Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-10-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS TALKS - NEW YORK - MEETING

[02] PRESIDENT NY MEETING

[01] CYPRUS TALKS - NEW YORK - MEETING

The meeting will take place in the Green Tree mansion, in Long Island. The UN Secretary-General is expected to review progress reached in all core issues that were discussed in the framework of intensive direct talks for a Cyprus solution, and decide on the way forward.

The UN have announced a series of procedure changes as regards the meeting. They said that the Secretary-General will not make statements to the press on Monday evening, upon the conclusion of the meeting. His statement is expected to be made on Tuesday morning. According to diplomatic sources, the two leaders will not be present this time, when Ban Ki moon will make his statement.

Moreover, the Greek Cypriot side has requested a longer participation of the Secretary -General at the meeting and according to reliable sources, Ban Ki moon will stay at the Sunday meeting one hour longer while on Monday he will be present between 1500 2200 local time.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the UNSG was informed by his Special Advisor on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, about the latest meetings between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus.

Furthermore, President Christofias received Saturday in New York Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinides, who earlier this week held a meeting with his US counterpart Hillary Clinton.

According to Greek diplomatic sources, the Greek FM expressed Greeces full support to President Christofias handling of the Cyprus issue.

This will be the forth meeting of the leaders with the Secretary-General. The first took place in November 2010, followed by two more meetings held in Geneva on January 26 and July 7, 2011, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to finding a comprehensive solution as soon as possible, while in Geneva, on 26 January 2011, the sides agreed to intensify the negotiations.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Since 1974 Turkey occupies 37% of Cyprus` territory in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, European Parliament decisions and resolutions, European Council decisions and other resolutions of international fora, which condemn the Turkish invasion and occupation. Ankara has proclaimed a so called `state` in the occupied areas of Cyprus, which the UN have called illegal and asked the international community not to recognise it. The illegal state is only recognised by Ankara.

UN - led negotiations have been underway since 2008 between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus with an aim to reunify the island under a federal roof.

The Republic of Cyprus is a full EU member state since May 2004. Turkey aspires to join the EU but said it would not talk to Cyprus when Nicosia assumes the rotating EU presidency in the second half of 2012.

[02] PRESIDENT NY MEETING

In statements Friday at New York, where he will hold a two-day intensive meeting, on Sunday and Monday, with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, President Christofias also called upon the UN to defend their principles and the UN resolutions on Cyprus.

``My appeal to the Turkish Cypriot side is to demonstrate understanding and change its positions to the better. My appeal to the UN and the UNSG is to defend principles and above all, to defend the UN resolutions``, he stressed.

President Christofias said that the Turkish stance leaves no room for great expectations as regards the New York meeting.

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