Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-12-13

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

Friday, 13 December 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] Suggestions of the Danish Presidency on Cyprus
• [02] Greek Premier's statements in Copenhagen
• [03] UN envoy continues intensive mediation in Copenhagen

[01] Suggestions of the Danish Presidency on Cyprus

The Greek Prime Minister Mr. Costas Simitis, speaking to the press after the dinner, said that the Danish Prime Minister and President of the European Council Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen presented the Danish Presidency's suggestions on the two scenarios of Cyprus' accession. The first scenario involved accession without a solution to the Cyprus problem, while the second had to do with Cyprus' accession in the case of a solution.

The Danish PM, Mr. Simitis noted, stressed the common position of all EU leaders that the relevant Helsinki decisions on Cyprus must be applied, namely, that a solution was not a precondition for the island's accession to the Union.

Mr. Rasmussen also made reference to the efforts for finding a solution, and specifically to the UN envoy Mr. Alvaro de Soto's intensive consultations in the Danish capital, saying that it was still possible for an agreement to be reached today (13/12/2002). For that reason, he suggested that they would wait until 17:30 (Cyprus time), today, to see whether an agreement could be reached, before taking the final decision on Cyprus, implementing the first or second scenario, as appropriate.

On Turkey, the Danish Presidency presented its proposal to the "15", based on which the EU would examine, in December 2004, if that country fulfilled the relevant Copenhagen criteria and then decide accordingly, whether or not to begin accession negotiations.

[02] Greek Premier's statements in Copenhagen

Speaking after the dinner of the "15" Heads of State last night, Mr. Simitis stressed that finding a solution was in the interest of the Greek side and therefore, "we should look for ways to extend and maintain the dynamic so as to reach to a result soon".

"We should not let the Turkish Cypriot side perpetuate the situation, avoid a solution and impose partition", he said, adding that this issue would be discussed during today's session of the Summit.

Earlier yesterday, Mr. Simitis pointed out that Greece had come to the Summit with three goals, Cyprus' unimpeded accession to the EU, the solution of the Cyprus problem, and the setting of a date for the opening of Turkey's accession negotiations.

Speaking at a press conference prior to the Summit, the Greek Premier expressed his certainty that no terms would be set for Cyprus' EU entry, citing the fact that no overt objections were heard in that respect, due to the major efforts of the Greek government.

He added that the island's accession to the Union would promote stability and peace in the region, while saying that a prior solution would have been preferable.

On the second objective, Mr. Simitis said that the Cyprus problem would be hard to resolve in Copenhagen. Replying to relevant questions, he said that the solution cannot wait for Turkey's EU accession and that it was unlikely that an agreement could be reached, "although such a thing cannot be excluded".

With regard to Turkey's EU course, he said that Greece believed that Turkey's accession negotiations could get underway in 2004.

Furthermore, Mr. Simitis had a meeting earlier yesterday, in the Summit's sidelines, with the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr. Abdullah Gul and the leader of the governing party, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with whom he discussed the Cyprus issue and the date for the initiation of Turkish accession negotiations.

After that meeting, he stated the following on the Cyprus issue: "I told Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Gul exactly what I want for the EU. We want a full stop for the Cyprus issue. We want this issue that has gone on for far too long to end. We are ready to work for a solution, for a new day for peace".

[03] UN envoy continues intensive mediation in Copenhagen

Asked by reporters yesterday on Mr. de Soto's incessant efforts in the Danish capital, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Mr. Fred Eckhard, noted:

"The document that is on the table is really nothing more than a framework agreement for negotiations. It is not a final settlement and so the hope is that they would agree on this framework in order to begin serious and intensive negotiations towards a final agreement. That's what all of us were hoping to get by the beginning of the Summit that started today and a worst case scenario by the end of the Summit in Copenhagen and that's why Mr. De Soto is so energetic with pursuing his mediation, his good offices rather, in Copenhagen as we speak."

The Spokesman emphasised that should Mr. de Soto's efforts fail, the UN was "always prepared to continue seeking agreement first on the framework and hopefully leading, eventually, to a final agreement".

Asked to say if the Secretary-General intended to fly to Copenhagen, Mr. Eckhard repeated that there was no such plan.

In addition, the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, voiced his hope yesterday that an agreement on a solution of the Cyprus problem would be reached in Copenhagen.

Replying to a press question, upon his encounter with the press at UN headquarters, on whether there would be a result in UN mediation in Copenhagen, Mr. Annan noted: "It is difficult for me to say. As you know, the dynamics of these meetings can change very quickly".

"When I met Mr. Erdogan we did discuss this, and Alvaro de Soto is there, ready to talk to both sides and continue the process", he said, adding: "I hope we will be able to move forward".

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

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