Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 00-11-14

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

Tuesday, 14 November 2000

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus government will never accept a confederal solution
• [02] Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses full satisfaction with EU progress report on Cyprus
• [03] Cyprus expresses condolences to the Austrian Parliament

[01] Cyprus government will never accept a confederal solution

Speaking at an event held in his honour, by the Athens Agricultural University, President Clerides referred to the five rounds of UN-led talks aimed at preparing the ground for a Cyprus settlement and said that he will continue to respond positively in cases where he believes that an initiative proposed by the UN may create prospects for a substantive dialogue.

President Clerides said that he expects that at a future stage, if the talks continue, "we will find ourselves before a draft solution." He pointed out that through negotiations "we will have the opportunity to set out our positions and our arguments in detail, on all aspects of the Cyprus problem", and to influence the content of the draft outline solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation so that it is in line with UN resolutions, international law, human rights conventions and the European aquis communautaire.

The President underlined that he will never accept a confederal solution in Cyprus. Any attempt to reposition the basis on which the talks on the Cyprus problem are being carried out, will receive no international support and consequently will have no chance of success, but might create the possibility that our side would be blamed if an impasse is reached at the talks, he said.

We are already bound by the High Level Agreements that were signed by Archbishop Makarios and Mr Denktash, and by Mr Kyprianou and Mr Denktash, as well as by the relevant Security Council resolutions to search for a solution based on a bizonal bicommunal federation, he added.

President Clerides stressed that Turkey and the international community, which can influence the solution of the Cyprus problem, must realize that good relations between Greece and Turkey cannot be consolidated without progress in the Cyprus issue.

He said that in order to earn the support of the international community for the solution of the Cyprus problem, we must convince them that we consider Turks in Turkey and in Cyprus as future friends and colleagues. On their part, they must give convincing evidence that they too want a peaceful settlement based on Security Council resolutions and that they realise that they will benefit from permanent peace, real security, democratic stability and economic development in the wider region.

The strategy that the Cyprus Government follows, in consultation with the Greek Government, has given rise to international interest, which in turn has led to the initiative on Cyprus, has advanced accession negotiations and has led to a more active involvement of the European Union in the efforts to find a solution which we shall endeavour to be in line with the acquis communautaire, the President said.

A solution of a federal and united state, which is demilitarised and a member of the European Union, will be for the benefit of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and will contribute to the peace, political stability, security, and cooperation between the states of the wider area including of course Greece and Turkey, he said.

[02] Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses full satisfaction with EU progress report on Cyprus

In a statement issued yesterday, the Foreign Ministry describes the regular report as "positive and favourable, because it acknowledges that Cyprus together with Malta. is the only candidate country, which already satisfies all political and economic criteria for accession and continues to be ahead of all other candidate countries.

The Ministry's statement says that the report presents in an objective manner the progress achieved so far towards harmonisation with the acquis communautaire and towards strengthening the structure of the administration.

The European commission's criticism on some delays and omissions in the implementation of commitments Cyprus had undertaken, is considered to have been made "in good faith" and is regarded a reminder that difficult, serious and pain-staking effort must be made before the successful conclusion of negotiations and accession, it says.

The statement also expresses satisfaction with the strategy document on enlargement, which calls on member states to meet their commitment to conclude the Intergovernmental Conference to enable the Union to accept new members at the end of 2002 and function effectively after enlargement.

The government welcomes suggestions, proposals and a time table put forward by the Commission to intensify accession negotiations with a view to concluding them in mid 2002, and hopes that this would be approved by the member states at the Nice Summit in early December, the statement concludes.

[03] Cyprus expresses condolences to the Austrian Parliament

In the telegrams, Mr Kyprianou expressed the Cypriot peoples' sorrow for the unprecedented tragedy in the Austrian mountains that resulted in the deaths of so many people and their deepest sympathy and most sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the people of Austria as a whole.

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

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