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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 04-02-12
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Thursday, 12 February 2004 Cyprus talks to continue today at UN
[02] US remains committed to supporting UN SG's efforts
[03] Cyprus' first Commissioner meets Romano Prodi
[01] Cyprus talks to continue today at UN
Talks in New York hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan
to reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of his peace plan
will continue for a third day today at 3 p.m. local time. Yesterday's
meeting between the Secretary-General, the President of the Republic Mr
Tassos Papadopoulos and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash ended
after about 90 minutes. That was the second joint meeting of the Secretary-
General with the Cyprus leaders. In statements to the press after the
meeting yesterday, President Papadopoulos said the Greek Cypriot side had
proposed to the Secretary-General the direct involvement of the European
Union in the peace process. Invited to explain what that involvement
entailed, Mr Papadopoulos noted, "There will be deliberations between Mr
Annan and the EU and they will submit proposals".
President Papadopoulos expressed hope that the Greek Cypriot side's
proposal would be accepted by the Secretary-General. Asked to say whether
there was a possibility for progress at the talks, the President replied,
"If the Secretary-General finally decides, on the basis of the proposals
submitted by the two sides, to call for talks, then surely he assesses that
there is a possibility for a solution. We will see tomorrow [today]."
The Secretary-General's Spokesman, Mr Fred Eckhard, said yesterday that Mr
Kofi Annan had asked for the help of the three guarantor states - United
Kingdom, Greece and Turkey - to put pressure on the parties "to negotiate
seriously their differences and come to an agreement that can be put to
simultaneous referenda on the two sides of the island by 1 May". He further
said that representatives of the three guarantors were "in the wings of
these talks" and prepared to help as required. Asked to predict whether the
talks would conclude yesterday, Mr Eckhard said that would probably be the
Secretary-General's preference, although anything was possible.
"If it goes well, and the talks are then to move to the 'nuts-and-bolts'
phase under Alvaro de Soto, we will have to see where they announce that
next phase of discussions will take place", he added. Invited to say if Mr
Annan had any conditions for continuing the Cyprus talks, the UN spokesman
said, "I don't think we want to say that he has conditions other than his
plan that is on the table, and he has already said that should the two
sides agree on changes to that plan, he is ready to make those changes. So
it is really up to the two sides to come up with a common platform for the
referenda. That is what he is trying to facilitate".
Earlier yesterday, President Tassos Papadopoulos had a meeting with the US
State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Mr Thomas Weston.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Weston said he would not comment on whether
he was optimistic or pessimist about the outcome of the talks before the
afternoon joint meeting of the Secretary-General with the two leaders.
Asked if the Greek Cypriot side was cooperating at the talks, he pointed
out that he had just had a very useful discussion with the President but
"it is all dependent on the Secretary-General's estimation on the degree of
cooperation which he is getting from the two sides". He also noted, in
response to a question, that Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell was having
contacts with all interested parties.
[02] US remains committed to supporting UN SG's efforts
"Secretary Powell has consistently been involved in supporting the
Secretary-General's efforts to bring about an agreement and a referendum on
Cyprus. And he will continue to work in close cooperation, coordination
with the Secretary-General in order to help him as he tries to bring and we
all try to bring the two parties together to reach a settlement", US State
Department's Deputy Spokesman Mr Adam Ereli said during yesterday's foreign
press briefing in Washington D.C. Mr Ereli further noted that Mr Powell had
spoken yesterday about Cyprus with Turkish Foreign Minister Mr Abdullah Gul,
Greece's Foreign Minister Mr George Papandreou and UN Secretary-General Mr
Kofi Annan. "As part of his conversations, Secretary Powell reiterated our
encouragement for all the parties to do everything possible to support the
good offices mission of the Secretary-General, and underscored the
importance of reaching a settlement and allowing a untied Cyprus to join
the EU on May 1st", he added.
[03] Cyprus' first Commissioner meets Romano Prodi
The Minister of Finance and Cyprus' first EU Commissioner, Mr Markos
Kyprianou, met yesterday in Brussels with the European Commission President,
Mr Romano Prodi. In statements after the meeting, Mr Kyprianou said he had
a very good meeting with Mr Prodi, during which they discussed procedural
matters and issues of substance regarding the incorporation of the ten new
Commissioners in the College of European Commissioners.
Mr Kyprianou further noted Mr Prodi's interest in the Cyprus problem and
the efforts for a settlement currently underway in New York. "It is clear
that the EU wants, as well as we do, a solution to the Cyprus problem the
soonest and if possible, before the 1st of May", he added.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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