Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-01-08

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT - LEDRAS STREET

[01] PRESIDENT - LEDRAS STREET

Speaking on the sidelines of a gathering of retired civil servants in Nicosia, the President also commented the cancellation of a meeting between Director of the Religious Affairs of the Turkish Cypriot community Ahmet Yunluer with Archbishop Chrysostomos ии, noting that all these developments were the result of the same cause, that the Turkish army is deciding for all moves in the occupied north of Cyprus.

Yunluer cancelled his visit to Archbishop Chrysostomos II citing `the climate is not favourable`.

Invited to evaluate the situation surrounding Ledra Street and the Turkish reactions to the demolition of the footbridge, President Papadopoulos said that developments sadden us because our interlocutors credibility is being damaged.

I think that it is difficult to maintain expectations that Mr. (Mehmet Ali) Talat is in a position to decide on issues which concern the solution of the Cyprus problem, President Papadopoulos said.

Regarding the footbridge, we should be careful so that the obligation which the Turkish side had to lift the illegality of the construction of the bridge is not presented to us as a concession and wanting something in exchange for it, the President underlined.

We should be clear on this issue, the President said so that the whole issue is not turned from an issue of validity of the pseudostates administration, to an issue of competition of so called goodwill.

The Cypriot President said that the construction of the footbridge was an illegality, we complained at the time it was taking place, we made our suggestion to open Ledra Street, it was our proposal and we have no new element to add to that.

He said that the proposal is the one submitted in December 2005 and later in writing to UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari. Therefore, he said, the Turkish side, since it must lift the illegality, cannot ask for something in exchange from us, by presenting the lifting of its own illegality as a gesture of good will, President Papadopoulos concluded.

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