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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-04-17
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Thursday, 17 April 2003 Cyprus signs EU Accession Treaty - Treaty
Protocol says acquis suspended in areas not controlled by Government
[02] President Papadopoulos' statement to the press
[03] Greek Premier calls 16 April a "historic day" for Europe
[04] EU Ambassador says Cyprus' role as EU member is crucial
[05] US Ambassador congratulates Cyprus on signing of Accession Treaty
[06] EU calls on Turkey to reconsider its position on Cyprus problem
[01] Cyprus signs EU Accession Treaty - Treaty Protocol says acquis
suspended in areas not controlled by Government
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, and the
Foreign Minister, Mr Georgios Iacovou, signed yesterday afternoon in Athens
the Treaty of Accession of Cyprus to the European Union. The Protocol on
Cyprus, attached to the Treaty of Accession, provides for "the suspension
of the application of the acquis in those areas of the Republic of Cyprus
in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise
effective control". It adds that in the event of a settlement of the Cyprus
problem, "the Council, acting unanimously on the basis of a proposal from
the Commission, shall decide on the adaptations to the terms concerning the
accession of Cyprus to the European Union with regard to the Turkish
Cypriot community". The Protocol reaffirms the contracting parties'
"commitment to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, consistent
with relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and their strong
support for the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to that
end." It further notes that "the EU is ready to accommodate the terms of a
settlement in line with the principles on which the EU is founded", and
expresses the EU's desire that Cyprus' accession to the Union "shall
benefit all Cypriot citizens and promote civil peace and reconciliation."
It is also mentioned that nothing in the Protocol shall preclude economic
measures for the areas not controlled by the Cyprus Government, and that
such measures shall not affect the application of the acquis communautaire
under the conditions set out in the Accession Treaty in any other part of
the Republic of Cyprus. Also attached to Cyprus' Treaty of Accession to the
EU is the Protocol on the Sovereign Base Areas of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Cyprus, which states that the
Accession Treaty shall not apply to the British Sovereign Bases of Akrotiri
and Dhekelia in Cyprus, except to the extent necessary to ensure the
implementation of agreed arrangements set out in the Protocol.
[02] President Papadopoulos' statement to the press
"I consider this day historic, perhaps the most significant following
Cyprus' independence. We express gratitude to Greece and the European Union
which helped towards the accession of Cyprus. We expect that small Cyprus
will make its own contribution towards the prevalence of the acquis
communautaire", the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos
Papadopoulos, said in his statement to the press following the signing of
the Accession Treaty. Asked, during a joint press briefing of the EU
Presidency and the ten acceding countries, to say what message he would
convey to the Cyprus people, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,
President Papadopoulos cited his speech made earlier at the signing
ceremony, noting, "We would like both communities, within the framework of
a unified Cyprus, to benefit from the advantages of EU accession. We will
make every effort towards a resumption of the talks for the attainment of a
peaceful, functional and viable solution of the Cyprus problem."
[03] Greek Premier calls 16 April a "historic day" for Europe
The Greek Prime Minister and President of the European Council, Mr Costas
Simitis, called the 16th of April a "historic day", as it marked the
reunification of the European continent on the basis of peace, creation,
cooperation and solidarity. In his speech at the Accession Treaty signing
ceremony yesterday, Mr Simitis pointed out that the achievement of
reunifying Europe and widening the EU created some new obligations and
challenges, particularly in the areas of defence and external relations,
and social policy. Furthermore, speaking at a press conference after the
signing ceremony, the Greek Premier said that he planned to visit all the
24 countries which would be participating in the June European Council,
including Cyprus. In Cyprus, the first stop of his EU tour, Mr Simitis
would be discussing matters pertaining to the June Summit as well as recent
developments. Asked by a journalist to say whether he had any package to
present to Turkish Cypriots during his visit to the island, he replied, "I
don't really have anything to offer to the two communities. I am the
President of the European Union. The EU has defined its policy. It has
announced what arrangements it will make in order to bolster the Turkish
Cypriot community, and it has also defined a percentage of resources to be
allocated to the Turkish community, and this procedure will continue."
[04] EU Ambassador says Cyprus' role as EU member is crucial
The Head of the European Commission's delegation to Cyprus, Ambassador
Adriaan van der Meer, expressed the position that Cyprus' entry to the EU
would add "a new focus" and "a new geographic dimension" to the Union,
adding that "Cyprus' role is crucial". Speaking during a special ceremony
of the Nicosia Municipality yesterday, on the occasion of the signing of
Cyprus' Accession Treaty in Athens, Mr van der Meer stressed that Cyprus
would soon participate with equal rights and equal obligations in the EU's
decision-making process. On the Cyprus problem, the EU official said that
the EU strongly supported the continuation of the UN Secretary-General's
Good Offices mission with a view to reaching a lasting settlement on the
basis of the Annan Plan, noting that "there is still more than one year
before accession and the EU trusts that a settlement can be reached before
that date". "The EU will do all it can to support projects in Cyprus that
will further build trust and common understanding between the communities",
he further said, adding, "We will accelerate our activities where
possible".
[05] US Ambassador congratulates Cyprus on signing of Accession Treaty
The US Ambassador to Cyprus, Mr Michael Klosson, conveyed the following
congratulatory message yesterday to the Cyprus Government, upon the signing
by the Republic of Cyprus of its EU Accession Treaty:
"I want to congratulate the government of Cyprus on its signature today of
the EU accession treaty. The United States has long been supportive of
Cyprus's aspirations to join the European Union. With the signing of the
treaty in Athens, that dream moves toward reality. The United States had
hoped that the UN Secretary General's efforts to reach a just and durable
settlement would have led to the signature of the accession treaty by a
unified Cyprus. We regret that this, despite strong efforts by the UN
Secretary General, the United States and other members of the international
community, proved not possible for reasons cited by the UN Secretary
General. The people of the United States and Cyprus benefit from our
countries' rich and multi-faceted relationship, supported by strong
economic, commercial, cultural, educational, social and political ties.
Today, as Cyprus prepares to join the EU, the relationship between our two
countries will become even more wide-ranging. The U.S. looks forward to
expanding our dialogue with the Republic of Cyprus to include issues
related to its membership in the EU. We look forward to deepening our
cooperation even further."
[06] EU calls on Turkey to reconsider its position on Cyprus problem
The European Union, in its joint position on EU-Turkish relations presented
at the 42nd meeting of the EC-Turkey Association Council, in Luxembourg
last Tuesday, stated the following on Cyprus [para 21]: "With respect to
Cyprus, the European Union deeply regrets that the efforts of the UNSG to
find a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem have failed. The EU
strongly supports the continuation of the Secretary General's mission of
good offices and of negotiations on the basis of his proposals. It urges
all parties concerned to spare no effort towards a just, viable and
functional settlement and, in particular, the Turkish Cypriot leadership to
reconsider its position. In line with the priority included in the
Accession Partnership, the EU expects Turkey to lend effective support to
these efforts. The EU recalls that the European Council at its meeting in
Brussels on 20/21 March reaffirmed its decision taken at Copenhagen with
regard to Cyprus' accession to the EU."
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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