Cyprus Signs EU Accession Treaty

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 17, 2003

Cyprus Signs EU Accession Treaty

Cyprus signed the EU Accession Treaty in the Greek capital of Athens Wednesday afternoon, becoming an "observer" in the European Union (EU).

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Cyprus signed the EU Accession Treaty in the Greek capital of Athens Wednesday afternoon, becoming an "observer" in the European Union (EU).

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Foreign Minister Georgios Iacovou, along with the heads of state and government of nine other acceding countries, signed the document.

The observer status, which took effect as of the day of signature of the treaty, means that all the 10 new EU member states will be entitled to participate in following meetings that go on among member states to prepare for ministerial meetings as well as in the councils themselves.

Staring from May, the observers will participate in the European Parliament, while Directorate Generals in the European Commission are set to invite officials from the new member states to certain working groups and committees.

Cyprus' EU accession, however, has taken place without the Turkish Cypriots living in northern Cyprus.

The European Union has decided to suspend the implementation of EU rules and regulations in the island's Turkish Cypriot area until the Cyprus problem is solved.

Cyprus has been divided into the Greek and Turkish Cypriot areassince Turkey's invasion in 1974 after a short-lived coup seeking union with Greece.

The UN-sponsored efforts for a comprehensive settlement of the protracted Cyprus problem failed last month in The Hague after Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash declined a UN suggestion to gofor a referendum on a peace plan initiated by UN chief Kofi Annan.

Addressing at the signing ceremony, President Papadopoulos assured EU leaders that Cyprus' presence in Europe will not be problematic.

He said Cyprus' accession will not halt efforts for a political settlement, while reaffirming his commitment to doing all he can toachieve a peaceful, workable and lasting solution.

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