Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-03-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN SECURITY COUNCIL - 8 JULY AGREEMENT - LEDRA STREET

[02] BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY - CYPRUS OCCUPIED AREAS - DIRECT FLIGHTS

[01] UN SECURITY COUNCIL - 8 JULY AGREEMENT - LEDRA STREET

In a statement, they express hope that ``both sides will be able to agree quickly on the practicalities for pedestrian access`` and furthermore welcome ``the support provided to this initiative`` by the UN Secretary General`s Special Representative in Cyprus Michael Moller and the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

``They also welcome the earlier dismantling by the Turkish Cypriots of the wall and pedestrian bridge on the north side of the buffer zone in the same area,`` the statement says.

The members of the Security Council ``share the Secretary General`s hope that confidence building measures of this kind will be part of a broader move to resume full fledged negotiations aimed at a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem`` and express their ``readiness to offer full support as necessary.``

They furthermore ``urge both communities to work with the UN to open Ledra Street crossing and to implement the July 8 agreement in particular through the immediate creation of bicommunal working groups and technical committees in order to prepare the ground for fully fledged negotiations leading to a comprehensive and durable settlement.``

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of UN official Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.

The National Guard, the island`s army, removed on March 8 the wall in Ledra Street, in Nicosia, which was erected soon after the Turkish invasion. The government of Cyprus clarified that the demolition of the wall does not mean the opening of the crossing point to and from the Turkish occupied areas, unless security issues are addressed.

[02] BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY - CYPRUS OCCUPIED AREAS - DIRECT FLIGHTS

Speaking in Ankara during a joint press conference with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul, Beckett said Britain never said there would be direct flights to the occupied areas but would request legal advice on the issue.

Beckett added that the advice she received was that ``legally there are great difficulties`` in this issue

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