Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-11-15

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

Thursday, 15 November 2001

CONTENTS

• [01] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses satisfaction for the progress report on Cyprus' accession course
• [02] President Clerides' meeting with US Under Secretary for Political Affairs
• [03] Cyprus and Egypt cooperate for setting exclusive economic zone

[01] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses satisfaction for the progress report on Cyprus' accession course

Both texts report objectively the important progress that Cyprus has achieved through serious work in order to promote the task of harmonisation with the acquis communautaire, of the reinforcement of its administrative ability for its effective implementation and the realization of its commitments undertaken within the framework of the accession negotiations.

Within the same frame of objectivity we also include the criticism by the European Commission for some omissions or delays observed in the general promotion of our harmonization work. This criticism will help us correct the mistakes and omissions which occurred in good faith and realize that in spite of the progress achieved so far towards Cyprus' preparation for accession, there is still a lot of serious and arduous work to be done before the successful conclusion of our accession negotiations and therefore there is no room for relaxation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers that the Conclusions of the European Commission included in the Strategy Paper confirm the predictions and the commitments undertaken by the European Union for completion of the accession negotiations by the end of the Danish Presidency of the Council, the second semester of 2002, and the realization of the Enlargement in 2004 and welcomes the proposals and suggestions of the Commission which aim at the realization of this target. It also welcomes the position of the European Commission that the candidate countries must participate to the greatest possible extent both in the Lisbon process and the Intergovernmental Conference of 2004 as well as in the Assembly which will precede it for the preparation of its deliberations.

Finally, it must be noted that we are fully satisfied by the fact that both the Report on Cyprus' Progress, the Report on Turkey' s progress and the Strategy Paper record the continuing Turkish intransigence in the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem, the responsibility of Turkey in the achievement of progress in the efforts of the UN Secretary General and repeat the position of the European Union that the settlement of the Cyprus problem does not constitute a precondition for the accession of Cyprus to the European Union according to the conclusions of the Helsinki European Council. The texts also make clear that the settlement of the Cyprus problem must be in line with the principles on which the European Union is founded and must allow Cyprus to speak with one voice within the EU and be in a position to fully undertake the obligations deriving from its accession and from the fact that it will be a member state. It is noted that the principles on which the European integration is based are the principles of democracy, the rule of law and the respect and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

[02] President Clerides' meeting with US Under Secretary for Political Affairs

After the meeting, Mr Grossman stated the following: "I had the good fortune to be received by the President which was a wonderful thing, a pleasure and an honour. We really had two purposes today, one is I had a chance to thank the President for all of the efforts that Cyprus is making to be part of this campaign against terrorism and indeed the President reported to me that he and the Ambassador and the Foreign Minister had just come from the World Trade Center, had just come from ground zero and so the conversation we had about terrorism about the need to stop terrorism and an added emotion, it had a poignancy today. I complimented the President on all his efforts to propose changes to the laws in Cyprus to work with the UN on resolution 1373 on the financing of terrorism and I just took the occasion to thank the President for all of his efforts. He can speak for himself obviously, but he told me that there's more to do both in Cyprus and the United States and we'll have to continue to work together. The second thing is I asked him if he could give me his analysis at the end of his time in NYC, about were things stood on the challenges that he faces in trying to bring a peaceful resolution to the Cyprus problem and he was very kind and generous with his time and told me what he thought so I was glad to receive this information".

Replying to a question concerning the possibility of breaking the deadlock in the Cyprus problem, Mr Grossman stated: "Of course I think there's hope. It's impossible to be a diplomat without being a hopeful optimistic person, and I'm a hopeful and optimistic person. I think that if we support the UN Secretary General and if we support Mr de Soto and we support the negotiations, then of course there is hope."

Answering a question on whether the Turkish side was taking the messages sent from the American side, Mr Grossman noted that: "I think we are in the good position that everyone is listening to us but I think it's very important that our job is to support the United Nations, in this regard. So we want to do that, in any way that is possible and the best way we know how. Our job is to support the Secretary General and to support Mr de Soto and that's our job".

With regard to the 11th September events and how they have affected the efforts for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, Mr Grossman stated that: "That's up to the parties. I can't speak for that. I believe that the 11th of September reminds everybody of the fragility of human life and it reminds everybody that life is short and there are problems around the world and people should do their best to solve them. I would not presume to tell you what the impact of the 11th of September is, you have to figure that out. I say that if you go to ground zero and you look at ground zero you have to come away from that thinking -we are on this earth for a short time and we are to do the very best: we can and to be optimistic and to be hopeful".

[03] Cyprus and Egypt cooperate for setting exclusive economic zone

As a result of the first round, it was decided that the talks would continue in the near future in order to achieve an agreement on the afore- mentioned issue.

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

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