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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-04-14
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 14 April 2003 President Papadopoulos meets Italian Foreign
Affairs Undersecretary
[02] Foreign Minister: measures for Turkish Cypriots to be announced after
16 April
[03] US Congress puts blame on Denktash for collapse of peace efforts
[01] President Papadopoulos meets Italian Foreign Affairs Undersecretary
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, received last Friday
the Italian Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr Roberto Antonione, whose
country will be holding the rotating EU Presidency for the second half of
this year. The Director of the President's Press Office, Mr Marios Karoyian,
told the press after the meeting that President Papadopoulos had briefed
the Italian official on the Greek Cypriot side's positions regarding the
Cyprus problem, before and after the Hague meeting, making reference to the
intransigent stance of the Turkish side at the talks, which resulted in the
collapse of the UN Secretary-General's peace initiative.
"With regard to Cyprus' EU accession, Mr Papadopoulos told Mr Antonione
that the Republic of Cyprus has completed all the necessary amendments in
relation to the harmonisation process, and consequently on 16 April, Cyprus,
along with the other nine acceding countries, will sign the Treaty of
Accession to the European Union", Mr Karoyian noted. The Italian official,
Mr Karoyian further said, expressed his government's satisfaction that
Cyprus would become a full EU member, as it had always supported Cyprus' EU
accession course and considered the island "a European country, which
culturally, geographically and politically belongs to Europe".
The position was also conveyed that although everyone would prefer the
accession of a reunified Cyprus to the EU, this was not possible solely due
to the intransigent stance of Mr Denktash and Turkey. Mr Karoyian added
that both President Papadopoulos and Mr Antonione agreed on the need to
enhance the already excellent relations between Cyprus and Italy.
[02] Foreign Minister: measures for Turkish Cypriots to be announced after
16 April
The Foreign Minister, Mr Georgios Iacovou, presided last Friday over a
meeting of a National Council subcommittee, set up after a mandate from the
National Council - the President's top advisory body on the handling of the
Cyprus issue - to discuss the Government's measures for Turkish Cypriots.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Iacovou told reporters that the subcommittee
had assessed the various measures, and that important progress had been
made in that respect. The Foreign Affairs Minister added that he would hold
consultations with trade unions, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and the European Union, on the Government's policy towards Turkish
Cypriots. "The measures", he further noted, "will not be re-examined by the
National Council, but I will submit them to the Council of Ministers for
approval." Replying to a press question, Mr Iacovou pointed out that the
measures for Turkish Cypriots would be announced after 16 April, since
there was no time for them to be announced earlier, due to the lengthy
procedures followed.
[03] US Congress puts blame on Denktash for collapse of peace efforts
The US House of Representatives voted unanimously (422-0), last Thursday,
to pass House Resolution 165 stating that the Turkish Cypriot leader's
refusal to put the Annan solution plan to a referendum resulted in the
collapse of the UN-led peace initiative in Cyprus. The House expressed its
"very strong regret" that Mr Denktash had rejected the Annan plan and
specifically the proposal for the carrying out of separate referenda,
denying, in that manner, from Turkish Cypriots the opportunity to determine
their future. The resolution called on the Turkish government to contribute
to the efforts for resolving the Cyprus problem, and to exert pressure on
Mr Denktash persuading him to agree to a settlement that would serve the
interests of both the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
The House resolution further reiterated US support for the efforts of the
UN Secretary-General to achieve a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, and
urged the US administration to remain committed to the peace process and
redouble its efforts towards a resolution. The resolution on Cyprus was
introduced by the Republican Congressman, Mr Doug Bereuter, of Nebraska,
President of the Congressional Subcommittee for Europe.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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