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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-12-18
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Thursday, 18 December 2003 Weston meets President Papadopoulos and
Foreign Minister Iacovou
[02] CoE Secretary General says Turkish Cypriots have voted for European
integration
[01] Weston meets President Papadopoulos and Foreign Minister Iacovou
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, received yesterday
afternoon the US State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Mr
Thomas Weston, who is currently visiting the island. No statements were
made after the meeting. Earlier yesterday, Mr Weston met with the Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Mr Georgios Iacovou.
The Foreign Minister noted after the meeting that Mr Weston's visit to the
region, to assess the situation, shortly after the voting in the Turkish-
occupied areas of Cyprus indicated the high level of US interest in the
resumption of the UN-led peace talks for a resolution of the Cyprus
problem. Mr Iacovou expressed certainty that the current US interest in
resolving the Cyprus issue would continue and most probably intensify. He
also pointed out that Mr Weston would hold talks today with the Turkish
Cypriot political party leaders and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf
Denktash, noting that one should wait for the wrapping up of Mr Weston's
meetings here and in Ankara, where he would be heading next, to draw any
conclusions. Replying to a question on whether the US had set up a
timeframe for the resumption of the UN-led peace talks, Mr Iacovou said
such a timeframe could not be determined since the meetings the US planned
to hold had not yet been concluded. "Surely the position is that a solution
must be found before 1 May 2004", he added. Furthermore, the Foreign
Minister said that President Papadopoulos' letter to the UN Secretary-
General, requesting the resumption of the UN-led talks, was being
prepared. Invited to say if the US was aware of a plan to be presented by
the Turkish side next week as the Turkish Foreign Minister had announced,
Mr Iacovou noted that the issue had been discussed with Mr Weston, albeit
no details as to the plan's content had been mentioned.
[02] CoE Secretary General says Turkish Cypriots have voted for European
integration
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE), Mr Walter Schwimmer,
has noted that the outcome of Sunday's voting in the Turkish-occupied areas
of Cyprus had clearly shown the support of the Turkish Cypriots for EU
accession and a settlement of the Cyprus problem before May 2004.
According to a CoE press release, issued on 16 December 2003, Mr Schwimmer
concluded that at the "elections" in the northern part of Cyprus "the
Turkish Cypriots had clearly expressed their will to join the European
Union together with their Greek Cypriot compatriots, by 1 May 2004". "The
results of the polls also show clear support for achieving a settlement
before this deadline. This is a strong call to all parties in Cyprus to re-
engage in the UN-led negotiation process as soon as possible. There is no
time to be lost", the CoE Secretary General also noted. At the same time he
recalled that at a meeting of all Cypriot political party leaders, held in
Strasbourg at his invitation earlier this year, the Annan Plan was, by and
large, accepted as a basis for negotiations. Mr Schwimmer also stressed
that the Council of Europe was ready to offer any technical or political
assistance - together with the UN and the European Union - towards finding
a sustainable solution of the Cyprus issue.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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