Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 99-05-11

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

Tuesday, 11 May 1999

CONTENTS

• [01] EU enlargement will upgrade the international presence of the Union
• [02] Cyprus's accession course must proceed unimpeded
• [03] Cyprus problem will be solved when both parties agree that it is solved
• [04] Strong protest for violation of Cyprus airspace

[01] EU enlargement will upgrade the international presence of the Union

In their final statement issued yesterday, the Chairmen stressed that "the enlargement of the EU to encompass Cyprus and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe "will upgrade the international presence of the Union as a political factor, but also as the largest trading block in the world".

The Chairmen express satisfaction "for the progress achieved thus far in the acquis screening and the accession negotiations" and said they expect that the accession process will "proceed smoothly independent of any outside influence or other considerations and be completed the soonest possible."

They underline that "the process of harmonisation is a tremendous task and a great economic burden undertaken by the applicant countries and in this respect they call on the European Union to "include all applicant countries in the pre-accession strategy funding and all the relevant programmes."

Pointing out the important role the national parliaments have to play in European Union Affairs and especially in the accession process, they note the need to further the existing co-operation between the national Parliaments of the applicant countries and especially their respective European committees.

On the Kosovo crisis, the Chairmen of the Parliamentary Committees on European Affairs of the six candidate countries "agreed that the long term goal of European Union efforts to solve the crisis should be the democratisation and the europeanisation of the entire region."

[02] Cyprus's accession course must proceed unimpeded

In a statement after the meeting Mr Verheugen said that Cyprus's accession course was discussed and that there was an agreement that this issue needs to be discussed at length.

Replying to reporters' questions, the German Foreign Minister expressed the view that Cyprus' accession course must proceed irrespective of the political problem.

"We both agree that the Cyprus negotiations should continue and any political decisions taken subsequently," he said.

[03] Cyprus problem will be solved when both parties agree that it is solved

Replying to journalists' questions on Cyprus, Mr Prendergast said that what the Security Council has mandated and what the parties in the past have agreed is for a "bizonal federation with political equality for the two communities which essentially means them living together in two zones but as part of one country".

Asked to reply to a journalist's comment that the Security Council lacks the political will to implement its decisions, Mr Prendergast said that "political will is required but also political will is sometimes lacking among the parties." The decisions of the Security Council will require the co-operation of the parties to be implemented, he said.

The Cyprus problem is a very long running dispute and one day there will be a solution he said, adding that he did not believe that it is a more difficult problem than the problems in the Middle East.

"We will do everything possible to help the parties but we are in the role, really, of a midwife, and the midwife needs a baby," he concluded.

[04] Strong protest for violation of Cyprus airspace

In a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the UN Mr Sotos Zackheos stressed that the flights which are not regulated or controlled, violate international air traffic rules and are contrary to the provisions of Security Council resolutions on Cyprus

Mr Zackheos points out that Turkey's actions are a flagrant violation of international law, the UN Charter and all the UN recent decisions on Cyprus.

Moreover overflights by Turkey's military aircraft and the continuing Turkish military presence in the northern part of Cyprus are the reasons which create tension on the island.

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

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