Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-09-05

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

Wednesday, 5 September 2001

CONTENTS

• [01] Greek Foreign Minister on an official visit to Cyprus
• [02] Verheugen: we must now focus all our efforts on settling the conflict
• [03] Joint Press Conference of Greece's and Cyprus' Foreign Ministers

[01] Greek Foreign Minister on an official visit to Cyprus

Upon his arrival at the Larnaca airport,the Greek Foreign Minister made the following statement:

" I am glad to be here in Cyprus in order to meet with the leadership of the Cypriot political world and to have important discussions on the developments which we see in the next few months. First of all we have the accession process where Cyprus is doing very well in order to become full member of the European Union. Certainly we see that this is a great opportunity not only for the Greek Cypriot community, but for Cyprus as a whole. That means the Turkish Cypriot Community also to become part of the European Union. They can do so by helping the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Therefore, we hope that the efforts of the UN Secretary-General, the efforts of Alvaro de Soto, within the framework of the UN resolutions, will be positive and we will see that soon Mr Denktash will be again at the negotiations table, to continue where he left off. I hope that these efforts would be succesful. It is important for both communities, it is important for Cyprus, it is important for the European Union, it is important for peace in the wider region and certainly important and crucial for Greek-Turkish relations. We have always said this, we stress this again. I do believe there is a historic opportunity which should not be missed and particularly a historical opportunity for the Turkish Cypriot community.

Cyprus will be part of the European Union. The question is whether it will be part of the European Union with or without the Turkish Cypriots. We do hope that they will be with us. But it is their decision and it is their political will that they must show in these next few months, in order for this to become a reality".

[02] Verheugen: we must now focus all our efforts on settling the conflict

In his reference to Cyprus during the Debate on EU Enlargement in the European Parliament, Mr Verheugen said he was "very happy" to report that the EU was cooperating closely with the UN " in an atmosphere of trust" and noted that it was not by chance that the Secretary-General's meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in Salzburg last Tuesday, was preceded by a meeting between himself and Denktash in Zurich the day before.

Mr Verheugen thanked the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, as well as the special envoys of the United Nations, the United Kingdom and the United States for their close coordination and constructive dialogue.

"I hope discussion of the Cyprus issue will now be kick-started and that talks on substantive issues will begin soon. We must now focus all our efforts on settling the conflict. We should avoid speculating what we will do if that does not succeed. The Helsinki accords give us room for manoeuvre and we must use it," he said.

[03] Joint Press Conference of Greece's and Cyprus' Foreign Ministers

Following their meeting the two Ministers held a joint press conference.

Answering a question concerning the role of the Turkish Cypriots in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, Greece/s Foreign Minister stated that President Clerides himself made a clear and important proposal inviting the Turkish Cyprtios to take part in the negotiating team of the Cyprus government for Cyprus/ accession to the EU. The other viable option, he said, is the solution to the Cyprus problem which will include undoubtedly Cyprus/ accession to the EU. The essence of the proposal is that a new perspective, a new motivation is offered which can only benefit the two communities on the island as well as Turkey/s european process, ensure stability in the region and therefore ensure stability to the Greco-Turkish relations for which the solution to the Cyprus problem is of paramount importance.

The Greek Foreign Minister added that Greece aims at paving the way of solving problems like the Cyprus problem and to shape a new relation with Turkey. "Turkey is aware, I have personally told the Turkish Foreign Minister, that the Cyprus issue is Greece/s priority and affects directly Greek-Turkish relations. Sooner or later this issue will unite us, unite the two countries and the two people or it will divide us. We have already lived in an atmosphere of tension for too many years and we need to take hold of this opportunity. Turkey must make the best use out of this opportunity, otherwise Turkey alone will have the blame of acting otherwise", Mr Papandreou said. He added that it is perceived, from previous contacts between Greece and Turkey, that there is a common ground and perspective for cooperation for a number of issues between the two countries and it is inconceivable to have a "Berlin Wall" here in Cyprus and to continue having Turkish occupying forces dividing, de facto, the island thus creating tension in the region. The Minister noted that there are groups of powerful people in Turkey and among the Turkish Cypriots who begin to realize that there is an alternative approach to the Cyprus problem and towards Greece. "They also perceive Turkey/s accession to the EU as a strategic aim and therefore the materialization of Turkey/s Accession Partnership is essential. Whether these groups of people will eventually achieve this aim is another question. Nobody can guarantee this. On our part, however, we have every reason to want these people progressing because a european Turkey will be a different country with different perceptions vis-a-vis Greeco-Turkish relations, Cyprus and its external relations as well as its internal policy on a number of issues", Mr Papandreou noted.

The Cypriot Foreign Minister, referring to the rapprochement between the two communities on the island, stated that Cyprus/ position on the matter has always been clear-cut. "We believe that when common people have the chance to meet between themselves without obstacles or without the dividing line, they can understand each other and their anxieties more easily. It is in this framework we can make the best use of the opportunities offered by the EU. These opportunities are offered in a series of bi-communal projects foreseen already by the Financial Regulation. If there are any obstacles in this effort for rapprochement, they are not set by us", Mr Kassoulides added.

Responding to a comment made by a journalist, that Cyprus according to its constitution cannot become a member of an international organisation where Greece and Turkey are not full members, Mr Kassoulides said that the constitution does not allow the unification of Cyprus with another country. The constitution, Mr Kassoulides added, does not in any way prohibit the membership of Cyprus in an international organisation where Greece and Turkey are not full members.

Replying to the same comment, Mr Papandreou noted that Cyprus/ accession to the EU is a great opportunity for the Turkish Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriot community should join the EU for security reasons, Mr Papandreou said, adding that the Turkish Cypriots can be have representatives in the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and would have a say in all issues related to the EU as part, of course, of the Cyprus government.

Asked on what the Cyprus government is prepared to accept so as for the talks to re-commence, Mr Kassoulides said that it is too early to comment on this issue. He added that the reason for the suspension of the previous round of talks was Mr Denktash/s intransigent stance.

Requested to mention the actions taken by the Cypriot and Greek governments in order for the status quo in Strovilia to be restored, Mr Kassoulides said that there are two UN Resolutions that ask Turkey to withdraw from Strovilia and to restore the status quo ante in the area. In the report presented to the USA Congress by the President of the United States there is a call on Turkey to withdraw from the said area, Mr Kassoulides concluded.

Asked if he had a message to convey to the Turkish Cypriot Community and Ankara, Mr Papandreou said that for the first time after so many years there is a very big opportunity for the whole of Cyprus that is very much related to the full membership of the island to the EU. Mr Papandreou expressed the belief that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community will demonstrate the much needed goodwill by taking the critical political decisions that will provide for the solution to the Cyprus problem.

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

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