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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 03-12-31
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Wednesday, 31 December 2003 EU harmonisation must be concluded by 15
March 2004, says Harmonisation Coordinator
[02] President signs book of condolences for Bulgarians killed in
Iraq
[01] EU harmonisation must be concluded by 15 March 2004, says Harmonisation
Coordinator
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, convened an
extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, yesterday, which
examined Cyprus' EU harmonisation course and set timetables for finalising
various pending issues. Speaking after the meeting, Cyprus' Harmonisation
Coordinator, Mr Takis Hadjidemetriou, noted the Government's commitment to
meet all the requirements and obligations emanating from Cyprus' accession
to the European Union to ensure full compliance with the acquis communautaire.
Mr Hadjidemetriou pointed out that a substantial amount of work had been
achieved concerning agricultural payments and merchant shipping, on which
the European Commission - in its report on 5 November 2003 - had spotted
serious deficiencies in the adoption of implementing legislation. He
further said that the Ministries and competent services would have to work
in a coordinated manner on all pending harmonisation issues until 12
January 2004, in view of a report to be presented to Enlargement Commissioner
Mr Gunter Verheugen, on 15 January, on the progress achieved by then. On 28
January, Mr Hadjidemetriou also noted, the Cyprus delegation would meet
with the Head of the EU-Cyprus team, Mr Leopold Maurer, to review the
progress report. "All pending matters on other serious issues will have to
be concluded by 25 January and the absolute final date to conclude on all
issues is the 15th of next March", Mr Hadjidemetriou added. Asked whether
the 172 pending harmonisation bills would be approved by the House of
Representatives on time, he said that a large number of those bills had
already been processed by the Legal Service of the Republic while others
were at the final drafting stage at the competent Ministries.
[02] President signs book of condolences for Bulgarians killed in
Iraq
President Tassos Papadopoulos signed yesterday the book of condolences that
opened at the Bulgarian Embassy in Nicosia for the recent death of five
Bulgarian soldiers serving in Iraq. In statements to the press after
signing the book of condolences, Mr Papadopoulos noted, "The Republic of
Cyprus and its people express sincere condolences for the death of five
soldiers from Bulgaria, a friendly country with which the Republic of
Cyprus maintains excellent relations".
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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