Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-09-02

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS TALKS - LEADERS

[02] G/C & T/C - PEACE MARCH

[03] CHRISTOFIAS EU - GEORGIA

[01] CYPRUS TALKS - LEADERS

Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou told CNÁ that he will meet with Talats advisor Ozdil Nami in the presence of UN Secretary General Special Envoy for Cyprus Alexander Downer who arrived on the island yesterday.

Iacovou remarked that the meeting was probably called for by the UN to see if there are any problems ahead of tomorrows talks between the two leaders.

In a media advisory on Tuesday, the UN said Christofias and Talat would meet in the United Nations Protected Area of Nicosia (UNPA) on Wednesday, 3 September 2008, starting at 10 am at the official residence of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UNFICYP Chief of Mission, Taye-Brook Zerihoun.

The meeting will mark the formal launch of fully-fledged negotiations in view of reaching a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, the UN said.

The Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, will be present at the meeting, as will the Special Representative, the UN said, adding the leaders and Downer are expected to make statements.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.

Tomorrows meeting between the leaders of the two communities is expected to deal with procedural matters and substantive negotiations are set to begin on September 11.

[02] G/C & T/C - PEACE MARCH

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties participated in the event (left wing AKEL, right wing DISY, Social Democrats Movement EDEK, Ecologists and Environmentalists Movement, United Democrats, Turkish Cypriot parties TDP, BKP and YKP) as well as teachers, doctors trade unions, bicommunal dance and choir groups, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot cultural and youth organizations.

The event was also attended by Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot politicians.

The Greek Cypriot organizations began Monday their march from the Eleftherias Square in the government controlled areas while the Turkish Cypriot organizations started from the occupied areas to meet at the Ledra Palace Hotel in the buffer zone.

In a joint communique read out in Greek and Turkish, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot organizations note that Cypriots have suffered wars and their wounds have not yet been healed.

[03] CHRISTOFIAS EU - GEORGIA

In an intervention during Mondays extraordinary European Council meeting in Brussels, which examined the crisis in Georgia, President Christofias underlined the need for a peaceful settlement of international disputes through negotiations.

An official statement said that President Christofias stressed the Republic of Cyprus is firmly and consistently in favour of the respect of international law rules, including the respect of sovereignty and international integrity of states, as provided by the UN charter and the principles of the Helsinki Final act, just as it has done in the Kosovo case.

These principles, he added, should be fully respected without exceptions and special cases, without implementing double standards. On the basis of principles which we always maintain, we support the territorial integrity of Georgia according to the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

President Christofias congratulated European Council President Nicolas Sarkozy for undertaking initiatives that made the EU a protagonist in efforts to appease the situation in Georgia.

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article