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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 04-02-12

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]Thursday, 12 February 2004 Cyprus talks to continue today at UN
  • [02] US remains committed to supporting UN SG's efforts
  • [03] Cyprus' first Commissioner meets Romano Prodi

    [01] Cyprus talks to continue today at UN

    Talks in New York hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan to reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of his peace plan will continue for a third day today at 3 p.m. local time. Yesterday's meeting between the Secretary-General, the President of the Republic Mr Tassos Papadopoulos and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash ended after about 90 minutes. That was the second joint meeting of the Secretary- General with the Cyprus leaders. In statements to the press after the meeting yesterday, President Papadopoulos said the Greek Cypriot side had proposed to the Secretary-General the direct involvement of the European Union in the peace process. Invited to explain what that involvement entailed, Mr Papadopoulos noted, "There will be deliberations between Mr Annan and the EU and they will submit proposals". President Papadopoulos expressed hope that the Greek Cypriot side's proposal would be accepted by the Secretary-General. Asked to say whether there was a possibility for progress at the talks, the President replied, "If the Secretary-General finally decides, on the basis of the proposals submitted by the two sides, to call for talks, then surely he assesses that there is a possibility for a solution. We will see tomorrow [today]." The Secretary-General's Spokesman, Mr Fred Eckhard, said yesterday that Mr Kofi Annan had asked for the help of the three guarantor states - United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey - to put pressure on the parties "to negotiate seriously their differences and come to an agreement that can be put to simultaneous referenda on the two sides of the island by 1 May". He further said that representatives of the three guarantors were "in the wings of these talks" and prepared to help as required. Asked to predict whether the talks would conclude yesterday, Mr Eckhard said that would probably be the Secretary-General's preference, although anything was possible. "If it goes well, and the talks are then to move to the 'nuts-and-bolts' phase under Alvaro de Soto, we will have to see where they announce that next phase of discussions will take place", he added. Invited to say if Mr Annan had any conditions for continuing the Cyprus talks, the UN spokesman said, "I don't think we want to say that he has conditions other than his plan that is on the table, and he has already said that should the two sides agree on changes to that plan, he is ready to make those changes. So it is really up to the two sides to come up with a common platform for the referenda. That is what he is trying to facilitate". Earlier yesterday, President Tassos Papadopoulos had a meeting with the US State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Mr Thomas Weston. Speaking after the meeting, Mr Weston said he would not comment on whether he was optimistic or pessimist about the outcome of the talks before the afternoon joint meeting of the Secretary-General with the two leaders. Asked if the Greek Cypriot side was cooperating at the talks, he pointed out that he had just had a very useful discussion with the President but "it is all dependent on the Secretary-General's estimation on the degree of cooperation which he is getting from the two sides". He also noted, in response to a question, that Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell was having contacts with all interested parties.

    [02] US remains committed to supporting UN SG's efforts

    "Secretary Powell has consistently been involved in supporting the Secretary-General's efforts to bring about an agreement and a referendum on Cyprus. And he will continue to work in close cooperation, coordination with the Secretary-General in order to help him as he tries to bring and we all try to bring the two parties together to reach a settlement", US State Department's Deputy Spokesman Mr Adam Ereli said during yesterday's foreign press briefing in Washington D.C. Mr Ereli further noted that Mr Powell had spoken yesterday about Cyprus with Turkish Foreign Minister Mr Abdullah Gul, Greece's Foreign Minister Mr George Papandreou and UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan. "As part of his conversations, Secretary Powell reiterated our encouragement for all the parties to do everything possible to support the good offices mission of the Secretary-General, and underscored the importance of reaching a settlement and allowing a untied Cyprus to join the EU on May 1st", he added.

    [03] Cyprus' first Commissioner meets Romano Prodi

    The Minister of Finance and Cyprus' first EU Commissioner, Mr Markos Kyprianou, met yesterday in Brussels with the European Commission President, Mr Romano Prodi. In statements after the meeting, Mr Kyprianou said he had a very good meeting with Mr Prodi, during which they discussed procedural matters and issues of substance regarding the incorporation of the ten new Commissioners in the College of European Commissioners. Mr Kyprianou further noted Mr Prodi's interest in the Cyprus problem and the efforts for a settlement currently underway in New York. "It is clear that the EU wants, as well as we do, a solution to the Cyprus problem the soonest and if possible, before the 1st of May", he added.

    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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