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Sunday, 24 November 2024
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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 96-11-29Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News Update29/11/96CONTENTS
[01] Cyprus solution lies in political will of both sides, says RifkindThe British Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind has said that the UK is fully committed to the UN-led efforts to end the long-standing division of Cyprus and that his forthcoming visit to the island is designed to help promote those efforts.Mr Rifkind said that, while Turkey and Greece have an important role to play, "the solution to the problem lies in the political will that will be shown by both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and their respective leaders". He added that if both sides can agree on what the end result can be it should not be beyond the means of either leader, or their followers to negotiate and resolve the details in determining how they can reach that conclusion. Answering questions in the House of Commons on 27.11.96, Mr Rifkind said that during his forthcoming visit to Cyprus he would try to encourage both Greek and Turkish Cypriots to have dialogue with each other. "I believe that we have an opportunity now to see some real progress", he said. Mr Rifkind's visit to the island will be the first visit to Cyprus by a British Foreign Secretary since the 1960s apart from during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Nicosia in 1993. Referring to Cyprus' application to join the European Union, Mr Rifkind stressed that "it will be extremely important to be able to say to the EU that the Cyprus that we hope one day will join will be a united Cyprus. Without a united Cyprus, the problems of accession to the European Union will be extremely difficult, and very difficult to realise". He said that the killings that took place earlier this year in Cyprus demonstrate the fragility of the situation on the island and show that "the well-being of all the people of Cyprus will always be thwarted as long as the island is dominated by an artificial division, by the presence of a large number of foreign troops and by an inability to achieve a political solution to the needs of both communities". [02] Heaslip pleased with replies from President CleridesThe Irish representative of the European Union Kester Heaslip, who is on a week-long visit to Cyprus, said yesterday that the talks he began in Nicosia yesterday focused on how best the EU as a whole can facilitate a settlement in Cyprus.Speaking after a meeting with President Clerides, Mr Heaslip said that he brought with him questions on certain issues regarding the Cyprus problem and was satisfied with the answers he had received from Mr Clerides. He added that he hoped he would receive similar answers from Mr Denktash. He said that these answers would help him in the report he would draw up on the Cyprus problem and which he would submit to the Irish presidency which would then decide on how to proceed. [03] Cyprus' EU harmonisation progress satisfactoryThe process of Cyprus' harmonisation with the EU acquis communautaire and especially issues relating to justice and home affairs has progressed considerably, as ascertained during a meeting in Brussels yesterday (28.11.96) between Interior Minister Dinos Michaelides and Interior and Justice Ministers of the EU.The meeting, which is part of the EU-Cyprus structured dialogue, concentrated on issues concerning the combating of drug trafficking and prostitution. Mr Michaelides briefed the Ministers of Justice on progress made in harmonising Cyprus' legislation on issues of emigration and judicial co- operation. [04] Hannay to be asked on sincerity of Turkey's Cyprus policyBritish Labour MP Tom Cox and the mayor of Famagusta Andreas Pouyouros said yesterday that they intended, during a forthcoming visit to London, to ask Britain's special envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, whether he feels Turkey is sincere in seeking a solution in Cyprus.Mr Cox, who is in Cyprus to prepare Mr Pouyouros' three day visit to London starting on December 10, met yesterday with President Glafcos Clerides and the President of the House of Representatives Spyros Kyprianou. [05] Cyprus Tourism Organisation celebrates 25th anniversaryThe importance of tourism to the Cyprus economy was stressed yesterday by President Clerides during a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation(CTO).He said that tourism generates an annual income of 800 million Cyprus pounds and provides employment to 25 per cent of the labour force and so is justly considered to be the backbone of the economy. President Clerides described the work performed by the CTO as remarkable and reaffirmed the government's support. [06] The Cyprus problem is a disgrace for Europe, says Russian officialRussia has condemned the presence in Cyprus of the Turkish army of occupation and stressed that it is a disgrace for Europe that a problem like the Cyprus problem should exist, as reported by the Athens News Agency (APE),The President of the Russian Duma, Yenady Zelezniev, who was on a three day visit to Athens, added that demilitarisation would be a prerequisite for a solution to the Cyprus problem and the only forum where it can be solved is within the United Nations. Mr Zelezniev also said that Russia is against the use of force or the threat of the use of force on the international scene. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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