Internet to inform the Turkish Cypriots
on European Union matters

March 9, 1999

The Cyprus team negotiating accession to the European Union and the European Commission delegation in Nicosia are using the Internet to inform the Turkish Cypriots on European Union matters.

The Cyprus negotiating team launched last January its homepage hoping that through it, it will keep Turkish Cypriots informed on issues related to the accession negotiations as well as on other European Union issues. The Cyprus website (www.cyprus-eu.org.cy) written in both Greek and Turkish aims at offering information on a number of issues regarding the accession talks, which opened in March 1998. Soon the Turkish Cypriots will have the chance to put forward their questions, comments and assessments through E-mails.

George Vassiliou, Head of the Cyprus negotiating team reassured the Turkish Cypriots that he and his team will always be at their disposal to respond to their questions and expressed his sincere conviction that this page will prove useful for all citizens of Cyprus and a forum for constructive dialogue."

A spokesman for the delegation of the European Commission in Nicosia described the website as "a positive move to inform Turkish Cypriots on the accession procedure and shows the government's dedication to the participation of Turkish Cypriots. He added that the delegation would launch its own website in February.

During the European Conference meeting in London in March 1998, President Glafcos Clerides presented an invitation to the Turkish Cypriots to appoint representatives as full members of the team negotiating the accession of Cyprus to the EU. However, the invitation was rejected by the Turkish Cypriot leadership. EU officials and European state leaders described President Clerides' offer to the Turkish Cypriots as "generous and courageous."

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