Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 02-11-17

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From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cyprus-mail.com/>

Sunday, November 17, 2002

CONTENTS

[01] Denktash expected back in a couple of days, doctors say

[02] Clerides: we can have a deal by December

[03] AKEL fears over excessive pressure

[04] Cyprus will be a member of EU, Commission vice president insists

[01] Denktash expected back in a couple of days, doctors say

TURKISH Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, whose return to Cyprus form New York was put on hold on Friday after he contracted a flu-like infection, is expected to fly back to the island in a couple of days, his doctors said.

Denktash, 78, was recovering in New York after undergoing heart surgery in October, and had been due back on the island to give an answer tomorrow on whether the plan submitted by Secretary-general Kofi Annan was acceptable as a basis for negotiations.

However, his doctors told journalists yesterday that Denktash had been hit with a flu-like infection and it was therefore impossible for him to travel in his condition.

Denktash spokesman Ugur Karazoglou told journalists in Nicosia that the Turkish Cypriot leader's doctors would have to carry out further tests before allowing him to fly to the north.

“It is suspected he may have a flu-like infection, but doctors have said that with this condition it would be impossible for him to travel,” Karazoglou said.

“His doctors will wait at least a couple of days for test results before giving Denktash the all clear to fly.”

Denktash's personal doctor, Deniz Kumbasar, told the Anatolia news agency the veteran leader would be back Cyprus in a couple of days.

“We did not want to take the risk, we preferred to be sure of his condition, ” he said.

Denktash's advisor Ergun Olgun said the Turkish Cypriot side had aksed for an extension to tomorrow's deadline to reply to Annan's plan for a settlement in Cyprus.

“We were able to talk to the UN and have asked for an extension,” he said.

“(The delay) is not going to be anything significant, it comes to the weekend basically.”

Olgun added that an answer to the plan would be given upon Denktash's return to the occupied north.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

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[02] Clerides: we can have a deal by December

PRESIDENT Glafcos Clerides yesterday held high level talks in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis to fine tune the strategy the Greek Cypriot side will follow ahead of Monday's deadline for a response to UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan's plan for a Cyprus settlement.

Speaking at a news conference after their meeting, Simitis said the two leaders had analysed and evaluated the proposals and discussed points the two governments believe need extensive negotiations as well as points that require clarification in order to proceed to negotiations.

“Any decisions we take will be made after we have weighed the outcome of the negotiations,” he said, adding that Greece and Greek Cypriots would not accept any provision in the plan that was unsatisfactory.

Asked whether a deal could be in place by the December 12 summit in Copenhagen, Clerides said it all depended on when the negotiations would start.

“I believe if there is good political will from the other side then maybe a solution can be reached, but it depends when negotiations will start,” he said.

“We don't now when Mr. Denktash will come back so we don't know how long the negotiations will last,” he said.

“I am sure there are issues that the Turkish Cypriots want to have clarified and therefore it is expected that they would want changes to be made.”

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

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[03] AKEL fears over excessive pressure

COMMUNIST Party AKEL yesterday said UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan's plan for a solution could be accepted as a basis for negotiations, but expressed concern over a provision suggesting that Annan would take decisions for both parties on points on which they disagreed.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday, AKEL spokesman Nicos Katsourides said the submission of the plan with such a tight timeframe had put pressure on both sides, but especially on the Greek Cypriot side because it coincided with Cyprus' final path to EU accession.

“No foreign power can pressurise the President or the people of Cyprus into signing anything they don't think they should sign by December 12,” he said.

“Once we sign for the first round of talks, there is not turning back,” Katsourides said, “and nobody can force the government to sign anything that would be destructive and would lead to partition.

“We are prepared for an honest, historic compromise with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and the political equality of the two communities as it is defined by a number of UN resolutions.”

However, Katsourides pledged AKEL would examine the UN proposals with due seriousness and responsibility to the country and people.

AKEL General-secretary Demitris Christiofias called for patience and wisdom.

“We are anticipating hard days and we should gather up all our patience, determination, willingness, patriotism and wisdom to handle the difficulties and not yield to the intricacies,” he said.

On Friday, Democratic Party DISY gave the thumbs up to the plan, saying Cyprus did not have the luxury of refusing to negotiate, while even though there were negative as well as positive provisions in the plan.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

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[04] Cyprus will be a member of EU, Commission vice president insists

THE Vice President of the European Commission yesterday repeated that Cyprus would be invited to join the European Union in Copenhagen on December 12, whatever happened in the ongoing efforts to secure a settlement on the island.

Loyola de Palacio was speaking on her arrival to Cyprus yesterday for an official three-day visit.

“What must be made very clear, is that in any case Cyprus will be a member of the EU and this will again be manifested by the heads of state and government in the next European Council to be held in Copenhagen.

“This was already said in Brussels at the last European Council and it shall be stated again,” she said.

De Palacio expressed hope that the proposal submitted on Monday by UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan would bear fruit so that a united Cyprus could be invited to join the European Union.

De Palacio, who is also the Commissioner responsible for the European Parliament, Energy and Transport, praised Cyprus for improving the quality of its fleet in the last year and for harmonising itself to EU regulations.

“I am glad that Cyprus has very much improved the quality of its fleet in the last year and adopted the standards which are demanded and which are binding being a member of the EU,” she said.

Welcoming De Palacio at Larnaca airport, Communications Minister Averoff Neophytou thanked her for her continued support.

“The Vice President of the Commission is here in Cyprus at a special moment for both Greek and Turkish Cypriots,” Neophytou said.

“We have an historic opportunity in front of us and we have to consider it very seriously.”

During her stay, De Palacio will meet with Neophytou, Commerce and Industry Minister Nicos Rolandis and will also be seen by President Glafcos Clerides tomorrow.

Today, De Palacio will make a presentation entitled “Cyprus Shipping - At the Threshold of the European Union: Challenges and Prospects,” jointly organised by the Cyprus Shipping Council and the IDEA group.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

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