Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-12-11

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou - EU - Statements

[02] Left-wing parties - Meeting - Resolution - Cyprus problem

[03] President Clerides - EU Helsinki decision - Cyprus

[04] Clerides - De Soto - Talks

[05] Kasoulides - Reaction - Helsinki conclusions

[06] Highlights of EU conclusions - Cyprus - Turkey

[07] Denktash - Proximity talks - Statement

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[01] Papandreou - EU - Statements

Helsinki, Dec 11 (CNA) -- Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou expressed the hope that the reference in the conclusion of the Helsinki EU summit meeting that a settlement to the Cyprus problem is not a precondition for its accession will have a positive effect on the proximity talks for a solution underway in New York.

In statements to reporters covering the EU summit ending today Papandreou said the decision gives a new momentum to the stagnation in the past 25 years.

CNA MA/EC/1999

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[02] Left-wing parties - Meeting - Resolution - Cyprus problem

This position is expressed in a resolution adopted today during the three-day Meeting which opened yesterday in the southern coastal town of Limassol with the participation of 46 parties from 27 countries.

CNA GG/EC/1999

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[03] President Clerides - EU Helsinki decision - Cyprus

New York, Dec 11 (CNA) -- Cyprus will spare no effort to find an agreed, just, viable and workable solution to its political problem despite the fact that the European Council does not consider such a solution as a precondition to the island's accession to the European Union (EU).

This was stated today in New York by President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides who repeated once more his invitation to the Turkish-Cypriot community to participate in the delegation negotiating the island's accession to the EU.

President Clerides read to the press a written statement on the conclusions of the EU Summit in Helsinki just before meeting UN Secretary- General's Special Adviser Alvaro de Soto within the framework of the ongoing proximity talks on Cyprus.

He said the decisions taken in Helsinki "established the principle which will guide the decisions of the EU during the 21st century".

With its decisions, he added, the European Council "makes absolutely clear that the solution of problems must be by peaceful means and that any candidate country including Turkey must demonstrate that they accept and implement human rights as well as they harmonise their laws and institutions with the acquis communautaire".

"Despite the fact that it also provides that the solution of the Cyprus problem is not a precondition to the accession of Cyprus to the EU, I wish to emphasise that we will spare no effort to find an agreed, just, viable, and workable solution compatible with the acquis communautaire and the code of human rights", President Clerides pointed out.

He also reiterated that his "invitation to the Turkish Cypriot community to participate in the delegation negotiating Cyprus' accession to the EU is still open" and welcomed Turkey "in the ranks of the candidate countries".

President Clerides expressed his "thanks and appreciation" to the EU Heads of States and Governments for their decisions and in particular the Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis for "all he has done for Cyprus".

Cyprus started substantive accession negotiations with the EU in November 1998.

CNA MM/GG/EC/1999

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[04] Clerides - De Soto - Talks

New York, Dec 11 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides' next meeting at the UN headquarters within the framework of the proximity talks will be on Monday morning.

Clerides told reporters after his one hour meeting today with Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto that he will be back at the UN headquarters on Monday at 0930 local time. It was not clear whether he would be meeting De Soto or UN chief Kofi Annan.

The President said the Cypriot delegation will depart from New York on Tuesday evening and will return to Cyprus Wednesday via Zurich.

CNA MM/EC/MK 1999

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[05] Kasoulides - Reaction - Helsinki conclusions

Helsinki, Dec 11 (CNA) -- Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has welcomed the reference to Cyprus in the EU Helsinki summit conclusions as it makes it clear that a settlement to the division of the island is not a precondition for its accession to the Union.

In a brief statement to reporters after attending the EU lunch for all applicant states which brought the two-day meeting to an end, Kasoulides said the decision on Cyprus is political and if any effort to change it is attempted at some stage, Greece will react.

CNA MA/EC/1999

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[06] Highlights of EU conclusions - Cyprus - Turkey

Helsinki, Dec 11 (CNA) -- The European Union leaders announced their final conclusions here Saturday which include the preconditions set by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in order for Athens to lift its veto on the Turkish candidacy.

Following is the full text of the relevant paragraphs of the conclusions of the Helsinki EU summit:

4. The European Council reaffirms the inclusive nature of the accession process, which now comprises 13 candidate states within a single framework. The candidate states are participating in the accession process on an equal footing. They must share the values and objectives of the European Union as set out in the treaties.

In this respect the European Council stresses the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter and urges candidate states to make every effort to resolve any outstanding border disputes and other related issues. Failing this they should within a reasonable time bring the dispute to the International Court of Justice.

The European Council will review the situation relating to any outstanding disputes, in particular concerning the repercussions on the accession process and in order to promote their settlement through the International Court of Justice, at the latest by the end of 2004.

Moreover, the European Council recalls that compliance with the political criteria laid down at the Copenhagen European Council is a prerequisite for the opening of accession negotiations and that compliance with all the Copenhagen criteria is the basis for accession to the Union. ....

9. (a) The European Council welcomes the launch of the talks aiming at a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on 3 December in New York and expresses its strong support for the U.N. Secretary-General's efforts to bring the process to a successful conclusion.

(b) The European Council underlines that a political settlement will facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union. If no settlement has been reached by the completion of accession negotiations, the Council's decision on accession will be made without the above being a precondition. In this the Council will take account of all relevant factors.

12. The European Council welcomes recent positive developments in Turkey as noted in the Commission's progress report, as well as its intention to continue its reforms towards complying with the Copenhagen criteria.

Turkey is a candidate state destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria as applied to the other candidate states. Building on the existing European strategy, Turkey, like other candidate states, will benefit from a pre-accession strategy to stimulate and support its reforms. This will include enhanced political dialogue, with emphasis on progressing towards fulfilling the political criteria for accession with particular reference to the issue of human rights, as well as on the issues referred to in paragraphs 4 and 9 (a).

Turkey will also have the opportunity to participate in Community programmes and agencies and in meetings between candidate states and the Union in the context of the accession process. An accession partnership will be drawn up on the basis of previous European Council conclusions while containing priorities on which accession preparations must concentrate in the light of the political and economic criteria and the obligations of a member state, combined with a national programme for the adoption of the acquis.

Appropriate monitoring mechanisms will be established. With a view to intensifying the harmonisation of Turkey's legislation and practice with the acquis, the Commission is invited to prepare a process of analytical examination of the acquis. The European Council asks the Commission to present a single framework for coordinating all sources of European Union financial assistance for pre-accession.

CNA MA/EC/1999

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[07] Denktash - Proximity talks - Statement

New York, Dec 11 (CNA) -- Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash attacked the Helsinki European Council for its reference on Cyprus in its final conclusions today, claiming that if the EU accepts the island's full membership in the name of "Cyprus" it will shoulder the heavy responsibility of dividing the island permanently.

Speaking to reporters after meeting UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto within the framework of the proximity talks, Denktash said he raised the conclusions of the Helsinki summit with the UN official and that he will return to the Turkish occupied north on Tuesday after meeting Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

In his statement under the heading of his illegal regime, recognised only by Ankara, Denktash claimed the "erroneous position taken by EU on the issue of Cyprus will necessitate the furtherance of our existing ties and relationship with our motherland and guarantor, Turkey".

CNA MM/EC/MK/1999

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