Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-09-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN TALKS MEETING POSTPONED

[02] PRESIDENT SYRIA

[01] UN TALKS MEETING POSTPONED

Iacovou told a press conference that the occupation regimes attitude towards pilgrims who were trying to cross to the Turkish occupied northern areas to celebrate Ayios Mamas name day, overshadows tomorrows start of the second round of talks and therefore it would be better to postpone the meeting.

He said that he is in constant touch with President Christofias who is fully briefed about the postponement.

Iacovou said that he has also informed Special Adviser of the UNSG for Cyprus Alexander Downer about the postponement of Thursdays meeting.

A pilgrimage from the village of Pyrgos in the Paphos district to the church of Saint Mamas in the Turkish occupied area of Morphou, via the Limnitis checkpoint, was called off on Wednesday, due to delays caused by the Turkish Cypriot side.

A total of 650 Greek Cypriot pilgrims on 27 coaches were set to cross over to the Turkish occupied areas.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Peace talks are underway between the leaders of the two communities to find a negotiated settlement that would reunite the country under a federal roof.

According to statements by Downer at the end of the first round on August 6, the chapter of governance and power sharing and particularly the executive will be the first issue Christofias and Talat were scheduled to discuss at the first meeting of the second round of the ongoing UN-led direct negotiations, on September 3rd.

[02] PRESIDENT SYRIA

Christofias said that his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, has accepted an invitation to visit Cyprus next year. I firmly believe that the warm, friendly and traditional relations between Syria and Cyprus are renewed he added.

He noted that Cyprus, based on principles, expressed its support to the struggle of the Syrian people on the issue of the Golan Heights and the settlement of the Palestinian problem. He added that the Syrian side expressed full support to the position for a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus problem, through talks, and to the termination of the unacceptable situation in Cyprus, the occupation and the division of the island.

He noted the great satisfaction expressed by Assad as regards Cyprus positive stance concerning the UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions on the Golan Heights, and said that Cyprus will hold the same position this year.

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