Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-12-03

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

Tuesday, 3 December 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] UN Chief awaiting substantive comments from two sides
• [02] Cyprus closes Agriculture Chapter
• [03] Cyprus participates in EU Enlargement conference in Spain

[01] UN Chief awaiting substantive comments from two sides

Asked whether the Secretary-General would hold talks between President Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Rauf Denktash, the UN Spokesman said that Mr. Annan had not yet fixed a date for calling the two sides together.

Asked when the Secretary-General would receive substantive comment from the two sides on his recent proposal for a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, the Spokesman noted that Mr. Annan's Special Adviser, Mr. Alvaro de Soto, expected to receive substantive comments from both sides "perhaps as early as Tuesday".

Invited to say whether the Turkish Cypriot leader wanted changes in the Annan plan, the Spokesman said "the whole point is to obtain views from both sides, so that the proposal can be revised as necessary. The idea is to get the two sides to agree to a single text."

In a response to another question, he noted that time was running out, but the United Nations was making every effort to bring the matter to a head by the Copenhagen Summit, on 12 December.

[02] Cyprus closes Agriculture Chapter

The Chief Negotiator for Cyprus' accession to the EU, Mr. George Vassiliou, speaking at a press briefing last night in Brussels, stated that negotiations on Agriculture were successfully completed and that the European Commission had satisfied fully Cyprus' demands in that respect.

Mr. Vassiliou said that all pending matters regarding Cyprus' farmers had been agreed upon, noting that Cyprus would get a national subsidy for farmers for a transitional period of seven years.

On the Budget, he said that there was agreement on the basic principles of that chapter and negotiations would be concluded today in Brussels.

Cyprus has now closed 29 chapters of the acquis communautaire, thus retaining its leading position among the candidate states.

[03] Cyprus participates in EU Enlargement conference in Spain

Speakers at the conference were the Ambassadors to Spain of the ten candidate countries that are expected to conclude accession negotiations by the end of this year, the Ambassador of the European Commission to Spain, Mr. Miguel Molto, and various Spanish academics.

The Cyprus' Ambassador to Spain Ms. Athina Mavronicola made extensive reference, in her speech, to the advantages of Cyprus' accession to the EU, not only for Cyprus but also for the European Union.

"After accession, Cyprus will become the south border of the EU and a shield against money laundering, illegal immigration, drug trafficking and organised crime, and will thus contribute to the successful and effective creation of an extended area of security and prosperity for the European citizen", she noted.

Ms. Mavronicola added that EU accession would satisfy the security concerns of both communities on the island, since the comprehensive implementation of the acquis communautaire demanded that all basic principles were respected and fully applied.

"For a country like Cyprus, with significant security concerns, the European Union constitutes the most effective way to heal the wounds of the past and secure the future of the entire population on the island".

She also referred to the Cyprus Government's expectation for a solution to the Cyprus problem, "if possible before Copenhagen". On the Annan plan, Ms. Mavronicola stated the Greek Cypriot's side acceptance of the plan as a basis for negotiation and added that it was now up to the Turkish Cypriot side to respond positively to the Secretary-General's proposals.

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

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