Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-04-05

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

Friday, 5 April 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] UN Security Council concerned over slow progress of talks on Cyprus
• [02] The performance of Cyprus' economy is satisfactory
• [03] Greek EU Presidency to complete Cyprus' EU accession

[01] UN Security Council concerned over slow progress of talks on Cyprus

After a UN Security Council meeting yesterday, during which the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Mr Alvaro de Soto briefed the members on the outcome of the second round of talks between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, the President of the body, Mr Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation made the following press statement:

"The members of the Council heard on 4 April 2002 a further interim report from Alvaro de Soto, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus, concerning the direct talks on Cyprus between the two leaders. They took note that this briefing was part of the review being conducted by the Secretary-General at approximately the half-way point between the opening of the face-to-face negotiations in January and the target date of June for agreement, referred to by each of the two leaders.

The members of the Council continued to give their full support to the negotiating process undertaken by the two leaders pursuant to their agreement of 4 December 2001; and to the spirit of cooperation shown by their involvement in the process. But they expressed concern that progress was slow and that a great deal of ground remained to be covered for the June target date for agreement, which the Council again strongly endorsed, to be met. In that context they urged the leaders to intensify their negotiations in the period ahead and to bring to them the urgency, political determination, flexibility and spirit of give and take needed for differences to be resolved. In particular, they urged the two leaders to focus without delay on narrowing the differences between them on all issues that must be resolved, as part of a comprehensive settlement which takes full consideration of relevant United Nations resolutions and treaties.

The members of the Council reiterated their full support for the Secretary- General's mission entrusted to him by the Council in its resolution 1250. They called upon the parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General and his Special Adviser, and to look to them for assistance in order to move forward on the substance".

[02] The performance of Cyprus' economy is satisfactory

Moreover this report refers to the impressive growth of the economy, with the external factor being the leverage for the period 1996-2000, as well as to the full employment conditions prevailing in Cyprus. The target set by the Cyprus Government for the balance of the fiscal sector until 2004 is considered feasible, while the elimination of the fiscal deficit until 2004 will reduce the debt service ratio to 48% of the GDP, according to the report.

The direct state involvement and intervention with the economy is considered relatively low in the case of Cyprus, the report concludes.

[03] Greek EU Presidency to complete Cyprus' EU accession

He pointed out that this would be an important moment for Greece, since it has worked intensively on this development since 1994.

It would also be an important moment for the EU, since, along with Cyprus, nine more countries will accede, he concluded.

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

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