Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 00-11-27

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

Monday, 27 November 2000

CONTENTS

• [01] Statement by the Government Spokesman
• [02] The solution of the Cyprus problem should be in line with international law and the acquis communautaire
• [03] Belgian Senate President: progress in Turkey's accession partnership is related to progress in the Cyprus problem
• [04] Cyprus and Singapore sign double taxation agreement
• [05] Cyprus and Greece sign Cooperation protocol

[01] Statement by the Government Spokesman

«I express the Cyprus Government's regret over Mr Denktash's threats to pull out of the proximity talks and torpedo the efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem. There is no doubt that such a decision causes disappointment both to the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots who expect both sides to behave in a responsible manner and with a spirit of compromise so that a solution to the Cyprus problem may at long last be found.

The Greek Cypriot side wishes to express its readiness once again to work in this direction. The framework for a compromise solution does exist and bares the signatures of Archbishop Makarios, Mr Kyprianou and Mr Denktash. There also exists the full backing of the international community and it is demonstrated through the UN Security Council resolutions.

The obvious aim of Mr Dektash is to blackmail developments, to neutralize the UN Secretary-General's statement of 8 November in Geneva and to prejudice the consultations of the European countries regarding the text of the Turkey-EU accession partnership agreement. The Cyprus Government denounces these tactics and especially the attitude of the Turkish side. The United Nations, the European Union and the international community as a whole have an enormous responsibility not to give in to this blackmail because dangerous precedents will be created to the effect that the UN Security Council resolutions, the principles of international law and the acquis communautaire are susceptible to blackmail.

We hope that Mr Denktash will not implement his threats. If he proceeds, however, he will assume the whole political responsibility and it is the duty of the UN and the EU to lay the whole blame on him.

The role of Ankara in yesterday's developments is decisive. Instead of guiding Mr Denktash to a compromise they are pushing him to extreme positions which destroy the peace process. Unfortunately, Ankara once again proves that far from helping the UN efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem it torpedoes these efforts.»

In reply to a question whether after these developments the Government considers that its initial position that it will participate in the sixth round of the proximity talks is still valid, the Spokesman said:

«There is no change in the position of the Government. As I explained to you yesterday, the approach of the Government as regards its participation in the sixth round of talks is positive in principle. I repeat, however, that we hope that developments regarding the renewal of UNFICYP's mandate will be such as not to lead the Government to changing its approach.»

[02] The solution of the Cyprus problem should be in line with international law and the acquis communautaire

Mr Poos, who arrived in Cyprus on 23 November for an official visit at the invitation of Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, President of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, had had a series of meetings with the President of the Republic, the President of the House of Representatives, political party leaders and other government officials. The talks focused on the developments of the UN sponsored talks on Cyprus and the Republic's EU accession course.

Speaking after separate meetings with party leaders, Mr Poos stated that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Denktash does not understand how the EU works. Mr Denktash "sees the EU as something like the colonial empire, which wants to dictate its rules to every member, but it is not like that", he said. The European Union "is a union of democratic countries, which has rules based on some shared fundamental principles that benefit everybody and do not threaten the interests of any member state", he added.

Mr Poos expressed the belief that the Turkish Cypriots would feel much better than they feel now, if they were under the general shield of the EU. He said that in his opinion Mr Denktash did not interpret the will of the Turkish Cypriots in the right way, and stressed that the Turkish Cypriot leader should realize that the Turkish Cypriots could draw great benefits from joining the EU.

The European Union has renewed the offer to Mr Denktash, that he would be welcome to join the team of negotiators any time, he added.

Commenting on statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader that he would pull out of the UN proximity talks which are scheduled to resume for a sixth round in January 2001, Mr Poos said that it would be a mistake to abandon the talks because the party that walks out would be held responsible for the failure of the talks. The EU hopes that the talks will continue, he added.

Referring to Cyprus's EU accession course after a meeting with the House President Mr Spyros Kyprianou, the EU rapporteur said that Cyprus could join the Union without a prior settlement of its political problem but expressed the hope this prospect would act as a catalyst to reach a solution.

"The European Parliament, for which I speak, is willing to take Cyprus aboard as quickly as possible and I am pleased to say that the latest report of the Commission is very positive about the huge efforts made in your country to meet what we call the acquis communautaire," Mr Poos said.

"Of course we would like to have a solution prior to accession and we hope that it will be possible, but if this is not the case this could not be an impediment to take Cyprus aboard," he added.

"I also hope that the accession of Cyprus will be a catalyst for a solution of the political problem you have and that we can find a settlement which is in conformity with the UN resolutions on the one side and with the acquis communautaire on the other side," he concluded.

[03] Belgian Senate President: progress in Turkey's accession partnership is related to progress in the Cyprus problem

Mr de Decker welcomed the progress achieved so far in Cyprus' European Union accession course and expressed the hope that the accession negotiations would be concluded as soon as possible.

Referring to Turkey's accession partnership with the European Union, Mr de Decker stressed that Turkey's EU accession course is directly related to the Cyprus problem. He underlined that it is inconceivable to achieve progress in Turkey's relations with the EU without parallel progress on the Cyprus problem.

The President of the Belgian Senate said that he had accepted an invitation by the President of the Cyprus House of Representatives to visit Cyprus at the beginning of 2001.

[04] Cyprus and Singapore sign double taxation agreement

The agreement, which will strengthen even further Cyprus' position as a centre of international activities, was signed in Singapore on 24 November by Finance Ministers, Mr Takis Klerides on behalf of Cyprus and Mr Richard Hu Tsu Tau on behalf of Singapore.

Speaking yesterday on his return from an official visit to Indonesia and Singapore, Mr Klerides expressed satisfaction with the signing of the agreement, which he described as a move that would bring the island closer to the Far East. The agreement is important he said, because Singapore isnot only a very significant world business centre, but also one of the most important centres in the Far East.

In Indonesia Mr Klerides said he concluded the second round of negotiations for an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation. The relevant documents will be prepared for signature in the near future.

The Finance Minister said that the government is expected to promote next year another six similar agreements with other important centres.

Cyprus has so far signed 33 double taxation agreements with other countries.

[05] Cyprus and Greece sign Cooperation protocol

The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Mr Nicos Rolandis and the Greek Minister for Development Mr Nicos Christodoulakis, who was on an official visit to the island, signed the protocol in Nicosia on 24 November.

Under the protocol, significant projects in the fields of information, telecommunications, agriculture, biotechnology, health, energy, education, economy and society, as well as the environment will be promoted and financed.

Speaking to the press after signing the protocol, Rolandis said the programme for exchanges between the two countries "creates bridges for continuous communication", noting that there is great potential for substantiallystrengthening contacts between Cyprus and Greece.

Mr Rolandis described commercial relations between Cyprus and Greece, amounting to 300 million US dollars annually, as "excellent" but noted that the two countries would try to upgrade them.

For his part, Mr Christodoulakis said that Cyprus is moving fast in its EU accession course and praised the island's economy.

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

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