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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-02-21
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Friday, 21 February 2003 Bush and Putin congratulate new President on
election
[02] President-elect meets Foreign Minister Mr. Kasoulides
[03] Australian government hopeful for progress at peace talks, says Jim
Short
[04] US President committed to UN efforts for Cyprus settlement
[01] Bush and Putin congratulate new President on election
The US President, Mr. George W. Bush, has conveyed a congratulatory message
to the Cyprus President-elect, Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos, on his election of
last Sunday. In the message, Mr. Bush noted that "the US has enjoyed a
strong cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus in the war on terrorism and
on efforts to foster a Cyprus settlement, which we hope to strengthen with
your new government." In addition, the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir
Putin, has also sent a congratulatory telegram to the new President,
wishing him every success in his future activities.
Mr. Putin stated the following: "I am confident that the friendly relations
traditionally existing between our countries will further constructively
develop in various fields in the interests of the peoples of Russia and
Cyprus, peace, security and cooperation in Europe and the Eastern
Mediterranean. I would also like to confirm our invariable support to the
policy on achieving just, viable and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus
problem based on the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions."
Congratulatory messages to the new President of the Republic of Cyprus were
also conveyed, inter alia, by the members of the Holy Synod and the Heads
of State of Chile, Portugal and Luxembourg.
[02] President-elect meets Foreign Minister Mr. Kasoulides
The newly-elected President, Mr. Papadopoulos, had a meeting yesterday
afternoon at his office with the Foreign Minister, Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides,
who briefed him on the latest developments as regards Cyprus' EU accession
course and on other foreign policy issues. Asked by reporters, after the
meeting, to say whether the first direct meeting between himself and Mr.
Denktash would take place soon, Mr. Papadopoulos replied, "I don't know if
there will be time for a direct meeting, since Mr. Annan will be in Cyprus
next Wednesday and in the meantime I will depart for Athens on Sunday. So,
even if we want to have a direct meeting, there is no time and it will be
very difficult for it to take place." Invited to comment on the possible
submission of a new revised solution plan by the UN, Mr. Papadopoulos said
that he had repeatedly raised that issue at his meetings with the UN
Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Mr. Alvaro de Soto, who
insisted that it was up to Mr. Kofi Annan to judge when to put forward such
a plan. As to who would be the interlocutor of the Greek Cypriot side at
the negotiations, the President-elect stressed that it would not be right
to change the tactic that had been followed so far, namely that the
President was the interlocutor at the talks, since then Mr. Denktash would
change his tactics too.
He added that the issue had not been discussed further, but noted that
outgoing President Clerides had repeatedly expressed his willingness to
contribute to the peace efforts and that was the important thing.
[03] Australian government hopeful for progress at peace talks, says Jim
Short
Australia's Special Representative for Cyprus, Mr. Jim Short, who is
currently on an official three-day visit to the island, said that he was
conveying the Australian government's hopes for progress at the negotiations
in the next few days and weeks so that a united Cyprus could sign the EU
Accession Treaty on 16 April, but expressed the belief that it would be
difficult for an agreement to be reached by the end of February, in line
with the UN timeframe. Speaking after his meeting with President Clerides
yesterday, the Australian envoy pointed out that the next few days were
critically important as there were still important issues to be sorted out
prior to reaching a settlement. These pending issues, he continued, would
indicate whether or not a solution could be reached by 28 February.
On the submission of a new revised plan by the UN, the Australian envoy
noted that it was a possibility that had been suggested in discussions,
including Mr. Annan's discussions, and that depending on the progress of
the talks, a revised plan could be presented "on some of the key issues on
which there is disagreement." Mr. Short also said that he had informed
President Clerides about his meetings in Turkey, Athens and London.
Asked to comment on Mr. Papadopoulos' election to the presidency, he
replied, "We hope and confidently expect that his election will not change
the momentum that President Clerides has built in working towards a
settlement." Australia's Cyprus Representative also met with the House
President, Mr. Demetris Christofias, yesterday. The two discussed the
latest developments on the Cyprus problem, in light of the Secretary-
General's impending visit to the island and other international conjunctures,
as well as the traditionally friendly ties between the two countries.
[04] US President committed to UN efforts for Cyprus settlement
The US President, Mr. George W. Bush, has pledged his administration's
continuous commitment to the UN efforts to find a just and lasting
settlement for Cyprus by the end of February 2003. Mr. Bush communicated
the above stance in his bimonthly report to Congress on progress towards a
negotiated solution of the Cyprus question, covering the period December 1,
2002 through January 31, 2003. In a letter to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations, the US President noted that his administration had been
particularly active, during the aforementioned reporting period, in
supporting the UN Secretary-General's efforts to foster a settlement on the
basis of his revised proposal. "Although such a settlement did not emerge
at the European Union's Summit in Copenhagen in December, intense
diplomatic activity has continued", President Bush added.
He also said that the Secretary of State, Mr. Colin Powell, the Under
Secretary, Mr. Marc Grossman, the Special Cyprus Coordinator, Mr. Thomas
Weston, and the US Ambassador to Cyprus, Mr. Michael Klosson, were
encouraging all the parties involved "to maintain a spirit of compromise
and a commitment to reaching an agreement by February 28, 2003", and
pledged to do the same as part of Washington's continuing commitment to
resolving the Cyprus issue.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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