Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-06-05

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

News Update

Friday, 05/06/98

CONTENTS

• [01] EU officials in Cyprus for talks

[01] EU officials in Cyprus for talks

Nikolaus Van Der Pas, Director General of the Task Force, and Leopold Maurer, the Task Force's negotiator on Cyprus, will hold talks on the island's preparation for EU accession.

Speaking on arrival at Larnaca, Mr Van Der Pas said that Cyprus' accession process had so far been smooth and fast, having already moved through eight of the 31 negotiating chapters, although it would soon move on to more difficult chapters requiring more detailed discussions.

Mr Van Der Pas said the screening process for all the countries hoping for accession would end in 1999, but that the EU had not yet decided how to proceed if a country is processed before then.

He described the official opening of talks with Cyprus and five central and eastern European countries in March of "historic importance".

"We are talking here about the unification of the European continent and we are proud to be part of that exercise and very pleased that Cyprus is included in that," he said.

During their stay, the EU officials will meet President Glafcos Clerides, House President Spyros Kyprianou, Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides, Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou and Cyprus' Chief EU negotiator George Vassiliou. They will also hold contacts with the Permanent Secretaries of all the ministries and with officials from the Attorney-General's office.

The two officials will leave Cyprus on Monday.

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

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