Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-09-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papadopoulos says no new effort if Denktash stays

[02] President Papadopoulos says Ankara deciding for Turkish Cypriots

[03] Gul says Ankara accepts Annan plan with alterations

[01] Papadopoulos says no new effort if Denktash stays

2050:CYPPRESS:12

Papadopoulos says no new effort if Denktash stays

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Sep 25 (CNA) - Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has expressed the view that a new effort to solve the Cyprus problem would not start as long as the Turkish Cypriot leadership remained the same, adding that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan ''has doubts if after the elections in the Turkish occupied areas there will be conditions for a speedy resumption of the talks''.

Speaking to Cypriot and Greek reporters after a half-hour meeting in New York with Annan, President Papadopoulos made clear that no pressure was exerted on him nor were any concerns expressed that the Greek Cypriot side is talking about the necessity for changes to the Annan plan for a settlement.

President Papadopoulos said ''we reviewed the current situation, the possibility to start a new effort for negotiations''.

''I have the impression that a new effort will not start as long as the same leadership remains in the Turkish Cypriot community. We spoke about our positions. I reiterated the positions we had expressed at The Hague and since then on the necessity for improvements to the plan'', he said.

The President noted that Annan ''did not express concern'' or say that the plan could not take changes.

''Nor did the Secretary General speak or exert pressure for referenda and the resumption of talks at the time being, having even doubts that after the elections in the Turkish occupied areas there would be conditions for a speedy resumption of the talks'', the President added.

Asked if he believed that after the so-called ''parliamentary elections'' in the Turkish occupied areas in December these conditions would be in place, President Papadopoulos said ''a lot depends not only on the result but on what kind of result there will be and how this will affect Turkey''.

Invited to say if Annan had some plans for the coming months, President Papadopoulos replied in the negative.

The meeting was attended by Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Georgios Iacovou, Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN Andreas Mavroyiannis and Director of the President's Diplomatic Office Tasos Tzionis.

On the UN side, present at the meeting were Deputy General Secretary Kieran Prendergast and the UN chief's Special Adviser for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto.

[02] President Papadopoulos says Ankara deciding for Turkish Cypriots

2110:CYPPRESS:13

President Papadopoulos says Ankara deciding for Turkish Cypriots

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Sep 25 (CNA) - Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said today that the decisions of the Turkish side regarding the Cyprus problem were taken in Ankara, including the issue of who will represent the Turkish Cypriot community in talks to solve the Cyprus problem.

Speaking at a press conference in New York after he addressed the UN General Assembly, President Papadopoulos said there was no progress at the time being on the Cyprus problem, due to the Turkish stance, adding that everyone was waiting for a shift in Turkey's stance and as a consequence that of the Turkish Cypriots.

President Papadopoulos noted that the so-called ''parliamentary elections'' in the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic were not to be held to decide who would be the Turkish Cypriot ''president'' or who would be the negotiator in talks to solve the Cyprus problem.

He added that for Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to be removed from power, he must suffer a significant loss in the ''elections'', so that Ankara feels the obligation and has the excuse to replace Denktash with someone else.

''With Denktash, there is no hope for an agreement'' on the Cyprus problem, because the Turkish Cypriot leader regards the twice-revised solution plan proposed by UN chief Kofi Annan ''dead and buried'', the President said, adding that ''with someone else there is at least the hope that there will be a different approach by Ankara and the Turkish Cypriots''.

Replying to CNA questions about the various measures Denktash and the Turkish side have announced, President Papadopoulos said the only thing that occurred was the easing of restrictions on the free movement of citizens on the island, a restriction imposed by Denktash in the first place.

The President noted that the issue of opening the closed town of Famagusta has been brought up many times but nothing has yet been done.

Asked who was to blame about the failure of UN efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, President Papadopoulos said the UN chief's report clearly blamed the Turkish side, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.

The President noted that the Greek Cypriot side wanted a solution before Cyprus' accession to the EU in May next year to avoid practical problems.

He added that Denktash has his own vision of a Cyprus settlement, ''which I call a nightmare'', explaining that this nightmare is all about creating two separate states on the island.

''We will have the ridiculous result of Cyprus having two votes in the EU or the Council of Europe, while France and Britain one each'', he said.

Referring to the Annan plan and the Greek Cypriot side's proposals for improvements to it, President Papadopoulos said ''these proposals aim at making the plan more functional and as a consequence viable''.

''It is in the interests of all for the solution to the viable. Not just to sign a piece of paper that will collapse before it is even implemented. The UN also see reason in this thought'', the President added.

Replying to questions, President Papadopoulos said that if the Greek Cypriot leadership agreed on the final form of the solution plan, then the people would support it in a referendum.

[03] Gul says Ankara accepts Annan plan with alterations

2220:CYPPRESS:14

Gul says Ankara accepts Annan plan with alterations

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Sep 25 (CNA) - Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul said today that his country accepts the Cyprus settlement plan proposed by UN chief Kofi Annan as a basis for negotiations, as long as certain changes are made to it.

Speaking after a meeting in New York with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Gul expressed hope that a solution of the Cyprus problem would be found before the end of next year.

Asked if Ankara accepted the Annan plan, Gul said ''I accept the Annan plan as a basis for negotiations, on the condition that there are alterations acceptable by both sides, so that this negotiations can proceed''.

A diplomatic source said that Gul expressed hope that the Cyprus problem could be settled before the end of December 2004.

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