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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-04-02
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
Tuesday, 2 April 2002
CONTENTS
- [01] President Clerides on the direct talks on Cyprus
- [02] Cyprus Government expresses concern about the situation in the Middle
East
- [03] Vice-President of the German Parliament: Cyprus will accede to the EU
without any problem
- [04] State Department Spokesman: a greater sense of urgency in the
negotiations is necessary
[01] President Clerides on the direct talks on Cyprus
Replying to a press question on whether the direct talks on the Cyprus
issue have come to a deadlock, the President of the Republic, Mr Glafcos
Clerides noted that at this point there are no optimistic indications
regarding the resolution of the Cyprus problem.
Regarding the statements of the Turkish Foreign Minister Mr Ismael Cem on
Cyprus' EU accession course, President Clerides stressed that the decision
makers on Cyprus' accession course are the competent bodies of the European
Union, rather than the Foreign Minister of Turkey.
[02] Cyprus Government expresses concern about the situation in the Middle
East
The Cyprus Government expresses concern and sorrow about the worsening
situation in the Middle East and condemns the use of violence and any
actions resulting in innocent victims, Israelis or Palestinians.
The Cyprus Government expresses full sympathy with President Yasser Arafat
and calls upon the Israeli troops to withdraw immediately from Ramallah and
the Palestinian territories. It also calls for the strict compliance with
the ceasefire agreed and for an immediate resumption of a dialogue in order
to rescue the peace process and preserve the endangered prospects for peace
and security in the region.
[03] Vice-President of the German Parliament: Cyprus will accede to the EU
without any problem
The Vice-President of the German Bundestag, Ms. Petra Blaess, stated that
things are not optimistic regarding the resolution of the Cyprus problem
while on Cyprus' accession course to the EU she said that there is no doubt
for Germany that Cyprus will accede to the EU as soon as possible without
any problem.
Ms Blaess made the above statements after a meeting with the President of
the House of Representatives Mr Demetris Christofias.
On his part, Mr Christofias said he was pleased to say that he had received
assurances that Germany was on our side in the effort for a peaceful
resolution of the Cyprus problem based on the United Nations resolutions
and the High-Level Agreements and that it supports the accession of Cyprus
to the EU with or without a solution to the problem, considering that
accession would act as a catalyst for the reunification of Cyprus and the
peaceful solution of its political problem.
[04] State Department Spokesman: a greater sense of urgency in the
negotiations is necessary
Asked to comment on the statements made by the American Ambassador to
Cyprus Mr Donald Bandler that he was optimistic for the outcome of the
talks on Cyprus by June, the US State Department Spokesman, Mr Richard
Boucher stated: "I haven't seen his exact comments, so I don't think I want
to try to repeat or comment on them".
Mr Boucher went on to recall the recent visit of US State Department's
envoy for Cyprus Mr Thomas Weston on the island and added that the US
"reaffirmed the view expressed by the UN Security Council presidency in
February that a greater sense of urgency in the negotiations is necessary
in order to reach an agreement by June".
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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