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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-04-15
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Tuesday, 15 April 2003 UN Security Council blames Denktash's "negative
approach" for non-solution
[02] US envoy holds meetings in Nicosia
[03] New Cyprus High Commissioner to Maldives
[01] UN Security Council blames Denktash's "negative approach" for non-
solution
The UN Security Council, through Resolution 1475 (2003) adopted unanimously
yesterday, expressed regret that due to the "negative approach" of the
Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, at the talks, it had not been
possible to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, before
16 April, on the basis of the Secretary-General's plan. The Council gave
its full support to Mr Kofi Annan's "carefully balanced plan" of 26
February, calling it "a unique basis for further negotiations". It further
renewed the Secretary-General's Good Offices mandate and called on all the
parties concerned to negotiate within the framework of the Secretary-
General's Good Offices to reach a settlement. The full text of the Security
Council Resolution on Cyprus [1475 (2003)] reads as follows:
"The Security Council, Reaffirming all its resolutions on Cyprus, in
particular resolution 1250 (1999) of 29 June 1999 aimed at achieving
agreement on a comprehensive Cyprus settlement,
Reiterating its strong interest in achieving an overall political
settlement on Cyprus which takes full consideration of relevant Security
Council resolutions and treaties, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-
General of 1 April 2003 (S/2003/398) on his mission of good offices in
Cyprus, 1. Commends the extraordinary effort made by the Secretary-General
and his Special Adviser and his team since 1999 in pursuance of his Good
Offices mission and within the framework of Security Council resolution
1250 (1999); 2. Further commends the Secretary-General for taking the
initiative to present to the parties a comprehensive settlement plan aimed
at bridging the gaps between them, drawing upon the talks that began in
December 1999 under United Nations auspices and, following negotiations, to
revise that plan on 10 December 2002 and 26 February 2003;
3. Regrets that, as described in the Secretary-General's report, due to the
negative approach of the Turkish Cypriot leader, culminating in the
position taken at the 10-11 March 2003 meeting in The Hague, it was not
possible to reach agreement to put the plan to simultaneous referenda as
suggested by the Secretary-General, and thus that the Turkish Cypriots and
the Greek Cypriots have been denied the opportunity to decide for
themselves on a plan that would have permitted the reunification of Cyprus
and as a consequence it will not be possible to achieve a comprehensive
settlement before 16 April 2003; 4. Gives its full support to the Secretary-
General's carefully balanced plan of 26 February 2003 as a unique basis for
further negotiations, and calls on all concerned to negotiate within the
framework of the Secretary-General's Good Offices, using the plan to reach
a comprehensive settlement as set forth in paragraphs 144-151 of the
Secretary-General's report;
5. Stresses its full support for the Secretary-General's mission of Good
Offices as entrusted to him in resolution 1250 (1999) and asks the
Secretary-General to continue to make available his Good Offices for Cyprus
as outlined in his report;
6. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter." In a report released
to the Council last week, the Secretary-General said that Mr Denktash
"bears prime responsibility" for the failure of this latest intensive
effort to resolve the long-standing conflict on the island. "Except for a
very few instances, Mr. Denktash by and large declined to engage in
negotiation on the basis of give and take," Mr Annan wrote. "This greatly
complicated my efforts to accommodate not only the legitimate concerns of
principle but also the concrete and practical interests of the Turkish
Cypriots." In the report, the Secretary-General noted that his plan to
enable a united Cyprus to join the EU remained on the table, but said that
he would not undertake any new initiatives to reach a deal until he saw
that the political will necessary for a successful outcome existed.
Speaking after the vote, the Security Council President and Permanent
Representative of Mexico, Ambassador Adolfo Aguilar Zinser, told the press
that "the Security Council adopted this resolution with the hope that there
will be now flexibility on both parts and that negotiations can be resumed
soon and that an agreement can be reached. This is as much as can be done
given the circumstances." In addition, the Deputy Spokesperson for the UN
Secretary-General, Ms Hua Jiang, made reference to the new Security Council
resolution on Cyprus during the regular press briefing, yesterday, saying
that by adopting a resolution the Council had shown its support for the
Secretary-General's efforts and his recent report on his Good Offices
mission in Cyprus.
[02] US envoy holds meetings in Nicosia
The US State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Mr Thomas Weston,
met yesterday with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos
Papadopoulos, and the Foreign Minister, Mr Georgios Iacovou, in separate
meetings in Nicosia. Speaking after his meeting with the Foreign Minister,
Mr Weston said that he had discussed, both with President Papadopoulos and
Mr Iacovou, the next steps to be followed on the Cyprus problem. "With the
signing of the Accession Treaty on Wednesday, it is recognised that there
are elements of the Plan that do need to be examined, and should be, in the
course of negotiations. This position is shared by the Cyprus Government…",
Mr Weston noted. Invited to say what message he would convey to Mr Denktash,
the US diplomat replied that he would express the US position, namely that
the only way to move forward was to adhere and respond to the UN Secretary-
General's recommendations, which were endorsed by the Security Council.
On his part, the Cyprus Foreign Minister told the press that he and Mr
Weston had discussed the future course of action to be followed, in view of
the new situation created by Cyprus' accession to the European Union,
following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April. "I believe there
are many issues that need to be re-negotiated because the de facto
situation has changed", Mr Iacovou noted, adding that both Mr Weston and Mr
Verheugen, the EU Enlargement Commissioner, agreed with that view. The
Cyprus Minister further said that Mr Weston had conveyed the US position
that the Annan Plan remained on the table as a basis for negotiation, but
not as a basis for solution. "In essence, the Plan fully endorses President
Papadopoulos' positions, as expressed in The Hague and in his letter to Mr
Denktash", he added.
[03] New Cyprus High Commissioner to Maldives
The High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus to India, Mr Andreas
Skarparis, presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of
Maldives, Mr Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, as the new Cyprus High Commissioner to
that country. Receiving the credentials, the President of Maldives
expressed regret for the failure of the UN efforts to resolve the Cyprus
problem, and reiterated his country's position for the respect of Cyprus'
sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for the attainment of a
peaceful solution on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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