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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 04-01-28
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Wednesday, 28 January 2004 Statements by Turkish officials on Cyprus
cause confusion, says President Papadopoulos
[02] Foreign Minister meets Enlargement Commissioner in Brussels
[01] Statements by Turkish officials on Cyprus cause confusion, says
President Papadopoulos
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, has said that the
recent statements by Turkish officials on Cyprus were contradictory and
caused nothing but confusion as to Ankara's real aims. The Cyprus
Government would therefore wait for the official briefing by the UN before
evaluating the Turkish side's stance, Mr Papadopoulos added. Speaking
yesterday upon his departure for Strasbourg, the President noted that the
Government would welcome the expression of political will for a settlement
by the Turkish side and reiterated the Greek Cypriot side's readiness to
participate unconditionally in substantial talks, on the basis of the Annan
plan, whenever the UN Secretary-General would call for a resumption of the
negotiations. Asked whether he perceived any form of pressure by the
international community towards the Greek Cypriot side, Mr Papadopoulos
noted, "If you are asking whether we have been faced with any dilemmas or
demands the answer is negative; No form of pressure has been exercised
towards me or Mr Papandreou".
"I am certain that all parties wish for the resumption of the talks the
soonest in order to reach a solution by 1 May, and it is natural to make
every effort to encourage all sides to contribute towards a solution of the
Cyprus problem", he added. Replying to another question, Mr Papadopoulos
said the latest moves by the Turkish government could not be described as
positive and noted that "while they support the resumption of the talks,
they do not clarify whether they accept the Annan plan as a basis for
negotiations". President Papadopoulos further said it was obvious that
Turkey was trying to embellish its image in light of its EU membership bid.
He added that it was well known that the US was assisting Turkey to fulfil
its EU aspirations and consequently, it was not all that difficult to
convince Washington that Ankara's latest moves were a positive step in the
right direction.
[02] Foreign Minister meets Enlargement Commissioner in Brussels
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Georgios Iacovou, met yesterday in
Brussels with the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Mr Gunter Verheugen, with
whom he discussed the latest developments on the Cyprus problem and in
particular, the efforts for resuming the UN-sponsored peace talks.
Commissioner Verheugen informed Mr Iacovou about his contacts in Turkey
during his recent trip to that country with the Commission President, Mr
Romano Prodi. Mr Verheugen also referred to the efforts for resuming
negotiations for a settlement of the Cyprus issue, noting that the issue
would be discussed at the meeting of the College of Commissioners with the
UN Secretary-General today in Brussels.
On his part, Mr Iacovou reiterated the readiness of the Cyprus Government
to resume talks the soonest possible, on the basis of the Annan plan, with
the aim at reaching a viable and functional settlement before 1 May 2004,
the date of the Republic's official accession to the European Union.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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