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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-09-23

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

  • [01]Tuesday, 23 September 2003 President Papadopoulos departs for New York
  • [02] Foreign Minister begins contacts in New York
  • [03] Mr Iacovou addresses UN General Assembly summit on AIDS
  • [04] Reception to be held on the occasion of Cyprus' Independence Day

    [01] President Papadopoulos departs for New York

    The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, departed yesterday for New York, where he will participate in the 58th UN General Assembly and meet with the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Anan, US State Department officials and leaders or representatives of foreign governments. "The main objective of my contacts will be to explain our positions on the Cyprus problem and to exercise preemptive policy for the forthcoming Islamic Conference to be held in Malaysia", Mr Papadopoulos noted speaking to the press at Larnaca Airport upon his departure. He further noted that he would return to Cyprus on 30 September and then leave for Rome to take part in the EU Intergovernmental Conference on 4 October. Asked what he expected from his meeting with Mr Kofi Annan, the President said, "nothing in particular, but I believe that every meeting with the UN Secretary-General is always useful and advantageous". Replying to another question on the Annan plan, he noted that "the changes we are pursuing to improve the plan do not necessarily mean that we are removing rights from Turkish Cypriots, but they aim at rendering the plan functional and thus more viable", adding that an improved plan would be "in favour of both communities". President Papadopoulos underlined that the Greek Cypriot side was "ready at any time to participate in negotiations on the basis of the Annan plan under the auspices of the United Nations, either before or after December". Invited to say what significance he allocated to the so-called "elections" in the Turkish-occupied areas, he noted, "If the 'elections' are won by parties that believe in the need for a solution within the context of the Annan plan, then that would surely be in the interest of both communities".

    [02] Foreign Minister begins contacts in New York

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Georgios Iacovou, met yesterday in New York with his Israeli counterpart, Mr Silvan Shalom, launching a series of meetings with his counterparts in the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at UN Headquarters. During the meeting, the Israeli Foreign Minister congratulated Cyprus on its accession to the European Union, noting that Israel looked forward to a closer cooperation on a bilateral and a Community level. He added that Israel acknowledged Cyprus' role in the region. Mr Iacovou and Mr Shalom also discussed the Cyprus problem and the situation in the Middle East. Later yesterday, Foreign Minister Iacovou met with his counterparts from Moldavia, Jordan and Pakistan, whom he briefed on the latest developments regarding efforts to find a solution of the Cyprus problem as well as Cyprus' EU accession course. Mr Iacovou and his Moldavian counterpart, Mr Nicolae Dudau, also discussed the possibilities emanating from Moldavia's current Presidency of the Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe in ensuring Turkey's compliance with the relevant decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on Cyprus. Mr Iacovou also expressed satisfaction with the fact that the Moldavian President had accepted President Papadopoulos' invitation to visit Cyprus in November. During his meetings with his Jordanian and Pakistani counterparts, Mr Marwan Muasher and Mr Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri respectively, Mr Iacovou made particular reference to their countries' role at the forthcoming Islamic Conference in promoting the drafting of a resolution on Cyprus which would respond to the relevant UN Security Council decisions and reflect the "true positions" of the parties involved, as expressed in the UN Secretary- General's report. The Foreign Minister also attended a working luncheon yesterday hosted by the American Jewish Committee. Present in the luncheon were inter alia Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis, the Chairmen of organisations of overseas Cypriots living in the US, and Foreign Ministry officials.

    [03] Mr Iacovou addresses UN General Assembly summit on AIDS

    Foreign Minister Georgios Iacovou represented Cyprus at the high-level meeting to evaluate the AIDS combating programme, which was held yesterday at UN Headquarters within the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Addressing the meeting, Mr Iacovou reiterated the determination of the Cyprus Government "to preserve an active interest on a national and international level in order to maximize the efficacy of our actions" and noted the significant role of the United Nations in fighting the pandemic. Briefing the audience on the situation of HIV/AIDS in Cyprus, Mr Iacovou said that since the diagnosis of the first AIDS case in 1986, Cyprus had considered the issue to be among its highest priorities, albeit the island remained a very low prevalence country with 0,1% of the population infected. "We have proceeded to establish the National AIDS Committee of Cyprus, which comprises all competent governmental authorities and departments in Cyprus, as well as private institutions and NGOs, and set up a specialized agency responsible for policy in the field", he said, adding that the agency's primary function was to offer HIV/AIDS patients "the most advanced combination of medical treatments and the necessary social support to sustain their quality of life". "Moreover, Cyprus is currently drafting a new Strategic Plan, which will incorporate all new developments regarding HIV, and will stress multilevel interventions and intersectoral collaboration", Mr Iacovou further said and noted that all initiatives had been conducted in close co-operation with the World Health Organisation. The Foreign Minister said that Cyprus welcomed the achievements of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and suggested that it should also encompass regional and national Programmes. He also pointed out the significance of ensuring the implementation of existing agreements aiming to make HIV medication affordable in developing countries, "an endeavour that could prolong the lives of millions of sufferers in some of the most deprived areas".

    [04] Reception to be held on the occasion of Cyprus' Independence Day

    On the occasion of the anniversary of Cyprus' Independence Day, the President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos and the First Lady, Mrs Fotini Papadopoulou, will host a reception at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, 1 October 2003, at 19.00-21.00. The reception will be open to all and no personal invitations will be sent.

    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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