Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 02-11-11

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Annan to make statement on Cyprus, to meet Bush in Washington

[02] Clerides: UN expects reply to proposals in seven days (1)

[03] Straw says now is best chance to solve Cyprus problem

[04] We will study UN proposals in their entirety, says President

[05] Turkish Cypriot leader to evaluate UN proposals

[01] Annan to make statement on Cyprus, to meet Bush in Washington

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Annan to make statement on Cyprus, to meet Bush in Washington

By Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Nov 11 (CNA) -- The Cyprus problem will be among the issues which UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will discuss with US President George Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell, diplomatic sources revealed to CNA.

At the same time, UN Associate Spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced that Kofi Annan would brief the Security Council, today at 15:15 local time and he would make a statement on Cyprus after the briefing.

We do expect a statement on Cyprus with more information for you, when the Security Council deliberations finish'', he said.

[02] Clerides: UN expects reply to proposals in seven days (1)

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Clerides: UN expects reply to proposals in seven days (1)

Nicosia, Nov 11 (CNA) President Glafcos Clerides confirmed tonight that he has received proposals from the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the solution of the Cyprus question.

He said he had a telephone conversation with Annan who has asked him to say in seven days whether he considers the proposals as a text on which he can negotiate.

The President said the negotiating process for a Cyprus settlement is entering its most sensitive and decisive stage and called for unity among the people and the political leadership of Cyprus, adding that the people will have the final say in approving or rejecting the proposal.

President Clerides said the 135-page long proposal covers all the aspects of the Cyprus question and noted that some are not to the satisfaction of the Greek Cypriot side but stressed at the same time that the proposal should be studied carefully as a whole.

[03] Straw says now is best chance to solve Cyprus problem

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Straw says now is best chance to solve Cyprus problem

By Kyriacos Tsioupras

London, Nov 11 (CNA) -- British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said now is the best chance for solving the Cyprus problem in decades and pledged his country will be working with all those involved for a positive outcome.

In a statement, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed the British government has received here Monday a copy of the UN Secretary-Generals proposals for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem and would study them carefully.

The British government believes that there is now the best chance to solve the Cyprus problem in decades, and that this opportunity is not likely to recur in the foreseeable future, Straw was quoted as saying.

He said the government will be working with all those concerned for a positive outcome.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said the government will study these proposals carefully, particularly in so as far as they affect our responsibilities under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, and will be responding to Kofi Annan in due course.

The government, the statement added, warmly welcomes the UN Secretary-Generals decision to table his proposals for bridging the remaining gaps after the months of negotiations between the two sides.

[04] We will study UN proposals in their entirety, says President

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We will study UN proposals in their entirety, says President

Nicosia, Nov 11 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides stressed here tonight that the UN proposals on a Cyprus settlement, handed to him earlier today, should be looked at in their entirety, noting that certain aspects of the UN ideas ''are not to our liking.''

In an address to the nation after receiving the proposals, the President called on the island's political leadership and the people of Cyprus to act in concert, warning of difficult times.

The President said the Greek Cypriot side has certain safety limits beyond which it cannot go and added that the solution of the Cyprus question should be based on the principles set out in UN resolutions, which express the objective judgment and the collective wisdom of the international community.

President Clerides paid tribute to the important role Greece has played and continues to play in the peace effort and Cyprus' bid to join the European Union and pledged to maintain this relationship. He said on Saturday he will be in Athens for talks with Greek Premier Costas Simitis.

''I call on the people of Cyprus, who will have the last word on any agreement that may be reached, to remain calm, cool and firm. Any move we make will be governed by nothing less than the interests of the country and its people,'' the President added.

He said the UN proposals are to be negotiated and were not handed to him on the basis of ''take it or leave it.''

''The UN Secretary General called me after his special adviser Alvaro de Soto gave me the proposals and asked me, if possible, to give him my reply within seven days as to whether I consider them to be a text on which we can negotiate,'' the President said.

He said the negotiating process is entering ''its most delicate and decisive phase'' and pointed out that moves in the coming weeks will determine the future of the country.

The President said he would give the proposals to the members of the National Council at their meeting tomorrow and looks forward to their assistance these difficult times.

''We will study the proposals we were given taking into consideration the interest of Cyprus and its people but also bearing in mind the firm position that there are safety limits beyond which the Greek Cypriot side cannot go both on moral and on legal grounds,'' the President stressed.

''The framework defined by UN resolutions forms the principles on which a Cyprus settlement should be based and these resolutions are not the objective and collective judgment of those involved in the Cyprus question but of the international community,'' he added.

The President refrained from commenting on the details of the proposals, saying that he has not studied in depth the plan which needs to be studied very carefully.

''The plan we have covers all the aspects of the Cyprus question. It is obvious that it will include provisions that satisfy our positions but also provisions that are not to our liking and do not satisfy us,'' he said.

However, he stressed that the plan should be judged as a whole to see if it serves the interests of the people of Cyprus and if indeed it can pave the way for breaking the deadlock and for finding a settlement.

''Sacrificing the forest for the sake of a tree goes beyond my vision,'' he added.

[05] Turkish Cypriot leader to evaluate UN proposals

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Turkish Cypriot leader to evaluate UN proposals

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Nov 11 (CNA) -- Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said he is going to evaluate the UN proposals on a Cyprus solution, delivered to him today, in a constructive manner.

In a written statement issued in New York, where he is recovering from heart surgery, Denktash warned third parties that they should allow him time to examine the proposals.

''We are going to evaluate in a constructive way all the Secretary General's comprehensive solution suggestions with all sides, with its context and qualifications very carefully,'' Denktash said.

He said he would take up the subject when he returns to Cyprus with his aides and his so-called parliament.

Denktash said he would seek the opinion of the Turkish Cypriots on the proposals and consult with Turkey.

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