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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-09-24
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Wednesday, 24 September 2003 "With Mr Denktash there is no hope of
finding a solution", says President Papadopoulos
[02] Foreign Minister continues meetings in New York on sidelines of UN
General Assembly
[03] Washington aims at Cyprus settlement prior to EU accession, says
Weston
[04] Italian EU Presidency makes reference to Cyprus at UN General
Assembly
[01] "With Mr Denktash there is no hope of finding a solution", says
President Papadopoulos
The President of the Republic Mr Tassos Papadopoulos has said that, with Mr
Rauf Denktash being the representative of the Turkish Cypriot community at
the peace talks, there was no hope of finding a solution to the Cyprus
problem, but underlined at the same time that the key to a breakthrough in
the efforts for a settlement was the Turkish government. Mr Papadopoulos,
who was speaking yesterday to Greek and Greek Cypriot media correspondents
and overseas media representatives upon his arrival in New York where he
will take part in the UN General Assembly and meet with, inter alia, the UN
Secretary-General, reiterated the Cyprus Government's strong interest in a
solution before the island officially joined the EU, on 1 May 2004. He also
stressed the readiness of the Greek Cypriot side to return to the
negotiating table without terms or preconditions at any time the UN
Secretary-General would request the resumption of the peace talks. Invited
to comment on a statement by the US State Department's Cyprus envoy, Mr
Thomas Weston, that the chances for a settlement would be fewer after 1 May
2004, Mr Papadopoulos said he disagreed since the solution of the Cyprus
problem was dependent solely upon Ankara's political will. Asked whether
there was contradiction between Mr Denktash's and Ankara's stance on Cyprus,
the President said that ''the stance of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf
Denktash does not contradict the stance of the Turkish government, on the
contrary all the official statements of the Turkish government coincide
fully and support fully the positions of Mr Denktash.'' President
Papadopoulos told reporters that during his meeting with the UN Secretary-
General, Mr Kofi Annan, he would discuss primarily the Annan plan as well
as specific aspects of the Cyprus problem such as the issue of the missing
persons, the living conditions of the enclaved and the Cyprus Government's
efforts for the destruction of landmines along the buffer zone. He further
said that on the fringes of the UN General Assembly he would hold a series
of meetings with heads of state and government to discuss the Cyprus
problem. Later yesterday, President Papadopoulos met with the Greek
Orthodox Archbishop of America Mr Demetrios, whom he briefed on the latest
developments in the Cyprus problem and in particular on the issue of the
missing persons. Tomorrow, President Papadopoulos will address the 58th
Annual UN General Assembly at UN Headquarters.
[02] Foreign Minister continues meetings in New York on sidelines of UN
General Assembly
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Georgios Iacovou, continued his
meetings yesterday in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General
Assembly. Mr Iacovou participated in a European Union meeting with Russia's
Foreign Minister, Mr Igor Ivanov, during which the situation in the Middle
East, Iraq and the Convention on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons
were discussed.
He also took part in a meeting of the 19 Foreign Ministers of small and
medium EU member states and acceding countries, which focused on issues
pertaining to the future European Constitution such as the role of the
proposed permanent presidency of the Union, the role and competences of the
EU Foreign Minister and the representation of member states to the European
Commission. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Iacovou met with his counterparts
from Switzerland and Iran, Ms Micheline Calmy-Rey and Mr Kamal Kharazzi
respectively. Mr Iacovou briefed the two Foreign Ministers on the latest
developments regarding efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem and
Cyprus' EU accession course.
The Swiss Foreign Minister referred to her country's contribution to the
efforts for a Cyprus settlement, with experts to assist the UN Secretary-
General, and conveyed Switzerland's willingness to continue to offer this
service if necessary. During his meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Mr
Iacovou outlined the Cyprus Government's positions on the Cyprus problem,
in view of the forthcoming Islamic Conference to be held in Malaysia.
Mr Iacovou also attended the opening session of the UN General Assembly
yesterday, which was addressed by the US President George Bush.
[03] Washington aims at Cyprus settlement prior to EU accession, says
Weston
The US State Department's Coordinator for Cyprus, Mr Thomas Weston, has
noted that the US government was still aiming at a Cyprus settlement before
Cyprus' accession to the EU on 1 May 2004, so that the solution could be
incorporated into the terms of accession and EU principles, and added that
that was a position shared by the international community. Speaking at an
event of overseas Cypriots held in Astoria, New York, on Monday evening and
organised by the Cyprus Federation of America, the International Coordinating
Committee - Justice for Cyprus, the Cyprus-American Chamber of Commerce and
Congressman Frank Pallone, Mr Weston told the audience that the US was
trying "to get to a position where all four parties would demonstrate the
necessary political will called for by the UN Secretary-General", noting
that "it is clear that effort has to be concentrated on Turkey and the
Turkish Cypriots". Referring to the mass demonstrations of the Turkish
Cypriot community in favour of a solution and EU accession, Mr Weston
wondered whether "that expression of political will on the part of the
large element of the Turkish Cypriots can be translated into the expression
of political will on the part of the community leader of the Turkish
Cypriots, which happens to be Denktash?" "I have no reason to believe that
that translation is likely to be forthcoming, hence there is great
importance in demonstrating that political will in another way which is in
terms of the elections which will take place in December", he added.
On the so-called "elections" in the Turkish-occupied part of the island, Mr
Weston noted, "illegal though they may be, they do represent the best
chance for an expression of Turkish Cypriot will, different from what has
been expressed by the Turkish Cypriot community leader". Regarding the
Annan plan, Mr Weston said it was not perfect but it was "carefully
balanced and you can even change it without upsetting that balance".
He further expressed the position that "there are clearly changes needed in
the Annan plan" such as dates and transition periods that had been designed
for different time periods, but "beyond that, anything can be changed by
mutual agreement in negotiations". Replying to questions, the US envoy said
that in his discussions with President Papadopoulos the latter had voiced
concerns on the functionality of the Cypriot State in a given solution, and
added that "those arguments sound reasonable".
[04] Italian EU Presidency makes reference to Cyprus at UN General
Assembly
Italy's Prime Minister, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, has made the following
reference to the Cyprus problem during his address before the UN General
Assembly yesterday in his capacity as EU President: "In accordance with the
conclusions of the European Council of Thessaloniki, the European Union
will continue to work tirelessly in support of the UN Secretary-General's
efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just, viable and functional solution to
the Cyprus problem, consistent with the relevant Security Council
resolutions. The European Union recalls its willingness to accommodate the
terms of a settlement in line with the principles on which the EU is
founded."
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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