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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-09-30
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Tuesday, 30 September 2003 President Papadopoulos satisfied with
contacts in New York
[02] Solution remains first priority of Cyprus Government, says Foreign
Minister
[03] Belgian Foreign Minister supports Cyprus Government's positions on
Cyprus issue
[04] Reception to be held on the occasion of Cyprus' Independence
Day
[01] President Papadopoulos satisfied with contacts in New York
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, returned yesterday
from New York where he had attended the 58th UN General Assembly.
Speaking at Larnaca Airport upon his arrival, Mr Papadopoulos told
reporters that he was fully satisfied with his contacts with various
officials, including the UN Secretary-General, held on the sidelines of the
General Assembly. "I return home satisfied with my contacts and the
messages conveyed to me by nearly all my interlocutors", he said. Mr
Papadopoulos noted that he had reiterated the Greek Cypriot side's wish for
a resumption of the UN-led peace talks the soonest possible and outlined
the changes proposed so as to render the Annan plan functional and thus
viable. Asked to say how the suggestion for changes on the Annan plan were
received by his interlocutors, President Papadopoulos pointed out that
"today, more and more persons involved in the peace plan acknowledge the
need to introduce improvements to it", explaining that "when we talk about
improvements, we are not referring to changing dates, since these have been
outdated anyway, or completing the legal instruments of the common state to
be established." "I believe that this position is becoming more and more
acceptable and the next step is for us to be able to convince at the
negotiating table, when the UN calls for a resumption of the talks, that
the changes are needed to render Cyprus a constructive and useful partner
in the European Union and not an outcast", the President added. On the UN
Secretary-General's stance towards making amendments to his peace plan,
President Papadopoulos said that Mr Kofi Annan's role did not allow him to
express his views before the resumption of the talks. "I am however under
the impression that we do have arguments and suggestions that are
convincing", he noted. Invited to say whether any reference was made to the
possibility of recommencing talks before December, Mr Papadopoulos stressed
that none of the international mediators he had met expressed an expectation
for a resumption of the negotiations before the so-called "parliamentary
elections" in the Turkish-occupied areas of the Republic.
Commenting on Mr Denktash's alleged intention to open the fenced-off area
of Varosha, the President said the whole issue was used for propaganda
purposes by the Turkish Cypriot leader and called on the media not to
promote it further. "Since last May, when the first report on the issue was
out, I met with political party delegates and the Famagusta Municipality
and I have the impression that no sensible Greek Cypriot would go and live
in Varosha, creating in that way a new wave of enclaved persons", Mr
Papadopoulos concluded.
[02] Solution remains first priority of Cyprus Government, says Foreign
Minister
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Georgios Iacovou, has stressed that a
comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Annan plan
remained the first priority of the Government of Cyprus, noting that the
solution would have to comply with the relevant UN resolutions and EU
principles. Speaking at the 24th Session of the Cyprus-EU Joint Parliamentary
Committee, held in Luxembourg yesterday, Mr Iacovou rejected claims that
some Greek Cypriots did not seek a solution any more due to Cyprus'
forthcoming accession to the European Union and underlined that the
Government's primary goal was the accession of a reunified island to the EU
in May 2004. He added that President Papadopoulos had stressed that in his
speech on 16 April 2004 at the singing of the Treaty of Accession.
Mr Iacovou pointed out that the negotiations for a settlement had not
collapsed on 10 March but earlier, since the Turkish Cypriot leader was
categorically stating that he rejected the Annan plan. "Mr Denktash
continues to reject the Annan plan saying that it is dead and buried", he
added. The Foreign Minister further said that since The Hague, Turkey and
Mr Denktash had consistently tried to undermine the peace process, under
the auspices of the UN, with proposals for negotiations outside the
UN framework.
He added that the Turkish side's intransigence had been escalating in the
last few months, citing as examples the refusal of the illegal occupation
regime in the north to reopen the Rizokarpaso High School, the expulsion of
two Greek Cypriot teachers and their children from the occupied areas, and
the signing of a so-called "framework agreement for a customs union"
between Turkey and the occupation regime. As regards the December
"elections" in the occupied areas, Mr Iacovou said that the issue of
concern was the composition of the "electoral body", noting that the
Turkish Cypriot voters were about 83.000 while the settlers had reached
150.000. "Consequently, isn't it legitimate to believe that the expected
voting outcome has already been rigged through processes and plots of the
Turkish side?" Mr Iacovou wondered.
[03] Belgian Foreign Minister supports Cyprus Government's positions on
Cyprus issue
Foreign Minister Georgios Iacovou had a working breakfast yesterday in
Brussels with his Belgian counterpart, Mr Louis Michel, with whom he
discussed the latest developments on the Cyprus problem and assessed the
potential role of the EU and Belgium in the efforts for a settlement.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Iacovou said he was very pleased with his
meeting with the Belgian Foreign Minister, who supported the positions of
the Cyprus Government on the Cyprus problem and noted the need for the
European Union to form its own distinct policy on the issue. Other
international matters were also discussed during the meeting, including the
Middle East issue. The two Ministers agreed that a joint Cyprus-Belgian
effort should be made to train Palestinians in various sectors such as the
police force and medical care. Mr Iacovou travelled to Brussels to take
part in the EU General Affairs and External Relation Council, which was
held yesterday and mainly focused on preparing for the next Intergovernmental
Conference beginning on 4 October 2003.
[04] Reception to be held on the occasion of Cyprus' Independence
Day
On the occasion of the anniversary of Cyprus' Independence Day, the
President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos and the First Lady, Mrs
Fotini Papadopoulou, will host a reception at the Presidential Palace
tomorrow, Wednesday, 1 October 2003, at 19.00-21.00. The reception will be
open to all. No personal invitations have been sent.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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