Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-03-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] LEADERS - MEETING

[02] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - PROPERTY ISSUE

[03] FM - CYPRUS QUESTION

[04] EUROBAROMETER - CYPRUS WOMEN

[01] LEADERS - MEETING

UN Secretary-General`s Special Representative to Cyprus Taye-Brook Zerihoun said after the meeting, which lasted two and a half hours, that the two leaders had at first a tete-a-tete meeting for one and a half hour.

After that, they continued discussion on property issues. They have now referred the matter to the representatives to consider, in tandem with other issues including governance and confidence building measures, he added.

Zerihoun also noted that the two leaders would now move to EU matters next Wednesday, 11 March. The representatives will also meet in the afternoon of the 12th of March to discuss the range of issues which are on their agenda.

Asked if the two leaders got any closer regarding the property issue after this meeting, Zerihoun said thats a difficult judgment to make.

But as you will recall they started with exchanging their views on the principles that should guide the discussions. Following that, they talked about the criteria and also discussed, in this last meeting and the one before it, specific suggestions and proposals from each side. There has been a broad and substantive discussion on the issue, but I would not make that judgment, because it is a subjective judgment, he concluded.

President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat are meeting in the framework of the UN-led direct negotiations, which began last September with a view to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem. The talks aim at reunifying the island, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

[02] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - PROPERTY ISSUE

In statements after his 21st meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, in the framework of direct negotiations aiming to solve the Cyprus problem, Christofias said that the two leaders are now suspending discussions on the issue of properties, which will be further discussed by their aides George Iacovou and Ozdil Nami.

We have suspended discussions on the issue of properties, but Nami and Iacovou will continue with the work done so far, Christofias noted.

Asked if the issue will come before the leaders when the give and take process begins, he replied: it might happen before that.

[03] FM - CYPRUS QUESTION

According to the Athens News Agency (ANA), in statements in Melbourne where he is paying a visit, March 4-11, Kyprianou expressed reserved optimism about the outcome of direct negotiations held between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

He said he is not expecting at this phase any initiative by the new US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and noted that due to the elections in Turkey and the so-called elections to take place in April in Cyprus` Turkish occupied areas, Ankara is not expected to show any flexibility.

[04] EUROBAROMETER - CYPRUS WOMEN

According to the results, 77% of women in Cyprus and the EU27 believe that politics are male-dominated, while only 23% in Cyprus and 22% in the EU27 disagree with this opinion.

Regarding the prospects for increasing the presence of women in the European Parliament, 60% of people in Cyprus and 53% in the EU27 believe that the most effective way to increase the ratio of women MEPs is to encourage the participation of women in politics.

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