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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-03-24
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 24 March 2003 Brussels European Council adopts conclusion on
Cyprus
[02] Pat Cox assures that Cyprus' EU course will be unobstructed
[03] European Council conclusions on Cyprus very satisfactory, says Foreign
Minister
[04] UN-led peace talks ended due to Denktash's stance, says UK Ministe
[01] Brussels European Council adopts conclusion on Cyprus
The European Council, which met in Brussels on 20 and 21 March for its
third annual Spring meeting on the economic, social and environmental
situation in the Union, in its conclusions on Cyprus, expressed regret for
the failure of the UN Secretary-General's efforts to find a settlement to
the Cyprus problem and urged "the Turkish Cypriot leadership to reconsider
its position". The full text of the European Council's conclusions on
Cyprus [Paragraph 85] reads as follows:
"The European Council regrets that the efforts of the United Nations
Secretary General to find a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem
have failed. The EU strongly supports the continuation of the Secretary
General's mission of good offices and of negotiations on the basis of his
proposals. It urges all parties concerned to spare no effort towards a just,
viable and functional settlement and, in particular, the Turkish Cypriot
leadership to reconsider its position. The European Council reaffirms its
decisions taken at Copenhagen with regard to Cyprus' accession to the
EU."
[02] Pat Cox assures that Cyprus' EU course will be unobstructed
The President of the European Parliament (EP), Mr Pat Cox, assured Cyprus
House President, Mr Demetris Christofias, that Cyprus' EU accession course
and the signing of its Accession Treaty will proceed without any obstacles,
especially after the almost unanimous decision for the island's entry into
the Union by the EP Foreign Affairs Committee. Mr Christofias, who was
speaking after his meeting with Mr Cox in Brussels, last Friday, said that
they had discussed the unsuccessful efforts of the UN Secretary-General to
find a solution to the longstanding conflict on the island, and added that
he conveyed to the EP President Cyprus' readiness to continue the
negotiations for a settlement after the signing of the Accession Treaty.
The House President further mentioned that Mr Cox had said he was holding
Mr Rauf Denktash and the Turkish establishment responsible for the failure
of the peace efforts in The Hague. "We reassured Mr Cox - who showed
personal interest on the matter - that we will make every effort, through
measures that the Government is considering, so that the Turkish Cypriots
can take advantage of the possibilities flowing from Cyprus' EU membership,
taking always into account that the State should not be undermined", Mr
Christofias added. Referring to the favourable voting on Cyprus' accession
to the Union by the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr
Christofias said that he expressed his satisfaction for the positive
outcome, noting, "As a result, it seems that there is no longer an obstacle
for signing the Accession Treaty".
[03] European Council conclusions on Cyprus very satisfactory, says Foreign
Minister
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Georgios Iacovou, expressed the view
that the reference to Cyprus, in the conclusions of the Brussels European
Council, is "very satisfactory", as it blamed - indirectly but clearly -
the Turkish Cypriot side for the collapse of the UN-led peace talks in The
Hague. Speaking last Saturday at Larnaca airport, upon his arrival from
Brussels, Mr Iacovou noted that the Brussels Spring Summit had a "special
meaning", since it was the last time Cyprus participated as an acceding
country "which is briefed but has no right of speech". After the signing of
the Accession Treaty on 16 April, he further noted, "Cyprus will acquire
the status of 'active observer', which means that we will take part in all
the procedures except voting".
The Cyprus Foreign Minister referred to his meetings in Brussels with EU
officials, from which he concluded that they shared the view that the peace
talks in The Hague had collapsed due to the intransigent stance of the
Turkish side. He added that he had received positive comments from everyone
regarding the handlings of the Greek Cypriot side, and particularly, of the
President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, at the
negotiating table. On his meeting with the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Mr
Gunter Verheugen, Mr Iacovou stressed that the EU official had conveyed his
certainty that Cyprus' EU accession course would carry on unhindered.
Replying to a question on the impending report on Cyprus by the UN
Secretary-General to the Security Council, the Foreign Minister said that
he was monitoring the issue closely and that he was in regular contact with
Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the United Nations, who was holding
talks with UN officials and officials from permanent members of the
Security Council. He further said that he had instructed Cyprus' UN
Representative to meet with the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on
Cyprus, Mr Alvaro de Soto, today, to discuss the issue.
[04] UN-led peace talks ended due to Denktash's stance, says UK Ministe
The British Minister for Europe, Mr Denis MacShane, expressed the position
that the UN Secretary-General was forced to bring to a close the intensive
phase of the Cyprus peace negotiations after the Hague meeting, due to Mr
Denktash's refusal to put the UN proposals to a referendum in the north of
Cyprus, as Mr Kofi Annan had suggested. Replying to a question posed by
Labour MP, Mr Andrew Dismore, before the House of Commons, last Thursday,
regarding the communique issued by Mr Annan on 11 March, Mr MacShane stated,
in written form, the following: "The British Government fully supports the
decisions of the UN Secretary-General, announced in his press statement of
11 March, to bring to a close the intensive phase of negotiations to secure
a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.
We share Mr Annan's sense of sadness that this opportunity to secure
accession to the EU by a reunited island has been missed. Throughout the
talks, the UN Secretary-General, his special adviser, Alvaro de Soto, and
his team have negotiated skillfully and professionally. But Mr Denktash's
refusal to put the UN proposals to a referendum in the north of Cyprus, and
his rejection of the idea of implementing a work programme for the next two
weeks, aimed at preparing for a referendum before Cyprus signs the Treaty
of Accession with the European Union on 16 April, left Mr Annan with no
alternative to the decision he took."
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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