Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-09-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] UNSG CYPRUS TALKS

[02] GREEK FM TALKS HOPE

[01] UNSG CYPRUS TALKS

Referring to Cyprus during a press conference held on Thursday at UN headquarters in New York, Ban Ki-moon said that I am encouraged by our progress and by our facilitation role on this issue, adding that this week, I have spoken with all the key players, including the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, and the Greek Cypriot leader, Demetris Christofias, as well as the Prime Minister of Greece, Kostas Karamanlis, and the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan.

The first substantive negotiations began this morning, attended by my Special Advisor, Mr. Alexander Downer. He describes the meeting as productive and fruitful, he said.

UNSG continued saying that during my telephone calls to all the leaders, I have urged them to seize the momentum and try to demonstrate their political leadership with a sense of flexibility and wisdom, also looking beyond their visions and issues; they should look to the future of the Cypriot people. While I believe that the Cypriot people have the ownership of this, we are committed to continue to provide our facilitating role.

Responding to questions, he said that the Cyprus issue is a four-decade long, long pending conflict issue which must be resolved as soon as possible, stressing that I had bilateral meetings with both leaders from Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot in Berlin and the Greek Cypriot in Paris in June and I was impressed by their commitment and willingness to engage between the two leaders and continue their negotiations.

I was told that they had been long standing friends, old friends. This will also create good and most importantly political will. I think a good momentum is creating, he pointed out.

Furthermore, he said that the United Nations is now re-energizing with a Special Advisor, a very experienced, a seasoned diplomat who is well respected by both sides and other concerned parties.

Therefore, he added, I urged them when they are going to discuss very substantive and very contentious issues like governing, and power sharing, and property issues they must really show flexibility and leadership. Thinking beyond current issues but thinking for their future Ban concluded.

President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat had on Thursday their first substantive meeting in the context of the direct talks began on September 3 with the aim to reach a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem.

The next meeting is scheduled on September 18.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of its northern third.

[02] GREEK FM TALKS HOPE

Speaking after a meeting with her counterpart of Hungary Dr. Kinga, Bakoyiannis reiterated that Greece together with all the EU countries, we have supported the initiative undertaken by the President Christofias and Talat to proceed towards substantial negotiations.

We hope these negotiations to lead to a solution of the Cyprus problem and the demolition of the wall dividing Nicosia, she added.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister said that the Cyprus problem and its solution is one of the crucial issues of the EU, describing the beginning of the talks as a positive development.

Meanwhile, Greeces Foreign Ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos speaking to the state television here, described Thursday as an important day, due to the beginning of the substantial negotiations.

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