Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-11-27

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

News Update

Thursday, 27/11/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Top level Paris meeting on Cyprus
• [02] Cyprus' decision to join EU is irreversible
• [03] Government pleased that international efforts to solve Cyprus problem are aimed at Turkey

[01] Top level Paris meeting on Cyprus

According to reports, the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, US Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, European Union (EU) presidency envoy, Kester Heaslip, and Britain's envoy Sir David Hannay will all be meeting to exchange views.

On his return to London, the British envoy, Sir David Hannay will have a working dinner this evening with Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, who flew to the British capital yesterday.

The Foreign Minister is expected to brief Sir David on last week's visit to the island by UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez. He will also meet members of the House of Commons before returning to Cyprus on Friday.

Yesterday, Mr Cordovez had a meeting in Brussels with the European Union Commissioner for External Relations, Hans Van den Broek, whom he briefed on his meetings in Cyprus last week with the leaders of the two communities.

They discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus peace process and the island's EU accession course and agreed to enhance co-operation and contacts with a view to achieving a successful outcome of parallel efforts to find a political settlement and conclude Cyprus' accession bid.

The two men said they hoped next month's EU Summit in Luxembourg will lead to an arrangement that would contribute to a resolution of the Cyprus question.

Mr Van den Broek arrives on the island on Monday for a two-day visit.

[02] Cyprus' decision to join EU is irreversible

Addressing the Annual General Meeting of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEVE), the President said that "we have achieved to a satisfactory degree convergence with the Maastricht criteria to eliminate economic obstacles in our course for European integration".

He also said that the government shall endeavour to enhance offshore activity and establish Cyprus as a business and economic centre in what is a vital region.

However, he called on Cypriot employers and employees to adjust to global and local economic realities and adopt a change of attitude in order to meet future challenges.

Lower costs, increased productivity, new trading methods, specialised production and technological advancement are essential elements for success, the President said.

He said the government has taken various measures to back the manufacturing sector, including loan guarantees for investment purposes, tax incentives and export promotion programmes.

Commenting on tourism, the President said the sum of 17 m., the largest amount ever spent so far, was designated for promoting Cyprus as a tourist destination this year.

Services, he added, is now a "steadily developing economic sector due to the high level of professional services Cyprus offers."

[03] Government pleased that international efforts to solve Cyprus problem are aimed at Turkey

"At the moment Turkish intransigence, which aims to perpetuate the faits accomplis, is in the form of a demand for recognition of the faits accomplis and for promotion of Turkey's candidacy for EU membership," Mr Christofides said.

He was commenting on a recent statement by a Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman that the decision to start EU-Cyprus accession talks paved the way for changes in the parameters of a solution to the Cyprus problem, namely that the Turkish Cypriot pseudostate should be recognized as a sovereign state in order to secure a lasting settlement.

"Turkey demands, in an insolent and provocative manner reminiscent of the methods of the Ottoman Empire, that the international community should approve of the invasion and occupation and ignore all the UN resolutions on Cyprus adopted after 1974", he added.

He added that, however, the position of the international community is quite clear. It does not accept the status quo and stresses that it will seek a solution envisaging a bizonal, bicommunal federation. Turkey, in fact, is alone against all, and yet she wants to have her own way and demands this in an unacceptable and provocative manner, he said.

Mr Christofides also said that all the procedures relating to Cyprus and its European course will start in March and that we are at the disposal of the UN to pursue the goal that has been set, which is to seek a settlement based on the creation of a federal republic.

Turkey must also realise that to improve its prospects for membership of the EU she must respect human rights, solve both the Kurdish and Cyprus problems and improve her relations with Greece, he said.

"We have noted with satisfaction that all efforts now are directed towards Turkey because it has been understood that that is where the wall of intransigence has been built and is maintained", Mr Christofides said.

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

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