonstrating in support of this opportunity to achieve peace are supporting the right thing".

The US Spokesman reiterated that the US was supporting the UN Secretary- General's efforts, within his Good Offices Mission on Cyprus, to reach a just and durable settlement "in a way that addresses the legitimate interests of both sides and of Greece and Turkey", adding that the UN revised plan currently on the table provided the basis for such a settlement.

"We believe a settlement in Cyprus can and should be achieved by February 28th", he stressed, calling on both sides to work with urgency "on the areas requiring immediate attention that were identified by the Secretary- General in his recent communications with the parties".

[03] Greek Premier supports accession of reunited Cyprus to EU

Mr. Simitis made the above statement in reply to an EUMP who supported that both the Greek and Turkish sides needed to deal with the issue of nationalism, in order for the reunification of the island to be possible.

The Greek Premier added that there had been "stupid" expressions of nationalism by both sides in the past, but definitely Mr. Clerides was not a supporter of such expressions.

Mr. Simitis, who was presenting the programme of the Greek Presidency of the EU at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, stressed that "it is now time for a solution", but added that if no solution was reached by 28 February, it could be reached at a later date. At the same time, he said, the main interest of all parties was the reunification of Cyprus, and the opportunity provided by the Annan plan should not be missed.

With regard to Turkey's EU accession course, the Greek Prime Minister noted that Greece was in favour of providing Turkey with a specific timeframe to begin accession negotiations, provided that it complied with the Copenhagen criteria. He added that Turkey should overcome its nationalistic ideology and make a positive contribution to the UN efforts for resolving the Cyprus issue.

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

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