USA: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL AND GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGE PAPANDREOU HOLD TALKS ON CYPRUS REUNIFICATION.
Record ID:
222964
USA: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL AND GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGE PAPANDREOU HOLD TALKS ON CYPRUS REUNIFICATION.
- Title: USA: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL AND GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGE PAPANDREOU HOLD TALKS ON CYPRUS REUNIFICATION.
- Date: 28th November 2002
- Summary: (W6) WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 27, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL AND GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGE PAPANDREOU EXITING STATE DEPARTMENT 0.10 2. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) POWELL SAYING "This morning we focused on the opportunity that is before us over the next two weeks with the possibility of a date or a date for a date with respect to Turkey accession to the European Union, with the prospects of some movement forward on Secretary General Annan's plan for Cyprus. A lot of pieces are coming together so we discussed this at some length, Cyprus as well as European Union matters. 0.40 3. GV: REPORTERS LISTENING 0.45 4. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGE PAPANDREOU SAYING: "The issues at stake are very important for the wider region. Europe is making a historic decision on the 12th of December letting in 10 new countries to the European Union. Hopefully we will be able to, with the help of Kofi Annan, get a solution on Cyprus. We are working toward the date of the 12th of December so that a united Island can be welcomed into the European Union." 1.12 5. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) POWELL SAYING "The Secretary General has put down a plan that is now being looked at by all sides. And I hope that both sides realise, and I think both sides do realise, that this is an historic opportunity to solve a long-standing problem and the Secretary General has asked for a response by the 30th of November and I hope that both sides will respond in a way that allows the process to move forward, and then we will see what will happen over the next week to 12 days as to whether or not there is more progress that would fit into the progress that we hope to see made at the Copenhagen meeting." 1.53 6. GV: REPORTERS 1.57 7. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAPANDREOU SAYING "We also support the important decision that we will be making in the European Union about Turkey, Greece has been up front in saying that we would want to see a very positive message toward Turkey, therefore, looking at a specific date for the beginning of accession discussions with Turkey and the European Union." 2.23 8. MV/PAN: POWELL AND PAPANDREOU SHAKING HANDS, DEPARTING 2.32 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 13th December 2002 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA4J5362C54MALXLOGLW1X5O0YN
- Story Text: Greece and the United States have said they saw a
historic opportunity to reunite the island of Cyprus and hoped
for a solution in time for the European Union summit in
Copenhagen on December 12.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell held talks at the
State Department with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou
on Wednesday (November 27).
"I hope that both sides realise, and I think both sides do
realise, that this is a historic opportunity to solve a
long-standing problem," Powell told reporters after talks.
"Europe is making a historic decision on the 12th of
December, letting in 10 new countries to the European Union,
and hopefully, we'll be able to ... get a solution on Cyprus,"
added Papandreou.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan this month gave the
Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot sides new proposals for
reuniting the Mediterranean island, which was been divided
into ethnic Greek and ethnic Turkish zones since 1974.
The Greek-Cypriot side has accepted the proposals as the
basis for talks but the Turkish Cypriots have not responded.
The idea is to get a solution in time for the Copenhagen
summit so that the European Union can start talks on EU
membership for a united island.
Greece is also pressing for the European Union to set a
date for talks with Turkey on accession to the EU. A new
Turkish government took office this month with a reformist
agenda.
kj/jrc
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