Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-07-02

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Wednesday, 02/07/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus solution can be found if Turkish side conforms to international law, says Greek Premier
• [02] Cyprus to be part of next EU enlargement
• [03] Audio-visual issues discussed with EU officials

[01] Cyprus solution can be found if Turkish side conforms to international law, says Greek Premier

"Only then can a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem be found", he said, speaking after a meeting in Athens yesterday with President Glafcos Clerides.

He added that the governments of Cyprus and Greece will do their utmost so that the forthcoming direct negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides in New York will lead to a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions and high level agreements.

Mr Simitis announced that Greece's former ambassador to Cyprus, Alexandros Sandis, would be Greece's representative on the Cyprus problem at the forthcoming New York talks . He added that Greece's Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis will be in charge of the Greek delegation, and will be present only if circumstances require it.

He said that apart from the guarantor powers, observers at the talks will also include the representatives of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council , as well as Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Italy and Canada. Following Greece's request, the European Union will also be participating, he added.

Simitis said they had discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus question and preparation of the next steps.

He also welcomed foreign governments' initiatives for a solution in Cyprus, provided they are within the UN framework, and described Cyprus' prospect for EU accession as a catalyst to these efforts, adding that any solution to be found should comply with EU principles.

The Greek Premier described the issues of Cyprus' independence, territorial integrity, security, sovereignty and EU membership as "top priority" issues, adding that the Greek government "will continue to work closely with the Cyprus government in the next few months to achieve these goals."

On his part, President Clerides said that they were both in full agreement as to the handling of the Cyprus question and stressed the importance of close co-operation between the two countries.

"We must go (to New York) with good will, but prepared to defend our rights, " Mr Clerides said.

He also described support by Greece to the island's bid to join the EU as "important and substantial."

Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, Attorney General, Alecos Markides, Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides, Under Secretary to the President, Pantelis Kouros, and Cyprus' ambassador to Greece, Charalambos Christoforou, were present at the meeting.

On the Greek side present were the Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Greek Foreign Under-Secretary, Yiannos Kranidiotis, Alternate Foreign Minister, George Papandreou, outgoing Greek ambassador to Cyprus, Alexandros Sandis, and Charge d' affaires in Nicosia, Themos Demiris.

[02] Cyprus to be part of next EU enlargement

In statements after the meeting, Mr Papandreou said there is no question of Cyprus being excluded from the first phase of EU enlargement, adding that it was a fact that Cyprus will start accession talks six months after the Amsterdam treaty is signed in autumn and that there is an EU decision to this effect.

He added that the Commission would be issuing its report on enlargement entitled "Agenda 2000" sometime in mid-July.

Reiterating this position, Kranidiotis said the EU Council conclusions in Essen and Corfu stipulate clearly that Cyprus will be involved in the first phase of enlargement.

"Nobody can doubt this," he pointed out.

Mr Kranidiotis also said that although the meeting was part of the regular exchanges between Greece and Cyprus, it was particularly important in view of the forthcoming direct talks on Cyprus.

He said they had discussed ways to push the Cypriot application for EU membership forward and exchanged views on co-ordinating future moves.

Asked to comment on efforts to push for Turkish Cypriot participation in the accession talks, Kranidiotis reiterated his long-standing position that a Cyprus settlement is not a precondition for the Republic's membership to the EU.

"Our position is that we exclude any institutionalised presence of Turkish Cypriots as an entity, " he said.

[03] Audio-visual issues discussed with EU officials

The two men were briefed on the results of the EU Council meeting on audio- visual and cultural issues and on their part briefed the EU officials on a bill tabled in the House of Representatives concerning private television and an amendment bill concerning state radio and TV, which adopt the acquis communautaire, adding that Cyprus was ready to sign an agreement on Media II programme.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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