Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-08-22

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATIONAL COUNCIL - MEETING

[01] NATIONAL COUNCIL - MEETING

After the four - hour meeting, Deputy Minister to the President and Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardes read out a written statement saying that the National Council reiterated the commitment of the Greek Cypriot side to implement the July 8th agreement and to continue to work consistently for the effective implementation of the agreement, without any terms or preconditions.

On July 8th, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed to proceed with setting up bicommunal technical committees and teams of experts to discuss day to day problems and issues of substance, with a view to pave the way for high level talks aiming to reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Late July, Director of the Cypriot President`s Diplomatic Office Tasos Tzionis and Turkish Cypriot leader`s aide Rasit Pertev began discussions aiming to implement the July 8th agreement.

President Papadopoulos informed thoroughly the members of the Council on the course of the discussions at the meetings of the representatives of the leaders of both communities and expressed his evaluations regarding the so far development of the discussions and the future prospects, the written statement said.

After hearing President Papadopoulos views, the members of the National Council expressed their own positions on the developments of the Cyprus issue.

In statements to the press after the meeting, Pashiardes said that there is no deadlock at the meetings of the representatives of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot leaders Tasos Tzionis and Rasit Pertev respectively, but noted that there are some difficulties and some unjustified delays.

He added that Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus Michael Moller, in the presence of whom the meetings take place, ``is well aware of whom is to blame for the difficulties and the delays (at the discussions).

``Our issue now is not to start a blame game, but to overcome the difficulties and to avoid further delays. Our side will continue to display and prove that it has a constructive spirit and good will aiming to fully implement the July 8th agreement, he said.

The Spokesman underlined that the Greek Cypriot side does not intend to deviate from the framework, the substance or the spirit of the July 8th agreement.

We will on our part fully implement the agreement and we will avoid any action that undermines or encumbers the agreed procedure, he said.

Tzionis and Pertev will meet today again after an August break. Todays meeting will be the eighth that takes place in the presence of Moller.

Asked about a future meeting between the leaders of both communities, Pashiardes said that the meeting will take place at the proper time, in order to be substantive.

``A meeting between the leaders should not be an end in it self, nor can it take place only to create impressions, he said.

Replying to questions, the Spokesman said that according to the July 8th agreement, matters of substance will be discussed at the first stage by working teams of experts.

The National Council is composed of two members of all parliamentary parties, but main opposition party Democratic Rally (DISY) suspended its participation in the National Council, due to functional weaknesses and cover-up of dysfunctions of the Council.

Answering to questions, Pashiardes said that the National Council did not discuss today any changes in the way it functions, a demand raised by DISY.

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article