Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-10-08

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

News Update

Wednesday, 08/10/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Kasoulides meets European counterparts for EU-Cyprus Structured Dialogue
• [02] EU reiterates that Cyprus' accession negotiations will start next Spring
• [03] EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee concludes its 12th Session
• [04] Holbrooke hosts business meeting on Cyprus
• [05] UHAC Conference in Washington D.C.
• [06] "Maritime Cyprus 1997" Conference continues

[01] Kasoulides meets European counterparts for EU-Cyprus Structured Dialogue

Issues relating to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, the peace process in the Middle East and the situation in Albania were discussed during the meeting.

The President of the EU Council, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jaques Poos said that the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership gives a new dimension to EU- Cyprus bilateral relations, which are already close, as he noted, due to Cyprus' EU accession process.

Foreign Minister Kasoulides said that Cyprus has always supported the Euro- Mediterranean Partnership, adding that Cyprus, as an EU member could act as a bridge between the EU and East Mediterranean to further develop ties between them.

Mr. Kasoulides also said that due to its geographical position and its relations with neighbouring countries, Cyprus has an active role to play and is ready to cooperate with everyone in promoting the peace process in the region.

Moreover, Mr Kasoulides said that Cyprus is ready to contribute to Albania's economic reconstruction and wishes to contribute to EU involvement towards this goal.

[02] EU reiterates that Cyprus' accession negotiations will start next spring

Mr Poos was speaking at a press conference after a meeting with Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg.

Mr Poos said: "The negotiations will open with Cyprus whatever the climate in the region. The European Union will stick to this commitment".

Mr Kasoulides took the opportunity to repeat the government's invitation to Turkish Cypriots to participate in the EU process.

"This invitation still stands, despite the fact that the first reaction of Mr Denktash was negative", Kasoulides told the press conference.

The Cyprus government has asked the Turkish Cypriots to join the Cyprus delegation which will negotiate the Republic's entry to the EU. Talks are due to start in April next year.

[03] EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee concludes its 12th Session

In its recommendation, the Committee expresses its satisfaction for the progress made by the Republic of Cyprus towards harmonization of its legislation and the adoption of the acquis of the Union as well as the Republic's economic performances.

It is stressed in the recommendation that Cyprus' accession to the EU should not, under any circumstances, be linked to the search for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The Committee also considers that the commencement of the accession negotiations in early 1998 and the accession itself will be beneficial for both communities on the island and will help to speed up a peaceful solution in Cyprus.

Moreover, the Committee condemns the recent threats of war and use of violence in Cyprus by Turkey and the illegal regime in the occupied part of Cyprus.

[04] Holbrooke hosts business meeting on Cyprus

The meeting was attended by a group of 16 prominent US businessmen and journalists who were enquiring about the economic situation in Cyprus and the services and facilities it offers to the business community.

Cyprus Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou and the Governor of the Central Bank Afxentis Afxentiou were also present at the meeting and briefed the US businessmen on local legislation and facilities available to the business and banking sectors.

"I believe we have laid the foundations to enable American investment in Cyprus to flourish on the island and through Cyprus in the region", Mr Christodoulou said.

Mr Afxentiou said that one of the purposes of the meeting was to brief the American businessmen on the progress Cyprus has made as an international business centre and on the prospects for US businesses in order to use Cyprus as a centre for expanding their activities to Russia and the other former communist countries.

[05] UHAC Conference in Washington D.C.

During the opening dinner on 6 October 1997, UHAC President Andrew Athens exchanged views with participants on how best to coordinate the promotion of Hellenic national issues.

The programme of the Conference included visits to the White House and Congress for meetings with US Administration officials as well as Senators and Representatives.

Participants to the Conference were also briefed yesterday by State Department Special Co-ordinator for Cyprus Thomas Miller on the US government's efforts towards a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The deliberations of the Conference will end in the American capital today.

[06] "Maritime Cyprus 1997" Conference continues

Klaus Oldendorff, a German shipowner and former President of the Cyprus Shipping Council, told the conference why Cyprus has become an important shipping hub, and referred to the efforts of the Cyprus Shipping Council to upgrade the image of the Cypriot flag.

Oldendorff called on the Cyprus government to take account of the shipping interests during the accession negotiations with the European Union, in order to secure the industry's growth.

The Secretary-General of the International Transport Workers' Federation, David Cockroft, referred to the flag of convenience system characterising it as a system under which shipowners are able to hide behind a false nationality, escape their responsibilities to pay taxes, ignore social and safety laws.

He said that flags of convenience as a whole accounted for 44 per cent of total losses in merchant shipping, while accounting for only 20 per cent of the world's fleet.

Cockroft pointed out that while the Cyprus flag is characterised as a flag of convenience by the ITF, the Cyprus government has decided to clean up its register.

"I have been told that you have expanded the number of surveyors and that vessels which do not meet minimum standards will be deleted from the register", he said.

Costakis Loizou, president of the "Louis Cruise Lines", said that the most interesting developments in recent years in cruising was the entrance of some tour operators in the cruise business and the development of short cruises.

"Despite some limiting factors cruise analysts believe that by the year 2, 000 a total of 9 million passengers will travel on 275 cruise ships, making cruising taking only 1.1 per cent of the overall tourist movement," Loizou said.

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

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