Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 99-04-20

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

Tuesday, 20 April 1999

CONTENTS

• [01] Foreign Minister's refers to the situation in Yugoslavia
• [02] Two more chapters in Cyprus' EU harmonisation process concluded
• [03] Simitis calls on UN to make a move on Cyprus
• [04] European Parliament welcomes progress towards Cyprus accession to EU

[01] Foreign Minister's refers to the situation in Yugoslavia

"On the one hand Cyprus has quite rightly not approved of the bombings and calls for their immediate termination and for political efforts to resolve the problem. It would also like to see a more active involvement by the Security Council. On the other hand, however, it has supported human rights and the cultural identity of the Kosovars. It has also supported their right to autonomy within the borders of Yugoslavia and the inviolability of borders and the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia.

At the same time we have a duty to present, in parallel with these positions, the other side of the truth as is testified by the 700,000 refugees who have left Kosovo because of attrocities and attempts to carry out ethnic cleansing at the expense of the Albanian-speaking population.

This does not stop us from condemning the bombings and from feeling sympathy for the victims among the Serbs and their sufferings. But we cannot make distinctions according to who is suffering. Our sympathy goes out to all who suffer and human rights are universal. Unfortunately, though, we are inclined in Cyprus to see only one side of the tragedy."

[02] Two more chapters in Cyprus' EU harmonisation process concluded

The two chapters, which were concluded yesterday at the 3rd meeting in Brussels of the Intergovernmental Conference on Cyprus' accession to the EU, are Telecommunications and Information Technologies and Statistics. Negotiation is pending on Consumers and Health Protection and Fisheries.

Cyprus' chief negotiator in the accession talks with the EU, George Vassiliou, said that the telecommunications sector in Cyprus is technologically advanced with a high standard of services. He said it should be considered almost certain it will fully harmonise with the acquis communautaire by January 1, 2003 when the next enlargement will take place.

[03] Simitis calls on UN to make a move on Cyprus

He stressed that the UN had undertaken a responsibility to tackle the Cyprus problem and must do so, particularly as regards the question of limiting military forces on the island.

He said Cyprus has made a move in this direction with its decision not to bring the Russian S-300 missiles to the island, while assurances had been given by the US and other UN member-states that there would be a move towards achieving the demilitarisation of the island.

"These moves must begin", Mr Simitis stressed. "The UN must take certain initiatives in this direction. I believe that the UN is both in a position and has the will to do so".

[04] European Parliament welcomes progress towards Cyprus accession to EU

It welcomes the progress made in the negotiation so far, considering that already 7 of the 29 chapter have been thoroughly addressed with only limited problems while negotiation will soon be opened on 8 other chapters.

It calls on the Commission to propose a financial mechanism to replace the fourth financial protocol which ends at the end of the year, leaving Cyprus without an instrument of financial support to facilitate the adaptation to the acquis communautaire and preparation of EU membership.

On the Cyprus problem, it welcomes President Clerides' decision not to deploy the S-300 missiles and invites both the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot community to reciprocate by comparable confidence building measures such as withdrawal of foreign troops from the island.

It calls on member-states to refrain from statements concerning the final stage of the negotiations, since the accession negotiations and the negotiations to reach a solution to the Cypriot problem are separate tracks.

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

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