Subject: Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-10-22
From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>


[01]Wednesday, 22 October 2003 Spanish Senate unanimously approves Cyprus'
accession to EU

[02] Weston's trip to the region aims at pushing sides to resume peace
talks

[01] Spanish Senate unanimously approves Cyprus' accession to EU

The President of Spain's Senate, Mr Juan Jose Lucas Gimenez, has informed
the President of the House of Representatives, Mr Demetris Christofias, of
the Senate's unanimous decision to approve Cyprus' accession to the
European Union. Mr Gimenez and Mr Christofias met yesterday in Madrid,
where the latter is paying an official visit at the invitation of his
Spanish counterpart, Ms Luisa Rudi.
Mr Christofias expressed his satisfaction with the Spanish Senate's
decision and conveyed to Mr Gimenez the gratitude of the Cyprus House of
Representatives, the political leadership and the people. The House
President briefed Mr Gimenez on the current phase of the Cyprus problem and
expressed the Greek Cypriot side's readiness to work for a just and viable
solution, on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions, if possible before 1
May 2004. During the meeting, the friendly ties between the two countries
were reaffirmed and there was a commitment to further enhance bilateral
relations as equal partners in the EU promoting peace and stability in the
eastern Mediterranean and beyond.
Mr Christofias also met with the Chairmen of the Parliamentary Foreign
Affairs Committee and the Joint Committee on EU affairs of the Congress of
Deputies and the Senate, Mr Jesus Posada and Mr Josep Borrel respectively,
with whom he discussed the Cyprus problem and the positive effects from
Cyprus' EU accession. He concluded his series of contacts in the Spanish
capital with a meeting with the Spanish Deputy Foreign Minister, responsible
for EU affairs, Mr Ramon de Miguel y Egea.

[02] Weston's trip to the region aims at pushing sides to resume peace
talks

The US State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Mr Thomas Weston,
will be arriving in Cyprus tomorrow for a two-day visit as part of a tour
in the region. Mr Weston was in Ankara on 19-21 October and is expected in
Athens today for talks. Referring to Mr Weston's visit to the region, the
State Department's Deputy Spokesman Mr Adam Ereli said, during the daily
press briefing yesterday, that the purpose of the Special Cyprus Coordinator's
trip was "to convey US views on the way ahead to a Cyprus settlement and to
discuss this with the parties involved".
"Ambassador Weston continues to urge all parties to the Cyprus issue - both
sides on the island as well as Greece and Turkey - to express to the UN
Secretary-General as soon as possible the necessary political willingness
he has requested to resume negotiations under the framework of the UN Good
Offices Mission on the basis of the Annan plan", the Spokesman added. Asked
whether the US government was doing anything to prevent "irregularities" in
the so-called elections in the occupied areas of Cyprus by extremists loyal
to Rauf Denktash, Mr Ereli noted, "Let's not prejudge elections or predict
their outcome. We don't do that and Ambassador Weston hasn't done it.
Ambassador Weston expressed his hope that the elections will be fully
democratic, and noted that there is clear support among many Turkish
Cypriot political leaders for finalizing negotiations on the Secretary-
General's peace plan and submitting it to referenda in time for a reunited
Cyprus to join the EU on May 1st 2004." The US Spokesman said he had no
comment on the meeting between Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and
his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul yesterday in Athens.
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From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO)
at http://www.pio.gov.cy/