Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-05-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - TALAT - RECEPTION

[02] CYPRUS MISSING - BRUSSELS

[03] EUROPE DAY - MESSAGE

[04] GOVERNMENT - TURKEY

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - TALAT - RECEPTION

The event, a reception, was hosted by the embassy of the Slovak Republic for representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties, who participate in bicommunal meetings at the Ledra Palace, in the UN-controlled buffer zone.

Both, President Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot Leader arrived at the reception accompanied by the Ambassador of Slovakia Anna Tourenikova.

There were smiles and handshakes for a photo opportunity.

Responding to questions from the press, they pointed out that this was a social encounter.

Invited to say whether the reception would lead to a new meeting, Christofias smiled and recommended patience. Let us take it slowly, he said.

Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou and adviser of the Turkish Cypriot Leader, Ozdil Nami, were also present at the reception and described the meeting as a social event, noting this was a positive step.

Leaders or representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties have also attended the reception.

Today, the leader of the Democratic Rally (DISI) Nicos Anastasiades will host a dinner for Talat at his house in Limassol, on the south coast. Former President of the Republic, Glafkos Clerides, honorary president of DISI, has been invited to the dinner.

These events are taking place as bicommunal teams of experts continue to meet to discuss various aspects of the Cyprus problem, in a bid to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between Christofias and Talat.

Six working groups and seven technical committees have been set up following an agreement on March 21 between Christofias and Talat, who agreed to meet again in three months to review the work of the committees, the results of which will be used to start negotiations under UN auspices for a solution that will reunite Cyprus, divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

[02] CYPRUS MISSING - BRUSSELS

German Euro MP Ewa Klamt, rapporteur on missing persons in Cyprus report of the European Parliament, British MP Ashley Mote, and Cypriot and Greek Euro MPs also participated. In his speech, Theodosiou presented the current situation in efforts to establish the fate of missing persons since the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island, noting that the Turkish Cypriot side has shown good intentions and this will help to deal with this humanitarian issue. We have to maintain this and make use of the positive climate which was created, Theodosiou stressed.

Klamt expressed compassion for the agony and the decades-long emotional ordeal of the families of missing persons, noting that there is an obligation to help them find out what has happened to their loved ones. The German Euro MP further referred to her efforts to secure a debate on her report at the Plenary of the European Parliament in May. She stressed it is urgent to conclude the search for the fate of missing persons now that there are still people who possess information that can contribute to the efforts.

[03] EUROPE DAY - MESSAGE

The basic common objectives of EU member states, where Cyprus belongs since 2004, are protection and consolidation of democracy and peace, the safeguard of prosperity and sustainable development, social protection, equality between men and women, employment, good quality of life and the right to knowledge for all the people of the large European family, he added.

Cyprus, he noted in his message, also aspires to accomplish all these goals, through the reunification of the country, which will end the Turkish occupation of the islands northern part.

[04] GOVERNMENT - TURKEY

The Greek Cypriot side does not need any encouragement from anyone to work towards a settlement, since it is trying with good will and hard work to pave the way towards a political settlement, he told his daily press briefing.

The Spokesman was commenting on calls by Turkeys Foreign Minister Ali Babacan to the EU to urge the Greek Cypriot side to work towards a settlement, which will reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

As far as we are concerned, it is the Turkish National Security Council that needs to be encouraged to work towards a solution, whose positions on Cyprus are extreme and contrary even to decisions of the international community, the UN Security Council and the EU, Stephanou pointed out.

He noted that Babacan spoke about technical support to be afforded by the EU to the process which has started on the island between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities, to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between the community leaders.

Stephanou recalled that the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barosso speaking recently before the Turkish parliament called on Turkey to change its position.

We will continue to work hard and with good will as we have been doing so far to help the process underway succeed and open the road towards a comprehensive negotiation on the Cyprus problem, he added.

Replying to another question, Stephanou said that the Greek Cypriot side has refrained from making any statements because we believe that extreme positions, provocations and public negotiations do not help the current process.

That is why we maintain a low profile and we do not make any statements, he said, adding that what we have said so far was sometimes in order to respond to statements made.

We have said from the very beginning that we will keep a low profile, we will show patience and in a calm manner because we want these process to succeed and we want every side to raise those issues that it wants to during the process and to discuss it there, even if there is disagreement or a gap between positions, he added.

Commenting on remarks from the Turkish Cypriot side that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to impose the basis of negotiations and that President Christofias is talking about the future status of Turkish settlers, in Turkish occupied Cyprus, Stephanou said that we have not opened any issue, including the issue of the settlers.

The basis of a settlement that we pursue is what we has been agreed between us, the High Level Agreements of 1977-79, the 8 July Agreement and the 21 March Agreement, UN resolutions and international law and European law principles, bearing in mind that Cyprus is an EU member state and Turkey aspires to be a member, he noted.

These agreements and decisions refer to a bicommunal bizonal federation in Cyprus and not two states, as the Turkish side has often advocated.

In March 2008, President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, during a meeting in the presence of the UN, agreed to set up working groups and technical committees to deal with various aspects of the Cyprus problem with a view to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between the two leaders. Six working groups and seven technical committees were set up and are currently holding meetings here.

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