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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-12-23
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Tuesday, 23 December 2003 President Papadopoulos accepts credentials of
new Ambassadors of Russia, Ukraine and Mexico
[02] Cyprus Government welcomes Libyan initiative to destroy mass
destruction weapons
[01] President Papadopoulos accepts credentials of new Ambassadors of
Russia, Ukraine and Mexico
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, received yesterday,
at separate formal ceremonies at the Presidential Palace, the credentials
of the new Ambassadors of Russia, Ukraine and Mexico to Cyprus. Presenting
his credentials, the new Russian Ambassador to the island, Mr Andrey
Alexecvich Nesterenko, praised the "strong and unshakable" ties between
Russia and Cyprus, which had been translated into mutual support and
effective interrelationship on many issues at various international fora
such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe. On Cyprus-EU
relations, the Russian Ambassador noted that his country "welcomes the
accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union and considers it
an important historic achievement which will open new possibilities for
further development of our bilateral relations as well as our relations of
partnership with the European Union". On the Cyprus issue, he said, "As a
permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia conducts an active and
consistent policy towards achieving a just, lasting and viable settlement
on the basis of the United Nations Security Council resolutions for the
benefit of all Cypriots - Greeks and Turks", and pledged that his country
would "continue its participation in international efforts to resolve the
deadlock and to resume meaningful and substantial negotiations within the
framework of the UN Secretary-General's mission of good offices entrusted
to him by the UN Security Council". Replying, President Papadopoulos
expressed gratitude for the support and solidarity of the Soviet Union and
later of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Cyprus since its
independence. "We highly appreciate this friendly attitude and believe that
it contributes a lot to the efforts of the international community to
achieve a viable and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of
the Security Council resolutions and international law", Mr Papadopoulos
added. Referring to the impasse of the UN Secretary-General's latest effort
for a settlement of the Cyprus problem due to Turkish intransigence, the
President pointed out that, despite that setback, he had reiterated on
several occasions - the latest being his letter to the Secretary-General on
18 December 2003 - his willingness to engage in meaningful and substantive
negotiations on the basis of the Annan Plan in order to achieve a
functional and viable solution, in accordance with the relevant UN Security
Council resolutions. Ukraine's new Ambassador to Cyprus, Mr Borys Humeninuk,
noted, presenting his credentials to President Papadopoulos, that Cyprus'
experience in preparing for EU accession could be very useful for his
country. Regarding the Cyprus issue, the Ukrainian Ambassador stressed that
his country supported a just settlement of the problem through political
means and on the basis of the provisions of UN Security Council resolutions
541 and 550. "The Government of Cyprus always can count on the support of
the Ukrainian Government for the peaceful settlement of this issue", he
added. Receiving the credentials, the President of the Republic noted that
the forthcoming formal accession of Cyprus to the European Union would
inevitably broaden the spectrum of bilateral relations.
Noting that Ukraine would soon be one of the new Eastern neighbours of the
EU, Mr Papadopoulos said that "as one of the new member states, Cyprus will
work in a positive and constructive manner with a view to shaping a more
stable and meaningful relationship of the EU with its Eastern European
neighbours, based on shared political and economic values and on the
respect of the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty and single
international personality". "We express our hope that a united Cyprus will
enter the European Union on the first day of May 2004", Mexico's new
Ambassador to the island, Mr Alejandro Diaz Perez Duarte, said, presenting
his credentials to President Papadopoulos yesterday. He added that a
"united Cyprus will send a clear message of peace to everyone" and called
upon Mr Papadopoulos to "count on Mexico to make every possible effort to
help you achieve your goal". Receiving the credentials, President
Papadopoulos said Cyprus and Mexico were linked by bonds of friendship and
cooperation, emanating from their common adherence to the values of freedom,
peace, democracy and the respect of human rights.
Referring to the island's formal accession to the EU, he noted that new
horizons for cooperation between the two countries would open. "Cyprus
looks forward to working within the framework of the EU-Mexico Global
Agreement and the opportunities provided by means of the EU-Mexico Summit
and EU-Mexico Joint Council meetings, to strengthen the Economic Partnership,
Political Co-ordination and Co-operation, also, on a bilateral level", Mr
Papadopoulos added. Regarding the Cyprus problem, the President referred to
the current impasse of the UN-led peace process, solely due to the
intransigence and unwillingness of the Turkish side, and noted, "We will
continue and even redouble our efforts in search of a functional and thus
viable solution to the Cyprus problem through meaningful and substantive
negotiations, which must be earnestly resumed, on the basis of the
Secretary-General's Plan".
[02] Cyprus Government welcomes Libyan initiative to destroy mass
destruction weapons
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued the following statement: "The
Government of the Republic of Cyprus would like to express its satisfaction
over the recent announcement by the Government of the Great Socialist
People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, concerning weapons of mass destruction.
This initiative by the Government of Libya is a positive development of
great significance and it is hoped that it will contribute to the stability
of the region. The Government hopes that the recent announcement would be a
strong impetus to other countries for disarmament and non-proliferation."
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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