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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-06-23Cyprus 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 UpdateMonday,, 23/06/97CONTENTS
[01] Sir Kieran Prendergast hopeful on CyprusUN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Sir Kieran Prendergast, replying to questions on Cyprus at the UN Press Club in New York on 19.6.97 said that "the Secretary-General would not have invited the parties to come and attend talks if he did not have some hope that there would be progress made".Sir Kieran added that Diego Cordovez, who has been appointed as Mr Kofi Annan's Special Adviser for Cyprus, is a very experienced and ingenious negotiator and "if there is progress to be made then Diego will make it". The UN official also said that essentially progress and peace in Cyprus depend on the parties, adding that the UN can provide "an enabling environment". "We can try and help create conditions in which progress is more easily made. The objective is certainly a comprehensive settlement of the long- standing Cyprus problem", he said. Referring to the missing persons issue Sir Kieran said the Secretary- General "is prepared to nominate a third person if there is real reason to believe that the parties want to make progress on it and that it is up to them to demonstrate by accepting certain conditions that he has laid down, that they wish to make progress". Asked what will happen in the future if current efforts to solve the Cyprus problem fail, Sir Kieran said that people instead should be asking what will happen if things do succeed. "First of all, it will be much easier for a united Cyprus to join the EU. Secondly, the north of Cyprus, which is one of the poorer if not the poorest areas, will receive substantial economic assistance from the EU. Thirdly, in terms of Turkey's aim, prospects or aspirations to join the EU, you will be able to see that there is a Turkish Cypriot community inside the EU". [02] UN Security Council supports Secretary-General's efforts on CyprusThe President of the UN Security Council, Permanent Representative of Russia, Mr Sergei Lavrov, in a statement on 19.6.97, said that in a meeting he had with Mr Diego Cordovez, (who will chair on behalf of the Secretary- General the forthcoming direct talks on Cyprus), he gave assurances that the UN Security Council would continue to support the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Advisor to achieve settlement on the Cyprus issue.[03] China's firm support for independence and sovereignty of Cyprus reiteratedChina firmly supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus.This was stressed by the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Ji Peiding following a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides last Friday. The Chinese official said "China respects the non-aligned status of the Republic of Cyprus", and expressed satisfaction with the friendly meeting he had with the President. On the same day Mr Peiding had talks with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides on bilateral, regional and international issues and the two men signed a protocol for co-operation between the two countries' foreign ministries. Rounding up his four day official visit to the island yesterday, the Chinese official expressed his full satisfaction with the results of his contacts here. Mr Peiding told the press that during an earlier visit to Ankara for talks with officials of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, he raised the principle for the respect of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as its sovereignty and independence. [04] Agriculture Minister heads Cyprus delegation to UN Environment SummitMinister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Costas Petrides is in New York heading the Cyprus delegation to the UN Special Session on the Environment. between 23-27 June."Earth Summit Plus 5" will review progress since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, when governments agreed on an action plan to pursue sustainable development (Agenda 21), providing for global economic growth tied to environmental protection. [05] Departing Greek Ambassador hopes for a free CyprusThe departing Greek Ambassador, Alexandros Sandis, said he hopes Cyprus will be free, united and a member of the EU next time he visits the island.Upon his departure on 21.6.97 Ambassador Sandis said he hopes Cyprus will have better days in view of its close ties with the Greek government, its accession course to the EU, and the joint defence pact between Greece and Cyprus. Sandis has been appointed Ambassador to Rome, and will be replaced by Kyriacos Rodosakis who has been serving as Greece's Ambassador to Moscow. 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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