Kranidiotis cites 'serious' effort at retackling Cyprus issue

Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis said here yesterday that a "serious" effort was currently being made by Britain, the United States and Russia to reactivate dialogue between the two communities on Cyprus.

Speaking to reporters regarding his contacts during the past two days in London, including dinner last night with Britain's special envoy on the Cyprus issue Sir David Hannay, Mr. Kranidiotis said: "I believe the Cyprus issue, from this point of view, will occupy the next meeting of the G8 group of countries in June."  Mr. Kranidiotis said he hoped the principles which the international community had decided to implement in the case of Kosovo would also apply for Cyprus, "where things are much clearer".  "There are UN resolutions, there is a foreign invasion and occupation and the political settlement of the problem must proceed," Mr. Kranidiotis said.

The Greek minister is attending in London events to mark the 50th anniversary of the Council of Europe.