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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-10-06Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News UpdateTuesday, 06/10/98CONTENTS[01] EU Council:substantive accession negotiations with Cyprus to begin in NovemberThe European Union Council of Ministers in Luxembourg has reached a decision yesterday that substantive accession negotiations between the European Union, Cyprus and the other five eastern European candidate countries, will begin on November 10.Speaking to the press after the council's conclusions on enlargement , Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said that the Council has noted that, due to the political situation in Cyprus, the screening "could not cover Cyprus as a whole and that the invitation of the Cyprus government to include representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community in the negotiations had not as yet been accepted by the Turkish Cypriot side." Mr Pangalos pointed out that the Council has expressed its regret that it had not been possible to achieve a political solution to the Cyprus problem before the start of accession negotiations. The European Union believes that Cyprus' accession to the EU should benefit all communities, and that it will help to bring about civil peace and reconciliation on the island, he said. The Greek Foreign Minister also stressed that the EU's objective remains a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation on the basis of a comprehensive political settlement in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, which would allow the implementation of the provisions included in the Accession Treaty throughout the island. Commenting on the possibility of a divided Cyprus acceding to the EU, Mr Pangalos supported the view that the division would not be an obstacle since a divided Germany was a founding member of the EU. "I do not see any reason why the Cyprus government which is internationally recognised should not be able to negotiate the country's accession to the European Union," he said. [02] Schussel: Cyprus' EU accession process will contribute to a political solutionAustrian Foreign Minister, Wolfgang Schussel, whose country is presiding over the European Union this term, speaking at a press conference on the conclusions of the EU Council, stressed that the EU supports a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation in Cyprus based on the relevant UN resolutions, and expressed the hope that accession talks will help facilitate efforts for a Cyprus settlement.In the case of Cyprus he said that the European Union's policy was defined by the decisions of previous European Councils and especially of the Luxembourg European Council. Mr Schussel pointed out that the decision for accession talks with the six countries was unanimous and that negotiations will begin in seven fields on which the acquis communautaire screening has been completed. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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