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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-09-17
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Wednesday, 17 September 2003 President Papadopoulos returns from
Athens
[02] Minister of Justice holds a press conference on implementation of the
measures for the Turkish Cypriots
[03] George Papandreou discusses Cyprus issue with Thomas Weston and
Condoleezza Rice
[01] President Papadopoulos returns from Athens
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, returned yesterday
from Athens, where he had held talks with the Greek Prime Minister, Mr
Costas Simitis, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Constantinos
Stephanopoulos, the President of the House of Representatives, Mr Apostolos
Kaklamanis and political party leaders. Speaking upon his arrival at
Larnaca Airport, President Papadopoulos noted that his meetings had focused
on two issues, namely, the Cyprus problem and Cyprus' participation in EU
affairs. Regarding the Cyprus problem, he said that he and his interlocutors
assessed the latest developments on the issue and discussed the positions
to be presented by the Greek side, and the Greek Foreign Minister in
particular, at the UN General Assembly in New York.
He added that an outline was prepared as regards actions to be taken by the
Greek side during the period leading to the so-called "elections" in the
Turkish-occupied areas of the island. On EU-Cyprus relations, President
Papadopoulos said he had discussed the possibility of Greece offering
assistance and support to Cyprus, in terms of technical knowledge and
expertise, to ensure Cyprus' effective participation in EU affairs.
Asked by journalists to comment on a statement by the UN Secretary-General
that he would not resume any new initiative on Cyprus unless the two sides
concerned would demonstrate their political will for a solution, Mr
Papadopoulos noted that Mr Kofi Annan had expressed the same position in
his report to the UN Security Council on his peace efforts in Cyprus. "This
has been his firm position since The Hague and it is included in the Report
he submitted to the Security Council", he added. The President reiterated
that the Cyprus Government accepted the UN Secretary-General's peace plan
as a basis for negotiations, and expressed the view that the proposed
amendments to the Annan plan would render it more functional and viable.
[02] Minister of Justice holds a press conference on implementation of the
measures for the Turkish Cypriots
The Minister of Justice and Public Order Mr Doros Theodorou held a press
conference yesterday on the progress of the implementation of the measures
that the Cyprus Government has introduced for the Turkish Cypriots. At the
beginning of his statement Mr Theodorou stressed that the entire international
community, the United Nations Organization, the European Union, the United
States and the Turkish Cypriot opposition have made it clear that they do
not accept the situation that has been created, as a result of the lifting
of restrictions on movement, as the solution to the Cyprus problem. He
pointed out the Cyprus Government has shown its good will to help the
Turkish Cypriots though the introduction of measures which aim at
developing relations between people and improving their living conditions,
on the basis of the laws and regulations of the Republic of Cyprus and the
European Union. The arguments of the Turkish Cypriot leader on the
impossibility of peaceful coexistence have been disproved and new
conditions have been created that must be taken into consideration in the
solution, he said. Referring to the implementation of the measures, Mr
Theodorou explained that some measures have been more successful than
others. Measures such as lifting of restrictions on the movement of persons
from and to the Government controlled areas are very successful he said,
adding that there is an increase in the movement of Turkish Cypriots, in
particular, mainly due to the relaxation of restrictions on the crossing of
motor vehicles. There is a great demand for the issue to Turkish Cypriots,
by the authorities of the Republic, of passports, identity cards, birth and
other certificates and official documents, he said. Moreover there is an
increasing demand for the use services such as hospitals, telecommunications
and Labour and Social Insurance offices. On the issue of employment Mr
Theodorou said a large number of Turkish Cypriots apply directly to the
private sector for finding employment, although applications to the
District Labour Offices are steadily increasing. Trade is one area where
there are still difficulties, the Minister said, mainly due to the fact
that the Turkish Cypriot leader refuses to accept the conditions, laws and
procedures of the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus. The Minister
noted that in the month of August six Turkish Cypriot companies were
registered with the Registrar of Companies and one Turkish Cypriot company
with the Registrar of Value Added Tax. In conclusion Mr Theodorou noted
that the Greek Cypriot side has been working on the implementation of
measures in relation to the de-mining of the buffer zone, the Turkish
Cypriot missing persons, the teaching of the Greek language to Turkish
Cypriots as well as the teaching of the Turkish language to Greek Cypriots
and the participation of Turkish Cypriots in European Union programmes.
[03] George Papandreou discusses Cyprus issue with Thomas Weston and
Condoleezza Rice
The Greek Foreign Minister Mr George Papandreou, who is currently in
Washington for talks, had a meeting yesterday with the US State Department
Special Coordinator for Cyprus Mr Thomas Weston. In a statement to the
press after the meeting Mr Weston said that with the Greek Foreign Minister
he had a constructive exchange of views on all issues related to the Cyprus
problem: "We had another very productive exchange on all the issues related
to Cyprus and the search for a settlement. We were able to discuss both his
recent visit to the island and his conversations there, we were able to
discuss the way ahead, in particular activities on the fringes of the
General Assembly meeting next week in New York. We were able to exchange
assessments on all elements of the Cyprus question as well as to discuss
associated issues going on the island. So, it was, as always is with the
Minister, a very full and good conversation. And I think, from my point of
view, we had a great coincidence of views not only in analysis on the
situation and on all these aspects but also the way ahead."
Mr Weston said the US has been working towards the recommencement of the UN
good offices mission "meaning a return to talks and the movement towards a
referendum in a time-scale that permits a settlement by May 1, by the
actual date of the accession of Cyprus to the EU". "Whether these talks
start now or after December, the important point is that they start in
sufficient time to permit a settlement by May 1,"' he added. Invited to
comment on the fact that the UN Secretary General had expressed regret, in
his annual report to the UN General Assembly, at the lack of progress on
Cyprus, the US diplomat said that Mr Annan was expressing regret that he
had not yet seen that necessary demonstration of political will by all the
parties involved. He said that the UN Secretary General "is very firm in
his position that the efforts, his good offices mission, would recommence
only when there has been a necessary expression of political will by the
Turkish Cypriot community leader, by the Greek Cypriot community leader,
and at a high political level of both Greece and Turkey." "That is a
position of course unanimously supported by the Security Council, certainly
supported by the United States," he added.' On his part Mr Papandreou said
that his impression from the meeting was that the US has the intention to
continue to contribute to the achievement of progress to the Cyprus problem,
based on the UN decisions. He also underlined that the solution of the
Cyprus problem remains a basic goal of the Greek foreign policy and that
there is now a momentum on this issue. He noted that Kofi Annan's plan
constitutes a basis for negotiations and that the solution of the Cyprus
problem and Turkey's position on the issue will be one of the basic
criteria for the evaluation of Ankara's European course, that will take
place December 2004. The Cyprus problem was also among the issues discussed
during a meeting between the US President's National Security Advisor Mrs
Condoleezza Rice and the Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou.
After the meeting Mr Papandreou made the following statement: "We had a
very good meeting with Condoleezza Rice and discussed a number of issues.
Obviously on our mind are a number of questions in our region, the hope
that he Cyprus problem can be solved and looking towards the future, when
Cyprus is becoming a member of the EU. We believe there is a chance for
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to live together under one roof in
Cyprus and within the EU. A solution which will be negotiated by Greek
Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots based on the Kofi Annan Plan, is desirable
and we do hope that the political will on all sides will exist, particularly
on the Turkish side and we discussed these developments." The Greek Foreign
Minister said that during his meeting with Mrs Rice they elaborated on
developments anticipated in the following months that will be important for
Cyprus because it will become a member of the European Union and the way
will be opened for new initiatives, once the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey
show the will for a Cyprus settlement. Mr Papandreou also said that he had
pointed out to Mrs Rice that the US constant solidarity with the UN efforts,
the US insistence for a just solution in the framework of the UN resolutions
is something that will substantially contribute to the settlement of the
Cyprus problem.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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