Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-03-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Further negotiation may not lead to progress, says top UN envoy

[02] UN envoy on his way to The Hague

[03] Cyprus condemns Haifa bomb attack

[04] Reply to Annan to be decided in The Hague

[01] Further negotiation may not lead to progress, says top UN envoy

0920:CYPPRESS:01

Further negotiation may not lead to progress, says top UN envoy

by Maria Myles

Nicosia, Mar 8 (CNA) -- There is little chance that the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides would make much progress towards a political settlement through further negotiations within the available timeframe, the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto has said.

In an interview with CNA on the latest developments in the Cyprus question, de Soto also said that continuing the work of two ad hoc bicommunal committees is the only contingency plan to a ''yesbut'' reply by the two sides to a call by Kofi Annan to put to a referendum his peace proposal, pointing out that there is really no fallback and no more time if the parties say ''yes...but''.

Alvaro de Soto, who leaves today for The Hague in time for Monday's meeting between Annan and the leaders of the two communities here, warned about missing this current opportunity for a solution, saying that there would be ''a dark chasm of uncertainty'' if a divided, and not a reunited, Cyprus signs the Accession Treaty in mid April.

[02] UN envoy on his way to The Hague

1020:CYPPRESS:02

UN envoy on his way to The Hague

Larnaca, Mar 8 (CNA) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan does not believe it is likely that the two sides in Cyprus will be able to make significant changes to his peace plan but are nevertheless welcome to try.

The UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto departed from the island today on his way to The Hague, where Annan is to meet with Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Speaking on departure from Larnaca Airport, de Soto said Annan ''has asked Papadopoulos and Denktash to tell him in The Hague whether they are prepared there and then to sign a commitment to send to referenda the plan that he has proposed''.

[03] Cyprus condemns Haifa bomb attack

1310:CYPPRESS:03

Cyprus condemns Haifa bomb attack

Nicosia, Mar 8 (CNA) - The government of the Republic of Cyprus ''strongly condemns the latest suicide bombing attack in Haifa that resulted in the loss of innocent human lives'' and appeals to the interested parties to put an end to violent acts and resume the political dialogue the soonest possible.

[04] Reply to Annan to be decided in The Hague

1340:CYPPRESS:04

Reply to Annan to be decided in The Hague

Nicosia, Mar 8 (CNA) - The Greek Cypriot side will decide in The Hague whether to give a ''yes'' or ''no'' reply to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who has invited the two sides on the island to tell him if they will put to the people of Cyprus his plan for a comprehensive settlement at separate simultaneous referenda.

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