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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 04-01-12
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Monday, 12 January 2004 President Papadopoulos to visit Athens on 18-19
January
[02] Foreign Minister disappointed with Ankara summit statement on
Cyprus
[01] President Papadopoulos to visit Athens on 18-19 January
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, will be in Athens on
18 - 19 January for a working visit. President Papadopoulos will have
meetings with Greek Prime Minister Mr Costas Simitis and Foreign Minister
Mr George Papandreou to examine the current phase of the Cyprus problem and
to review and discuss prospects for promoting a settlement in view of the
latest developments.
[02] Foreign Minister disappointed with Ankara summit statement on
Cyprus
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Georgios Iacovou, has expressed his
disappointment with the statement issued by the Turkish government after
the Cankaya Mansion summit on the Cyprus problem last Thursday. The
statement, which Mr Iacovou described as "poor", refers to a Cyprus
settlement through negotiations on the basis of the "realities" of the
island and makes no mention to the Annan plan. Speaking on Saturday at
Larnaca Airport following the Estonian President's departure from the
island, Foreign Minister Iacovou expressed the position that the Turkish
side would not clearly specify its policy on Cyprus any time soon.
Noting that the issue would now be discussed at the Turkish National
Security Council meeting on 23 January, Mr Iacovou said time for negotiations
had been substantially reduced and it would therefore be difficult to hold
serious talks on the Annan plan and reach a solution by 1 May 2004. In
addition, the Government Spokesman, Mr Kypros Chrysostomides, said the
statement issued after the Ankara summit did not contain anything concrete
regarding the Turkish government's stance on Cyprus. The reference to the
"realities" on the island, Mr Chrysostomides noted during the regular press
briefing on Friday, mirrored the views of the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf
Denktash and his demand for accepting the fait accompli of the Turkish
invasion and occupation. He further pointed out that the statement did not
make any reference to the Annan plan or to the name of the UN Secretary-
General. The Government Spokesman stressed that the key issue was not
whether the Turkish side would decide to return to the negotiating table or
not but what its stance would be once the talks resumed.
"What is expected is a change of stance, a change of positions and
diversion from the traditional positions on two states, two sovereignties,
continuous presence of Turkish occupation troops, etc. What is needed,
therefore, is a change of positions by the Turkish side", Mr Chrysostomides
added.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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