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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-10-24
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Friday, 24 October 2003 Cyprus Government reaffirms commitment to
proceed with minefield clearance despite Turkish stance
[02] New Ambassadors of France, Denmark and Finland and High Commissioner
of New Zealand present credentials
[01] Cyprus Government reaffirms commitment to proceed with minefield
clearance despite Turkish stance
The Cyprus Government is determined to proceed with the clearance of
minefields along the buffer zone despite the stance of the Turkish Cypriot
side on the matter. The above was expressed by a Cyprus Government
delegation, headed by the Director of the President's Diplomatic Office, Mr
Tasos Tzionis, during a meeting yesterday with a delegation of UNFICYP (UN
Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus), headed by UN Top official, Mr Wlodek
Cibor. At the meeting the two delegations agreed on the steps needed to
move forward with the process of clearing the buffer zone minefields.
Moreover, the Cyprus delegation reaffirmed the Government's readiness to
begin soon with the destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines, owned
by the National Guard, in compliance with the Ottawa Convention. Both
delegations expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation between
them on the issue of demining.
[02] New Ambassadors of France, Denmark and Finland and High Commissioner
of New Zealand present credentials
The new Ambassadors of France, Denmark and Finland and the High Commissioner
of New Zealand to Cyprus presented their credentials yesterday to the
President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos. The French Ambassador,
Mr Hadelin de La Tour-Du-Pin, praised the longstanding cooperation and
friendly ties between the two countries which would be enhanced further as
France and Cyprus "will join in a common endeavour, the building of a new
European Union, democratic and prosperous, peaceful and self-assured". He
added that bilateral cooperation could be improved in areas such as
security, justice, administration and finance. He further assured President
Papadopoulos that France supported Cyprus' EU accession and that it would
consider favourably Cyprus' entry into the Euro-zone.
Regarding the Cyprus problem, France's Ambassador noted that his government
did not consider the recent confidence-building measures as a substitute
for a settlement. "As it was stressed at the European Summit in Thessaloniki,
France - like the European Union and its member states - wants a global,
fair and sustainable solution to this long-standing conflict and strongly
hopes that the year 2004 will see real progress towards the reunification
of Cyprus on the basis of the UN settlement plan", he added. The new
Ambassador of Denmark to Cyprus, Mr Poul Skytte Christoffersen, made
reference to the island's participation in EU structures and said it had an
essential role to play in enhancing the EU's Mediterranean policy. On the
Cyprus problem, the Danish Ambassador called for a solution before May 2004
and praised the Cyprus Government's continued commitment towards the Annan
plan as the basis for renewed peace talks. Finland's new Ambassador to
Cyprus, who will be stationed in Tel Aviv, Mr Kari Johannes Veijalainen,
referred to the prospects for further bilateral cooperation as Cyprus
becomes a full member state of the EU. He also made reference to his
Finland's participation in UNFICYP, from the mid-sixties until today,
noting it was "a concrete contribution of my country to the efforts of the
United Nations to reach a peaceful settlement to the long overdue division
of Cyprus". The High Commissioner of New Zealand to Cyprus, stationed in
Rome, Mrs Julie Clare MacKenzie, made particular reference to bilateral
cooperation as both New Zealand and Cyprus were active and longstanding
members of the Commonwealth.
As regards Cyprus' membership to the EU, High Commissioner MacKenzie noted
that it would be an asset for her country to have an "old friend like
Cyprus" around the EU decision-making table. On the Cyprus issue, she said
her government had been following the problem with sympathetic interest and
expressed hope that the Annan plan would form a basis for a settlement.
Receiving the credentials of the aforementioned Ambassadors and High
Commissioner, in separate ceremonies yesterday, President Papadopoulos
welcomed the diplomats to the island and wished them luck with their new
duties. Mr Papadopoulos informed them on the current situation of the
Cyprus problem and reassured them of the Cyprus Government's commitment to
engage in negotiations on the basis of the Annan plan with the aim at
achieving a functional and viable solution in accordance with the relevant
UN Resolutions and the acquis communautaire.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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