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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-07-23Cyprus 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, 23 July 2002CONTENTS
[01] Cyprus and the United States agree to Protect Cultural HeritageSeeking to stem the flow of illegal removal and exportation of Cypriot antiquities from the island, the Governments of the Republic of Cyprus and the United States signed on July 16 2002 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that restricts the import of archaeological objects from Cyprus to the USA."We thank the United States for recognizing the importance of protecting these antiquities so that not just our country, but all the world can enjoy the rich history of our island. This is a significant step toward stopping those who seek to steal from Cyprus a part of its cultural heritage," said Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States, who signed the memorandum on behalf of Cyprus. On behalf of the United States, Ambassador B. Lynn Pascoe, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, signed the memorandum, and addressed a short speech. In his speech, Ambassador Pascoe stressed the significance the American side attributes to the signing of this Memorandum and its anticipated contribution to the protection of Cyprus' cultural heritage, which dates back hundreds of thousands of years. [02] Prodi: Crisis in Turkey will not affect Cyprus-EU courseThe President of the European Commission Romano Prodi said that the political crisis in Turkey was not going to affect Cyprus' accession course to the EU. Mr Prodi was answering a question in a joint press conference with the Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou held yesterday in Brussels after their meeting.On his part, Papandreou said that Greece supports UN efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem noting that the negotiations and the dialogue will continue between the two sides. We believe, he added, that there is a great opportunity for the two sides to find a solution and both to join EU with the Copenhagen decision. Furthermore, Mr Papandreou, while briefing Greek correspondents on his contacts in Brussels, said that the EU Commissioner for the Enlargement Mr Verheugen had repeated the Helsinki conclusions and stressed that Cyprus would join EU either with a solution to the Cyprus problem or not. [03] Danish Presidency to conclude negotiations with candidate countries that are ready by the end of 2002Following the General Affairs Council, in Brussels, on 22 July 2002 Foreign Minister, Per Stig Moller explained the main points of the Danish EU Presidency program, and made specific reference to Enlargement.During a between Mr Moller and the Special Adviser on Cyprus to the United Nations' Secretary General Mr Alvaro de Soto, the Danish Foreign Minister stressed that the "European Union's enlargement calendar is fixed" and that the Danish Presidency would "conclude negotiations with the candidate countries that are ready by the end of 2002". This would enable the new member states to participate in the next elections for the European Parliament in 2004. Mr Moller referred to the 1999 Helsinki Presidency Conclusions and said they "remained the key reference" and added: "The European Union underlines that a political settlement will facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union. If no settlement has been reached by the completion of accession negotiations, the decision on accession will be made without a solution being a precondition." [04] US Government believes accession process can be an incentive to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issueReplying to a press question on whether US Under Secretary Marc Grossman raised with Turkish officials the question of EU accession for Cyprus during his recent consultations in Turkey, the Spokesman of the State Department Mr Richard Boucher said:"Under Secretary Grossman had wide-ranging consultations with Turkish officials during his visit there this week with Deputy Defense Secretary Wolfowitz. While the United States is not a member of the European Union, we support the accession of Cyprus to the EU. Under Secretary Grossman stressed that the United States believes the accession process can be an incentive to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue. He expressed U.S. support for the U.N. Secretary General's efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement and the conclusions of the 1999 European Council of Helsinki." [05] General Assembly Resolution on the financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in CyprusGeneral Assembly resolution of 27 June 2002, adopted in New York by the Fifth (Administrative and Budgetary) Committee of the UN, provides for the continuation of the financing of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for the periods from 1 July 2000 until 30 June 2001 and from 1 July 2002 until 30 June 2003.The Committee in its resolution, which was distributed on 15 July 2002, "notes with appreciation that a one-third share of the net appropriation, equivalent to 14.578.900 dollars, will be funded through voluntary contributions from the Government of Cyprus and the amount of 6,5 million dollars from the Government of Greece". It further "decides to apportion among member states the amount of 24.553.500 dollars at a monthly rate of 2.046.125 dollars". 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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