Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 00-11-03

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

Friday, 3 November 2000

CONTENTS

• [01] Proximity talks on Cyprus continue
• [02] European Union considers status quo in Cyprus as unacceptable

[01] Proximity talks on Cyprus continue

In a short statement after the meeting President Clerides said that he had "a quite interesting and in depth discussion of various aspects of the Cyprus problem", in the context of the four core issues set out by the UN Secretary-General, namely the distribution of powers, territory, security and property.

Meanwhile the United Nations Secretary General's Spokesman Mr Fred Eckhard stated in his press briefing yesterday, that the Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan will travel to Geneva to take part in the proximity talks on the 7 November.

[02] European Union considers status quo in Cyprus as unacceptable

The above was stated in a declaration issued by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the resumption of the proximity talks on Cyprus currently taking place in Geneva.

In the declaration, the European Union also "calls upon the two communities to conduct substantive talks during this session and to contribute actively to a settlement".

The Cyprus Government Spokesman Mr Michalis Papapetrou, who is currently in Geneva for the proximity talks, welcomed the statement by the French Presidency and noted in particular the reference to a Cyprus solution consistent with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

"The fact that the statement says that a solution must be consistent with the UN resolutions on the Cyprus problem, basically sets the parameters within which the European Union will judge the stand of the two sides at the talks and also the way in which it perceives the solution to the Cyprus problem", he said.

"This is particularly important in view of the leading role that the European Union is actually playing in these negotiations. It is also important that the solution must conform to the acquis communautaire", he added.

Commenting on the statement made by the Turkish Cypriot leader that he will criticise Mr de Soto who said that the EU perspective would contribute to a solution of the Cyprus problem, the Spokesman stressed that Mr Denktash is always trying to bypass anything emanating from the European Union.

Mr Papapetrou expressed the view that the European Union is "in reality becoming a catalyst for developments in view of the fact that all the participants in the Cyprus situation are in one way or another linked to it".

"In the light of the fact that Cyprus is an EU candidate country, that Greece is already a member-state, and that Turkey will, if certain criteria are met, become a candidate country herself, the importance of the European Union for a Cyprus solution should be taken for granted and obviously creates certain problems for Mr Denktash", Mr Papapetrou said.

"Our reply is that, instead of demonising the EU, Mr Denktash would do better to adapt his positions to the acquis which today forms the heart of European law and with which international law converges," he added.

Moreover, replying to a question about Turkey's ties with the EU, in view of next week's accession partnership Mr Papapetrou said that "the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr Mesut Yilmaz and Turkey should realise that, despite what they are told, they cannot dream about joining the EU as long as they continue to occupy by force of arms a substantial part of the territory of a small weak neighbouring country".

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

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