Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 05-10-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Turkey sticks to her position on Cyprus, as accession negotiations begin with EU

[02] EP President praises Cyprus' stance at EU -Turkey road map agreement

[03] EU Negotiating framework with Turkey

[04] EU opening statement for the accession conference with Turkey

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[06] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[07] Spokesman says Turkey represents illegal reality in Cyprus

[08] Cypriot Spokesman says US supports Turkey's EU bid

[09] Commissioner Kyprianou says Turkey's EU process to be demanding

[10] Borrell says Turkey should recognise Cyprus the soonest

[11] Cyprus maintains benefits through Turkey's negotiating framework

[12] Borrell says Turkey's EU accession negotiations imply recognition

[01] Turkey sticks to her position on Cyprus, as accession negotiations begin with EU

0430:CYPPRESS:01

Turkey sticks to her position on Cyprus, as accession negotiations begin with EU

by Katerina Nicolaou

Luxembourg, Oct 4 (CNA) -- As Turkey launched today her accession negotiations with EU, aiming to become a full member of the community, the country's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul declared Ankara's position on Cyprus, a member of the European 25-nation block, remains unchanged.

Speaking at a press conference with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, whose country is currently presiding over the EU, after the start of the membership negotiations, Gul said the Turkish position is that there are ''two separate realities'' on the island and that ''we must work to achieve a comprehensive settlement and the proper platform for this is the UN.''

Gul said Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots ''have done their share'' to achieve a comprehensive settlement and expressed hope that similar efforts will increase and that the EU will continue to put efforts in this regard.

On his part, Straw referring to the start of the negotiations, said ''we have just made history and together we have had the first ministerial meeting on the opening of accession negotiations with Turkey.''

[02] EP President praises Cyprus' stance at EU -Turkey road map agreement

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EP President praises Cyprus' stance at EU -Turkey road map agreement

Nicosia, Oct 4 (CNA) -- European Parliament President Josep Borell praised here Tuesday Cyprus' positive stance during EU consultations on Turkey's negotiating framework, which led to the commencement of Turkish - EU negotiations.

Speaking after a meeting with Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos, Borell also said that Turkey will have to fulfill the political and economic criteria set out by the EU.

[03] EU Negotiating framework with Turkey

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EU Negotiating framework with Turkey - Full text

Nicosia, Oct 4 (CNA) --

1. The negotiations will be based on Turkey's own merits and the pace will depend on Turkey's progress in meeting the requirements for membership. The Presidency or the Commission as appropriate will keep the Council fully informed so that the Council can keep the situation under regular review. The Union side, for its part, will decide in due course whether the conditions for the conclusion of negotiations have been met; this will be done on the basis of a report from the Commission confirming the fulfilment by Turkey of the requirements listed in point 6.

2. As agreed at the European Council in December 2004, these negotiations are based on Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union. The shared objective of the negotiations is accession. These negotiations are an open-ended process, the outcome of which cannot be guaranteed beforehand. While having full regard to all Copenhagen criteria, including the absorption capacity of the Union, if Turkey is not in a position to assume in full all the obligations of membership it must be ensured that Turkey is fully anchored in the European structures through the strongest possible bond.

3. Enlargement should strengthen the process of continuous creation and integration in which the Union and its Member States are engaged. Every effort should be made to protect the cohesion and effectiveness of the Union. In accordance with the conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council in 1993, the Union's capacity to absorb Turkey, while maintaining the momentum of European integration is an important consideration in the general interest of both the Union and Turkey. The Commission shall monitor this capacity during the negotiations, encompassing the whole range of issues set out in its October 2004 paper on issues arising from Turkey's membership perspective, in order to inform an assessment by the Council as to whether this condition of membership has been met.

4. Negotiations are opened on the basis that Turkey sufficiently meets the political criteria set by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993, for the most part later enshrined in Article 6(1) of the Treaty on European Union and proclaimed in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Union expects Turkey to sustain the process of reform and to work towards further improvement in the respect of the principles of liberty, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including relevant European case law; to consolidate and broaden legislation and implementation measures specifically in relation to the zero tolerance policy in the fight against torture and ill-treatment and the implementation of provisions relating to freedom of expression, freedom of religion, women's rights, ILO standards including trade union rights, and minority rights. The Union and Turkey will continue their intensive political dialogue. To ensure the irreversibility of progress in these areas and its full and effective implementation, notably with regard to fundamental freedoms and to full respect of human rights, progress will continue to be closely monitored by the Commission, which is invited to continue to report regularly on it to the Council, addressing all points of concern identified in the Commission's 2004 report and recommendation as well as its annual regular report.

5. In the case of a serious and persistent breach in Turkey of the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law on which the Union is founded, the Commission will, on its own initiative or on the request of one third of the Member States, recommend the suspension of negotiations and propose the conditions for eventual resumption. The Council will decide by qualified majority on such a recommendation, after having heard Turkey, whether to suspend the negotiations and on the conditions for their resumption. The Member States will act in the Intergovernmental Conference in accordance with the Council decision, without prejudice to the general requirement for unanimity in the Intergovernmental Conference. The European Parliament will be informed.

6. The advancement of the negotiations will be guided by Turkey's progress in preparing for accession, within a framework of economic and social convergence and with reference to the Commission's reports in paragraph 2. This progress will be measured in particular against the following requirements:

- the Copenhagen criteria, which set down the following requirements for membership:

* the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;

* the existence of a functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union;

* the ability to take on the obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union and the administrative capacity to effectively apply and implement the acquis;

- Turkey's unequivocal commitment to good neighbourly relations and its undertaking to resolve any outstanding border disputes in conformity with the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter, including if necessary jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice;

- Turkey's continued support for efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and in line with the principles on which the Union is founded, including steps to contribute to a favourable climate for a comprehensive settlement, and progress in the normalisation of bilateral relations between Turkey and all EU Member States, including the Republic of Cyprus.

- The fulfilment of Turkey's obligations under the Association Agreement and its Additional Protocol extending the Association Agreement to all new EU Member States, in particular those pertaining to the EU-Turkey customs union, as well as the implementation of the Accession Partnership, as regularly revised.

7. In the period up to accession, Turkey will be required to progressively align its policies towards third countries and its positions within international organisations (including in relation to the membership by all EU Member States of those organisations and arrangements) with the policies and positions adopted by the Union and its Member States.

8. Parallel to accession negotiations, the Union will engage with Turkey in an intensive political and civil society dialogue. The aim of the inclusive civil society dialogue will be to enhance mutual understanding by bringing people together in particular with a view to ensuring the support of European citizens for the accession process.

9. Turkey must accept the results of any other accession negotiations as they stand at the moment of its accession.

Substance of the negotiations

10. Accession implies the acceptance of the rights and obligations attached to the Union system and its institutional framework, known as the acquis of the Union. Turkey will have to apply this as it stands at the time of accession. Furthermore, in addition to legislative alignment, accession implies timely and effective implementation of the acquis. The acquis is constantly evolving and includes:

- the content, principles and political objectives of the Treaties on which the Union is founded;

- legislation and decisions adopted pursuant to the Treaties, and the case law of the Court of Justice;

- other acts, legally binding or not, adopted within the Union framework, such as interinstitutional agreements, resolutions, statements, recommendations, guidelines;

- joint actions, common positions, declarations, conclusions and other acts within the framework of the common foreign and security policy;

- joint actions, joint positions, conventions signed, resolutions, statements and other acts agreed within the framework of justice and home affairs;

- international agreements concluded by the Communities, the Communities jointly with their Member States, the Union, and those concluded by the Member States among themselves with regard to Union activities.

Turkey will need to produce translations of the acquis into Turkish in good time before accession, and will need to train a sufficient number of translators and interpreters required for the proper functioning of the EU institutions upon its accession.

11. The resulting rights and obligations, all of which Turkey will have to honour as a Member State, imply the termination of all existing bilateral agreements between Turkey and the Communities, and of all other international agreements concluded by Turkey which are incompatible with the obligations of membership. Any provisions of the Association Agreement which depart from the acquis cannot be considered as precedents in the accession negotiations.

12. Turkey's acceptance of the rights and obligations arising from the acquis may necessitate specific adaptations to the acquis and may, exceptionally, give rise to transitional measures which must be defined during the accession negotiations.

Where necessary, specific adaptations to the acquis will be agreed on the basis of the principles, criteria and parameters inherent in that acquis as applied by the Member States when adopting that acquis, and taking into consideration the specificities of Turkey.

The Union may agree to requests from Turkey for transitional measures provided they are limited in time and scope, and accompanied by a plan with clearly defined stages for application of the acquis. For areas linked to the extension of the internal market, regulatory measures should be implemented quickly and transition periods should be short and few; where considerable adaptations are necessary requiring substantial effort including large financial outlays, appropriate transitional arrangements can be envisaged as part of an on-going, detailed and budgeted plan for alignment. In any case, transitional arrangements must not involve amendments to the rules or policies of the Union, disrupt their proper functioning, or lead to significant distortions of competition. In this connection, account must be taken of the interests of the Union and of Turkey.

Long transitional periods, derogations, specific arrangements or permanent safeguard clauses, i.e. clauses which are permanently available as a basis for safeguard measures, may be considered. The Commission will include these, as appropriate, in its proposals in areas such as freedom of movement of persons, structural policies or agriculture. Furthermore, the decision-taking process regarding the eventual establishment of freedom of movement of persons should allow for a maximum role of individual Member States. Transitional arrangements or safeguards should be reviewed regarding their impact on competition or the functioning of the internal market.

Detailed technical adaptations to the acquis will not need to be fixed during the accession negotiations. They will be prepared in cooperation with Turkey and adopted by the Union institutions in good time with a view to their entry into force on the date of accession.

13. The financial aspects of the accession of Turkey must be allowed for in the applicable Financial Framework. Hence, as Turkey's accession could have substantial financial consequences, the negotiations can only be concluded after the establishment of the Financial Framework for the period from 2014 together with possible consequential financial reforms. Any arrangements should ensure that the financial burdens are fairly shared between all Member States.

14. Turkey will participate in economic and monetary union from accession as a Member State with a derogation and shall adopt the euro as its national currency following a Council decision to this effect on the basis of an evaluation of its fulfilment of the necessary conditions. The remaining acquis in this area fully applies from accession.

15. With regard to the area of freedom, justice and security, membership of the European Union implies that Turkey accepts in full on accession the entire acquis in this area, including the Schengen acquis. However, part of this acquis will only apply in Turkey following a Council decision to lift controls on persons at internal borders taken on the basis of the applicable Schengen evaluation of Turkey's readiness.

16. The EU points out the importance of a high level of environmental protection, including all aspects of nuclear safety.

17. In all areas of the acquis, Turkey must bring its institutions, management capacity and administrative and judicial systems up to Union standards, both at national and regional level, with a view to implementing the acquis effectively or, as the case may be, being able to implement it effectively in good time before accession. At the general level, this requires a well-functioning and stable public administration built on an efficient and impartial civil service, and an independent and efficient judicial system.

Negotiating procedures

18. The substance of negotiations will be conducted in an Intergovernmental Conference with the participation of all Member States on the one hand and the candidate State on the other.

19. The Commission will undertake a formal process of examination of the acquis, called screening, in order to explain it to the Turkish authorities, to assess the state of preparation of Turkey for opening negotiations in specific areas and to obtain preliminary indications of the issues that will most likely come up in the negotiations.

20. For the purposes of screening and the subsequent negotiations, the acquis will be broken down into a number of chapters, each covering a specific policy area. A list of these chapters is provided in the Annex. Any view expressed by either Turkey or the EU on a specific chapter of the negotiations will in no way prejudge the position which may be taken on other chapters. Also, agreements reached in the course of negotiations on specific chapters, even partial ones, may not be considered as final until an overall agreement has been reached for all chapters.

21. Building on the Commission's Regular Reports on Turkey's progress towards accession and in particular on information obtained by the Commission during screening, the Council, acting by unanimity on a proposal by the Commission, will lay down benchmarks for the provisional closure and, where appropriate, for the opening of each chapter. The Union will communicate such benchmarks to Turkey. Depending on the chapter, precise benchmarks will refer in particular to the existence of a functioning market economy, to legislative alignment with the acquis and to a satisfactory track record in implementation of key elements of the acquis demonstrating the existence of an adequate administrative and judicial capacity. Where relevant, benchmarks will also include the fulfilment of commitments under the Association Agreement, in particular those pertaining to the EU-Turkey customs union and those that mirror requirements under the acquis. Where negotiations cover a considerable period of time, or where a chapter is revisited at a later date to incorporate new elements such as new acquis, the existing benchmarks may be updated.

22. Turkey will be requested to indicate its position in relation to the acquis and to report on its progress in meeting the benchmarks. Turkey's correct transposition and implementation of the acquis, including effective and efficient application through appropriate administrative and judicial structures, will determine the pace of negotiations.

23. To this end, the Commission will closely monitor Turkey's progress in all areas, making use of all available instruments, including on-site expert reviews by or on behalf of the Commission. The Commission will inform the Council of Turkey's progress in any given area when presenting draft EU Common Positions. The Council will take this assessment into account when deciding on further steps relating to the negotiations on that chapter. In addition to the information the EU may require for the negotiations on each chapter and which is to be provided by Turkey to the Conference, Turkey will be required to continue to provide regularly detailed, written information on progress in the alignment with and implementation of the acquis, even after provisional closure of a chapter. In the case of provisionally closed chapters, the Commission may recommend the re-opening of negotiations, in particular where Turkey has failed to meet important benchmarks or to implement its commitments.

[04] EU opening statement for the accession conference with Turkey

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EU opening statement for the accession conference with Turkey

Full text of the British Presidency statement by Jack Straw

Nicosia, Oct 4 (CNA) --

1. On behalf of the EU Member States, I am delighted to welcome here today the distinguished representatives of Turkey to the Intergovernmental Conference opening the accession negotiations with your country.

2. There are already well established, close ties between your country and the Union. We first concluded contractual relations in 1963, when we signed our Association Agreement, known as the Ankara Agreement. In 1995, we moved to the final stage of the Customs Union, and in 1999 the Helsinki European Council declared Turkey a candidate State. These represented important qualitative steps, both in political and economic terms. Today is another important step in the evolution of this relationship.

The Association Agreement will continue to provide the framework for our relations during the pre-accession period. By making progress toward extending the freedoms on which the Community is based, notably by liberalising trade between you and the Community, and by promoting economic and financial cooperation between us, it remains a key element of our ever-closer relations.

3. Since Turkey applied for membership in April 1987, successive decisions of the European Council have provided the strategy and the means to prepare the European perspective of your country. This includes an Accession Partnership which is supported by substantial prea'accession financial assistance.

4. We recall the European Council conclusions of 16/17 December 2004. We note that the six pieces of legislation identified by the Commission and requested by the European Council have entered into force and we expect that they will be fully implemented in accordance with the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. We also acknowledge the signature of the Protocol regarding the adaptation of the Ankara Agreement. The position of the European Community and its Member States was set out in their Declaration of 21 September 2005, in response to the Declaration by Turkey of 29 July 2005.

The European Council of 16/17 December 2004 requested the Council to agree on a framework for our negotiations. The negotiating framework has been agreed by the Council on the basis of a proposal by the Commission. It takes account of the experience of the fifth enlargement process, and of the evolving acquis and has been prepared according to own merits and the specific situation and characteristics of Turkey. It indicates clearly the specific requirements of the process we are launching today.

The European Council also agreed that parallel to accession negotiations, the Union will engage with every candidate State in an intensive political and cultural dialogue involving civil society. This dialogue will prove valuable in improving mutual understanding and encouraging a debate on both sides on all aspects of our relationship.

5. The negotiations which we launch today are based on Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union. Let me recall that our negotiations are taking place in an Intergovernmental Conference with the participation of all Member States, as well as your country. As in all IGCs, decisions will be taken on the basis of unanimity. It will be up to the Member States to decide in due course whether conditions are right for the conclusion of the negotiations.

6. We recall the need for Turkey to continue to work towards full and effective implementation of the pre-accession strategy and reforms, in particular as regards strengthening the independence and functioning of the judiciary, the exercise of fundamental freedoms (association, expression and religion), cultural rights, the further alignment of civil-military relations with European practice and the situation in the Southeast of the country. This should ensure the irreversibility of the political reform process. In conformity with Turkey's commitment to peace and stability, and to the development of good neighbourly relations, including solutions to pending bilateral issues, Turkey should actively promote regional cooperation. This should contribute to regional stability.

7. Since the end of 1998, the Commission has made Regular Reports to the Council, reviewing your progress in the light of the Copenhagen criteria, in particular the rate at which you are adopting and implementing the acquis. Implementation of the Accession Partnership and progress in adopting the acquis are examined in the Association Agreement bodies. As with any other candidate country, the monitoring of your commitments will play a key role in informing the Council's decisions on the conduct of negotiations with you.

8. The timely and effective implementation of the acquis as well as the need to bring your administrative and judicial capacity up to the necessary level in order to achieve this are prerequisites for membership. Therefore, convergence with the acquis which you have already begun should now be intensified. You will also need to bear in mind developments in the acquis since the date of the opening of negotiations. The acquis includes the objectives and principles on which the Union is founded, as set out in the Treaty on European Union. It is a community of values, which every member must fully share.

9. The process will be rigorous and challenging. But we are confident in your determination and commitment and will support you in your efforts. We are pleased to engage with you today in this process.

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

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Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Oct 4 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTHERS=1000

TRADED VALUE                       677.448,57

GSE GENERAL INDEX                       97,61     0,88    663.637,13
FTSE/CySE 20                           490,61     1,29    518.410,41
MAIN MARKET INDEX                    1.466,40     1,29    515.816,95
PARALLEL MARKET INDEX                1.059,00    -0,71     12.333,09
INVESTMENT COMPANIES MARKET INDEX    1.126,96    -0,03     94.878,65
MAIN AND PARALLEL MARKETS INDEX      1.451,39     1,24    528.150,05
BANKS INDEX                          1.545,26     1,46    469.995,88
HOTELS INDEX                         1.119,05    -0,33     17.179,50
ALTERNATIVE MARKET INDEX               979,01    -0,02     48.714,51
FTSE Med (3/10/2005)                 8.513,88     0,36

* The second column presents the percentage variation of the indices
as compared to the last meeting.

[06] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1800:CYPPRESS:06

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Oct 4 (CNA) - Today's weather and temperatures for Cyprus,
according to the Meteorological Service at Larnaca International
Airport are:

Temperatures (degrees Celcius)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Station               Maximum     Minimum       Weather
(At 1200 UTC)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Nicosia                 30          18          FAIR
Larnaca                 30          21          FAIR
Limassol                30          19          FINE
Paphos                  27          18          FAIR
---------------------------------------------------------------

[07] Spokesman says Turkey represents illegal reality in Cyprus

1810:CYPPRESS:07

Spokesman says Turkey represents illegal reality in Cyprus

Nicosia, Oct 4 (CNA) - There are two realities on the island, the legitimate Republic of Cyprus, represented by the Cypriot government, and the illegal occupation supported by Turkey, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides pointed out today.

The Spokesman was commenting on remarks by Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul last night in Luxembourg, after the ceremony to mark the beginning of the accession negotiations between the EU and Turkey.

[08] Cypriot Spokesman says US supports Turkey's EU bid

1815:CYPPRESS:08

Cypriot Spokesman says US supports Turkey's EU bid

Nicosia, Oct 4 (CNA) - The US administration supports Turkey's European bid and there is nothing new to that, Cypriot Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said today.

''The US back Turkey's course to the European Union using every mean to achieve this goal. They have proven it by their intervention,'' Chrysostomides stated.

[09] Commissioner Kyprianou says Turkey's EU process to be demanding

1815:CYPPRESS:09

Commissioner Kyprianou says Turkey's EU process to be demanding

Nicosia, Oct 4 (CNA) - The EU-Turkey negotiating framework is very strict, includes safety valves and guarantees and ensures the rights of all EU member states and of each state separately, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection Markos Kyprianou stated today.

In statements after a meeting here with the House of Representatives Committee for Commerce, Kyprianou noted that the negotiation process will be long, difficult and demanding.

[10] Borrell says Turkey should recognise Cyprus the soonest

1855:CYPPRESS:10

Borrell says Turkey should recognise Cyprus the soonest

Nicosia, Oct 4 (CNA) - European Parliament President Josep Borell said today that there is no point in recognising Turkey as an EU candidate country, if it does not recognise a Union's member state.

''There is no point in recognising Turkey and letting her enter the EU, if one member does not recognise another member. In this issue, the European Parliament has exceeded the EU Council. Also we want and demand that the Customs Union Protocol is fully implemented and equally for each member state,'' Borrell pointed out after a meeting here with Cypriot House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias.

[11] Cyprus maintains benefits through Turkey's negotiating framework

1900:CYPPRESS:11

Cyprus maintains benefits through Turkey's negotiating framework

Nicosia, Oct 4 (CNA) - The EU-Turkey negotiating framework enables Cyprus to maintain in full all those advantages it had secured in the EU documents about Turkey, Cypriot Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said today.

He added that paragraph 7 of the negotiating framework regarding Cyprus' participation in international organisations remains the same, but he did not rule out the possibility that other non EU member states, meaning other members of international organisations, to which Cyprus could submit an application for membership, would use their veto right, adding that Norway or the US could for instance block Cyprus' participation in NATO.

[12] Borrell says Turkey's EU accession negotiations imply recognition

2035:CYPPRESS:12

Borrell says Turkey's EU accession negotiations imply recognition

Nicosia, Oct 4 (CNA) ---- Opening accession negotiations with Turkey implies that Turkey recognises the Republic of Cyprus, even if that recognition is not yet official, European Parliament President Josep Borrell stressed today.

Borrell noted that the recognition of Cyprus is a necessary component of the accession process, adding that the solution of the Cyprus problem must be based on respect for the acquis communautaire and on the Union's founding values and principles.

The European Parliament President was addressing the Cypriot House of Representatives on the occasion of his official visit, in the presence of Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos, President of the House of Representatives Demetris Christofias, Cypriot EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection Marcos Kyprianou, as well as members of the cabinet and diplomats.

In his address, Christofias said that the government expects a full and non-discriminatory implementation of the Customs Union Protocol, adding that it is unacceptable that EU principles are changed to serve candidate countries and their interests.

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