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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-04-08
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Tuesday, 08 April 2003 Denktash proposals fall outside UN and EU
framework and cannot be accepted, says Greek Premier
[02] UN Spokesman announces release of Cyprus report
[03] National Council discusses measures for Turkish Cypriots
[04] Foreign Minister meets Ambassadors of Security Council member
countries
[05] Cyprus' new Ambassador to Iceland presents credentials
[06] Statistical Service publishes 2001 demographic report
[01] Denktash proposals fall outside UN and EU framework and cannot be
accepted, says Greek Premier
"A change of policy by the Turkish Cypriot side is what is needed, not
maneuvers and moves that aim to impress", the Greek Prime Minister Mr
Costas Simitis stated yesterday commenting on the recent proposals by the
Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash. Speaking to the press after a
meeting of the executive office of the Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement
(PASOK), Mr Simitis noted, referring to Cyprus, that "the line that divides
Nicosia also divides Turkey from Brussels" and that was why the Turkish
Cypriot side's proposals could not be accepted. "Turkey's accession to the
European Union has some clear pre-conditions, according to the Helsinki
conclusions, namely, the resolution of all of Turkey's disputes with its
neighbours, based on the principles of international law and the European
Union", Mr Simitis also noted. He further wondered why the Turkish Cypriot
side presented its proposals on the issue of Varosha now and not some years
ago.
[02] UN Spokesman announces release of Cyprus report
The Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Mr Fred Eckhard, announced
yesterday at the daily press briefing the release of Mr Kofi Annan's report
on his good offices mission in Cyprus. Mr Eckhard's statement was the
following: "The Secretary-General's report on his mission of good offices
in Cyprus, covering the period between late 1999 and the meeting in The
Hague on 10 and 11 March 2003, is out today (S/2003/398).
Apart from thoroughly reporting on the developments during this period, the
report also contains a detailed explanation of the Secretary-General's plan
(paras 61-128). The observations section of the report has two parts - the
first gives the Secretary-General's views as to why this unique opportunity
was missed (paras 129-143), the second outlines what the Secretary-General
believes should be the way ahead (paras 144-151). He states that his plan
remains on the table. He does not propose to take a new initiative without
a solid reason to believe that the political will exists necessary for a
successful outcome. Alvaro de Soto, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser
on Cyprus, is scheduled to brief the Security Council on Thursday 10 April.
" The Secretary-General's report has been submitted to the Security Council
which will hold consultations on Cyprus this coming Thursday, 10 April.
The full text of the report can be found at the following link:
The UN-led peace talks collapsed last month in The Hague, when the Turkish
Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, refused to put the UN Secretary-General's
solution plan to a referendum, as Mr Annan had requested from the two
leaders.
[03] National Council discusses measures for Turkish Cypriots
The National Council - the President's top advisory body on the handlings
of the Cyprus issue - convened yesterday afternoon, under the chairmanship
of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos.
After the meeting, the Government Spokesman, Mr Kypros Chrysostomides, made
the following statement: "The National Council continued today the exchange
of views on the issue of the policy towards our Turkish Cypriot co
citizens. There was a general position that despite the current conditions,
it is necessary that our Turkish Cypriot co citizens equally take advantage
of all benefits and opportunities offered by the State to all other
citizens. It is naturally understandable that until the final solution, a
lot of measures that entail the element of recognition of the current
illegal status quo are not possible. Therefore, any measures would have to
aim at creating conditions for participating in everything that our broad
society enjoys, whether that refers to freedom of movement or travel or
job opportunities or providing and receiving services.
The course of policy is adopted by the National Council. The measures as
such will be determined by the Council of Ministers in order to take the
necessary administrative measures. In the meantime, a Subcommittee of the
National Council will convene in the next few days to examine which
measures can be implemented and with what degree of divergence from the
legislative framework, during the transition period, so that a specific set
of measures can be submitted to the Council of Ministers. Furthermore,
views were exchanged on a number of other issues such as the signing of the
Accession Treaty in Athens on 16 April, the forthcoming discussion at the
Security Council following the Secretary-General's report, and a number of
other issues."
[04] Foreign Minister meets Ambassadors of Security Council member
countries
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Georgios Iacovou, completed a series of
meetings yesterday with Ambassadors to Cyprus of countries that are members
to the UN Security Council. In particular, he held meetings with the
Ambassadors of the five permanent members of the Security Council, namely
USA, UK, France, Russia and China, the Ambassadors of Germany and Spain,
and the Charge d'Affaires of Syria. Mr Iacovou briefed the foreign
diplomats on the Government's positions regarding the UN Secretary-
General's report on the Cyprus issue, in light of the impending discussion
on Cyprus at the Security Council later this week.
[05] Cyprus' new Ambassador to Iceland presents credentials
Ambassador Kostas Papademas presented last Friday his credentials to the
President of Iceland, Mr Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, as the new Ambassador of
the Republic of Cyprus to that country. Mr Papademas briefed Mr Grimsson on
the latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem and in particular, on
the Turkish intransigent stance in The Hague which led to the collapse of
the UN intensive peace efforts. Cyprus' EU accession course was also
discussed. The President of Iceland expressed hope for the attainment of a
just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the relevant
UN resolutions. He further stressed that Cyprus' accession to the
European Union would pave the way for enhancing the already close relations
between Cyprus and Iceland.
[06] Statistical Service publishes 2001 demographic report
The Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus announces that it has
published the Demographic Report for 2001. The report gives, inter alia, an
account of population developments and provides data on a time series basis
on fertility, mortality, marriages and divorces. The Demographic Report is
available from the Government Printing Office in Lefkosia at the price of
£7,00.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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