Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-12-06

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

Friday, 6 December 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] Greek Cypriot side hands over its reply to the UN
• [02] Cyprus concludes first the accession negotiations
• [03] Verheugen: International community should undertake burden of solution
• [04] Spanish FM: Cyprus will accede to the EU without conditions
• [05] Cyprus Government condemns terrorist attacks in Kenya

[01] Greek Cypriot side hands over its reply to the UN

The Undersecretary to the President, Mr. Pantelis Kouros, handed the letter of reply to the Secretary-General's Special Adviser, Mr. Alvaro de Soto, at around 9:00pm local time last night, at the Presidential Palace.

The reply was given after Mr. de Soto had assured Mr. Kouros in writing that the UN had received earlier yesterday, in New York, the reply of the Turkish Cypriot side.

Yesterday morning, the Greek Cypriot side withdrew the reply it had delivered the previous night to the UN, following the Turkish side's failure to hand over its reply simultaneously, as had been agreed.

With regard to that incident, the following statement was released yesterday in Nicosia by the UN Spokesman:

"Yesterday afternoon New York time, 4 December 2002, the United Nations was informed by the Turkish Cypriot side that they were prepared to hand over to the Secretariat their reactions to the Secretary-General's 11 November proposal.

Since the Greek Cypriot side had indicated its willingness to provide the same once the Turkish Cypriot side was ready, simultaneous appointments were set up in New York and Nicosia - 11:45 pm Cyprus time. The Greek Cypriot side handed an envelope to the United Nations at that time on the understanding that the Turkish Cypriot side was doing the same in New York.

Regrettably, the Turkish Cypriot side did not do so, explaining that for technical reasons handover would be delayed until midnight New York time. Later, by then 2:00 am in Nicosia, the United Nations was informed that delivery would only be made the following morning in New York. Accordingly, the Greek Cypriot envelope was returned to the Greek Cypriot side in the morning of 5 December 2002, having been kept in confidence in the interval.

The United Nations has protested to the Turkish Cypriot side, which has conveyed its apologies through the United Nations to the Greek Cypriot side. Arrangements are being made for the receipt in appropriate and secure circumstances of the reactions of both sides today."

[02] Cyprus concludes first the accession negotiations

The Chief Negotiator of Cyprus' Accession to the EU, Mr. George Vassiliou, expressed certainty that "next Thursday, Cyprus will be one of the ten countries that will accede to the EU, irrespective of whether or not there will be progress on the Cyprus problem."

Speaking during a press conference yesterday in Nicosia, Mr. Vassiliou said he was very pleased because Cyprus closed first all the chapters of the acquis, something that was strongly welcomed by EU officials.

On the chapter of the Budget, which was the last to close, Mr. Vassiliou expressed satisfaction that all justified demands of Cyprus were fulfilled, and said that after accession, the Government would receive 80 million Euros to use however it saw appropriate, as additional funds beyond the compensation it would receive for its contribution to the community budget.

Replying a question on how possible was Cyprus' accession to the EU without a solution of the Cyprus problem, he reiterated that a solution was not a precondition and that if no progress was made by next Thursday, Cyprus would still be among the ten countries to be invited to accede. The reason for that, he added, was the fact that the Greek Cypriot side had proved beyond doubt its willingness and desire for a solution, something that would be taken into consideration by the EU.

He also noted that never before had there been a more intensive effort for finding a solution and the reason for that was "simple", namely that "this is the first time Turkey is obliged to give something in exchange for its demand for accession".

Invited to say where he based his optimism for Cyprus' unimpeded accession, he replied: "My optimism emanates first of all from the Helsinki decision, and the fact that from our contacts in Brussels we had no indication of a connection between the solution of a Cyprus problem and our accession."

The closing in time of all the acquis chapters, Mr. Vassiliou said in reply to another question, would undoubtedly facilitate Cyprus' accession course and the decision to be taken at Copenhagen.

Asked on the model to be adopted in case of accession prior to a solution, he explained that there was already an agreed model, namely that the entire state would accede to the EU - which encompasses the whole island except the British base areas - but the acquis communautaire would only be implemented in the areas under the control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. The aforementioned scenario would be incorporated into Cyprus' Treaty of Accession, Mr. Vassiliou added.

Cyprus' Chief EU Negotiator concluded with the prediction that when a solution was found, the bridging of the gap between the living standards of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, in tandem with the financial development in Cyprus after a settlement would surprise everyone and would lead to a "new economic miracle".

[03] Verheugen: International community should undertake burden of solution

Mr. Verheugen made reference, inter alia, to Cyprus, at the Plenary Session of the European Parliament on Preparations for the Copenhagen European Council, which took place on Wednesday in Brussels.

He said that "today we are closer than ever before in decades towards a solution to the Cyprus problem" and added: "It would be important if the EU, before Copenhagen, stated that the International Community undertakes part of the responsibility that corresponds to it, for the situation after the solution of the Cyprus problem and after accession, as the burden on Cyprus will be very great.

"The sooner this is stated", he added, "the greater will be the willingness of the interested parties to adopt the UN proposals."

Mr. Verheugen concluded by saying that "what is currently required is a last big effort bearing in mind that time is running out". "If nothing is achieved at present", he added, "every month of delay will make things more difficult".

[04] Spanish FM: Cyprus will accede to the EU without conditions

The Foreign Minister of Spain, Mrs. Ana Palacio, made the aforementioned statement during an official lunch last Tuesday, given in her honour by the Cyprus Ambassador to Spain, Mrs. Athina Mavronikola, in the latter's capacity as Dean of Ambassadors of the candidate countries for EU accession, in light of, inter alia, the Copenhagen European Council next week.

The Cyprus Ambassador thanked, on behalf of all candidate countries, the Spanish Government for its support towards EU enlargement, which was reflected in the Conclusions of the European Council in Seville, and expressed the hope that this support would continue until the end of the enlargement process.

Mrs. Palacio reassured all candidate countries that the Spanish Government would continue to support the EU enlargement process.

[05] Cyprus Government condemns terrorist attacks in Kenya

In its statement, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus:

"Condemns, in the strongest possible way, the recent terrorist attacks that took place in Mombasa, Kenya, on 28 November 2002, which resulted in the heavy loss of life.

It wishes also to express its sincere condolences and deep sympathy to the families of the innocent victims and injured and to the Governments of Israel and Kenya.

The attempted attack against the Israeli aircraft is also of particular concern, since it proves once again that insecurity is among the grave dangers for all of us, and emanates from international terrorism.

It is imperative, therefore, for humanity, under the auspices of the United Nations, to be resolutely firm in its determination to eradicate terrorism and ensure that no more innocent people are added to the long list of victims."

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

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