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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-03-06
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Thursday, 06 March 2003 President Papadopoulos in Athens for talks
[02] National Council convenes in light of Hague meeting
[03] Annan invites Greece, Turkey and UK to Cyprus meeting in The
Hague
[04] EU Commission announces support for Cyprus Donors Conference
[05] MacShane: Britain fully supports Annan's revised proposal
[01] President Papadopoulos in Athens for talks
"In light of the UN Secretary-General's invitation to go to The Hague,
there are issues which should be discussed with the Greek government", the
President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Tassos Papadopoulos said upon his
departure for Athens yesterday evening, at Larnaca airport. Asked by
reporters to say what the Greek Cypriot side's response at the Hague
meeting would be, Mr Papadopoulos stressed that the National Council would
meet again to decide on that. He also said that he had asked the members of
the National Council not to put forward their position at yesterday's
meeting, as such an announcement prior to going to The Hague would not be
to the interest of the Greek Cypriot side. Invited to say how a possible
negative reply by Mr Rauf Denktash would affect the Greek Cypriot side's
position, the President replied, "We decide on our position taking mainly
into consideration the interests of the people of Cyprus and particularly,
the Greek Cypriots. Of course the Turkish Cypriot side's decision is
relevant, but for us it is not the determining factor as to what we will
decide." Asked to comment on recent statements by the UN Secretary-General
concerning the attainment of an agreement in time for the signing of
Cyprus' Accession Treaty with the EU on 16 April, Mr Papadopoulos
emphasised that it would be preferable for all to achieve a solution so
that a reunited Cyprus could join the EU, but that was not a precondition
for accession. "I believe that all responsible statements constitute
reassurances that Cyprus' EU accession is not combined with nor linked to
the solution of the Cyprus problem", he noted. He further said that he
would be surprised if Mr Annan had implied anything other than that.
"The UN Secretary-General has not put forward any other options. He wants a
'yes or a no', without any dependencies, without other commitments, without
preconditions and without conditions. Besides, Mr Annan mentioned that in
his statement as he was departing from Cyprus. This is what he asks from
the two sides", the President concluded in reply to another question.
Last week, the Cyprus President and interlocutor of the Greek Cypriot side,
Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr
Rauf Denktash, had accepted an invitation by the Secretary-General to meet
with him at The Hague on 10 March, with a view to giving their response to
his proposal on the holding of separate simultaneous referenda on 30 March,
in order to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.
President Papadopoulos was expected to meet with the Greek Prime Minister,
Mr Costas Simitis, today at noon. In the afternoon, he will have a meeting
with the leader of the Greek opposition, Mr Constantinos Karamanlis. He
will arrive in Cyprus in the evening today.
[02] National Council convenes in light of Hague meeting
The National Council - the President's top advisory body on the handling of
the Cyprus problem - convened yesterday to discuss the latest developments
regarding the UN Secretary-General's efforts to finalise an agreement on a
comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. After the meeting of the
members of the National Council, the Government Spokesman, Mr Kypros
Chrysostomides, made the following statement: "During today's meeting of
the National Council, there was a wide exchange of views, in the light of
the latest developments and the invitation of the UN Secretary-General for
a meeting at the Hague on 10 March. The members of the National Council
expressed their initial views and will continue the discussion at another
meeting before The Hague one. The new meeting of the National Council has
been set for Saturday morning. The members of the National Council will
accompany the President of the Republic to The Hague."
[03] Annan invites Greece, Turkey and UK to Cyprus meeting in The
Hague
The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, has written to the
Prime Ministers of Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom inviting them to
be represented at The Hague next Monday, on 10 March, when he will meet
with the Cyprus leaders. The Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Mr Fred
Eckhard, stated yesterday, during the daily press briefing at UN Headquarters,
that Mr Annan had invited the Heads of State of the three Guarantor Powers
to be represented at the Cyprus meeting in The Hague, "at a level
commensurate with the importance of the meeting", adding that "The
Secretary-General is looking to them for their support of his efforts so
that The Hague meeting has a successful outcome and the separate simultaneous
referenda go ahead on March 30." Asked whether there was still room to
change the UN solution plan, Mr Eckhard noted that the reason that the
Secretary-General had travelled to the region last week was to make any
adjustments that would be required to conclude the negotiations.
"He [Mr Annan] expects the Cypriot leaders to be ready to indicate at The
Hague whether or not they accept bringing the plan, in its current revised
state, before referenda", the UN Spokesman said. Moreover, Mr Kofi Annan
said last Tuesday that he was pleased with the support he had received in
the Security Council for his efforts to assist the parties in Cyprus reach
a comprehensive settlement. He also stressed that he hoped that when the
two leaders would arrive at the meeting they would have already undertaken
all the internal consultations necessary "and come ready to give me a
definite answer".
[04] EU Commission announces support for Cyprus Donors Conference
The European Commission issued a press release yesterday in which it
conveys its willingness to organise an international donors conference on
Cyprus, and announces its intention to organise a preparatory donors
conference on 21 March. The Commission also expresses its strong support to
the UN peace efforts in Cyprus and urges the two leaders to give a positive
response to the Secretary-General's request for separate referenda on 30
March. The full text of the press release is as follows:
"The Commission continues to strongly support the UN led efforts to reach a
comprehensive settlement. The Commission urges the leaders of the two
communities on the island to seize the unique opportunity and to sign on 10
March the commitment to submit the plan issued by the UNSG Kofi Annan for
approval at separate simultaneous referenda on 30 March. The Commission has
announced its willingness to organize an International Donors Conference to
provide financial support in the context of a comprehensive settlement of
the Cyprus problem immediately after the new state of affairs comes into
being. With this in view, the Commission intends to invite potential donors
to a preparatory conference on 21 March."
[05] MacShane: Britain fully supports Annan's revised proposal
The British Minister of State for Europe, Mr Denis MacShane, expressed
yesterday his government's strong support for the UN Secretary-General's
peace efforts in Cyprus. The Minister's statement, which was issued
yesterday by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, reads as
follows: "The British government fully supports Kofi Annan's efforts to
secure a settlement of the Cyprus Problem. His final proposals are
excellent and balanced.
It is now time to let the people of Cyprus have their say. This opportunity
will not come again for generations. The future of Cyprus lies in the
European Union. The quarrels and differences and passions of the 20th
century in Cyprus should be laid to one side. A better future beckons for
all the people of Cyprus from both communities. They should seize
it."
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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