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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-04-16Cyprus 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/>Tuesday, 16 April 2002CONTENTS[01] House President meets with UN Secretary GeneralThe President of the House of Representatives, Mr Demetris Christofias, currently in a visit to the USA, had a meeting at the UN headquarters yesterday with the UN Secretary General Mr Koffi Annan.Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mr Christofias said that he had urged the UN Secretary General to be more actively involved and exert his influence, so that the permanent members of the Security Council will move in the direction of Ankara to encourage a change in the position of the Turkish side, so that we can look forward to a solution of the Cyprus problem prior to Cyprus' accession to the EU. Replying to a press question whether Mr Annan would expect any intervention in the Cyprus peace process, Mr Christofias said that the UN Secretary General commended President Clerides' stance at the direct talks adding that he got the impression that Mr Annan would favour such an intervention and wished him every success in this direction. [02] EU urges Turkey to support direct talks on CyprusThe EU Foreign Ministers, in their common position, in view of the EU- Turkey Association Council held in Luxemburg today, referred to the Cyprus problem and reaffirmed the Helsinki decisions and their position on the need for a solution to the Cyprus problem based on UN resolutions.The 15-nation bloc welcomes the direct talks and calls upon the leaders of the two communities to work for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, under the auspices of the UN, respecting the timetable for June, set by the two leaders themselves. It also urges Turkey and all interested parties to fully support the procedure of the direct talks. The European Union points out that Cyprus, as a member of the EU, must have a single voice in the EU constitutional bodies and be able to live up to its obligations derived from the Conventions. Finally the EU urges Turkey to lift the restrictions against Cypriot ships. [03] EU Commissioner for Enlargement warns Turkish CypriotsThe European Commissioner for Enlargement Mr Gunter Verheugen pointed out that if Cyprus joined the EU without a solution to the Cyprus problem, the political and economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots would continue and might be strengthened .Speaking yesterday before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Mr Verheugen said that the possibilities of the European Commission in Northern Cyprus have almost paralysed and the obstacles put by the Turkish Cypriot side to the EU officials in their free movement in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus had increased in such an extent that we had not experienced in the past. The Commission's Delegation Head to Cyprus as well as other EU officials cannot move freely in the Turkish occupied areas, Mr Verheugen added. Moreover, the EU Commissioner said that if there was a final solution to the Cyprus problem by June, it would be possible for the acquis communautaire to be adjusted in the Turkish occupied areas. This date cannot change, because if there is flexibility in this issue the hole procedure will collapse, Mr Verheugen concluded. 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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