Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-12-18

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Wednesday, 18 December 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] UN Secretary-General does not reveal next move on Cyprus
• [02] Washington welcomes decision on Cyprus' EU accession
• [03] Cyprus provides financial aid to Afghanistan

[01] UN Secretary-General does not reveal next move on Cyprus

Asked by reporters, upon his encounter with the press at UN Headquarters, to say whether he had secured a commitment from the two sides that they would continue their talks, Mr. Annan noted: "I have asked them to continue the talks and I expect them to continue".

Invited to say if he had planned his next move on Cyprus, he said he could not "indicate at this stage" what his next move would be.

Furthermore, the UN Security Council will be briefed this afternoon (New York time) on the latest developments as regards efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.

[02] Washington welcomes decision on Cyprus' EU accession

The US Spokesman initially refused to give an opinion on Cyprus in particular, saying that Washington did not have a separate reaction on every single candidate country that was given a date for entry. Following persistent questions by reporters, though, Mr. Boucher made a brief comment, saying that Washington welcomed the decision on Cyprus' EU accession. He immediately added that the US welcomed the decisions on all candidate states invited to accede to the EU.

Asked to comment on the fact that no agreement on the Cyprus problem was reached in Copenhagen, Mr. Boucher said: "We're always ready to support the efforts of the UN, of the Secretary-General. We do think the opportunity that has existed still exists, and we look forward to continuing to work with the parties, with the neighbours and with the United Nations to try to achieve a settlement there".

On the target date of 28 February for reaching an agreement in Cyprus, Mr. Boucher noted: "I don't know what the UN is saying these days about target dates, but we are certainly continuing to work hard in support of the United Nations".

As regards the Copenhagen decision on Turkey's EU membership bid, he pointed out that the US welcomed the decision "to open without delay accession negotiations with Turkey on deciding in December 2004 that Turkey has fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria", adding: "We described this as a visionary decision by European leaders and we've encouraged our friends and allies to work energetically towards this goal…"

[03] Cyprus provides financial aid to Afghanistan

Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Sotos Zackheos, handed the financial aid yesterday to the UNDP Administrator, Mr. Marc Malloch Brown, in the presence of Afghanistan's Representative to the UN and other UNDP officials.

Ambassador Zackheos stressed that this gesture was indicative of Cyprus' commitment to the principle of legality, and hoped that Afghanistan would shift from being a source of conflict and terrorism to becoming a well- governed state heading towards reconstruction and progress.

On his part, the UNDP Administrator, Mr. Brown, thanked Mr. Zackheos and underlined Cyprus' important role in the international scene. He also said that he was looking forward to a closer cooperation with Cyprus, especially after the Copenhagen decision inviting the island to join the EU.

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