Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-04-23

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

Tuesday, 23 April 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides receives the President of the Slovak Republic
• [02] Foreign Minister will seek to speak to Mr Solana
• [03] Three more chapters closed

[01] President Clerides receives the President of the Slovak Republic

Following the official ceremony, talks were carried out between the delegations of the two countries headed by the two Presidents.

Speaking to the press, President Clerides said that the talks focused on reviewing the bilateral relations on political, economic and cultural sectors adding that the EU accession process of each country was also discussed.

We exchanged views on international issues and in particular on the Middle East crisis and I briefed Mr Schuster on the direct talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem. There is a common understanding on all issues under discussion, the relations between the two countries are excellent, and we believe that the relations will be further enhanced following the accession of the two countries to the EU, President Clerides said.

I avail myself of the opportunity to express to the Slovak President the gratitude of the people of Cyprus for the firm and unreserved support of his country for a just, viable and workable solution to the Cyprus problem, President Clerides concluded.

On his part, the Slovak President congratulated Cyprus on its success in the process for accession to the EU and said that Cyprus was ahead of Slovakia having closed 27 chapters of the acquis communautaire.

Mr Schuster expressed the hope that there would be in the future a change in the political situation and that the Cyprus problem would be resolved on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

The Slovak President also expressed the hope that Cyprus would support Slovakia in its second effort to become a non-permanent member of the Security Council in 2006.

Replying to a press question on whether he considered the continuation of the talks important because the richest parts of the island were in the northern occupied part, President Clerides confirmed that the continuation of the talks was indeed important, in order to find a solution to the Cyprus problem in accordance with the Security Council Resolutions. There were many reasons for that, the President added, one of which was that a resolution of the Cyprus problem would contribute to the enhancement of the relations of the two communities and this would reflect positively on all aspects.

[02] Foreign Minister will seek to speak to Mr Solana

In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency, before the opening of the deliberations of the Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Valencia, Mr Kasoulides wondered whether Mr Solana dealt with the legal aspect of Cyprus' accession and not the practical application of the accession.

Mr Kasoulides pointed out that the application for EU membership was made by the Republic of Cyprus, the only existing international personality for the UN and the EU. The accession negotiations are carried out on behalf of the whole of Cyprus for the accession of the entire island, he stressed adding that, if there is no solution to the Cyprus problem the acquis communautaire will be applied in the Government controlled areas and in case of a solution to the entire territory of Cyprus.

[03] Three more chapters closed

The President of the EU Council Mr Fransisco Javier Conde de Saro congratulated Cyprus' Chief Negotiator Mr Vassiliou on Cyprus' excellent performance pointing out that the closure of 27 chapters is a record and reaffirmed that Cyprus was leading in the accession negotiations.

On his part Mr Vassiliou expressed his complete satisfaction with the closure of the three chapters and said that following this development Cyprus was entering, in essence, the final stage of the accession process. Moreover, he assured the EU officials that Cyprus would continue to work hard with a view to completing the harmonization with the acquis communautaire in the next few months.

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

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