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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 99-07-01Cyprus 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/>Thursday, 1 July 1999CONTENTS[01] Foreign Minister expresses satisfaction at UN Resolutions on CyprusForeign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, expressed yesterday his overall satisfaction with UN Security Council Resolutions 1250 and 1251 on Cyprus. Mr Kasoulides, who was speaking after the meeting of the Council of Ministers said that "Resolution 1251 clarifies fully the parameters within which the Security Council, continues to support that efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem must move forward" and that a settlement should be based on a State of Cyprus , in a bicommunal and bizonal federation.As Mr Kasoulides pointed out, the two Resolutions echoed the recent G-8 statement on Cyprus; which called "the two sides to hold negotiations without preconditions and to discuss all the aspects of the Cyprus problem as we know them to date with the aim of achieving results at the end of the negotiations, giving full consideration to the UN resolutions". Mr Kasoulides also observed that Resolution 1251 includes all the previous elements mentioned in Resolutions 1217 and 1218 which refer to an eventual demilitarisation of Cyprus. The Foreign Minister expressed however the Cyprus government's disappointment at the omission of the question of missing persons. "We regret that Resolution 1251 does not mention the question of missing persons", he said, adding that this might be due to the fact that the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Cyprus, Mrs Ann Hercus requested its omission, as her efforts on this particular issue were ready to produce results. "We hope that Mrs Hercus' efforts prove fruitful and that omission of this issue in the resolution was worthwhile. "he added. [02] Dame Ann Hercus denies media reportsAccording to an UNFICYP press release issued today, Dame Ann Hercus denied media reports alleging that she had asked the Security Council not to make reference to the Missing Persons issue in its resolution either because she "was about to produce results on the issue" or because its inclusion would "cause difficulties to the general process for a Cyprus settlement. "Dame Ann said "it is for the Security Council and no else to select which elements in a field report it wishes to comment on or urge action on". Moreover Dame Ann met this morning with Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides who totally accepted her assurances that the media reports were wrong. [03] EU enlargement - top priority of the Finnish PresidencyEuropean Union enlargement is the top priority of the Finnish Presidency of the European Union which starts today, Finland's Foreign Trade and European Affairs Minister Mr Kimmo Sasi stated yesterday.Speaking at a press conference after talks with his Cypriot counterpart, Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides, Mr Sasi said that Finland attaches a great interest to Cyprus accession and within this context , there will be a lot of contact between Cyprus and Finland in the next few months. Mr Sasi also stressed that " we will try to open another eight chapters relating to Cyprus accession negotiations during our presidency and hope to proceed in the negotiations with as many chapters as possible". Replying to relevant questions, Mr Sasi pointed out that "Finland appreciates highly the work done by the G-8 group as well as by the UN Security Council on Cyprus". On his part Mr Kasoulides said Mr. Sasi's visit demonstrates Finland's interest in Cyprus, adding that the "Presidency programme and the Cyprus problem were discussed at yesterday's talks." 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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