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Papapetrou said the government is satisfied with the letter and cited a Foreign Ministry announcement which says the content of the letter is positive.

In the letter the American-Jewish Committee expresses "whole-hearted" support to the US administration's efforts to find a viable solution to the Cyprus problem.

It points out that "creating the conditions that promote political stability and economic prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean is in the best interests of the US and its friends and allies in the region, notably Greece, Israel, Cyprus and Turkey".

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Moreover the Minister of Communications and Works, Mr. Averof Neophytou, accompanied by the Mayor of Larnaca, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and the Director of the Department of Antiquities, yesterday visited the Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca and inspected the repair work being carried out following the arson attempt on the Mosque the previous night.

Speaking to journalists afterwards, Mr. Neophytou said: "We want to convey the clear message that we respect and are sensitive about the cultural heritage of the Moslems as much as our own".

The Minister established that there is no significant damage to the Mosque and gave instructions for the repairs to be completed within a few days.

On the occasion of his visit to Larnaca, Mr Neophytou also visited Touslam Mosque which is undergoing maintenance work carried out by the Department of Antiquities.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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