Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-05-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] SPOKESMAN - CYPRUS PROBLEM

[02] PRIME MINISTER OF FRANCE - CYPRUS

[03] HOUSE PRESIDENT - GREECE - OFFICIAL VISIT

[04] ANASTASIADES - TALAT - DINNER

[01] SPOKESMAN - CYPRUS PROBLEM

He explained that these difficulties have led the President to ask for a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, scheduled for 23rd May.

We cannot afford another failure in efforts to find a political settlement of the Cyprus problem, the Spokesman stressed.

Responding to questions on the sidelines of a visit to CNA, the Spokesman pointed out that both the 21st March Agreement between the leaders of the two communities and the recent statement of the UN Security Council note that before comprehensive negotiations can begin, there must be satisfactory progress.

The Council and the Agreement, he explained, also point out that there must be results at the level of the Working Groups and the Technical Committees, which have been meeting for the past two weeks or so to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations, leading to a settlement.

The President has therefore asked for to meet Talat so as to see how the two can be of help to have real progress and results and not artificial ones, he added.

The 21st March Agreement, he said, provides the leaders with the possibility to meet and assist the ongoing dialogue between the teams of experts from both communities.

Asked to comment on Talats statement that comprehensive negotiations will start and that progress has been made, Stephanou said that unfortunately we dont see the results we had expected to see by today.

Life itself tells us that unless we have results and the necessary progress to bridge the differences, and prepare the ground to support the negotiations, if we go ahead to the negotiating table, the most likely outcome will be a new failure, to reach a comprehensive settlement, he said.

The Cyprus issue cannot take another failure. We must prepare the ground so as to create conditions to have a successful negotiation», he stressed.

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot working groups and technical committees began work, in the framework of the 21st March Agreement between the leaders of the two communities to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations with a view to find a negotiated settlement that would reunite Cyprus, divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied the islands northern third.

[02] PRIME MINISTER OF FRANCE - CYPRUS

Fillon will meet with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias. Official talks will follow between delegations of Cyprus and France.

Fillon will also meet with Cyprus House President Marios Karoyan.

The Prime Minister will also visit the under construction new Larnaca International Airport and he will be briefed on the progress of the construction works by Hermes Airports Ltd representatives.

[03] HOUSE PRESIDENT - GREECE - OFFICIAL VISIT

During his visit, Karoyan will be received by Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

He will have meetings with the Prime Minister of Greece Costas Karamanlis, with his Greek counterpart Demetrios Sioufas and with Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis.

He will also have meetings with political party leaders and the Federation of Cypriot Organisations in Greece.

[04] ANASTASIADES - TALAT - DINNER

Anastasiades welcomed Talat at this house in Limassol, on the southern coast.

In statements after the meeting, Anastasiades spoke about a nice dinner which took place in a pleasant atmosphere, during which they shared their common vision to see Cyprus reunited.

If we all continue working as we do, we shall have a better future, DISY President said.

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