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

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOFIAS UK VISIT

[02] RICE BABACAN CYPRUS

[03] UNFICYP - REPORT - AMENDMENTS

[04] FM ALBANIA - VISIT

[01] CHRISTOFIAS UK VISIT

During his visit there, President Christofias held a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown with whom he signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

President Christofias described the signing of a MoU with Britain and his talks on Thursday with Gordon Brown as a ``turning point`` in relations with London.

The British Premier pledged that the United Kingdom will play a strong and supportive role in efforts to reach a political solution to the Cyprus problem.

According to the Memorandum, both countries commit themselves to working together to reunify the island for a comprehensive and durable settlement based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation and political equality, as defined by the relevant UN resolutions and the principles upon which the EU is founded.

This settlement must be based on a single sovereignty, international personality and a single citizenship.

Meanwhile, President Christofias had a meeting Thursday with Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

A spokesperson of the British Foreign Ministry said that Miliband congratulated the Cypriot President on the leadership he has shown so far in steering Cyprus towards a settlement.

The UK, the spokesperson said, welcomes and supports the efforts of the leaders of the two communities to make substantive progress aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement.

[02] RICE BABACAN CYPRUS

Rice and Babacan held a long meeting Thursday during which they discussed the Cyprus issue, EU Turkey relations, Kosovo, Iran, Iraq, Middle East, Afghanistan and bilateral issues.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Babacan said there ``is now a sense of optimism`` regarding the Cyprus issue.

[03] UNFICYP - REPORT - AMENDMENTS

Specifically, in paragraph 4, on the March 21 agreement, the terminology used in the text of this agreement is restored and the report quotes the following on what the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot community have agreed:

They also agreed to meet again in three months to review the work of the working groups and the technical committees and using their results, to start full-fledged negotiations under UN auspices.

[04] FM ALBANIA - VISIT

Kyprianou, in Albania on a two day visit, will sign a bilateral agreement on international road transport with his Albanian counterpart Lulzim Basha. Later on he will meet the Speaker of the Parliament Jozefina Topalli.

In Tirana, Kyprianou is accompanied by a delegation of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, headed by its President Manthos Mavromatis. The Cypriot businessmen will have a series of contacts Friday to promote bilateral commercial and business relations.

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