|
|
|
Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-10-04
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
Thursday, 4 October 2001
CONTENTS
- [01] The solution to the Cyprus problem is not a precondition to EU
accession
[01] The solution to the Cyprus problem is not a precondition to EU
accession
The British Government does not consider the solution to the Cyprus problem
as a precondition for the island/s accession to the EU, British Deputy
Foreign Minister, Peter Hain stated in his speech, on 1 October 2001, at a
gathering with the title "Cyprus and the European Union" in the framework
of the Labour party conference in Brighton.
"Our objective continues to be to get a settlement before Cyprus joins the
EU. There will be negative consequences for everybody on the island, but
particularly for the Turkish Cypriots and for Turkey itself, if that is not
achieved. But we also stand absolutely firmly - and I want to emphasize
this to this audience-by the Helsinki Council Conclusions that stated
absolutely clearly that a settlement is not a precondition for the
accession of Cyprus to the EU. The absence of a settlement-and the Turkish
Cypriot community must understand this, as must Turkey-cannot delay or
block Cyprus' entry into the EU", Mr Hain stated.
With regard to the stalemate in the efforts to find a settlement, Mr Hain
said that "It is very disappointing that the Turkish Cypriots have not
return to the table and that their leader, Mr Denktash, has blocked the
skilful and determined efforts of Kofi Annan and the UN to get a settlement
process off the ground again. It is discouraging, but we are not going to
give up".
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
|
