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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-12-20Cyprus 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/>Friday, 20 December 2002CONTENTS[01] Decision on Cyprus' accession irreversible and unconditional, says Verheugen's SpokesmanThe Copenhagen European Council's decision on Cyprus' accession to the EU by 1 May 2004 is "irreversible and without conditions", and Cyprus, as all the other candidate countries, will define its own procedures for ratifying the Accession Treaty, in accordance with its Constitution.The Spokesman for the EU Enlargement Commissioner Mr. Gunter Verheugen, Mr. Jean-Christophe Filory, made the above statement during yesterday's press briefing in Brussels, clarifying a statement by Mr. Verheugen made before the European Parliament on Wednesday. Mr. Verheugen's remarks on Cyprus were interpreted by some as implying a connection between Cyprus' EU accession and a solution of the Cyprus problem. The Commissioner's Spokesman explained to reporters that Mr. Verheugen, who was replying to a question posed by a member of the European Parliament, merely recalled the EU accession ratification principle and made reference to one point of the UN Secretary-General's peace plan for Cyprus, which relates to the procedure of approving the plan via a referendum on the island. [02] European Parliament prefers accession to EU of reunited islandThe European Parliament, in its resolution on the Copenhagen European Council, welcomes the "unprecedented and historic milestone" represented by the conclusion of the accession negotiations with the ten candidate states, which allows them to be welcomed as EU members from 1 May 2004, and looks forward to working together with the citizens and governments of the new Member States with a view to "building an enlarged Union based on the principles of peace, democracy, stability, justice, social cohesion and economic solidarity and on a social market economy and the commitment to full employment".In its resolution, adopted yesterday at the plenary in Strasburg, the European Parliament makes reference, inter alia, to Cyprus and notes the following: "The European Parliament, - having regard to its resolution of 7 November 2002 on the outcome of the European Council meeting in Brussels on 24 and 25 October 2002, - having regard to its resolution of 20 November 2002 on the progress made by each of the candidate countries towards accession, in which it urged the European Council to set the date for the accession of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia for early 2004, and no later than 1 May 2004, - having regard to the Presidency conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council on 12 and 13 December 2002 and the European Council report and Commission statement in plenary on this issue, Cyprus 12. Welcomes the undertaking of the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to continue to negotiate with the objective of concluding a comprehensive settlement by 28 February 2003 on the basis of the proposals of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, which would enable Parliament to give its assent to the accession of a united Cyprus; 13. Welcomes the fact that Cyprus will be admitted to the European Union as a new Member State; nevertheless supports the European Council's strong preference for accession to the European Union by a united Cyprus and urges the Council and the Commission to make every effort to facilitate and conclude negotiations by 28 February 2003 and to support concretely those sectors of civil society on both sides striving for peace and dialogue;" [03] Panama supports Cyprus' struggle for just solution to Cyprus problemThe House of Representatives and the people of Panama support the realisation of the Cyprus people's just causes, the House President of Panama, Mr. Carlos Alvarado, told Cyprus' Ambassador to Mexico and Panama, Mr. Antonis Toumazis, during the latter's recent five-day visit to that country.Mr. Alvarado voiced hope that the UN solution plan for Cyprus would be revised accordingly, so as to become just and in accordance with the relevant UN decisions. Ambassador Toumazis discussed with the House President of Panama relations between the Parliaments of the two countries and the creation of a Cyprus- Panama Friendship Parliamentary Committee, which Mr. Alvarado pledged to promote. Mr. Alvarado accepted an official invitation by his Cypriot counterpart to visit Cyprus. The Cyprus Ambassador also met with the Vice President of Panama, Mr. Dominador Kayser Bazan, who congratulated Cyprus on the successful conclusion of its EU accession course and expressed his country's firm support for a just solution of the Cyprus problem. 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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