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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-09-30

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

  • [01]Tuesday, 30 September 2003 President Papadopoulos satisfied with contacts in New York
  • [02] Solution remains first priority of Cyprus Government, says Foreign Minister
  • [03] Belgian Foreign Minister supports Cyprus Government's positions on Cyprus issue
  • [04] Reception to be held on the occasion of Cyprus' Independence Day

    [01] President Papadopoulos satisfied with contacts in New York

    The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, returned yesterday from New York where he had attended the 58th UN General Assembly. Speaking at Larnaca Airport upon his arrival, Mr Papadopoulos told reporters that he was fully satisfied with his contacts with various officials, including the UN Secretary-General, held on the sidelines of the General Assembly. "I return home satisfied with my contacts and the messages conveyed to me by nearly all my interlocutors", he said. Mr Papadopoulos noted that he had reiterated the Greek Cypriot side's wish for a resumption of the UN-led peace talks the soonest possible and outlined the changes proposed so as to render the Annan plan functional and thus viable. Asked to say how the suggestion for changes on the Annan plan were received by his interlocutors, President Papadopoulos pointed out that "today, more and more persons involved in the peace plan acknowledge the need to introduce improvements to it", explaining that "when we talk about improvements, we are not referring to changing dates, since these have been outdated anyway, or completing the legal instruments of the common state to be established." "I believe that this position is becoming more and more acceptable and the next step is for us to be able to convince at the negotiating table, when the UN calls for a resumption of the talks, that the changes are needed to render Cyprus a constructive and useful partner in the European Union and not an outcast", the President added. On the UN Secretary-General's stance towards making amendments to his peace plan, President Papadopoulos said that Mr Kofi Annan's role did not allow him to express his views before the resumption of the talks. "I am however under the impression that we do have arguments and suggestions that are convincing", he noted. Invited to say whether any reference was made to the possibility of recommencing talks before December, Mr Papadopoulos stressed that none of the international mediators he had met expressed an expectation for a resumption of the negotiations before the so-called "parliamentary elections" in the Turkish-occupied areas of the Republic. Commenting on Mr Denktash's alleged intention to open the fenced-off area of Varosha, the President said the whole issue was used for propaganda purposes by the Turkish Cypriot leader and called on the media not to promote it further. "Since last May, when the first report on the issue was out, I met with political party delegates and the Famagusta Municipality and I have the impression that no sensible Greek Cypriot would go and live in Varosha, creating in that way a new wave of enclaved persons", Mr Papadopoulos concluded.

    [02] Solution remains first priority of Cyprus Government, says Foreign Minister

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Georgios Iacovou, has stressed that a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Annan plan remained the first priority of the Government of Cyprus, noting that the solution would have to comply with the relevant UN resolutions and EU principles. Speaking at the 24th Session of the Cyprus-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, held in Luxembourg yesterday, Mr Iacovou rejected claims that some Greek Cypriots did not seek a solution any more due to Cyprus' forthcoming accession to the European Union and underlined that the Government's primary goal was the accession of a reunified island to the EU in May 2004. He added that President Papadopoulos had stressed that in his speech on 16 April 2004 at the singing of the Treaty of Accession. Mr Iacovou pointed out that the negotiations for a settlement had not collapsed on 10 March but earlier, since the Turkish Cypriot leader was categorically stating that he rejected the Annan plan. "Mr Denktash continues to reject the Annan plan saying that it is dead and buried", he added. The Foreign Minister further said that since The Hague, Turkey and Mr Denktash had consistently tried to undermine the peace process, under the auspices of the UN, with proposals for negotiations outside the UN framework. He added that the Turkish side's intransigence had been escalating in the last few months, citing as examples the refusal of the illegal occupation regime in the north to reopen the Rizokarpaso High School, the expulsion of two Greek Cypriot teachers and their children from the occupied areas, and the signing of a so-called "framework agreement for a customs union" between Turkey and the occupation regime. As regards the December "elections" in the occupied areas, Mr Iacovou said that the issue of concern was the composition of the "electoral body", noting that the Turkish Cypriot voters were about 83.000 while the settlers had reached 150.000. "Consequently, isn't it legitimate to believe that the expected voting outcome has already been rigged through processes and plots of the Turkish side?" Mr Iacovou wondered.

    [03] Belgian Foreign Minister supports Cyprus Government's positions on Cyprus issue

    Foreign Minister Georgios Iacovou had a working breakfast yesterday in Brussels with his Belgian counterpart, Mr Louis Michel, with whom he discussed the latest developments on the Cyprus problem and assessed the potential role of the EU and Belgium in the efforts for a settlement. Speaking after the meeting, Mr Iacovou said he was very pleased with his meeting with the Belgian Foreign Minister, who supported the positions of the Cyprus Government on the Cyprus problem and noted the need for the European Union to form its own distinct policy on the issue. Other international matters were also discussed during the meeting, including the Middle East issue. The two Ministers agreed that a joint Cyprus-Belgian effort should be made to train Palestinians in various sectors such as the police force and medical care. Mr Iacovou travelled to Brussels to take part in the EU General Affairs and External Relation Council, which was held yesterday and mainly focused on preparing for the next Intergovernmental Conference beginning on 4 October 2003.

    [04] Reception to be held on the occasion of Cyprus' Independence Day

    On the occasion of the anniversary of Cyprus' Independence Day, the President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos and the First Lady, Mrs Fotini Papadopoulou, will host a reception at the Presidential Palace tomorrow, Wednesday, 1 October 2003, at 19.00-21.00. The reception will be open to all. No personal invitations have been sent.

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


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