|
|
|
Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-02-13
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Thursday, 13 February 2003 UN Chief considering trip to Cyprus region
by end of February
[02] President Clerides to attend EU meeting on Iraq
[01] UN Chief considering trip to Cyprus region by end of February
The UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, is considering a trip to Cyprus
and the region during the last week of February, the Spokesman for Mr.
Annan, Mr. Fred Eckhard, noted yesterday during the daily press briefing at
UN Headquarters. The last week of February, the UN Spokesman said, was the
period in which "an agreement on Cyprus must be reached, if the opportunity
that now exists is to be seized".
He also said that the Secretary-General "strongly hopes that negotiations
underway will be successful and is prepared to continue playing a personal
role to this end", adding that "the precise itinerary of his [Mr. Annan]
travel will reflect a judgment made closer to the time regarding the
possibility of his playing a personal role in bringing efforts to achieve a
comprehensive settlement to a decisive conclusion." Mr. Eckhard mentioned
that Greece and Turkey had been approached on the possible visit by the
Secretary-General. He also mentioned that the Secretary-General's Special
Adviser on Cyprus, Mr. Alvaro de Soto, was in New York and that he was
expected to meet with Mr. Annan yesterday afternoon and today in order to
brief him on the latest developments regarding the peace talks.
Invited to say whether the elections on the island were playing a role in
the Secretary-General's consideration about travelling to Nicosia, Mr.
Eckhard replied, "I don't want to comment on the election issue."
[02] President Clerides to attend EU meeting on Iraq
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Glafcos Clerides, will attend
an extraordinary meeting of the European Council in Brussels next Tuesday,
responding to an invitation by the Greek Prime Minister, Mr. Costas Simitis,
whose country currently holds the rotating EU Presidency. The meeting,
which will be attended by the Heads of State of the 15 EU Member States and
10 acceding countries, aims at looking into the possibility of forging a
common EU stance on the issue of Iraq, in the context of the UN Security
Council resolution 1441 and the common position decided by the EU on 27
January. President Clerides will depart for Brussels on Monday, 17 February,
and will return on Tuesday evening.
Moreover, the Government Spokesman, Mr. Michalis Papapetrou, noted during
yesterday's press briefing that "the Government's position is that Iraq is
called on to fully comply with all the provisions of the Security Council
resolution 1441, and in this direction Cyprus calls for full compliance and
for Iraq to provide the inspectors with all the facilities and necessary
information provided for in that resolution." The Government Spokesman
added that Cyprus would express its position on Iraq in Brussels, and "of
course it will harmonise its stance with the common stance expected to be
adopted, if adopted, by the European Union."
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
|
