Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-03-08

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou meets Cyprus president

[01] Papandreou meets Cyprus president

"We discussed latest developments on the issue of Cyprus, especially the resumption of efforts to solve it and particularly after the meeting between President Papadopoulos and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan," Papandreou said after the meeting.

"We exchanged views on the issue of Famagusta which is an issue, as are many others, that is in our heart and we think that efforts in this direction can meet with success," he added.

Papandreou added that "following the accession of Cyprus to the EU there has been a new momentum, provided that it is capitalised by all sides and I am stressing here the obligations of Turkey and the prospects of the Turkish Cypriots of all of us finding ourselves in the same family and very soon."

He went on to say that "the utilisation of the EU, Turkey's course towards the EU, the reunification of the island so that the Turkish Cypriots can also enjoy the advantages and the rights of the EU is the prospect giving us the opportunity to capitalise on all means to solve the issue of Cyprus and for a peaceful coexistence in our region."

KKE, Coalition party leaders

Visiting Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos held talks with Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga and Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party leader Alekos Alavanos on Wednesday.

"We cannot know what is in the back of the mind of the UN secretary general or of the leading forces of the EU. What is of great importance is that two years after the referendum, the right of the Greek Cypriots to reject a (the Annan) plan, which sooner or later would have led with mathematical accuracy to partition, has gained ground in Greece, Cyprus and internationally," she said after her meeting with President Papadopoulos.

"What is important today is seeking a solution to the problem based on UN resolutions, which anticipate a bizonal and bicommunal federation, without foreign troops, without an occupation army and without international arbitration," Papariga added.

Alavanos said on his part after meeting President Papadopoulos that "there have been very positive moves on the part of the Republic of Cyprus regarding the issues of discussions for a solution to the issue of Cyprus in the framework of the UN, with the utilisation of the European acquis communautaire and with regard to issues of the EU's regulations and also with the political consequence which is the annulment, in essence, of proposals by (Turkish foreign Minister Abdullah) Gul."

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