Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-04-02

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

Monday, 2 April 2001

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides meets EU Parliamentarians
• [02] Cyprus Foreign Minister meets with US Ambassador to Cyprus
• [03] Pope John Paul II invited to visit Cyprus

[01] President Clerides meets EU Parliamentarians

Replying to reporters' questions afterwards, Mr Cox said, inter alia, that it is clear that if and when the Republic of Cyprus concludes its accession negotiations, it will become a full member of the EU. Mr Cox added that Cyprus couldn't be held hostage by any other forces. That, he stressed, is a clear message of the European Union, and it should not be misinterpreted.

On the same day, the President also had a meeting with, the Chairman of the European Peoples' Party and European Democrats, Hans-Gert Poettering.

Mr Poettering welcomed the progress made by Cyprus in its accession negotiations with the European Union. The EU Parliamentarian also stressed that even though the entry of a unified Cyprus to the EU would be ideal, "we want to see the last wall in Europe, which divides Cyprus in two parts, come down and if a third country does not allow the unification of Cyprus, then we want to go on with the process of integrating the Republic of Cyprus into the EU".

[02] Cyprus Foreign Minister meets with US Ambassador to Cyprus

In a statement to the press afterwards, Mr Kasoulides said that with Mr Bandler he discussed his forthcoming meeting with the US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell, a meeting to which he attaches great importance.

Mr Kasoulides said that discussions with the Foreign Minister of the new US Government would focus on the efforts for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, the future membership of Cyprus to the EU and bilateral relations.

He also noted that the meeting was arranged at an early date since the Bush administration took over, which is proof of the firm interest of the US government in the efforts to find a Cyprus settlement.

For his part, Mr Bandler expressed his government's great satisfaction with the forthcoming meeting and said that the Cyprus problem is important not only as a problem but also because Cyprus is a country with which the United States has broad relations, which it wishes to advance even further.

The American Ambassador reiterated a statement made by President Bush that the Cyprus problem is one of the priorities of the US government and that the United States strongly support the UN-led sponsored talks on Cyprus.

[03] Pope John Paul II invited to visit Cyprus

A possible visit by the Pope to Cyprus was discussed during a meeting, at the Vatican, between the spokesman of the Vatican, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri and Ambassador Psilogenis. The visit in question is connected to the visit that the Pope is planning to Athens at the beginning of May and then to Syria and Malta to trace the steps of Apostle Paul.

Cardinal Sandri expressed the Pope's warm thanks for the invitation, which, he said would be considered with great attention, despite the Pope's heavy schedule.

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

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