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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-12-01
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 01 December 2003 President Papadopoulos departs for Rome
[02] Cyprus supports principle of equality of EU citizens and member states,
says Foreign Minister
[03] Imports and Exports statistics for January-June 2003
[01] President Papadopoulos departs for Rome
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, departed this
morning for Rome, where he will hold talks with the Italian Prime Minister,
Mr Silvio Berlusconi. Speaking upon his departure at Larnaca Airport,
President Papadopoulos said he would discuss with Mr Berlusconi issues
relating to the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), which he would raise at
the forthcoming Summit of Heads of State and Government, in Brussels on 12-
13 December 2003. He added that after Rome he would travel to Nigeria, via
London, where he would participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government
Summit. Mr Papadopoulos will return to Cyprus and depart for Brussels, on
the following day, to attend the EU Summit on the future European
Constitution.
[02] Cyprus supports principle of equality of EU citizens and member states,
says Foreign Minister
Cyprus attributes particular importance to the principle of equality of
both EU citizens and their member states, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mr Georgios Iacovou, has pointed out speaking, on Saturday, at the
"Conclave" of EU Foreign Ministers, held in Naples, Italy, in the framework
of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). The EU Foreign Ministers
examined the proposal of the Italian Presidency on the text of the future
European Constitution presented on 25 November 2003. Specific issues
discussed included, inter alia, the institutional framework of the Union as
regards the composition of the European Commission, the European Parliament
and the Councils, the competences of the European Foreign Minister, and
voting procedures. During his intervention, Mr Iacovou pointed out that the
principle of equality of not only the citizens but also of the member
states constituted the fundamental basis of Cyprus' positions on the issues
under examination. Within that framework, Mr Iacovou said Cyprus believed
that determining the use of qualified majority voting should be done in a
way that ensured the safeguarding of the interests of all member states,
equally and regardless of their size or population.
On the composition of the European Commission, he pointed out that Cyprus
insisted on the principle of 'one Commissioner per member state', with the
right of each Commissioner to vote. "Cyprus has repeatedly supported the
need to maintain this principle so that there is absolute equality in the
participation in EU deliberations", Mr Iacovou added. With regard to the
minimum level of representation at the European Parliament, the Foreign
Minister noted, "We insist on our position that the present system of
allocating seats and the existing minimum level of representation must be
maintained as they are defined by the Nice Treaty, so that small countries
like Cyprus do not lose one of their representatives." On the composition
and presidency of the Councils, Mr Iacovou said the compromising proposals
submitted by the Italian Presidency contained positive elements, noting
that Cyprus was flexible in resolving that issue, provided that equality,
effectiveness and the necessary coordination would be secured.
Regarding the Foreign Minister of the EU, Mr Iacovou said Cyprus fully
supported the indivisibility of the dual competence of that institution, so
as to ensure integrity and effectiveness. In another intervention, Mr
Iacovou referred to the provisions of the draft Constitutional Treaty
regarding the EU policy on regional and economic cohesion, and submitted a
proposal for incorporating a special reference on small island member
states of the EU, including Cyprus. The Foreign Minister indicated that
those states were vulnerable to various problems not faced by other EU
member states, adding that those problems should be taken into consideration
when preparing and implementing specific actions of the Union. The proposal
was supported by Malta.
[03] Imports and Exports statistics for January-June 2003
The Statistical Service of the Republic announces that it has just
published the report "Imports and Exports Statistics" for the period
January - June 2003, which is available from the Printing Office of the
Republic, in Nicosia, at the price of £4. The report provides detailed data
on imports and exports by commodity, quantity and value, as well as brief
tables with time series on the developments of Cyprus foreign trade.
More detailed data on Cyprus foreign trade is available at the Statistical
Service.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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