[05] Accreditation of new Cyprus Ambassador to the Czech Republic
The President of the Republic Mr. Glafcos Clerides reaffirmed today the
government's "support to all the efforts that are exerted in establishing
peace, security and stability throughout the region of the Middle East as a
whole".
In a message on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with
the Palestinian people, President Clerides saluted "the signing of the
Sharm-al-Sheikh Memorandum in September 99, for it constitutes a giant step
forward in the journey towards peace".
"On our part, President Clerides added, we profess our readiness to
contribute in any way feasible to peace and in bringing the people of the
entire area closer together".
British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair and French President Mr Jacques Chirac
expressed last Tuesday the hope that the forthcoming talks on Cyprus will
lead to progress towards the unification of the island.
In a joint press conference given in London on November 25 the French
President said that "we hope that at the Helsinki Summit it will be
clarified that no state can oppose the candidacy of Cyprus and following
the outcome of the discussions between Mr Clerides and Mr Denktash, we all
hope that progress be mode towards the unification of the island".
Italy's Deputy Foreign Minister Mr Ranieri stated last Friday that his
country works towards a positive development in the Cyprus problem. Mr
Ranieri pointed out that the present circumstances could lead to faster
developments. He stressed that new perspectives for a Cyprus settlement had
recently been opened, due also to the efforts of the Greek government and
called on the parties to seize the opportunity.
The President of the Greek Parliament Mr Apostolic Kaklamanis said
yesterday that "there are no indications that the forthcoming meeting New
York between Cyprus President Mr Glafcos Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot
leader Mr Rauf Denktash will yield any substantive result, due to the
continuous Turkish Cypriot intransigence".
Mr Kaklamanis was replying to a question by his Italian counterpart Mr
Luciano Violante regarding the Greco-Turkish relations and the Cyprus
issue. Mr Kaklamanis further stated that the Turkish Cypriot leader insists
on his unacceptable demands for the recognition of his pseudo-state, a
demand that violates all rules of international law.
Cyprus' new Ambassador to the Czech Republic Mr George Vyrides presented
last Friday his credentials to the Czech President Mr Vaclav Havel.
Receiving Mr Vyrides' credentials, Mr Havel expressed his keen interest in
a Cyprus settlement in a peaceful and just way on the basis of UN
resolutions.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
