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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-11-04
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Tuesday, 04 November 2003 Jack Straw: Annan plan is the only realistic
basis for a settlement
[01] Jack Straw: Annan plan is the only realistic basis for a settlement
"The United Kingdom believes that the only realistic basis for a comprehensive
settlement is the UN Secretary-General's settlement plan and we are
encouraged that the Government of Cyprus supports a resumption of
negotiations on this basis", the British Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw
has noted. Speaking yesterday after a meeting with the Cypriot Foreign
Minister Mr Georgios Iacovou, who is paying an official visit to London, Mr
Straw said "this is a very important time for Cyprus, as it looks forward
to European Union accession in the spring of next year" and added that the
accession of a reunited island would be in the interest of all Cypriots, of
Turkey, of the EU and of the region as a whole.
Replying to a question on whether Britain could contribute towards a
solution by exerting influence over Ankara to convince it to change its
stance on Cyprus, Mr Straw pledged that his government would continue to
work "in that constructive way and in an active way as well" and expressed
hope for a settlement before 1 May 2004. On his part, Foreign Minister
Iacovou underlined that the Cyprus Government was strongly advocating the
idea of the accession of a reunited Cyprus to the EU, reiterating the
position that the Greek Cypriot side would agree to attend negotiations for
a settlement on the basis of the Annan plan whenever called for by the UN
Secretary-General. "It is a matter of regret for us that over so many
months the Turkish side has not indicated such willingness. On the contrary,
it is the well-known Mr Denktash who said that the Annan plan is 'dead and
buried'. We also have concerns about both public and private briefings by
the Turkish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister that seem to want to take
the negotiations outside the Mission of Good Offices of the Secretary
General. That we definitely shall resist", Mr Iacovou further said.
Invited to say whether any progress towards a solution was feasible while
Mr Denktash remained in power, Mr Iacovou pointed out that a new Turkish
Cypriot leadership was a necessary but not sufficient condition for moving
forward with a settlement, since a change in Ankara's stance was the key to
a solution. Replying to another question, Mr Iacovou said that the clock
was ticking for Turkey as a decision would be made by the end of 2004 on
whether to grant Ankara a date for commencing EU accession talks. Although
the solution of the Cyprus problem was not a precondition for Turkey's
accession to the EU, it was a political criterion that would be assessed in
tandem with other criteria, the Foreign Minister noted and warned that not
finding a solution to the Cyprus problem by May 2004 would bear "serious
ramifications" on Turkey's EU accession course. As regards the issues
discussed during his meeting with the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Iacovou
said these included the Cyprus problem, matters of bilateral interest such
as the discussion on a European Constitution currently taking place in the
framework of the Intergovernmental Conference, and the latest developments
regarding the Titina Loizidou case. Earlier yesterday, Mr Iacovou held a
meeting at the Foreign Office with the British Minister for Europe, Mr
Denis MacShane.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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