Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-11-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS CYPRUS TALKS

[02] HOUSE PRESIDENT TALKS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS CYPRUS TALKS

However, he stressed that a precondition for success is the Turkish Cypriot side to change its stance during the talks and negotiate constructively.

Addressing the 21st pancyprian conference of ruling left-wing AKEL party, President Christofias said that when his party undertook the presidency, we took initiatives with the aim to end the stalemate on the Cyprus issue.

He said that the initiatives, which the Greek Cypriot side submitted at the negotiating table are fully in line with the agreed basis, adding that no policy can have any prospects for success if it is confined in negativity and rejection. With the undertaking of initiatives, the submitting of creative proposals and defending principles, we progressed, President Christofias said.

Together with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, we achieved progress on some points which can be described as important. It was not however the progress we anticipated because Mr. Talat was dependent on Ankara. There are and continue to exist very important differences in fundamental aspects of the Cyprus issue, he pointed out.

In an effort to strengthen the negotiating process and to create a more favourable climate for a solution, he added, we agreed to open two important crossing points, that of Ledra Street in the heart of Nicosia and Pyrgos Limnitis. At the same time, the Greek Cypriot side submitted what is now known as a three-tier proposal. Turkey, however, immediately rejected the proposals despite the fact that international community welcomed them.

President Christofias thanked the Greek leadership and political parties as well as the people of Greece for their complete and sincere support, adding that our relations are more than excellent.

Referring to last weeks meeting in New York with UN Secretary General and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, Christofias said the UNSG made an objective assessment of the course of the talks. We defended our positions, stressing that these are within the parameters of the UN Security Council resolutions and proposed simultaneous discussion on property, territory and Turkish settlers. We categorically rejected the proposals of the other side for a four or five party conference leading to a new Burgenstock, noting that the SG himself made it clear that the process belongs to the Cypriots and arbitration and tight timetables were not on the cards.

He recalled that the UN Secretary General called them for a new meeting to reassess the situation at the end of January in Geneva, an invitation that we gladly accepted. We committed to work hard during this time, within the framework of the UN resolutions and international law, to achieve further convergences. However, the truth is, achieving this depends on the other sides stance, which we anticipate to make a turn and cooperate constructively, President Christofias remarked.

He assured that we remain dedicated to the cause for a Cyprus settlement through a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with a single sovereignty, identity and international personality. This compromise was necessary to rid the people of the catastrophic division which undermines its future.

President Christofias further said that a prerequisite to achieve the strategic aim is unity amongst the political parties on the island.

The Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot side have been engaged in negotiations since September 2008, with a view to solve the problem of Cyprus divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.

The President recently put forward a three-tier proposal in a bid to help make headway at the talks.

The first proposal provides for linking discussions on property to territory and immigration, citizenship, aliens and asylum. Property and territory are considered to be two of the most hotly contested issues at the talks.

The second proposal calls for the implementation of Security Council resolution 550 which provides for the return of the fenced off area of Varosha - under Turkish occupation since 1974 - to the UN. The objective of the proposal is to restore the town and return it to its legitimate inhabitants. The proposal envisages also the opening of the citys port for trade for the Turkish Cypriots, under EU supervision, as well as the restoration of the walled city of Famagusta (old part of the city).

The third proposes the convening of an international conference on Cyprus, once the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot side are within reach of an agreement on the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem. The conference is to be called by the UN, and apart from the Republic of Cyprus and the islands two communities, the EU, the five permanent members of the Security Council and Cyprus three guarantor powers will attend (Greece, Turkey and Britain are the guarantor powers according to the 1960 Constitution).

[02] HOUSE PRESIDENT TALKS

Garoyian received a group of students of the Faculty of International Affairs and European Studies of the Piraeus University, who are visiting Cyprus, whom he informed on the current phase of the UN-backed efforts for a settlement to the Cyprus problem.

He said so far the results of the ongoing negotiations are considered as non-satisfactory due to the standing Turkish intransigence, which is reflected in the proposals submitted by the Turkish side.

``Our side,`` he stressed, ``desires and works for a solution as soon as possible on the basis of the UN resolutions and the values and principles on which the European Union is founded on.``

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