Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 02-05-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Kofi Annan to visit Cyprus mid May

[02] UN top Cyprus envoy says Annan wants two leaders to intensify talks

[03] (Ê) Cyprus protests air space violations by Turkey

[04] Prodi hopes Cyprus will join the EU in the first wave of enlargement

[05] Government pleased with Security Council statement

[01] Kofi Annan to visit Cyprus mid May

0900:CYPPRESS:01

Kofi Annan to visit Cyprus to boost peace effort

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, May 3 (CNA) -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced plans to travel to Cyprus and meet with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in an effort to enhance the face to face negotiations and make "decisive progress", meeting the June target date for an agreement.

Although no dates were given, the Secretary General is expected to arrive May 15, on route to East Timor and stay for 2-3 days. A UN spokesman said that Annan plans to call on the two leaders "separately and to meet them jointly. The dates of his visit will be announced shortly".

The announcement of Annan's trip to Cyprus was made Thursday by his special advisor on Cyprus, Alvaro De Soto, during a closed-door briefing of the members of the Security Council.

[02] UN top Cyprus envoy says Annan wants two leaders to intensify talks

1225:CYPPRESS:02

UN top Cyprus envoy says Annan wants two leaders to intensify talks

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, May 3 (CNA) -- Alvaro de Soto, UN Secretary General's special adviser for Cyprus, has said that Kofi Annan's intention to visit Cyprus is sending a message to the two leaders that they need to step up their efforts towards a negotiated settlement.

De Soto, who was speaking after an announcement here that Annan would visit Cyprus (probably in mid May), also said that the international community cares and wants badly a solution in Cyprus or at least the outline of a solution to emerge by the end of June, a target date agreed upon by all the parties concerned.

[03] (Ê) Cyprus protests air space violations by Turkey

1245:CYPPRESS:03

Cyprus protests air space violations by Turkey

United Nations, May 3 (CNA) -- Cyprus has protested to the UN fresh violations of its air space and Flight Information Region (FIR) Nicosia, which occurred in January and February.

[04] Prodi hopes Cyprus will join the EU in the first wave of enlargement

1320:CYPPRESS:04

Prodi hopes Cyprus will join the EU in the first wave of enlargement

by Demetris Apokis

Washington, May 3 (CNA) -- Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, hopes that Cyprus will be among the ten candidate countries that will be invited in December to join the European Union.

[05] Government pleased with Security Council statement

1420:CYPPRESS:05

Government pleased with Security Council statement

Nicosia, May 3 (CNA) -- Cyprus has welcomed a statement by the UN Security Council with regard to the ongoing direct talks, in which the Council insists on a comprehensive settlement, that should take full consideration of UN resolutions and treaties.

Foreign Minister Ioannis also welcomed the Council call to both sides, but in particular to the Turkish Cypriot side, to cooperate fully with the UN Secretary General's special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who is conducting the talks.

The minister said the government welcomes the decision by Annan to visit Cyprus, a trip expected to take place in mid May.

The statement was issued after Alvaro de Soto had briefed the Security Council on the content of the talks, which resume on Tuesday May 7.

"We express our satisfaction with the statement in that the Security Council insists on a comprehensive solution, which should take full consideration of Council resolutions and treaties and we welcome the call on both sides, but specifically on the Turkish Cypriot side, to cooperate fully with Kofi Annan," Kasoulides said.

Replying to questions about the purpose of the visit, Kasoulides said the Secretary General will have in mind three elements, the need to step up the pace of the negotiations, compromise and peace, as there were outlined before the Security Council by de Soto.

"There is no doubt that Annan's visit aims at promoting the peace process," he said.

He said he does not see anything in the Council statement that indicates the need for an interim agreement, instead of a comprehensive settlement and stressed that the agreed procedure by the two sides with regard to these talks says that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed."

"We adhere to the search for a comprehensive settlement," Kasoulides said, adding that there will be no high level agreement between the two sides and nothing will be signed until everything is agreed upon.

He said the Greek Cypriot side is ready to examine and discuss methods which could in practice assist the peace process, in accordance with the role de Soto has been entrusted with, on the basis of the terms of reference afforded to him by the Security Council.

The minister said he could not identify the methods that would be applied to assist the peace process and said "we have never said no to a more active role of Annan's representative to these talks."

Asked if the submission of papers at the talks could help the peace effort, Kasoulides said that the government believes that Alvaro de Soto should play his role to the full, as this is defined by his terms of reference emanating from Council resolution 1250.

"If any papers are submitted, these would be non papers, working papers," he added, recalling that neither side is committed to anything even if it makes some openings at the negotiating table, unless everything is agreed.

The minister said in its statement "the Council expressed regret over the lack of progress in the past few months and recommends that the two sides should agree on a more concrete and specific method of work, which will aim obviously at a comprehensive settlement, taking full consideration of UN resolutions and treaties."

The minister pointed out that the statement does not place the two sides on an equal par with regard to their response to the UN Secretary General's efforts.

He said the specific call on the Turkish side to cooperate "reflects the behaviour of each side so far at the negotiating table."

The minister described as a positive element of the statement the insistence of the Council on the June target date, a timeframe within which the two leaders and the UN have said an agreed settlement could be found.

President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash are engaged in direct talks, under UN auspices, with a view at finding a comprehensive settlement.

Denktash was the first to talk about June as a date by which a solution could be reached. This was adopted by Clerides and the UN.

CNA MM/2002 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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