Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-12-04

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

News Update

Thursday, 04/12/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Hans van den Broek recommends that Cyprus EU accession talks should begin
• [02] Italian Deputy Foreign Minister supports Cyprus place in EU enlargement process
• [03] Greek and Turkish Cypriot party leaders to propose rapprochement steps

[01] Hans van den Broek recommends that Cyprus EU accession talks should begin

He supported that the accession process with the five remaining eastern and central European countries should be reinforced.

The EU Commissioner said Turkey should also participate in the European Conference, scheduled for next year, and added that the EU should make clear its intentions regarding Ankara.

He said the European Union is asking Turkey to show respect for human right improvement of relations with Greece and co-operation towards a solution to the Cyprus problem.

EU President, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jacques Poos said the Union has pledged to accept Cyprus and the 10 former eastern and central European countries as members, leaving Turkey out of the group.

Acknowledging that Turkey does not fulfil the EU's political criteria, Mr Poos said he favours Ankara's participation at the European Conference.

The Luxembourg Foreign Minister appeared positive regarding Cyprus' wish to reinforce its pre-accession strategy, by participating in EU programmes, and reassured the EU will take the island's needs into consideration.

[02] Italian Deputy Foreign Minister supports Cyprus place in EU enlargement process

The Italian official stated that the EU and Italy "are convinced that it is important that this negotiation should be held by a delegation which could be representative of all components of the island".

He told both President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, with whom he had separate meetings on Wednesday 3.12.97 that "Italy wishes there is a joint delegation representing all the island".

Stressing that he is in Cyprus to help, Mr Fassino said that it "is clear that this is a problem that has to be decided and solved within Cyprus and we cannot interfere in this".

"I hope there will be a solution according to which negotiations could proceed without difficulties during their development and that all the obstacles are solved before this", he added.

Welcoming the Italian official, Cyprus Foreign Minister Kasoulides said his visit "demonstrates Italy's interest in Cyprus, its political problem and its efforts to join the EU".

Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini stated after a meeting with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright that:

"Cyprus is a candidate for the EU. I think it has a strong backing from all members".

"So, actually we expect that Turkey will not put any spanners in the wheels of the process for Cyprus to become a member of the EU", Mr Dini added.

[03] Greek and Turkish Cypriot party leaders to propose rapprochement steps

The decision was taken during a meeting of Greek and Turkish Cypriot party leaders and representatives at the UN-controlled Ledra Palace Hotel, in the Nicosia buffer zone on Wednesday, 3.12.97.

A joint communique said the meeting was held "in a friendly and constructive atmosphere" and the leaders "decided to reactivate the Coordinating Committee of the Parties, which will discuss and suggest concrete rapprochement measures to the party leaders meeting".

The bicommunal meetings began in 1989 on the initiative of the former Czechoslovak Ambassador to Cyprus Emil Keblusek and is continued by the Slovak Embassy.

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

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