Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-04-12

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

Thursday, 12 April 2001

CONTENTS

• [01] Austria supports Cyprus' European Union accession
• [02] US foreign aid for Cyprus
• [03] Appeal to UN Secretary General for the release of Panicos Tsiakourmas
• [04] Russian citizens advised not to visit pseudostate

[01] Austria supports Cyprus' European Union accession

In a statement after the meeting, Mr Kasoulides said that with his Austrian counterpart he had the opportunity to discuss the latest developments in the efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, bilateral issues, the situation in the Balkans and the Middle East and other matters of mutual interest.

They also discussed the progress made by Cyprus in the accession negotiations with the European Union and exchanged views on how to exploit, in a catalytic way, the remaining time until the European Union decision on Cyprus' membership, in order to facilitate the efforts for a Cyprus settlement.

Mr Kasoulides expressed his country's appreciation for Austria's participation in the UN peacekeeping force, and for its policy on matters of enlargement, which is based on the principle of fairness to all candidate countries for EU accession. Austria is very interested in the enlargement process since it borders four prospective EU members, he said.

In her statement, Mrs Waldner underlined that Austria would really hope that a solution could be found in the framework of the UN, so that a reunited Cyprus could accede to the EU, but in the absence of a political settlement it would give its support to Cyprus' accession to the European Union, as prescribed by the EU Helsinki decisions.

Earlier in the day, the Austrian Minister was received by President Glafcos Clerides. She also had a meeting with the President of the House of Representatives, Mr Spyros Kyprianou, who briefed her on the recent developments in the Cyprus problem and on the island's EU accession course.

Mr Kyprianou stressed the need for the international community and especially for the United States and the European Union to exert all their influence on Turkey to alter its policy on Cyprus, so that a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem can be found.

He also underlined that Cyprus' accession to the European Union would act as a catalyst for the solution of the Cyprus problem and would be beneficial to all Cypriots.

[02] US foreign aid for Cyprus

The extract from the report regarding Cyprus reads as follows: "Of the funds under the headings 'Development Assistance' and 'Economic Support Fund' not less than $15,000,000 shall be made available for Cyprus to be used only for scholarships, administrative support of the scholarship program, bicommunal projects, and measures aimed at reunification of the island and designed to reduce tensions and promote peace and cooperation between the two communities on Cyprus."

The leaders of the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes issued a press release saying that "this action by President Bush is consistent with his first personal statement on the Cyprus issue" regarding his commitment to a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem.

[03] Appeal to UN Secretary General for the release of Panicos Tsiakourmas

In his letter, Mr Zackheos refers to the relevant (B5-0266, 0271, 0279, 0286 and 0296/2001), which "condemns the abduction and subsequent arrest of Mr Tsiakourmas by the Turkish Cypriots, with the apparent support of the Turkish occupation forces, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law".

The Permanent Representative appeals to the Secretary General to use his "influence and authority upon Turkey for the immediate release of Mr Tsiakourmas" and further asks of him to "inform all relevant Human Rights mechanisms about this flagrant violation of international law". Furthermore, Mr Zackheos requests that his letter be circulated as a document to the General Assembly and the Security Council.

[04] Russian citizens advised not to visit pseudostate

The Russian Duma issued a list of 29 blacklisted countries and regions. The list comprises high-risk countries and regions, where terrorist acts and abductions are considered as very likely to happen and the lives of visiting Russian Federation citizens would be highly at risk.

Both the Russian Foreign Ministry and Duma have included "northern Cyprus" on their list.

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

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