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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-06-23
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 23 June 2003 President Papadopoulos returns from Thessaloniki
European Council
[02] EU leaders call on Turkish side to contribute to resumption of UN
talks
[03] US remains committed to finding Cyprus settlement, says Bush
[01] President Papadopoulos returns from Thessaloniki European Council
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, said that
he was returning from Thessaloniki "absolutely satisfied" with the outcome
of the European Council, in which Cyprus participated for the first time as
an equal EU member state. Speaking yesterday at Larnaca airport, President
Papadopoulos expressed the view that the paragraph on Cyprus, included in
the Presidency Conclusions of the EU Summit, was "very positive and
powerful". He pointed out that on the sidelines of the Summit he had held
talks with the leaders of EU member states and Balkan countries on the
Cyprus problem as well as other issues of mutual concern.
He further said that the Summit was of historic significance as it had
dealt with the text of the Draft Constitutional Treaty, prepared by the
Convention on the Future of Europe under the chairmanship of Mr Valerie
Giscard d'Estaing. Mr Papadopoulos also congratulated the European Council
President and Greek Premier Mr Costas Simitis and the Greek Foreign
Minister Mr George Papandreou on the excellent and efficient preparation of
the Summit and Greece's successful term holding the six-monthly EU
Presidency.
[02] EU leaders call on Turkish side to contribute to resumption of UN
talks
The 25 leaders of the EU member states and acceding countries, in the
Presidency Conclusions of the Thessaloniki Summit, have called on the
Turkish side to support the UN Secretary-General's efforts for a comprehensive
Cyprus settlement on the basis of the Annan plan and stressed the need for
an early resumption of the peace talks. They further welcomed the recent
easing of restrictions on free movement across the ceasefire line but
emphasised, however, that they did not consider it a substitute for a
comprehensive settlement. The paragraph of the Thessaloniki European
Council Presidency Conclusions on Cyprus is the following:
"Cyprus' accession to our Union is already creating favourable conditions
for the two communities to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus
problem. To this end, our Union strongly supports the continuation of the
UN Secretary General's mission of good offices in accordance with the
relevant UN Security Council Resolutions including 1475/2003. The recent
easing of restrictions in the contacts and communication between Greek and
Turkish Cypriots has been positive and has demonstrated that the two
communities can live together in a reunited island within the Union. At the
same time, however, our Union does not consider this as a substitute for a
comprehensive settlement. The European Council, therefore, urges all
parties concerned, and in particular Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot
leadership, to strongly support the UN Secretary General's efforts, and, in
this context, calls for an early resumption of the talks on the basis of
his proposals. To this end, the European Union is to further contribute
towards a just, viable and functional settlement of the Cyprus problem
consistent with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Our Union
recalls its willingness to accommodate the terms of a settlement in line
with the principles on which the EU is founded. In this context, the
European Council welcomes the Commission's willingness to offer assistance
for a speedy solution within the framework of the acquis. It also welcomes
the Commission's Communication on promoting economic development in the
northern part of Cyprus and looks forward to the implementation of these
measures in accordance with the Copenhagen European Council Conclusions and
in consultation with the Government of Cyprus."
[03] US remains committed to finding Cyprus settlement, says Bush
"The United States remains committed to finding a just and lasting
settlement for Cyprus. Serious efforts continued during this reporting
period to persuade the two sides on Cyprus to resume negotiations under the
auspices of the United Nations Good Offices Mission for Cyprus, on the
basis of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's proposed settlement
plan", the US President, Mr George W. Bush, has stated in a letter
accompanying his bimonthly report to Congress on the situation in Cyprus.
The US President also noted that "as in the past, US officials, including
Secretary of State Powell, Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman, Special
Cyprus Coordinator Thomas G. Weston, Ambassador to Cyprus Michael Klosson,
Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson, and Ambassador to Greece Thomas Miller
provided intensive diplomatic support to this process". President Bush's
periodic progress report to Congress on efforts towards a negotiated
settlement of the Cyprus question covered the period of 1 April through 31
May 2003.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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