Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-07-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPADOPOULOS - UN - CYPRUS QUESTION

[02] JOINT MEETING - STATEMENT

[01] PAPADOPOULOS - UN - CYPRUS QUESTION

The President said his meeting on Saturday with UN Undersecretary General for political affairs Ibrahim Gambari and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat was a significant step, adding that things will get tougher later on.

He expressed hope that the new opening will have a positive outcome and confirmed that discussions on matters of substance and day-to-day issues would be concurrent.

Referring to his telephone conversation with Annan after Saturday`s meeting, President Papadopoulos said the UN chief was very satisfied with the result and congratulated both sides.

President Papadopoulos expressed certainty that Cyprus could count "on the good intentions and will of the Secretary General to help towards at least paving the way for a solution of the Cyprus problem," adding that it was only natural that Annan would want to leave behind a process that gives hope for a settlement.

Replying to questions, President Papadopoulos said "the tough part is yet to come and the difficulty is focused of course on achieving common positions on issues of substance."

"However, this difficulty and the uncertain result coexist in all talks of this kind and always existed. It is positive that the procedure to prepare for substantive talks has been decided and let us hope that this new opening will have a positive outcome," he added.

Asked about Turkey`s EU accession course in relation with the developments in the Cyprus problem, President Papadopoulos said they were two separate issues, and pointed out that irrespective of developments, Ankara still had to meet its obligations towards the EU.

President Papadopoulos was speaking at Larnaca Airport before departing for Athens, where he will meet with the Greek Prime Minister, the President of the Hellenic Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and political party leaders.

[02] JOINT MEETING - STATEMENT

The decision, which is part of a set of principles agreed, was taken during a three-hour meeting the two leaders had in the presence of UN Undersecretary General for political affairs Ibrahim Gambari at the residence of UN Secretary General`s Special Representative in Cyprus Michael Moller in the UN buffer zone.

The two leaders underlined their commitment to the unification of Cyprus, based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions.

They decided that the Technical Committees on issues that affect the day to day life of people will commence by the end of July provided that, at the same time, the two Leaders will also have exchanged a list of issues of substance and its contents to be studied by expert bi-communal working groups and finalized by the Leaders.

Papadopoulos and Talat agreed to meet further, from time to time as appropriate, to give directions to the expert bi-communal working groups as well as to review the work of the Technical Committees.

Gambari said the two leaders had very frank and very concerted discussions.

In the Set of Principles, the two leaders set out their commitment to the unification of Cyprus based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions.

They recognize the fact that the status quo is unacceptable and that its prolongation would have negative consequences for the Turkish and Greek Cypriots and pledged commitment to the proposition that a comprehensive settlement is both desirable and possible, and should not be further delayed.

Furthermore, they agreed to begin a process immediately, involving bi-communal discussion of issues that affect the day to day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both of which will contribute to a comprehensive settlement.

They expressed commitment to ensure that the `right atmosphere` prevails for this process to be successful. In that connection, confidence building measures are essential, both in terms of improving the atmosphere and improving the life of all Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Also in that connection, an end must be put to the so-called `blame game`."

The two leaders decided that the Technical Committees on issues that affect the day to day life of people will commence by the end of July provided that, at the same time, the two Leaders will also have exchanged a list of issues of substance and its contents to be studied by expert bi-communal working groups and finalized by the Leaders.

In addition, Papadopoulos and Talat will meet further, from time to time as appropriate, to give directions to the expert bi-communal working groups as well as to review the work of the Technical Committees.``

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