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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-06-19
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Thursday, 19 June 2003 President Papadopoulos departs for Thessaloniki
to attend EU Summit
[02] We still prefer the accession of a united Cyprus to the EU, says
Verheugen
[01] President Papadopoulos departs for Thessaloniki to attend EU
Summit
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, departed
today for Thessaloniki, Greece, to participate in the European Council
meeting and the EU - Western Balkans Summit, which will take place in
Chalkidiki on 19-22 June 2003. Accompanying the President are, inter alia,
the Foreign Minister Mr Georgios Iacovou and the Government Spokesman Mr
Kypros Chrysostomides. Mr Chrysostomides noted yesterday at the daily press
briefing that the President would hold meetings with EU heads of state, on
the sidelines of the Thessaloniki European Council, to discuss the Cyprus
issue. President Papadopoulos and the Cyprus delegation will return to the
island on Sunday.
[02] We still prefer the accession of a united Cyprus to the EU, says
Verheugen
"It is still our preferred option that Cyprus will join as a united Cyprus",
the EU Enlargement Commissioner Mr Gunter Verheugen stressed, adding that
"whatever happens, Cyprus will join". Speaking yesterday at a press
conference in Nicosia, prior to his departure for Brussels following a
three-day visit to the island, Mr Verheugen outlined the purpose of his
trip, which was to assess Cyprus' EU accession course, be briefed on the
latest political developments and discuss the European Commission's support
measures for Turkish Cypriots. Regarding his impressions from his visit,
the EU Commissioner referred to the "clear commitment" of the Cyprus
Government to resume the peace talks and reach a settlement on the basis of
the Annan plan. "The Cyprus Government shares the objective of the
accession of a united Cyprus and we share the opinion that the window of
opportunity is still open and should be used before the 1 May 2004", he
said. On his meeting yesterday with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr
Verheugen noted that Mr Denktash "repeated his well-known positions on the
Annan plan" claiming that the plan was not on the negotiating table.
On the European Commission's aid package to Turkish Cypriots, the EU
official said, "This is a way for the Commission to express its solidarity
with the Turkish Cypriot people and to make clear that Turkish Cypriots are
welcome in the EU", stressing at the same time that the only way for that
to happen was through a comprehensive settlement of the political problem.
He further said that Mr Denktash agreed on the financial part of the aid
package, but did not accept the proposed trade measures. Mr Verheugen
expressed regret that the entire package was not accepted and noted, "we
will put these measures in place, and it will be for the parties to use
them or not". Replying to a question on Turkey's EU accession course, he
underlined that Turkey would not be allowed to use Cyprus as a trade-off to
further its own accession, and added that it would be to Turkey's best
interest if a solution was found by 1 May 2004.
Replying to another question by a Turkish Cypriot journalist who mentioned
the argument that Cyprus could not join the EU under its 1960 Constitution,
Mr Verheugen said, "We have made our decision. Cyprus will join. If you
don't like it, go to the international court in The Hague and file a
complaint. This is a legal view that we do not share."
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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