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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-11-05Cyprus 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, 5 November 2002CONTENTS[01] "UN solution plan would be appropriate", US official assertsThe US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Ms. Beth Jones, stated that the solution plan expected to be submitted soon by the UN Secretary-General "would be appropriate", expressing Washington's hope that there would be enough time to reach a settlement before the Copenhagen European Council, in December.Speaking after her meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Glafcos Clerides, yesterday in Nicosia, the US official said that this was the right time to find a solution in Cyprus. "It is very much in the interest of the people of Cyprus, of the EU and the US that there would be a solution, so that the vast potential of Cyprus can be realised", she added. Asked whether a solution in Cyprus would be based on international law and the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, Ms. Jones replied that the US had great faith in the abilities of the UN Secretary-General and his representative Mr. Alvaro de Soto, to put forward proposals that were in the best interest of all the people of Cyprus. She also reiterated Washington's full support to the UN efforts for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, adding that the US administration expected President Clerides and Mr. Denktash to show the required leadership and move the process toward a positive result. [02] Verheugen: We might see a movement on the Cyprus problem soonThe EU Enlargement Commissioner, Mr. Gunter Verheugen, speaking before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, made reference to Cyprus saying that a movement in the peace process was possible, in view of the impending submission of a solution plan by the UN Secretary-General."The EU would welcome such a development", Mr. Verheugen noted, adding that "specific needs pertaining to a solution of the Cyprus problem could be taken into consideration in the Accession Treaty of Cyprus". Mr. Verheugen said that the existing window of opportunity for finding a settlement must be utilised and called upon the leaders of the two communities to show the required will at the negotiating table. He reiterated the view that the Turkish Cypriot community would gain the most from Cyprus' accession to the EU and lose the most from non-accession, adding that a settlement of the political issue would be to the benefit of both communities, but mostly to the Turkish Cypriot one. [03] Vassiliou and Poos speak before EU - Cyprus Joint Parliamentary CommitteeThe European Parliament's Rapporteur on Cyprus' EU accession, Mr. Jacques Poos, speaking before the EU - Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee which convened in Brussels, referred to the "possible" solution plan to be put forward by the UN Secretary-General, saying that such a plan must respect the relevant UN decisions, the acquis communautaire and the European Union's founding Treaty, the human rights' principles, and the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Justice of the European Union.Speaking before the same committee, Cyprus' EU Chief Negotiator, Mr. George Vassiliou, outlined the latest developments regarding Cyprus' EU accession course, saying that accession negotiations have "basically" been completed. [04] Cyprus Finance Minister participates at ECOFIN meetingThe Cyprus Minister of Finance, Mr. Takis Klerides, departed yesterday for Brussels, where he will take part in the meeting of Finance Ministers of the EU (ECOFIN).The ECOFIN meeting will focus on the European Union's monetary policy and the reliability of its fiscal policy, in general. Prior to the ECOFIN meeting, Mr. Klerides will participate in a meeting of the Finance Ministers of the candidate countries. The main topics to be discussed during that meeting are, inter alia, the management of EU subsidies and the candidate states' pre-accession programmes for 2002, with regard to the harmonization of their fiscal policies with the acquis communautaire. 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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