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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 00-07-04
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
Tuesday, 4 July 2000
CONTENTS
- [01] There can be no normalisation of Greco -Turkish relations without a
just Cyprus settlement, says Simitis.
[01] There can be no normalisation of Greco -Turkish relations without a
just Cyprus settlement, says Simitis.
«The Cyprus Problem will always be a priority issue for Greece and will
always be at the centre of the Greek government/s attention and activities»,
Greek Prime Minister Mr Costas Simitis said yesterday after a two-hour
meeting with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides in Athens. The Greek Premier
underlined that relations between Greece and Turkey would never be fully
normalised unless there is a solution to the Cyprus problem. According to a
joint communique, the aim of the meeting was the exchange of views on the
latest developments in the Cyprus problem, a review of the positions of
Greece and Cyprus in view of the third round of proximity talks scheduled
to begin in Geneva tomorrow, Cyprus accession course and bilateral
relations.
The two leaders confirmed that President Clerides goes to Geneva "in good
faith with the aim to achieve substantial progress towards a comprehensive
just and lasting settlement» of the Cyprus question, which is a source of
tension and destabilisation in South - East Mediterranean", it says. In
this effort, President Clerides has the full backing of both the Greek
government and the Greek people, the communique notes.
It points out that Athens and Nicosia have again ascertained that "all the
elements" necessary to end the tragedy of Cyprus are included in the
relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which provide for a "bizonal,
bicommunal federation with a single sovereignty, international personality
and citizenship, securing the independence and territorial integrity (of
the Republic) without the presence of any illegal foreign troops".
Expressing the hope that the other side will "show the necessary political
will to achieve progress within the above mentioned framework ,the
communique also refers to Cyprus' accession course to the EU,assessing that
the progress achieved so far was positive.
Greece backs Cyprus' EU course "with every possible means", the communique
says, noting the Helsinki European Council conclusions have strengthened
the island's "accession prospect" and "opened the way for the cohabitation
of all Cypriots in prosperity and safety".
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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