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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-04-16
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Wednesday, 16 April 2003 Cyprus signs EU Accession Treaty
[02] "Cyprus-Europe" photo exhibition opens in Athens
[01] Cyprus signs EU Accession Treaty
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, signed
today in Athens the landmark Treaty of Accession of Cyprus to the European
Union. Cyprus, along with the other nine acceding countries - Czech
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and
Slovenia - will become a full EU Member State on 1 May 2004.
President Papadopoulos' speech at the signing ceremony reads as follows:
"In the long and chequered nine thousand years of Cyprus' history, the
signing of the Treaty of Accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the
European Union constitutes a crowning landmark of moral vindication of the
past and a hopeful starting point of political achievement in the future.
This momentous event justifies the great joy and deep emotion I feel at
this historic moment, when I am called upon, as President of the Republic
of Cyprus, to sign the Treaty of Accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the
European Union. The same intense joy and emotion is shared by all the
people of Cyprus, who justifiably interpret the signing of the Treaty as a
vindication of their hard work, their sacrifices and their dreams, in their
long and strenuous efforts to join united Europe.
I regret that the artificial walls of division and the line of separation
that was imposed by force prevent our Turkish Cypriot compatriots from
proceeding with us, within the framework of a reunited Cyprus, on the way
to Europe. As President of the Republic of Cyprus, I reiterate, from this
forum as well, at this historic moment of the signing of the Treaty, my
firm commitment to exert every effort to achieve a peaceful, workable and
viable solution to the Cyprus problem, which will reunite the people and
the country that are divided today, in a united, and now enlarged, European
Union. And this commitment is not simply a declaration of intent; it is a
substantial confirmation of an unyielding position.
In Athens, the birthplace of democracy, and the cradle of European
civilization, in the shade of the sacred rock of Acropolis, the guardian of
universal principles throughout the ages, and in the light of the Parthenon,
symbol of freedom of the spirit, the enlargement of the European Union is
signed today and a new chapter in the history and the course of a renewed
Europe is being opened. In the collective effort of an enlarged European
Union to face effectively the escalating challenges and demands of our time,
small Cyprus is committed to make its own contribution. Cyprus commits
itself to undertake and fulfil all the obligations that its accession to
the European Union entails. The Cyprus question will not make Cyprus'
presence in the European Union a problem. Nor does accession itself means
that we shall give up our sincere efforts to resolve the problem. On the
contrary, we now feel that it is all the more imperative to multiply our
efforts to achieve a workable solution that will allow the implementation
of the acquis communautaire throughout the territory of the Republic of
Cyprus, and will reverse the tragic division of our country in united
Europe. On behalf of all the Cypriot people, I express warm thanks to the
Greek Presidency, the member-states of the European Union, the European
Commission and the European Parliament for their valuable help in Cyprus'
European Union course, and for offering Cyprus the possibility to accede
where it belongs historically, geographically, politically and culturally."
[02] "Cyprus-Europe" photo exhibition opens in Athens
The photo exhibition entitled "Cyprus-Europe" was opened yesterday
afternoon in Athens by the Greek Minister of Press and Mass Media, Mr
Christos Protopapas, in the presence of Cyprus Government Spokesman, Mr
Kypros Chrysostomides, and the Director of the Press and Information Office,
Mr Ioannis Solomou. The exhibition is organised by the Cyprus Embassy to
Greece and the Press and Information Office, with the occasion of the
signing of Cyprus' Treaty of Accession to the European Union. It is hosted
in the Mela Hall, of the National Bank of Greece, and will end tomorrow, 17
April. It includes photographs and objects portraying Cyprus' historical
course, from ancient times until present, leading to its accession to the
European family as an integrated part of European civilisation. In a short
speech at the opening ceremony, the Government Spokesman Mr Chrysostomides
expressed hope that Cyprus' EU accession would contribute to the attainment
of a lasting and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, ensuring security
and human rights. He further said that Turkish Cypriots had a lot to
benefit from EU accession, as it would put in place the necessary
conditions allowing for a significant amelioration of living standards in
the north. As regards the signing of Cyprus' Accession Treaty, Mr
Chrysostomides noted, "It is a historic moment that constitutes the
culmination of a long and difficult course of Cyprus' accession to the big
European family with the help of the Greek Government and people, to which
we express our gratitude." Performing the opening ceremony, the Greek
Minister of Press and Mass Media, Mr Protopapas pointed out that Cyprus'
entry to the EU was a result of major diplomatic success by the Greek and
Cyprus Governments. "With its accession, Cyprus can take advantage of its
geostrategic position and eliminate the disadvantages of the continuous
occupations", Mr Protopapas added.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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