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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-05-21Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>Monday, 21 May 2001CONTENTS[01] Turkish side does not have political will to solve Cyprus problemCyprus' Foreign Minister, Mr Ioannis Kasoulides, said that no developments are expected in efforts to find a settlement of the Cyprus problem at least until the autumn because the Turkish side has not been convinced to abandon its intransigent demands."The Turkish side's intransigence leads one to conclude that there is no political will to solve the Cyprus problem in the near future", the Foreign Minister told a press conference on Saturday 19 May. He reiterated the Greek Cypriot side's readiness to participate in negotiations from where they left off last November. He added, however, that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash's demand for recognition of the illegal regime in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus cannot be met as it would make the Turkish side more intransigent than ever. "My assessment is that neither the UN, nor the five Security Council permanent members or others who support the Secretary General in his effort are prepared to accept such a demand," he added, noting however that efforts to get the Turkish Cypriot leader back to the negotiating table are continuing. The Foreign Minister urged the Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to call the two sides to talks and said that if Mr Denktash refuses to negotiate then he should inform the Security Council. [02] Cooperation between Cyprus and Iran to be improvedThere is much potential for bilateral cooperation between Cyprus and Iran, the Iranian Minister of Commerce, Mohammad Shariatmadari, has said.Speaking after a meeting with Cyprus' Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Mr Nicos Rolandis, on Friday 18 May, Mr Shariatmadari said that over and above the commercial field, cooperation can also be furthered in the fields of energy, tourism and banking. Mr Rolandis on his part said that direct and indirect commercial transactions between the two countries reached 250 million dollars last year. Earlier Mr Shariatmadari was received by President Clerides and House President Spyros Kyprianou. [03] Defence Minister attends European defence meetingCyprus' Defence Minister, Mr Socratis Hasikos, has said that Cyprus is one of 30 countries taking part in the European Defence Force, a factor which further strengthens Cyprus' efforts to join the European Union.In statements on his return from Brussels where he attended a meeting of Defence Ministers of EU member-states with EU candidate countries, Mr Hasikos said that this is the second time such a meeting has been held and that Cyprus has reiterated its willingness to contribute towards a European rapid deployment force. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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