Cyprus Government Spokesman Daily Briefing, 03-10-31

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From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>

Daily briefing of the Press by the Government Spokesman

31 October 2003

At the beginning of today's briefing of the Press, the Government Spokesman Mr Kypros Chrysostomides stated, inter alia, that the EU Progress Report on Cyprus was very positive from every aspect and that all the committees that had visited Cyprus in order to evaluate the harmonisation progress as well as the implementation of the harmonisation measures had given positive opinion. Mr Chrysostomides said that although there were some observations on certain issues the Coordinator for Cyprus' accession to the EU and all competent authorities assured that Cyprus would be completely ready for its formal accession by 1 May 2004.

Mr Chrysostomides also made reference to the economic study carried out by the Ministry of Finance on the Annan Plan.

The economic study, he said "included references to the pre-accession economic programme which Cyprus ought to submit to the European Commission and so it did. Naturally, this programme includes references to the Annan Plan and its economic repercussions. This was not publicised by the Government so that it would not be regarded that we are trying to point out the weaknesses of the Annan Plan, as far as its economic aspects are concerned or that, perhaps, we are trying to undermine the Annan Plan itself. However, the economic studies on the Annan Plan are continuing with diligence and care and I do not think there would be anybody to question the fact that we need to know what the economic repercussions of the Annan Plan are, the Spokesman noted.

Furthermore Mr Chrysostomides referred to a news report that Cyprus ranked very low on scientific research and remarked that President Papadopoulos' programme of governance included measures for upgrading the scientific research in Cyprus and that whilst in the EU this was anticipated to be around 3% of GDP, in Cyprus this was expected to reach 3% before 2010.

Asked whether the citizens of Cyprus could be informed of the contents of the pre- accession programme, Mr Chrysostomides replied that the programme had already been sent to the EU as it was requested, and added that the Government had not yet decided when it would be made public. "The Government does not intend at this time to make public the contents of the pre-accession economic programme, he said.

Invited to comment on a journalist's remark that the text, which was in the press somehow revealed the intentions of the Government with regard to the Annan Plan, Mr Chrysostomides said that it was too early to jump into conclusions on the basis of the text which was included in the pre-accession programme. He also said that President Papadopoulos discussed the issue, whenever it was raised, with his interlocutors adding that those specific and objective data were not yet at hand but that they would emanate from the study which was in progress so as to be discussed in depth with interlocutors or at the negotiating table.

Mr Chrysostomides said there was information that the report on Turkey's course contained many negative points, inter alia, Turkey's refusal to compensate Mrs Titina Loizidou.

Invited to comment on a journalist's remark that in the report it was mentioned that the Turkish Government had on many occasions confirmed its support for the efforts towards a solution, Mr Chrysostomides underlined that that did not respond to reality since there was nothing concrete that confirmed Turkey's verbal statements regarding its intentions.

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