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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 00-04-12
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
Wednesday, 12 April 2000
CONTENTS
- [01] Cyprus talks should be upgraded, says President Clerides
- [02] «The current situation presents the best opportunity for a Cyprus
settlement»,says Thomas Weston.
- [03] EU-Turkey Association Council reaffirms Helsinki conclusions
[01] Cyprus talks should be upgraded, says President Clerides
The President of the Republic Mr. Glafcos Clerides said yesterday that the
forthcoming proximity talks on Cyprus, scheduled to begin on May 23 in New
York should be upgraded.
Speaking on his return from visits to the U.S and Great Britain, President
Clerides stressed the need for UN - led negotiations on Cyprus that will
deal with the core issues of the Cyprus problem, namely the distribution of
powers, security, property and territory.
Moreover he noted that foreign envoys on Cyprus made it clear to the
Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Denktash that his illegal regime will neither be
recognized nor «acknowledged».
[02] «The current situation presents the best opportunity for a Cyprus
settlement»,says Thomas Weston.
US State Department/s Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston has said that
the Republic/s accession course to the European Union, rapprochement
between Greece and Turkey and the unified and strong international backing
for the UN efforts to facilitate a comprehensive settlement have added a
new dimension to and incentives for a comprehensive Cyprus settlement.
In a statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as nominee for
the rank of Ambassador, Mr Weston also said that the division of Cyprus has
continued too long at a «great cost to the people and with substantial risk
to the stability of the Eastern Mediterranean».
«I believe that the current situation presents the best opportunity for a
settlement in Cyprus in years», he said and outlined that the Republic/s EU
course «has the opportunity to resolve many of the historical, political
and security concerns on the island».
Mr. Weston also referred to the two round of UN-led proximity talks on
Cyprus and added that «we continue to work hard to ensure that the
recommencement of talks on May 23 in New York moves the parties towards a
just and durable settlement that addresses the legitimate concerns of both
sides».
[03] EU-Turkey Association Council reaffirms Helsinki conclusions
In a statement issued at the conclusion of the EU-Turkey Association
Council held in Luxembourg on 11 April outlining the state of relations
between EU and Turkey it is stated that «recalling the Helsinki conclusions,
the European Union welcomes the launch of the talks aiming at a comprehensive
settlement of the Cyprus problem and expresses its strong support for the
UN Secretary General's efforts to bring the process to a successful
conclusion. The European Union underlines that a political settlement will
facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union. If no settlement
has been reached by the completion of accession negotiations, the EU
decision on accession will be made without the above being a precondition.
In this the EU will take account of all relevant factors.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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