Cyprus Government Spokesman Daily Briefing, 03-11-28

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

Daily briefing of the Press by the Government Spokesman

28 November 2003

At the beginning of today´s briefing of the Press, the Government Spokesman Mr Kypros Chrysostomides stated inter alia that President Papadopoulos´ visit to Athens had a satisfactory outcome and that during the press conference, which took place the day before in Athens, Mr Papadopoulos gave answers to a number of vital issues which the Media in Cyprus were interested in.

Mr Chrysostomides said that President Papadopoulos would travel to Rome where he would meet the Prime Minister of Italy Mr Berlusconi and later he would depart for Nigeria to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which would take place in Ajuba city from 2-10 December. Following that, Mr Chrysostomides said, President Papadopoulos would participate in the Summit of the European Council in Brussels.

Asked whether the discussion at the European Council would be on the European Constitution, Mr Chrysostomides replied in the affirmative and added that it would also include issues relating to Cyprus and the EU.

Asked whether President Papadopoulos would raise the issue of Mrs Titina Loizidou, Mr Chrysostomides said that it would be natural to raise the issue, even though its examination was postponed for an additional week so that the Committee of Deputy Ministers would examine the document of the Secretariat which referred to the sanctions. Mr Chrysostomides reiterated the statement by President Papadopoulos that the position of the Government was that the Committee of Deputy Ministers ought to oversee the implementation of the ECHR´s decision.

Asked how worrying were for the Government the postponement tactics of Holland and Italy, which aimed via their deliberations behind the scenes, to ascertain that Mr Schwimmer's proposal would receive the majority vote of the two thirds, Mr Chrysostomides said that the diplomatic process was continuing and that the diplomatic services of the Government were continuing their efforts, on the instructions of President Papadopoulos and Mr Iacovou in order to avert diversions from the normal procedure that the Committee of Deputy Ministers ought to follow.

Asked whether there was any contact with Mr Schwimmer, Mr Chrysostomides replied that the views of the Government of Cyprus were made known both to Mr Schwimmer and all members of the Council of Europe.

Asked what kind of sanction would satisfy the Government if Turkey did not comply with the Court's decision, Mr Chrysostomides said that what the Government of Cyprus required was Turkey's full compliance with the ECHR's decision.

Asked if the Minister of Foreign Affairs had the intention to promote the issue at the meeting of the European Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Government Spokesman said he was certain Mr Iacovou was making every effort towards that direction.

Invited to comment if the Government of Cyprus would ask for the resumption of the talks after the so-called elections in the occupied areas, Mr Chrysostomides said that President Papadopoulos had repeatedly stated so, and that the UN Secretary General would be asked to be re-involved with the negotiations on the basis of his plan, regardless of the results of the so-called elections in the occupied areas.

Asked about President Papadopoulos' meeting with the ECOFIN Director General, Mr Chrysostomides said they focused on economic issues, on the latest ECOFIN decisions on Cyprus and the way they would affect Cyprus.

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