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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 04-01-26
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 26 January 2004 UN Chief "encouraged" by talks with Turkish
Prime Minister
[02] Luxembourg's Prime Minister in Cyprus on official visit
[03] Spokesman: Decision by Turkish National Security on Cyprus not
positive
[04] Foreign Minister in Brussels for EU meetings
[01] UN Chief "encouraged" by talks with Turkish Prime Minister
The UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan noted that he was encouraged by the
message conveyed to him by the Turkish Prime Minister Mr Recep Tayyip
Erdogan about the possibility of resuming talks for a settlement of the
Cyprus problem, and said he planned to study Mr Erdogan's positions
carefully. Speaking to the press in Davos, Switzerland, following a meeting
with the Turkish Premier last Saturday, the UN Secretary-General said Mr
Erdogan had indicated to him that Turkey would want to see the UN-sponsored
talks resumed, adding, "They would want us to try and do everything
possible to conclude the process by the beginning of May". He also noted
that the Turkish Prime Minister had assured him that there was a will on
the Turkish part to move forward with the process for a settlement.
"Obviously, if we are going to have talks, all parties concerned - the
Greek and Turkish Cypriots, the motherlands, Turkey and Greece - must be
committed to the talks and everyone must show a willingness to sustain the
effort and to seek a settlement", Mr Annan further said, noting that his
good offices were still available if the parties were to declare and
demonstrate their will to settle. The UN Chief added that a settlement
"would not only be in the interests of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, it
would also be in the interests of Turkey and Greece and improve considerably
Turkish relations with the European Union". Asked to comment on the Turkish
demand for changing the mediator in the talks, Mr Annan noted, "I've always
had a very good facilitator working with me. We have been assisted in the
past by representatives of several governments, notably the United Kingdom
and the United States, and, of course, if we were to resume the efforts, I
would want to continue with a good facilitator and accept support from all
countries that are interested in the process".
[02] Luxembourg's Prime Minister in Cyprus on official visit
The Prime Minister of Luxembourg Mr Jean-Claude Juncker arrived yesterday
evening to the island for a three-day official visit, accompanied by the
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade
Mrs Lydie Polfer and other officials. Mr Juncker was received at Larnaca
Airport by the Minister of Interior and Acting Foreign Minister Mr Andreas
Christou. Speaking upon his arrival, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg said
his country had always been a firm advocate of Cyprus' EU accession course.
He added that the current phase was decisive both for Cyprus and the
European Union, as the island would officially become an EU member state on
1 May 2004, and expressed the hope that the time remaining until the
accession date would be utilized to find a solution of the Cyprus
problem. This morning Mr Juncker was received by the President of the
Republic Mr Tassos Papadopoulos. Delegations of the two countries, headed
by Mr Papadopoulos and Mr Juncker respectively, then held official
talks. In statements to the press after the meeting, President Papadopoulos
said they had discussed the latest developments on the Cyprus problem as
well as other issues of mutual interest and exchanged views on the Turkish
Prime Minister's contradictory statements on Cyprus.
According to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Mr Papadopoulos noted, replying
to a question, that it was requested from the United Nations to provide
information concerning Mr Erdogan's statements after his meeting with the
UN Secretary-General in Davos. On his part, Mr Juncker expressed the view
that both sides had made statements indicative of their will for a
settlement of the Cyprus problem, and stressed the need for the peace talks
to resume as soon as possible. Later this morning Mr Juncker met with the
President of the House of Representatives Mr Demetris Christofias at the
House of Representatives. This evening he will attend a dinner at the
Presidential Palace given in his honour by President Papadopoulos.
He will depart from the island tomorrow morning.
[03] Spokesman: Decision by Turkish National Security on Cyprus not
positive
The Government Spokesman Mr Kypros Chrysostomides made the following
statement last Saturday: "The statement issued at the end of the Turkish
National Security Council's meeting is not positive nor does it help
towards the right direction, namely, the promotion of the efforts for
finding a solution to the Cyprus problem."
[04] Foreign Minister in Brussels for EU meetings
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Georgios Iacovou is in Brussels where he
will attend today a two-day meeting of the EU General Affairs and External
Relations Council. Yesterday Mr Iacovou took part in a special summit of
the European Union on issues pertaining to the World Trade Organisation,
convened by the Irish Presidency of the Union.
Tomorrow afternoon the Foreign Minister will travel to Strasbourg to
accompany President Papadopoulos during his visit to the Council of Europe
on Wednesday. He will return to Brussels, together with the President, on
29 January.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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