Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-07-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] DOWNER CYPRUS

[02] US - CYPRUS TALKS

[03] RUSSIA - CYPRUS PROBLEM

[04] FRANCE - CYPRUS CULTURAL WEEK

[01] DOWNER CYPRUS

Speaking at a press conference in Nicosia on concluding a brief visit to the island, Downer noted that developments over the past months have fostered a genuine sense that prospects have perhaps never been better to achieve a comprehensive settlement, adding that there is convergence on quite a number of issues and that this process needs to move forward constructively.

Downer assured that the UN Secretary General`s decision to appoint a Special Adviser ``reflects the high level of commitment of the Secretary General to assist Cyprus.``

He said that during his stay on the island he was briefed by the UN officials on the situation and met with the leaders of the two communities ``to hear of their assessments of the process so far and see how best they would like the UN to help them move the process forward.``

Downer said he was ``encouraged`` by what he heard. ``Clearly you have two leaders who are sincere in their commitment and in their engagement to move forward together towards a comprehensive settlement, and this commitment, evident through their joint statements of their recent meetings, have defined the parameters of the solution and the end game, and they have given the process a good deal of momentum,`` he added.

He noted that ``the Secretary General himself is delighted with the leaders` announcement of the 25th of July to begin fully-fledged negotiations on the 3rd of September.``

``Developments over the past months have fostered a genuine sense that prospects have perhaps never been better to achieve a comprehensive settlement, favourable to all Cypriots,`` Downer said.

He furthermore said he looked forward to working with the parties and will be back on the island in early September ``for the formal launch of the talks.``

[02] US - CYPRUS TALKS

US State Department Acting Deputy Spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos commenting on the agreement of the two leaders in Cyprus to start direct negotiations on September 3 under UN auspices aimed at the reunification of Cyprus, said, We believe, is a good thing; that the two sides move towards a mutually acceptable agreement.

This is something that we have discussed, and our policy has not changed on, he added.

[03] RUSSIA - CYPRUS PROBLEM

This was stated Tuesday by a spokesperson of the Russian Embassy in Cyprus, invited to comment on press reports that the so called state is about to open up a tourism and information office in Moscow to attract more Russian tourists to the island.

We will ask Moscow for more information on this. I can not right now make any comment because in the past there had been similar news and in the end we discovered they had to do with an office of a British company. There may be distortion or exaggeration and we have to be very cautious, he said.

[04] FRANCE - CYPRUS CULTURAL WEEK

Ten Greek Cypriot and two Turkish Cypriot artists are presenting their work at seven sites in the French capital, providing a different happening each day of the week.

The French presidency has invited all EU partners to organize a cultural week in Paris.

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