Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-11-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] FMs - CYPRUS - RUSSIA - MEETING

[01] FMs - CYPRUS - RUSSIA - MEETING

``The two sides in Cyprus themselves should find the settlement formula. The final formula should be in the interests of the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and the international community should play a facilitating role and not impose any prescriptions or formulas, and cannot impose artificial timeframes,`` Lavrov told a joint press conference with his Cypriot counterpart Marcos Kyprianou after official talks in Nicosia.

Noting that ``the UN Security Council has drafted the principles on which a Cyprus settlement should be based,`` Lavrov said ``the most important principle is the achievement of a solution from the two sides in Cyprus and that principle must not be disputed by anyone,`` adding that ``the imposition of any foreign-instigated artificial timeframes, as well as the imposition of any prescriptions through arbitration or in any other way, will be against logic and against the UN resolutions.``

The head of the Russian diplomacy furthermore stressed that Turkey should fully implement the UN resolutions and that its actions should comply with the principles set out in the resolutions of the international organization.

Recalling the cautious approach of the international community on the Middle East problem, Lavrov noted that ``in Cyprus we must leave the two sides to find the solution themselves, so it will be mutually acceptable.``

With regard to the ongoing direct negotiations in Cyprus, Lavrov said it is important that the two sides continue the negotiating process. ``There is understanding, there is relative progress and we hope the stance of the two sides will converge and that they will conclude a political agreement which will safeguard the interests of all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike, and, at the end of the day, in Cyprus there will be a single state with the human rights observed,`` he added.

Referring to his contacts in Nicosia, Lavrov said that both sides ``reaffirmed that there is will and intention to work on new steps that will lead the cooperation in new directions,`` adding that they made an in-depth study of the cooperation in the fields on economy and investments as well as in the field of trade.

The Russian Foreign Minister also expressed his gratitude for Cyprus` stance regarding the upgrading of relations between Russia and the EU, saying that ``Cyprus` stance contributes to the development of approaches by other member-states which are interested in closer cooperation between the EU and Russia.``

Kyprianou said that talks with his Russian counterpart covered the Cyprus problem and the ongoing talks, as well as issues of mutual interest, the EU-Russia relations, regional issues, such as the Middle East and Iran, energy, as well as Russian President Dimitri Medvedev`s proposal for a new European Security Architecture.

``During today`s talks the need was stressed for the implementation of that which was agreed regarding the procedure, which aims at the achievement of a bizonal bicommunal federation between the two sides, without foreign intervention, timeframes and arbitration,`` he noted.

Regarding the role of Cyprus as an EU member-state, Kyprianou noted that Cyprus supports the strengthening of EU-Russia relations. ``We deem that Russia is not a competitor of the EU but an equal partner and that close cooperation would be to the benefit of both sides,`` he said.

The Cypriot Foreign Minister referred to the ``excellent`` relations between Cyprus and Russia, saying that ``there is a traditional friendship on the level of governments and of the people, and this friendship is translated into cooperation both on a bilateral and a multilateral level.``

Concluding, Kyprianou expressed Cyprus` gratitude for Russia`s consistent and longstanding position on the Cyprus problem, which is based on principles and on the respect of international law and UN resolutions.

Following the official talks between the two sides, Kyprianou and Lavrov signed a Programme of Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cyprus in the fields of science, education and culture for the period of 2009-2012.

``The programme signed will contribute to the upgrading of the already very good relations between the Russians and the Cypriots, which are historic and are based on the principle of reciprocal sympathy,`` the head of the Russian diplomacy said.

President of the Republic of Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat began UN-led talks in September 2008 in a bid to achieve a mutually agreed solution to the problem of Cyprus, divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The two leaders have entered the second phase of the talks for the ``second reading`` of the six chapters of the Cyprus problem, namely, governance and power-sharing, property, EU matters, economic matters, territory, and security and guarantees.

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