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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 04-02-16
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 16 February 2004 Cyprus parties agree to resume direct talks in
Nicosia
[02] President Papadopoulos pledges to work hard for improvements on Annan
plan
[03] Europe welcomes resumption of Cyprus peace talks
[01] Cyprus parties agree to resume direct talks in Nicosia
Direct negotiations on the basis of the UN Secretary-General's plan for a
comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem will resume on Thursday, 19
February 2004, in Cyprus, according to a statement agreed upon by all
parties after three days of intensive talks at UN Headquarters in New York
last week. The full statement, read by the UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi
Annan at a press conference last Friday, is as follows:
"Negotiations resumed on 10 February at United Nations Headquarters in New
York between the two parties in Cyprus, in the presence of the Secretary-
General of the United Nations. Following three days of meetings and
consultations, the Secretary-General is pleased to announce that the
parties have committed to negotiating in good faith on the basis of his
plan to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem through
separate and simultaneous referenda before 1 May 2004. To this end, the
parties will seek to agree on changes and to complete the plan in all
respects by 22 March 2004, within the framework of the Secretary-General's
mission of good offices, so as to produce a finalized text.
In the absence of such agreement, the Secretary-General would convene a
meeting of the two sides - with the participation of Greece and Turkey in
order to lend their collaboration - in a concentrated effort to agree on a
finalized text by 29 March. As a final resort, in the event of a continuing
and persistent deadlock, the parties have invited the Secretary-General to
use his discretion to finalize the text to be submitted to referenda on the
basis of his plan. In addition, the parties have agreed on the other
suggestions contained in the Secretary-General's invitation of 4 February
2004. They have also decided to form a technical committee on economic and
financial aspects of implementation, to be chaired by the United Nations.
The guarantor powers have signified their commitment to this process and to
meeting their obligations under it. The Secretary-General welcomes these
commitments as well as the assurances of the European Union to accommodate
a settlement and the offer of technical assistance by the European
Commission. He looks forward to drawing on this assistance as well as that
of others in the course of the negotiations. The talks will re-convene in
Cyprus on Thursday, 19 February, with direct meetings between the two
parties in the presence of the Secretary-General's Special Adviser, Alvaro
de Soto. The technical committees on laws and treaties will re-convene on
the same day. The Secretary-General commends the constructive spirit and
political will displayed by both parties, as well as by Greece and Turkey,
to reach this agreement.
All concerned now face historic responsibilities to bring about just and
lasting peace in Cyprus. The Secretary-General wishes them well, and looks
forward to working closely with them."
[02] President Papadopoulos pledges to work hard for improvements on Annan
plan
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, has pledged to work
hard, in the next few weeks of intensive negotiations, to achieve
improvements on the Annan plan so that the solution found would be to the
best interest of the Cyprus people - Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
Speaking last Saturday upon his return from New York, President Papadopoulos
said the Greek Cypriot side had been called to give evidence of its
willingness to resume the process for a solution on the basis of the Annan
plan. He also said that the new round of direct talks, to resume in Cyprus
this coming Thursday, would be intensive and its outcome would depend
mostly on whether the Turkish side had changed its policy on Cyprus, namely,
if it pursued a solution so that a reunited Cyprus could accede to the EU
or if it still insisted on its long-standing policy for partition. Mr
Papadopoulos noted that the new and significant element in the forthcoming
round of talks was the participation of Greece, Turkey and the European
Union. "The role of the European Union has been significantly upgraded and
I have assurances both by Mr Verheugen [EU Enlargement Commissioner] and
the UN Secretary-General that the role of the EU would be continuous,
multifaceted and at all levels and steps of the negotiations", Mr
Papadopoulos said, noting Mr Verheugen's visit to the island one day before
the resumption of the talks in order to give "the message of the European
Union's great interest and involvement".
[03] Europe welcomes resumption of Cyprus peace talks
European Commission The European Commission has welcomed the commitment
made by the two sides in Cyprus to resume negotiations on the basis of the
Annan plan for a solution of the Cyprus problem.
According to a press release issued last Friday, "This historical
breakthrough opens up the genuine prospect that a united Cyprus could join
the European Union on the 1st of May 2004. It is the result of determined
efforts by the UN Secretary-General and all parties involved. The
Commission underlines the assurances of the European Union to accommodate
the terms of a settlement and will provide any assistance needed for a
successful outcome of the negotiations". In addition, European Commission
President Mr Romano Prodi has noted, "The Commission considers that the
chances for a comprehensive settlement have never been better. It would
bring to an end a division that has been there already for too long. There
is no place for barbed wires, minefields and peace-keeping forces in the
European Union". Presidency of the EU
Irish Prime Minister Mr Bertie Ahern, speaking on behalf of the Presidency
of the European Union last Friday, welcomed the announcement made earlier
that day in New York by the UN Secretary-General, with the agreement of the
parties involved, that negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the
Cyprus problem would continue in Nicosia from 19 February in the framework
of Mr Annan's mission of good offices. "The accession of a united Cyprus on
1 May remains the clear preference of the European Union. These negotiations
offer a real opportunity to achieve this historic objective. The Taoiseach
[Mr Ahern] reiterated the Union's readiness to accommodate the terms of a
settlement in line with the principles on which the EU was founded", the
Presidency statement on Cyprus said. United Kingdom
The British Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw has welcomed the news that
Cyprus talks would resume this week. Mr Straw's statement, made last Friday,
is the following: "I congratulate the parties on their agreement. I express
my special appreciation to the UN Secretary-General and his staff for their
tireless efforts. All have shown a degree of commitment to this process
which bodes well for the next phase. Accession to the EU by a reunited
island is what all Cypriots deserve".
France The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the following statement
last Friday regarding the resumption of the talks for a Cyprus settlement:
"Following three days of negotiations in New York on the Cyprus question,
the UN Secretary-General announced that an agreement had been achieved on
the process and timeframe for resuming talks. France welcomes this
significant progress. It welcomes the Secretary-General's efforts and the
good will shown by the parties in order to reach such an arrangement.
France encourages the parties to continue within this constructive spirit
with a view to reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question
before the 1st of next May". Germany
The German government has welcomed the agreement reached in New York for
resuming the Cyprus peace process. "The fact that the talks will be
conducted on the basis of the UN plan is due to the keen interest and
involvement of the UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan. In this way, the
accession of a united Cyprus to the European Union has made a big leap
forward", German Foreign Minister Mr Joschka Fischer noted in a statement
he made last Friday on Cyprus. "The Federal Government calls on all the
parties involved to work constructively for a just, balanced and functional
solution. The Federal Government remains willing to actively support the
good offices of the UN Secretary-General", Mr Fischer added.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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