Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-09-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek FM: New dynamic for just Cyprus settlement

[02] Papandreou calls for common educational culture

[01] Greek FM: New dynamic for just Cyprus settlement

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Greek FM: New dynamic for just Cyprus settlement

Nicosia Sep 10 (CNA) -- Cyprus' accession to the EU and the interest of the international community in Cyprus, offer a new dynamic for a just solution of the Cyprus problem, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said here today.

In his remarks to the press after a meeting here with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, Papandreou noted that Greece's and Cyprus' policy for the past years regarding the Cyprus issue, is bearing fruits and gives positive results.

President Papadopoulos said that the meeting between delegations of both countries was ''very fruitful and interesting'' and added that they discussed the Cyprus issue and ''covered a big amount of issues in which Greece could contribute in international fora''.

Asked whether they discussed possible changes of the Annan plan, President Papadopoulos said that this was not as such part of the discussions, adding that this possibility has been analysed before and ''we discussed about the progress of this''.

Papandreou said that they have not analysed the Annan plan in detail and added that today's discussion were based on ''international and European developments and how these could influence and offer new opportunities for a just solution of the Cyprus problem''.

The Greek FM referred to the ''very close and excellent'' cooperation with the Cypriot government.

Papandreou said the ''very constructive discussions where made in a spirit of a new era for Cyprus'', since the island is entering the EU, and referred to the ''self - confidence of Cyprus and the new opportunities arising''.

''There is now a new dynamic for the Cyprus problem, which not only has to do with Cyprus' accession to the EU. There is not only an international mobility on the Cyprus issue, but also a much more intense interest of the international community in a solution'', the Greek minister noted.

Referring to Cyprus' entry into the EU, he said the European prospect of Cyprus unites both communities on the island.

''There is a common dream that unites Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. The dream of a common roof in the EU, of a united and democratic Cyprus'', he said.

President Papadopoulos was invited to commend on ''new surprises and initiatives'' by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, and said that ''he who is responsible for the illegal status in Cyprus, he has the ability to take any initiative to lift this illegality''.

Papadopoulos added ''whatever initiative is there to lift the illegality is welcomed by us''.

Papandreou referred to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who called for a political will from the Turkish side for a just solution of the Cyprus problem as well as for substantive discussion and negotiation on his peace plan.

''Until now Denktash and the Turkish side do not seem to have accepted this'', Papandreou noted.

CNA MAN/AAR/GP/2003 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[02] Papandreou calls for common educational culture

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Papandreou calls for common educational culture

Nicosia, Sep 10 (CNA) -- Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou has called on the people of Cyprus, and especially teachers and students alike, to work for a common educational culture to help everybody understand that diversity can be a country's wealth and not a weakness.

Addressing a gathering of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots here tonight, he said the task to instill a new educational culture should start now, acknowledged it would be a ''difficult and important'' venture but said Greece would give its full backing to any such attempts.

''Cyprus is turning a page in its history,'' he told an audience in the grounds of the Ledra Palace hotel, in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia, the world's last divided capital.

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