 |
Compact version |
|
 |
        |
|
 |
||
|
Sunday, 22 December 2024
|
||
 |
 |
|
|
|
Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-04-24Cyprus 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/>Wednesday, 24 April 2002CONTENTS
[01] Slovak President supports UN resolutions on CyprusThe President of the House of Representatives, Mr Demetris Christofias, had a meeting yesterday with the President of the Slovak Republic Mr Rudolf Schuster, who is on an official visit to Cyprus.During the meeting, Mr Christofias analyzed the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and thanked Mr Schuster for his country's contribution to the United Nations Peace keeping Force in Cyprus, as well as for the efforts of the Slovak Ambassador to Nicosia aimed at the rapprochement of the island's two communities. The House President also made reference to the close relations between the two countries and the prospects for their further development. The Slovak President stressed that his country supports the UN Resolutions for the solution of the Cyprus problem expressing his country's conviction that Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities can live together in peace and that the dividing Green Line must be breached just like the Berlin wall. [02] Spanish Foreign Minister: Cyprus will join EU on the basis of EU Council decisionsThe Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Mr Josep Pique, who is currently presiding over the EU, stated that Cyprus' accession to the EU would take place on the basis on the EU Councils decisions.Speaking during a press conference, after the closing of the deliberations of the 5th Euro-Mediterranean Conference, at Valencia, the Spanish Foreign Minister also said that the EU Council decisions were crystal clear. We would like to see a solution to the Cyprus problem and that is why we are encouraging the interested parties to reach an agreement that would allow things to develop smoothly, Mr Pique pointed out. The EU High Representative for Foreign and Defence Policy, Mr Javier Solana, who also attended the press conference, stated that he had nothing to add to what Mr Pique had said. [03] House President receives Italian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee PresidentThe President of the House of Representatives Mr Demetris Christofias received yesterday Italian MPs, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, headed by its President, Mr Gustavo Selva.After the meeting, Mr Christofias stated that his talks with Mr Selva concentrated on the relations between the Cyprus House of Representatives and the Italian Parliament. Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mr Christofias said that the relations between the two parliaments are already rich in substance and are based on mutual values, such as democracy, human rights and efforts for peace in the Mediterranean. Our common belief is that Cyprus can and must accede to the EU with or without a prior solution to the Cyprus problem, Mr Christofias added. The House President thanked the Italian officials for their positions on the Cyprus problem and the efforts for its solution, which are based on principles. Mr Christofias also said that there was room for further cooperation between the two parliaments and announced that the President of the Italian Parliament would soon be visiting Cyprus. On his part, Mr Selva thanked the House President for his gentle welcome and fruitful talks they'd had and said that Italian Government and Parliament fully support Cyprus' accession to the EU as a united, bizonal and bicommunal state, which will contribute, through its history, culture and economy, to the course of Europe, and especially to its Euro-Mediterranean dimension. [04] Cyprus supports setting up of a Euro-Mediterranean BankThe Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ioannis Kasoulides, who attended the 5th Euro-Mediterranean Conference held in Valencia on 22 and 23 April 2002, yesterday participated in a discussion on economic and financial affairs. In his intervention Mr Kasoulides referred to Cyprus' proposal in Stuttgart in 1999 to set up a Euro-Mediterranean Investment Bank for the promotion of investment in the private sector in the Mediterranean.The Foreign Minister welcomed the initiative of Spain to materialize this target and the decision of the EU to reinforce the financial resources for the Mediterranean and review in 2003 the relevant decision with a view to setting up a subsidiary Euro-Mediterranean Bank. On the sidelines of the Conference, Mr Kasoulides had separate meetings with Britain's Secretary of State for Europe, Mr Peter Hain, and the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Mr Silvio Berlusconi. The first meeting focused on the recent developments in the Cyprus problem and the second on the illegal migration. [05] UN Secretary-General remains hopefulAsked whether he remained hopeful that the talks on Cyprus would come through with some sort of breakthrough in the month of June, the UN Secretary-General made the following statement:"I am still looking forward to the end of June to see substantial progress in the talks. I think both leaders have indicated that they want to end it by June. I hope that they would work as hard as we would expect to make that progress by the end of June. I am in touch with Alvaro De Soto, who is back on the island facilitating the talks. I really hope that by June, we will have made some real, substantial progress." 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 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
All Rights Reserved.