Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-03-30

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

News Update

Monday, 30/03/98

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus starts membership talks with EU
• [02] Annan urges Denktash to resume bi-communal talks
• [03] US believes EU could be a catalyst for a Cyprus settlement
• [04] Congressional resolution calls for new US initiative on Cyprus
• [05] Women meet in London

[01] Cyprus starts membership talks with EU

He was speaking at a meeting in Brussels of the EU Council of Ministers whereby negotiations for accession to the European Union of Cyprus and 10 other applicant countries formally begin.

"Our country is not divided through fault of its people", he said. "More than anyone else we are the ones who want the achievement of a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem as soon as possible".

He expressed the belief that the process and the prospect of membership to the EU, which will benefit the population of Cyprus in its entirety, will act as a catalyst inducing all sides involved to work for an early solution.

"We will do everything in our power to make this a reality", he stressed.

Mr Kasoulides said that Cyprus feels confident that as a full member of the EU it will contribute to the stability and welfare of the big European family, regardless of its small size. It has the ambition and the ability to become the region's economic and financial operations centre, a communications and transport hub, and a meeting point for peoples and cultures. With its advanced technical infrastructure it can become the bridge from where European enterprises launch their activities, he added.

Also present in Brussels is Cyprus' chief EU negotiator, George Vassiliou, who last week attended a preparatory meeting in Prague of the representatives of countries applying to join the EU.

While today's meeting are of a ceremonial character, tomorrow there will be individual intergovernmental conferences beginning with Cyprus. Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia will follow.

The EU delegation in the accession talks will be headed by an Austrian official, Leopold Maurer of Austria.

The applicant countries will be separated into two groups. The first will be made of the favoured six - Cyprus, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia and the Czech Republic - and as such will meet throughout April with EU officials for "instructive" meetings. The second group will include Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

A further series of meetings will be held in September to identify any problem areas in the countries' respective accession bids.

Cyprus Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides earlier described the start of the talks as "an historic event opening a new era in the island's political and social life."

He reiterated that the Cyprus government would like the Turkish Cypriot community to be involved in this historic challenge.

Mr Stylianides added that the government was keeping a close eye on the Turks and any possible retaliatory measures they might take, and said that Cyprus would have the constant support of the Greek government throughout the process.

[02] Annan urges Denktash to resume bi-communal talks

In a statement read out by UN Spokesman, Fred Eckhard, after a meeting the UN Chief had with Mr Denktash in Geneva on Saturday 28 March, Mr Annan expressed disappointment at the outcome of the visit to Nicosia of his special advisor on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, and, in particular, "that it was not possible to find a common basis on which to continue the process of negotiations between the leaders of the two communities".

He pointed out that there is no alternative route to a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus problem based on a bi-communal, bizonal federal state.

"The talks between the two leaders are the only framework within which the two communities in Cyprus are treated on the basis of full political equality", he said.

The UN Secretary-General will, at Mr Denktash's request, inform the Security Council of the outcome of their meeting.

He also intends to ask Mr Cordovez to continue to explore with the parties ways of establishing fair and effective modalities for the continuation of the talks.

"Otherwise there is a real risk that the situation in the area will deteriorate, and that tension will increase", he says.

[03] US believes EU could be a catalyst for a Cyprus settlement

State Department spokesman James Foley said the prospect of the accession of Cyprus to the EU "can be a positive catalyst in a settlement of the disputes that separate the communities on Cyprus.

He warned, however, that finding a solution "will take some time and must proceed through a process of negotiations".

Describing the Turkish Cypriot decision to refuse to participate in the accession talks as unfortunate, Foley added that he hoped there could still be an effort and a will on all sides to co-operate.

"One could envisage a possibility of a joint delegation of some kind that can be agreed on and can participate in the EU accession talks".

"I believe there are prospects. The US is not going to endorse any particular formula, I would hasten to add. But there are prospects", he added.

[04] Congressional resolution calls for new US initiative on Cyprus

The resolution also says that the prospect of Cyprus accession to the European Union "could serve as a catalyst for resolving the situation in Cyprus", adding that Cyprus' entire population, including the Turkish Cypriots, would benefit greatly from the island's EU membership.

The resolution stresses that "a Cyprus settlement must be based on a state of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded".

[05] Women meet in London

The meeting, the second of its kind, was attended by 25 Greek Cypriot and 14 Turkish Cypriots women.

The Turkish Cypriot regime prevented four women from attending, however, as part of its clampdown on bi-communal activities.

Among those taking part in the meeting are ruling Democratic Rally party MP, Kate Clerides, daughter of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, and Turkish Cypriot lawyer Sefika Durduran, wife of Alpay Durduran, leader of the "New Cyprus Party".

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

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