Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 04-02-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou calls on both sides of the divide to seize opportunity

[02] Prodi expresses Commission’s trust in UN

[03] De Soto ready to roll sleeves up to reach Cyprus settlement

[04] National Council parties, except one, back President

[01] Papandreou calls on both sides of the divide to seize opportunity

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Papandreou calls on both sides of the divide to seize opportunity

Nicosia, Feb 17 (CNA) Newly-elected President of the Socialist PASOK Movement in Greece George Papandreou has called on Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots at this historic moment to contribute towards a solution to the Cyprus problem, noting that a solution is close but we should seize the opportunity.

[02] Prodi expresses Commission’s trust in UN

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Prodi expresses Commissions trust in UN

By Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Feb 17 (CNA) European Commission President Romano Prodi has expressed the Commissions complete trust in the United Nations as far as the Cyprus peace effort is concerned and said the Commission is ready to offer its assistance whenever it is asked.

[03] De Soto ready to roll sleeves up to reach Cyprus settlement

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De Soto ready to roll sleeves up to reach Cyprus settlement

Larnaca, Feb 17 (CNA) - The UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto arrived in Cyprus tonight ready to roll his sleeves up and help the two sides on the island reach an agreement that will be put to simultaneous referenda and allow a reunited Cyprus to join the European Union in May.

Speaking on arrival at Larnaca Airport, in view of the resumption of stalled peace talks on February 19, de Soto said he was indeed optimistic that a viable and functional settlement would emerge, noting that ''we are either there or very close to it already''.

He added he would ''try to help the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to finally come to terms on a text which would go to referenda and which would bring about a reunified Cyprus at last''.

''That is what I have come here to do, roll up my sleeves. There is a lot of work to do. It is not possible to underestimate the amount of work that there is to do and there is however a strong political determination that has been shown by the parties as well as by Greece and Turkey as evident in the agreement reached early on Friday of last week'' in New York, he said.

[04] National Council parties, except one, back President

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National Council parties, except one, back President

Nicosia, Feb 17 (CNA) -- President Tassos Papadopoulos received here tonight the seal of approval for his efforts to bring about the necessary changes to a UN peace proposal that would make a political settlement functional and viable.

Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides, speaking after a four hour meeting of the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus question, said all parties participating in Council meetings except the New Horizon party expressed their support to the President, who briefed them in detail about last week's talks in New York, that led to an agreement for the resumption of negotiations this coming Thursday.

The full text of the statement made by the spokesman after the National Council meeting is as follows:

''During today's meeting of the National Council, the President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos briefed in detail and extensively Council members about the recent talks at the UN seat and the agreement reached with regard to the process of negotiations to find a solution of the Cyprus question.

National Council members (parliamentary parties) expressed their views, assessment and concerns.

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