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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 04-02-13
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Friday, 13 February 2004 UN-led talks for Cyprus settlement continue
for third day
[02] Pat Cox appeals to President Papadopoulos for successful talks
[03] CoE SG calls on Cyprus leaders not to miss historic opportunity for
solution
[04] CoE Commissioner releases report on human rights situation in
Cyprus
[05] EU citizens residing in Cyprus to register on electoral roll to vote
in Euroelections
[01] UN-led talks for Cyprus settlement continue for third day
Talks between the President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos and the
Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash, in the presence of the UN
Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan, continued for a third consecutive day
yesterday at UN Headquarters in New York, in a bid to reach a comprehensive
settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Annan plan before
Cyprus' accession to the European Union on 1 May 2004. The tripartite
meeting had initially been scheduled for 10 p.m. (Cyprus time) but started
two hours late after the Secretary-General held separate meetings with
President Papadopoulos and Mr Denktash. Following the joint meeting,
separate consultations of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot delegations
with the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser, Mr Alvaro de Soto, were
held, spilling into the early hours of today. According to the Cyprus News
Agency (CNA), President Papadopoulos noted, upon his departure from UN
Headquarters this morning after more than twelve hours of deliberations,
that the talks would resume today. In addition, the UN Secretary-General's
Spokesman, Mr Fred Eckhard, said yesterday that depending on the outcome of
the talks, "a decision will be made whether Mr de Soto will come down and
speak, whether he will come down with the representatives of the two
parties, and whether the Secretary-General would join that party".
Mr Eckhard revealed that Wednesday's meeting was more positive than
Tuesday's one. He also said that once the UN Secretary-General was
convinced that the two sides were serious about reaching an agreement, he
would "send them off to work with Mr de Soto to try to sort out their
remaining differences".
[02] Pat Cox appeals to President Papadopoulos for successful talks
The President of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, has appealed
yesterday to the President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, to work
for a successful outcome in the resumed UN-led peace talks, currently
underway in New York. Mr Cox's statement to President Papadopoulos was the
following: "The resumed talks convened by United Nations Secretary General
are at a critically important stage. It is encouraging to learn of the
extent of what appears to be a potentially significant shift in the
negotiating position of your interlocutors.
The terms and parameters set out through the good offices mandate of the
United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, form a good basis for
arriving at a balanced solution. Let me, through this correspondence,
appeal to you and your good offices as President, to use your best
endeavours and your undoubted leadership skills to ensure a successful
outcome."
[03] CoE SG calls on Cyprus leaders not to miss historic opportunity for
solution
Council of Europe Secretary General, Mr Walter Schwimmer, appealed
yesterday to the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders not to miss the
historic opportunity to reunite the island before its accession to the
European Union on 1 May 2004. "Never has the hope for a breakthrough
towards a settlement been higher. I fully share the desire of the Cypriot
people that their leaders reach an agreement", Mr Schwimmer said.
According to a Council of Europe press release, Mr Schwimmer also announced
that he planned to invite Cyprus party leaders to Strasbourg at the
beginning of March, as a follow-up to a similar meeting held in July last
year. Representatives of other international bodies concerned with the
Cyprus issue would also be invited to the meeting. "It is important that
the international community stands ready to assist in the implementation of
a solution", he added.
[04] CoE Commissioner releases report on human rights situation in
Cyprus
A report by the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, Mr
Alvaro Gil-Robles, on the human rights situation in Cyprus was released
yesterday. In the report, which is based on Mr Gil-Robles' visit to the
island on 25-29 June 2003, the CoE Commissioner noted that the human rights
situation in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus "remains most disturbing".
"The relaxation of restrictions imposed by the "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus" in crossing the line dividing the two communities has
raised much hope but does not seem to have appreciably improved matters or,
as such, to have triggered a new process", Mr Gil-Robles pointed out. The
situation in the government-controlled part of Cyprus is generally
satisfactory but problems do exist, he said, but he went on to praise the
Government for making "an accurate and telling appraisal of these problems
and taking adequate steps to solve them". The full text of the report can
be found at the Council of Europe website.
[05] EU citizens residing in Cyprus to register on electoral roll to vote
in Euroelections
The Election Service of the Ministry of Interior has issued a press release
informing the citizens of the 15 EU member states and nine acceding
countries, who reside in Cyprus, that they can vote for the Republic's six
Euro MPs in the European Parliament elections, in June 2004, as long as
they register on the electoral rolls. Those interested need to submit an
application, accompanied by their ID documents, to the local District
Offices by 2 April 2004. For the application to be valid it must include
the citizenship of the prospective voter, proof that he holds his right to
vote in his country of origin as well as the last electoral list in which
he registered in his country of origin.
In addition, the application must include the address of the voter's
residence in Cyprus, the date since which he has been residing in the
Republic or another EU member state, and a statement that he will exercise
the right to vote only in Cyprus.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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