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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-12-28
CONTENTS
[01] CHRISTOFIAS - CYPRUS TALKS
[02] EU GERMAN PRESIDENCY - CYPRUS
[01] CHRISTOFIAS - CYPRUS TALKS
House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias has pointed out
that in the year ahead the ground work for negotiations towards a
Cyprus solution has to be prepared to allow serious talks to take place
in 2008. He also said that at a short meeting last night in the
Turkish- occupied part of Nicosia he talked briefly about the prospects
of a solution with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mehmet
Ali Talat, as they both attended a reception to mark 36 years since the
Turkish Republican Party, which Talat led for years, was established.
We have all come to the conclusion that, irrespective of what others
may say, next year we have to create those conditions that would enable
us to launch the final offensive to deal with the substance of the
Cyprus problem and have serious talks in 2008, he said, when asked if
the effort towards a political settlement was part of his discussion
with Talat.
Replying to other questions, he said that elections in Turkey next year
and later on in Cyprus would affect the peace effort and that is why
there is talk of preparing the ground in 2007 and conduct a very
serious negotiation in 2008 with a view to reach a settlement.
[02] EU GERMAN PRESIDENCY - CYPRUS
The European Union German presidency has assured that it would do its
utmost to accommodate the parties concerned in order to work towards a
comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, in line with the
relevant UN Security Council resolutions and based on the principles on
which the EU was founded. This was stated by Charges d Affaires of the
German embassy in Nicosia, Joachim Heidorn, whose country assumes the
next EU rotating presidency on January 1st, 2007.
You can be assured that we will try to accommodate the parties involved
whenever there is a possibility (for a Cyprus solution), Heidorn said
in an interview with CNA, stressing that the Cyprus problem remains a
serious concern for Europe. Emphasizing the need to continue bicommunal
talks, the German diplomat said that his countrys EU presidency would
surely emphasize the need to quickly start preparatory work for a
Cyprus solution.
There have been meetings but unfortunately with no progress. We hope
that under the UN Secretary Generals Good Offices, the mission can
resume without any unnecessary delay, he said. Germany, he added,
encourages the two communities on the island to ensure that the right
atmosphere prevails so that progress under the UN can be achieved for a
comprehensive settlement in line with relevant UNSC resolutions and
based on the principles on which the EU is founded.
He underlined that the Cyprus issue is not a burden for Europe, but
noted that the EU can function more easily, can progress much quicker
when the problem is resolved.
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