|
|
|
Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 04-01-23
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Friday, 23 January 2004 Papandreou discusses Cyprus issue with British
Premier and Foreign Secretary
[02] UN Chief's reference to G/C side "positive", says Spokesman
[01] Papandreou discusses Cyprus issue with British Premier and Foreign
Secretary
The Cyprus problem was among the issues discussed in separate meetings of
the Greek Foreign Minister Mr George Papandreou with the British Prime
Minister Mr Tony Blair and the Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw in London
yesterday. Speaking after a meeting with the British Premier, Mr Papandreou
said there was an increased interest by the British government to resolve
the Cyprus problem and noted, "We are cooperating closely on this issue and
we analysed the developments and parameters that will affect further
developments". "We all know that the new dynamic that has been created,
especially after Cyprus' accession to the European Union, must be utilised
and that there must be political will from all sides, especially the
Turkish side", the Greek Foreign Minister added. In statements after a
meeting with his British counterpart later yesterday, Mr Papandreou pointed
out that the prospect of EU membership had created a different context for
resolving long-standing conflicts. "Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots now
see a future under a common roof and within a European family, which means
abiding by rules, regulations and feeling protected and secure within this
wider European family. This, of course, has also been very important for
the whole region, but also for Greek-Turkish relations, where Turkey has
its prospects for beginning the accession negotiations and 2004 will be an
important year for this issue as well", he noted.
Mr Papandreou praised the close cooperation between the Greek and British
governments, especially with regard to the issue of Cyprus' EU accession,
and thanked the British Foreign Secretary for his government's support on
Cyprus On his part, Mr Straw expressed the view that everyone wanted a
solution before Cyprus would officially become an EU member state on 1 May
2004 and added, "As ever the question is on what terms that settlement
should take place, but our role and our duty is to assist the direct
parties to the negotiations to come to a settlement if that is humanly
possible". He also said that on Monday he would meet the Turkish Foreign
Minister Mr Abdullah Gul in Constantinople.
[02] UN Chief's reference to G/C side "positive", says Spokesman
The Government Spokesman, Mr Kypros Chrysostomides, noted that the UN
Secretary-General's recent statement on Cyprus contained positive remarks
about the Greek Cypriot side, saying it had already given optimistic
signals for the resumption of the talks for a settlement of the Cyprus
problem. "You must have seen the statements made by the UN Secretary-
General yesterday in which he refers in a positive way to the side that has
already given positive messages for the resumption of the talks, of course
he is referring to our side", Mr Chrysostomides said during yesterday's
press briefing. He then recalled that the President of the Republic, Mr
Tassos Papadopoulos, was the first one to send a letter, on 17 December
2003, calling on the UN Secretary-General to re-engage in the peace process
and to act accordingly so that substantive negotiations could resume.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
|
