Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 00-10-10

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

CONTENTS

• [01] Verheugen: Cyprus will be ready for accession at the next enlargement
• [02] Cyprus signs cooperation agreement with the European Environment Organisation

[01] Verheugen: Cyprus will be ready for accession at the next enlargement

The Minister of Finance Mr Takis Klerides represented the Cyprus Government at the meeting, which tackled matters relating to Cyprus' European Union accession course. The Head of the negotiating team for Cyprus' EU accession Mr George Vassiliou also attended the meeting.

In his speech the representative of the French Presidency to the European Union Mr Jean Bernard de Vaivre described the present status quo in Cyprus as unacceptable due to restrictions on the Cypriot peoples' right of freedom of movement.

Mr de Vaivre expressed the French Presidency's support for a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the relevant UN resolutions. Referring to Cyprus' EU accession in relation to the political problem, he expressed the view that the solution of the Cyprus problem will facilitate Cyprus' accession. Mr de Vaivre reiterated the decision of the 15 EU member- states at Helsinki, that a settlement of the Cyprus problem, however, is not a precondition for the Republic's accession to the European Union.

On behalf of the EU Commission, the EU Commissioner on Enlargement Mr Gunther Verheugen, also addressing the meeting, said that Cyprus would be ready for accession by the next enlargement. This is evident not only from the point of view of the number of chapters of the acquis communautaire that have been completed but also from the point of view of the criteria and the adoption of the acquis.

The Commissioner expressed the view that the enlargement process will help the United Nations efforts for a Cyprus settlement.

Mr Verheugen also stressed that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash must realise that time is working against him and that the European Union will never accept the accession of "two Cypriot states".

In her speech, the Euro MP and Co-President of the Joint EU-Cyprus Parliamentary Committee, Mrs Mechild Rothe, stressed that the solution of the Cyprus problem is not a precondition for the accession of Cyprus to the European Union.

The President of the Cyprus Foreign Affairs Committee and Co-President of the Joint EU-Cyprus Parliamentary Committee Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, referring to the efforts for a settlement, underlined that any proposals or ideas must be in line with the acquis communautaire. They must also envisage the respect of human rights and basic freedoms and exclude the solution of confederation.

Mr Papadopoulos said that both the Cyprus Government and Parliament are working hard for the harmonization of the Cyprus legislation with the European acquis, to enable Cyprus' accession to the EU by the year 2003. Cyprus's Finance Minister Mr Takis Klerides put forward similar positions.

[02] Cyprus signs cooperation agreement with the European Environment Organisation

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

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