Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-03-06

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

News Update

Friday, 06/03/98

CONTENTS

• [01] EU Commissioner prepares the ground for accession talks
• [02] New member of the House of Representatives
• [03] Central Bank pleased with US report on narcotics

[01] EU Commissioner prepares the ground for accession talks

He said his meetings in Cyprus had primarily focused on preparations for the start of the EU accession talks.

He reiterated that the EU is looking towards the prospect of Cyprus' accession and at ways that both communities could benefit therefrom.

He expressed disappointment at not meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Denktash and said he was encouraged by President Clerides' inaugural speech in which he extended a hand of friendship to Mr Denktash, calling him a compatriot.

The EU Commissioner added that during his talks here they had also discussed the expected resumption of the intercommunal dialogue, which the EU supports.

Moreover, replying to a question, Mr Van den Broek reiterated that the EU does not recognise the pseudostate as a separate entity.

He added that the EU needs some time in order to explain both to the Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish leadership the benefits they will accrue with, on the one hand, the resumption of the intercommunal talks and, on the other, the participation of Turkish Cypriots in the accession negotiations.

Yesterday Mr Van den Broek had a meeting with Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, and said afterwards that he hoped that on the political issue, some progress can be achieved. He added, however, that "it takes two to tango".

Mr Kasoulides on his part said the Cyprus government "will prove that it is ready to tango, as long as there is a partner. We will fully conform with the conclusions of the Luxembourg European Council", he said.

He added that the Cyprus government is ready to conform with the conclusions of the Luxembourg European Council, regarding the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the accession negotiations.

If the Turkish Cypriots participate in the talks, he said, "so much the better, if not, the talks will proceed. Our political aim is that the talks should anyway be completed".

The EU Commissioner yesterday also discussed the preparations for the negotiating process with the head of Cyprus' delegation for the accession talks, George Vassiliou.

Mr Vassiliou said afterwards that their discussion had centred on ways that the Turkish Cypriots can participate in the talks.

"We can agree to proposals which could be accepted by the EU, even though I believe that no one could make any proposals which could be accepted by the Turkish Cypriots", Mr Vassiliou remarked.

Mr Van den Broek said "We hope again that results will be achieved. We do our best". He added: "Interests at stake are great and where we can assist we will do that".

He reiterated that he works towards a result where both Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities can benefit from it but would not go into details.

[02] New member of the House of Representatives

[03] Central Bank pleased with US report on narcotics

"The 1997 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report was released recently by the US State Department. The Report comments on and assesses the current situation in over 200 countries regarding the production of narcotics, drug trafficking and money laundering.

The Central Bank of Cyprus has noted with satisfaction that the Report describes objectively the Cyprus government's coordinated and continuous efforts in the last few years to combat the international problem of drug trafficking and money laundering.

The Report contains favourable and positive comments about Cyprus such as the following:

Cyprus enforces tough anti-drug laws and is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Trafficking Convention (Vienna Convention). It has also passed legislation to implement the 1990 EU Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime.

The Central Bank's measures in recent years to prevent money laundering activities in the banking and off-shore sector have been described as encouraging. As a result of these measures there has been a falloff in illicit financial activity in Cyprus.

The Cyprus Government has been particularly active in enforcing the 1996 Law on the Covering- up Investigation and Confiscation of Proceeds from Certain Criminal Acts Law a key provision of which was the creation of the Unit for Combating Money Laundering which operates from the Attorney- General's Office, and the appointment of supervisory authorities to oversee banks, insurance companies, the stock exchange and cooperatives. At the same time seminars and training have been provided to police officers, professionals and banking officials in the rules and procedures of the 1996 law against money laundering.

It is clear from the above that Cyprus has taken drastic and comprehensive legal and other measures to prevent and combat money laundering activities.

In addition to the favourable State Department report on Cyprus, the Central Bank would like to state that it has been officially informed by the Financial Action Task Force, which was established by the OECD countries, that at a meeting of the Task Force last month it was decided to remove Cyprus from the list of óCountries of Primary Concernò which must be pressured or persuaded to adopt measures for combating the problem. Needless to say, this development, which is the outcome of the systematic and serious work which has been made in the last few years, is expected to affect positively Cyprus' efforts to accede to the European Union."

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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