Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 00-04-04

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

Tuesday, 4 April 2000

CONTENTS

• [01] Greek Foreign Minister considers the new political framework encouraging for developments in the Cyprus problem
• [02] Interior Minister presents Department's main achievements
• [03] "A lot of effort is going to be made around the May talks", says Senator Sarbanes"

[01] Greek Foreign Minister considers the new political framework encouraging for developments in the Cyprus problem

Speaking to the press after a meeting with Britain's Special Envoy for Cyprus Sir David Hannay, Mr. Papandreou noted that Turkey's new status as an EU candidate country, the Helsinki European Council decision on Cyprus as well as the recent rapprochement activities between Greek and Turkish Cypriots are important factors that encourage developments in the Cyprus problem

[02] Interior Minister presents Department's main achievements

He highlighted the upgrading of civil defence achieved in the past three months, adding that almost everyone now knows where to go in case of crisis.

He noted that his Ministry aims at computerising a Population Registry that will be responsible for the issuing and the renewal of passports, of civil and refugee identity cards and of the electoral registry.

Moreover he announced the introduction by June 2000 of the Smart Card, a card that will be used both as an identity card and a medical card and will serve as a means to accede to Information kiosks

Outlining the Ministry's priorities, Mr. Christodoulou referred also to plans to speed up procedures concerning ownership, town planning and rural development.

[03] "A lot of effort is going to be made around the May talks", says Senator Sarbanes"

Mr Sarbanes stressed, "This is a critical year. We work very hard to try to get things moving along certain tracks with respect to the Cyprus issue. Few years ago we worked hard to get Cyprus on the path for accession into the EU because we thought that would create a catalyst and be a pressure to try to resolve the Cyprus situation.

I think that, the whole EU is a very important dynamic in the situation. I think the prospects of Turkey going into the EU, give the European countries and indirectly to the U.S. some ability to try to leverage them in order to in effect do on Cyprus what they ought to do".

Referring to the forthcoming proximity talks in New York, Mr. Sarbanes said that the "expectations is that those talks will create the basis for a more significant and substantial talks to follow along. We keep trying to press this thing forward. I think a lot of effort is going to be made around the May talks", he concluded, adding that "one of the reasons I think that this is an extremely important year is that we really created some important frameworks and we have things on track and now we need to just push them forward. We've got a process working that I think has some possibility of producing a positive result. No-one can guarantee that. But we have to press it hard and I think we've got the President involved".

Moreover he noted that "we have to work very hard to encourage and press the current administration to expand every effort and use all its influence".

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

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