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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 04-02-19
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Thursday, 19 February 2004 UN-led direct talks resume today in
Nicosia
[02] Kofi Annan calls on Cyprus leaders to 'seize the moment' for
settlement
[03] US will continue to have strong role in the peace process, says
Boucher
[04] Louis Michel: Belgium has always been supporting Cyprus
[01] UN-led direct talks resume today in Nicosia
The UN-led direct negotiations for a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus
problem on the basis of the UN Secretary-General's peace plan resumed this
morning. The talks between the President of the Republic and Greek Cypriot
leader Mr Tassos Papadopoulos and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf
Denktash began at 10 a.m. at the UN Protected Area (UNPA) in the old
Nicosia airport, in the presence of the Secretary-General's Special Adviser
on Cyprus, Mr Alvaro de Soto. The two leaders will negotiate directly until
22 March 2004, as provided by Mr Kofi Annan's terms for resuming the talks,
which both sides agreed to in New York last week.
If the new round of talks fails to yield an agreement by then, Greece and
Turkey - as guarantor powers - will be invited to join the process in a bid
to help the two sides agree on any pending issues, and if no agreement can
be reached, the Secretary-General will be called to fill in the blanks on
unresolved issues pertaining to his plan. The final text would be then
submitted for approval in separate simultaneous referenda in April, with a
view at reaching a solution before Cyprus formally accedes to the European
Union on 1 May 2004.
[02] Kofi Annan calls on Cyprus leaders to 'seize the moment' for
settlement
The UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, called on the Cyprus leaders
yesterday to negotiate constructively and in good faith in order to reunite
the island. Speaking one day before the resumption of the UN-led talks in
Nicosia, Mr Annan noted, "I think this is a great chance for the people of
Cyprus - both peoples of Cyprus - to work hard to come together for a
united Cyprus. I also appeal to the leaders to really seize the moment and
work in good faith, in a give-and-take spirit, to make it a win-win
situation for everybody. It is possible. There is a lot of work, but we
know the issues, we have ideas what the solution should be. It is now time
to move forward and take the hard decisions necessary to make it happen".
"In the end the people will have to vote in simultaneous referenda so they
will have their say. And I hope the leaders will work with us to produce a
plan and a document that is fair and balanced that the people can vote on
and enter a united Europe together", Mr Annan added.
[03] US will continue to have strong role in the peace process, says
Boucher
The US State Department's Spokesman, Mr Richard Boucher, noted yesterday
that the United States would continue to play "a very strong, positive and
supportive role" in the UN Secretary-General's peace efforts in Cyprus and
to support the resumed talks "from the highest levels on down". "We are not
a participant in the talks, but we have provided and will continue to
provide all necessary diplomatic support for the talks to try to help them
reach a successful conclusion", Mr Boucher said, noting that the US
Ambassador to the island, Mr Michael Klosson, was working to support the
talks and that the State Department's Special Cyprus Coordinator, Mr Thomas
Weston, was prepared to travel to the region if needed to provide
diplomatic support to the process. With regard to the role of the European
Union in the talks, the US Spokesman noted, "I think it was defined by the
statements made at the end of the discussions in New York. We think the
European Union has a role to play; it has been analyzed and defined a bit
by the discussions they have had already and that is fine with us".
[04] Louis Michel: Belgium has always been supporting Cyprus
Belgium's Foreign Minister and deputy Prime Minister, Mr Louis Michel, said
his country had always been supporting Cyprus and its accession to the
European Union, and expressed hope that the Cyprus problem would be
resolved. Speaking yesterday in Nicosia after a meeting with his Cyprus
counterpart Mr Georgios Iacovou, the Belgian Foreign Minister expressed the
view that prospects to resolve the Cyprus problem had never been that
favourable. For his part, Mr Iacovou said his talks with Mr Michel had
focused mainly on the Cyprus problem, although they also discussed the
problems in the Middle East since the Belgian Minister had come from a trip
to that region. Replying to questions on the UN-led negotiations for a
solution of the Cyprus problem, Mr Iacovou noted that the Greek Cypriot
side would insist on the functionality of the Annan plan without attempting
to alter the plan's balance. He also voiced his concern about the Turkish
Cypriot side's insistence on the creation of two separate sovereign states
in Cyprus, and said that some terms used by the other side, such as bi-
nationality - instead of bi-communality - and enhanced bi-zonality, fell
outside the framework and basic parameters of the Annan plan.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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