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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-06-18
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Wednesday, 18 June 2003 House President assures EU and US officials of
Greek Cypriot side's readiness to resume talks
[02] No change in US commitment to foster a lasting settlement, says
Weston
[03] Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary discusses Cyprus with US
officials in Washington
[01] House President assures EU and US officials of Greek Cypriot side's
readiness to resume talks
The President of the House of Representatives, Mr Demetris Christofias,
held separate meetings yesterday with the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Mr
Gunter Verheugen and the US State Department's Special Coordinator for
Cyprus, Mr Thomas Weston, whom he assured of the Greek Cypriot side's
readiness to resume the peace talks for reaching a settlement on the basis
of the Annan plan. Speaking after his meeting with the EU Commissioner, Mr
Christofias said he pledged that the House would do everything possible to
complete the remaining tasks towards full harmonisation with the acquis
communautaire. "At the same time, I have assured him [Mr Verheugen] that we
will continue to work for the implementation of confidence building
measures and measures for the Turkish Cypriot community� as well as the
programme introduced by the European Union towards that direction", Mr
Christofias further said. He noted, however, that the measures did not
constitute a solution of the Cyprus problem, and reiterated the Greek
Cypriot side's commitment to engage in new talks with a view at finding a
solution by May 2004. For his part, Commissioner Verheugen stressed that he
had received a clear message of the Greek Cypriot side's firm commitment in
the resumption of the talks on the basis of the Annan plan, and warned
against complacency in order to use the existing window of opportunity for
a settlement. The House President, Mr Demetris Christofias, also met with
the US State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Mr Thomas Weston,
whom he thanked for his efforts to revive the peace talks and contribute
towards reaching a settlement before Cyprus' official accession to the
European Union on 1 May 2004.
Mr Weston pointed out that there was a coincidence of views with his
interlocutor concerning the analysis of the current situation, what needed
to be done to break the impasse and the joint commitment to reach a
solution prior to accession.
[02] No change in US commitment to foster a lasting settlement, says
Weston
"It is the opinion of the United States that negotiations should be taking
place right now because we believe it is very important to have a
settlement no later than May 2004", the US State Department's Special
Coordinator for Cyprus, Mr Thomas Weston, stressed. Speaking at a press
conference yesterday in Nicosia, the US envoy pointed out that the position
of the two sides regarding the Annan plan were diametrically apart, since
President Papadopoulos was ready to return to the talks on the basis of the
Annan plan, while the Turkish Cypriot leader was very critical of the
plan. Mr Weston also said that Mr Rauf Denktash had adopted a harder stance
than previously, as regards the plan as well as the measures of the Cyprus
Government and the EU for supporting the Turkish Cypriot community.
Referring to the peace plan put forward by the UN Secretary-General, Mr
Weston expressed the view that it included the necessary compromises to
enable a settlement, noting that it would be "very hard to imagine a
different plan that would contain fundamental differences from the Annan
plan".
[03] Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary discusses Cyprus with US
officials in Washington
The Cyprus problem was among the issues discussed at a meeting between the
Undersecretary of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ugur Ziyal,
and the US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Mr Marc Grossman,
on Monday in Washington. The State Department Deputy Spokesman, Mr Phil
Reeker, who made the aforementioned statement yesterday at the regular
press briefing, pointed out that the US and Turkey were collaborating
closely on a number of issues, including the Cyprus problem, through the
sharing of views and ideas. Replying to a question on whether Mr Grossman
had tried to persuade his Turkish interlocutor that Turkey needed to use
its influence to resume the Cyprus peace talks on the basis of the Annan
plan, the State Department Spokesman said he did not have any specifics
regarding the meeting of Mr Grossman and Mr Ziyal.
He merely reiterated the US' support in the UN Secretary-General's good
offices mission in Cyprus, and hoped that all the parties involved would
make every effort to achieve peace.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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