Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-04-29

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

Monday, 29 April 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides meets with Thomas Weston
• [02] Third round of direct talks on Cyprus continues
• [03] 8th meeting of the Chairmen of the Committees on European Affairs of the Parliaments of the candidate countries for EU accession concludes in Paphos

[01] President Clerides meets with Thomas Weston

In a statement afterwards, Mr Weston said he had a very constructive meeting with the President, during which they exchanged views on the course of the direct talks on the Cyprus problem. He also noted that after his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Denktash, he would fly to New York to take part in the discussion on the Cyprus Problem before the UN Security Council.

The US Coordinator said that he did not wish to go into detail on the course of the direct talks at this particular phase, but pointed out that the United States adhere to the timetable that the Security Council has set for reaching an agreement by June.

Replying to a question on whether June is a realistic target, Mr Weston noted that both President Clerides and Mr Denktash have stated that they believed it was possible to reach an agreement by June.

Concluding Mr Weston, stressed that the United States would continue to provide diplomatic support to the effort for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and whatever assistance the two parties might require.

[02] Third round of direct talks on Cyprus continues

The meeting took place in the presence of the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Mr Alvaro de Soto. Members of each side's delegation also attended the meeting.

[03] 8th meeting of the Chairmen of the Committees on European Affairs of the Parliaments of the candidate countries for EU accession concludes in Paphos

In his address, the Chairman of the House of Representatives' European Affairs Committee, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, referring to the UN led direct talks on Cyprus, said that unfortunately indications until now are not encouraging. He also pointed out that the United Nations as well as the European Commissioner for Enlargement Mr Gunter Verheugen noted the constructive stance of President Clerides and the negative stance of Mr Denktash.

Mr Papadopoulos said that Cyprus's first priority is to seek a solution to the Cyprus problem before the island's accession to the European Union but stressed that in the event that this was not possible, Cyprus would still accede to the EU, according to the conclusions of the European Council at Helsinki which state that the solution of the Cyprus problem is not a precondition for accession.

Referring to a recent statement by European Commissioner Gunter Verheugen Mr Papadopoulos underlined that it will be feasible, for the Republic of Cyprus to accede to the EU, with a special reference to the Accession Treaty on the basis of which when the Cyprus problem is solved, the European acquis will be applied also to the areas which are today under Turkish occupation.

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

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