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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-02-28Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News UpdateFriday, 28/02/97CONTENTS
[01] Cyprus President held talks with Hans van den BroekAt the end of talks between President Glafcos Clerides and visiting European Union Commissioner Hans van den Broek, the EU senior official in statements to the press, has called on the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides to embark on comprehensive talks to end the division of Cyprus, which, he said, will cause continuous conflict, if it persists.He has also invited the Turkish Cypriots to show their own initiatives to facilitate a solution of the Cyprus problem and assist their participation in the accession process, backed by the majority of EU member-states. "If there is and remains separation, the country will be in for constant conflict and there will be others outside the country benefiting from the hostile situation", van den Broek warned. Asked if he discussed a formula to accommodate Turkish Cypriot participation in the process of accession, the Commissioner said most EU member-states have expressed a wish to see the Turkish Cypriots involved in the accession talks. "That does not mean that can be the case without any advance in the political process as such. It was clearly indicated that we view only a happy Cyprus as a united Cyprus, as member of the EU, but that, obviously, the north has to take its own initiative to make this possible", he added. [02] Foreign Minister meets Hans van den BroekFollowing talks here with Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides on Thursday (27.2.97), EU Commissioner Hans van den Broek said that progress towards a Cyprus' solution should be achieved prior to Turkish Cypriots involvement in the island's accession talks with the European Union. "I certainly feel what has priority right now is to get something started on a political solution", van den Broek told the press.The EU Commissioner said Turkish Cypriots' involvement in the accession process would have to take a back seat to some real progress in efforts to find a solution. "I wouldn't see how we can get (Turkish Cypriot involvement in accession talks) without any movement on the political side", he added. The Commissioner also reaffirmed that Cyprus-EU accession talks would begin as scheduled, six months after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). He added the EU would urge the Turkish Cypriot side to make "a reasonable contribution" to progress on a solution to the island's protracted problem. "We would call upon on the flexibility and some sort of compromise on the side of the Turkish Cypriots", van den Broek said, stressing that "one- sided solutions do not exist or, when they exist, they are unstable". Van den Broek reiterated EU's strong support of United Nations initiatives towards a solution of the Cyprus question. "I hope after a preparatory phase we will witness negotiations could really get started in the first half of this year", the Commissioner said. Noting that the Union would like to deal with a unified Cyprus during the accession talks, and with the involvement of both communities, the Commissioner underlined that this is not "simply a condition which you can put on the table". Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides said after the talks that he is satisfied the EU Commissioner saw the whole picture on Turkish Cypriot involvement in accession talks, since a necessary precursor to any such move would have to be real progress towards a solution. "Our position is that emphasis must be given to efforts on solving the Cyprus problem, just like Mr van den Broek rightly said", he noted. "When accession talks roll around, then it's our wish that conditions are such, that everyone will play their role, but my interpretation is that certainly there must be at least substantial progress in finding a solution", Michaelides said. [03] Van den Broek: "The EU cannot do the parties' negotiating for them"Speaking at an official dinner given in his honour by Cyprus Foreign Minister, visiting EU Commissioner for External Affairs Hans van den Broek said: "I came to Cyprus to convey two main messages. The first is that the European Union will honour its commitment to open accession negotiations with Cyprus six months after the Intergovernmental Conference. This means that 1998 and my second message is, that this is the year when direct negotiations on the Cyprus problem under United Nations auspices should receive the highest priority".And he added: "Let me make myself quite clear: I am not talking about a precondition, and, as I said in my conversations in the north, no third country has a veto on the accession of a new member to the Union. But you can imagine what a boost a political settlement would give to accession negotiations and to the ratification of their outcome by the EU member states and their parliaments. A negotiated settlement means, of course, that both sides must give way on certain issues to obtain concessions on others. That is the only way to secure a just and lasting agreement". Referring to the island's pre-accession preparations Commissioner van den Broek said: We have "set in train a comprehensive pre-accession strategy: the structured dialogue; the invitation to the President of the Republic of Cyprus to attend all European Council meetings as a matter of routine; the Financial Protocol; the admission of Cyprus to Community programmes; and help with the harmonisation of laws. And we have been unflagging in this strategy. The postponement of Tuesday's structured dialogue meeting was not due to a disagreement between the EU and Cyprus but rather to an internal difficulty within the Union. Its significance should not be exaggerated. Since June 1995, nearly a dozen ministerial meetings have taken place within the Structured Dialogue and there have been many more working sessions involving officials. At the same time, Tuesday's incident did reflect a certain apprehension in the EU about the absence of progress in inter-community talks, increased tension in Cyprus and the blockage in our relations with Turkey", he explained. But the EU senior official has warned: "Despite our willingness to help, the Union cannot do the parties' negotiating for them. We know - and the Secretary General's representatives have confirmed as much - that the building blocks for a political settlement exist and the main problem concerns the political will to sit down at the negotiating table and bring the talks to a conclusion". Van den Broek also noted: "Our determination to back the UN Secretary General's efforts to promote a settlement of the Cyprus question, is also clear in the Union's appointment of Ambassador Heaslip, who is with us this evening, to represent the Presidency and in the extension of his term of office". On his contacts with the Turkish Cypriot side he said: "My visit today has also enabled me to pursue the Commission's mandate to inform the Turkish Cypriot community of the advantages of accession and allay its fears on that score. This effort has not been in vain - everyone I met today in the north seemed well aware of the advantages of accession". [04] Official EU statement on van den Broek's visitA press release by the Delegation of the European Commission in Cyprus at the end of the official visit (26-28 February) of Mr Hans van den Broek, EU Commissioner for External Affairs, said his "talks in Nicosia concentrated on preparations for Cyprus' future membership of the EU and on the perspective of a settlement of the Cyprus question".The statement goes on to say: "The Commissioner confirmed that the accession negotiations between Cyprus and the EU will start in accordance with the timetable foreseen. i.e. six months after the end of the IGC. In that context the efforts made by the Cyprus Government and Parliament to adapt legislation in line of that of the EU were discussed. The trade regime and the implementation of the Fourth financial protocol have also been examined. Concerning the Cyprus question, the Commissioner emphasized that "the prospect of Cyprus' accession to the EU constitutes an historic opportunity for bringing about a solution for that question. That opportunity should be grasped now. Consequently he urged the parties concerned to start negotiations at short notice with the view of bringing about a definitive and comprehensive settlement for the Cyprus question". On the contacts of Hans van den Broek with the Turkish Cypriot political leadership the Commission's press release said his meetings "were to assess prospects for a settlement of the Cyprus question. He reiterated the view that maintenance of the status quo in Cyprus was unacceptable and that the prospect of Cyprus accession to the EU - which has been welcomed as a positive factor by the Secretary General and the Security Council of UN - should be exploited in order to foster negotiations of a political settlement. The Commissioner underlined the advantages of accession for the Turkish Cypriot community in terms of economic and social development, but also from the political and security point of view. He stressed that there was no incompatibility between Cyprus accession to the Union and the Treaty of Guarantee, and he expressed the view that the Zurich and London agreements do not prevent Cyprus to become a member of the Union in circumstances where Turkey has not joined the European Union yet. Future accession of that latter country - a partner of the EU of crucial importance - should be considered on its own merits. Mr Van den Broek considered that the present economic links between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community would not be weakened by Cyprus' accession to the EU, in particular taking into account the fact that a Customs Union between the EU and Turkey has been established. Under the auspices of the North Cyprus Young Businessmen's Association, Mr van den Broek gave a public lecture on "Cyprus and the European Union". [05] Turkish extremists cancel march to occupied FamagustaThe Turkish nationalist extremist "Grey Wolves" organisation has cancelled a march towards the eastern coastal ghost town of Famagusta, scheduled for Sunday, March 2.According to press reports from the island's Turkish-occupied areas, the decision to postpone the march, probably until late March, was taken Wednesday night (26.2.97) at a meeting of nationalist groups in Nicosia's northern occupied part. The Turkish Cypriot branch of Turkey's "Grey Wolves" extremist group announced earlier this week it would organise a march towards the greek town of Varosha (Famagusta), deserted since the 1974 Turkish invasion, and force its way into the ghost town, in a bid to reopen it for Turkish colonisers who would claim a house each. "Grey Wolves" leader in the occupied areas Mehmet Arslan has resigned according to Friday's (28.2.97) Turkish Cypriots press. Meanwhile, according to press information from the occupied areas, Rauf Denktash expressed his concern over the scheduled march and he is quoted as saying it will harm Turkish Cypriot side's position on a Cyprus solution. [06] Finland's Special Envoy on Cyprus visitFinland's Special Envoy for Cyprus, former Foreign Minister Kalevi Sorsa, is in Cyprus for contacts before preparing a report to his government by May.He has already been received by President Glafcos Clerides and on Thursday (27.2.97) Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides and Mr Sorsa held talks. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Michaelides said the Cyprus problem is entering a new delicate phase for which it needs the support and political will of all those who would like to see the implementation of UN resolutions on Cyprus. He added that Cyprus encourages the Finnish initiative and interest. Kalevi Sorsa said they discussed the question of Cyprus' entry into the European Union. The Finnish official met also with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and will fly to Greece and Turkey for further contacts. [07] Cyprus hosts Commonwealth Regional ConferenceThe Commonwealth Parliamentarian's Association will hold its 28th British Islands and Mediterranean Regional Conference in Cyprus form March 3 to 4.A total of 38 deputies from Britain, Cyprus, Malta, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey and the Falkland Islands will take part. Parliamentarians will discuss the issues of European Union Enlargement, Organised Crime and Drugs, Public Health, and Development of Dependent Territories - in Particular Scope for the reform of their Constitutional Status, following the handover of Hong Kong to China. President of the House of Representatives, Spyros Kyprianou, will address the opening session of the Conference. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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