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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-02-05
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Wednesday, 05 February 2003 Foreign Minister welcomes Grossman's
statements on Cyprus
[02] Cyprus supports Croatia's EU membership bid
[03] Cyprus signs Air Traffic Management Agreement with Middle East
countries
[04] 2003 Presidential elections on the Web
[01] Foreign Minister welcomes Grossman's statements on Cyprus
The Foreign Minister, Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides, has welcomed recent
statements made by the US Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Marc Grossman, that
Cyprus was the "doorstep" for Turkey's accession to the European Union.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr. Kasoulides said, "We must welcome the
statement made by the American Under-Secretary. Turkey must realise that it
is inconceivable to enter into accession negotiations with the European
Union and not recognise an EU member state, the Republic of Cyprus." "I
think we all realise that the Cyprus problem must be resolved before the
beginning of the accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU", he
added.
[02] Cyprus supports Croatia's EU membership bid
Cyprus fully supports Croatia's decision to apply for EU membership later
this month, as that would contribute to the stability and cooperation in
the western Balkans, the Foreign Minister Mr. Kasoulides noted yesterday
after a meeting in Nicosia with the Croatian European Affairs Minister, Mr.
Neven Mimica. Mr. Kasoulides stressed that Cyprus attached particular
significance to the upgrading of bilateral relations with western Balkan
countries and pointed out that "there are many sectors in which we can
cooperate". On his part, the Croatian Minister Mr. Mimica noted that one of
the reasons for visiting the island was to get advice from countries that
are in the process of acceding to the Union, like Cyprus, expressing, at
the same time, his awareness that major reforms were needed for Croatia to
be able to comply with the EU acquis communautaire.
Mr. Mimica expressed his appreciation for Cyprus' support of his country's
EU membership bid and hoped that Cyprus would continue to support a close
cooperation with Croatia. He also said that more Croatian Ministers were to
visit the island to sign bilateral agreements.
[03] Cyprus signs Air Traffic Management Agreement with Middle East
countries
Cyprus, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt have signed yesterday a Cooperation
Protocol for the establishment of a Europe-Middle East Coordination
Mechanism (EMAC). The Communications and Works Minister, Mr. Averof
Neophytou, signed the Protocol on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, along
with the Ministers responsible for civil aviation from Jordan, Lebanon and
Syria and a representative of Egypt's Minister of Civil Aviation. Present
at the signing procedure were, inter alia, Ambassadors from the EMAC
countries, the Greek and the EU Ambassadors to Cyprus and the Director
General of Eurocontrol.
"Cyprus, as a member of Eurocontrol, and shortly of the EU, and in full
appreciation of its strategic geographical position at the crossroads of
three continents as well as of the role it is called upon to play as the
bridge between Europe and the Middle East region, has undertaken the
initiative for the establishment of EMAC", the Communications and Works
Minister, Mr. Neophytou, said. The Cyprus Minister stressed the importance
of the Protocol, and said that "it sets the milestone for further
cooperation in the whole region", as more countries from the region were
expected to show interest in joining EMAC. Its primary goal, Mr. Neophytou
said, was the close cooperation among the member countries in matters
relating to Air Traffic Management, including air safety issues, training
of personnel and route network improvements.
[04] 2003 Presidential elections on the Web
The Press and Information Office, in collaboration with the Central
Electoral Service and the partner companies Netway and Navel Netmedia, has
arranged for information on the 2003 Presidential elections to be posted at
the following websites:
The outcome of the voting will also appear at the aforementioned sites, as
soon as it becomes available. One particular website () is designed in
a way that allows users to get information on where they should vote,
provided that they insert, in the required space, their social identity
number and number of their voting booklets.
At the Press and Information Office's website (), those interested could
find some general information on the elections, such as an archive with the
results of all previous presidential elections, voting procedures, useful
information and links for the voters, and CVs of the previous Presidents of
the Republic and presidential candidates.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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