Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-01-22

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

Tuesday, 22 January 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus talks begin in the UN zone in Nicosia
• [02] Cyprus' EU course is helpful to a settlement
• [03] New Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe begins
• [04] Spain to open an embassy in Cyprus

[01] Cyprus talks begin in the UN zone in Nicosia

The Associate Spokeswoman for the United Nations Secretary General in New York Ms Marie Okabe, stated the following in her briefing yesterday:

"The first of the regularly scheduled face-to-face talks between the Greek Cypriot Leader, Glafcos Clerides, and the Turkish Cypriot Leader, Rauf Denktash, got underway today.

The talks, which are taking place in the UN Protected Area in Nicosia, are being held in the presence of the Secretary General's Special Advisor for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto.

Following their meeting last Wednesday, both leaders agreed to meet every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting at 5:00 pm.

As agreed by both, no press statement is expected."

[02] Cyprus' EU course is helpful to a settlement

"I think the practicalities of the matter are that neither President Clerides nor Mr. Denktash will be primarily concerned with the Court's decisions now. They will be seeing if they can reach a political settlement.

If a political settlement is reached then that will obviously politically alter Turkey's attitude to the Court's decisions. I don't think that that will come first.

The question is: Is there enough good will? It is looking very positive in the background at the EU entry is also a powerful factor, much more than the Court's decision. As to the Court's decision, that will have in some stage to be implemented. It is the duty of all countries to fulfil its decisions.

I don't think anything will happen before a settlement is achieved".

[03] New Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe begins

During the first meeting of the Plenary Session of the Assembly, the credentials of the national delegations of the member countries of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe were accepted including those of the Cyprus delegation, which consists of the following Members: Doros Christodoulides Head of the Delegation, Panayiotis Demetriou, Doros Theodorou, and Mrs Antigoni Papadopoulou Pericleous.

The Members of the Cyprus delegation also participated in the meetings of their corresponding political groups. It must be noted that the Head of the Delegation Mr Doros Chistodoulides was re-elected for a sixth time as Vice Chairperson of the Political Group of the United European Left.

[04] Spain to open an embassy in Cyprus

According to the announcement, the Spanish Council of Ministers, filling an institutional gap from which Spain was suffering, has appointed Mr Ignacio Garcia Valdecasas, as Spain's Ambassador to Cyprus to promote relations with the Republic of Cyprus, which are considered very important.

In view of Spain's desire to enhance trade relations and improve cultural links with Cyprus as well as of Cyprus' seven-year diplomatic presence in Madrid, Spain could no longer put off opening an embassy in Nicosia, the announcement says, adding that Spain wished the opening of the Embassy in Nicosia to coincide with the start of Spain's Presidency of the European Union.

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

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