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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 04-01-13
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
[01]Tuesday, 13 January 2004 President Papadopoulos reiterates G/C side's
readiness to resume peace talks on the basis of Annan Plan
[02] UN Chief sends response to President Papadopoulos
[01] President Papadopoulos reiterates G/C side's readiness to resume peace
talks on the basis of Annan Plan
The President of the Republic, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, reiterated yesterday
the readiness of the Greek Cypriot side to resume UN-sponsored talks, on
the basis of the Annan Plan, to discuss issues concerning the functionality
and viability of the plan. "Whenever the UN Secretary-General calls us we
are ready to respond", President Papadopoulos said, noting that he had sent
a letter to Mr Kofi Annan asking him to call for new talks.
Asked about prospects of finding a settlement after the formation of the so-
called government in the Turkish-occupied areas, Mr Papadopoulos said the
position of the Turkish side was still uncertain, adding that "we are
waiting to see the position of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side".
Invited to say whether a solution of the Cyprus problem was still possible
by 1 May 2004, the date of the Republic's official accession to the
European Union, the President said "there is time, if there is political
will", noting that there was a lot of work to be done. Asked to comment on
the Turkish Cypriot leader's recent statement that the Annan Plan was still
on the table, President Papadopoulos said it was different from what Rauf
Denktash was saying that far about the plan being "dead". Mr Papadopoulos
recalled a previous statement by Mr Denktash calling for an effort to find
the right basis for negotiations without making any reference to the Annan
plan, which the Greek Cypriot side considered as the basis for talks.
"Mr Erdogan [Turkish Prime Minister] has not made any reference to the
Annan Plan in his two latest statements either", President Papadopoulos
further said, noting Mr Denktash's statement after a meeting with Mr
Erdogan that he was very satisfied and in full agreement with the Turkish
Premier's views.
[02] UN Chief sends response to President Papadopoulos
The UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, has sent a letter to President
Tassos Papadopoulos as a reply to Mr Papadopoulos' letter of 17 December
2003, in which he reiterates the Greek Cypriot side's readiness to resume
UN-led peace talks on the basis of the Annan Plan and invites the UN Chief
to call for a resumption of the talks. Announcing that the letter had been
sent, the UN Secretary-General's spokesman, Mr Fred Eckhard, said yesterday
that the content of the letter was in line with Mr Annan's long-standing
position on Cyprus. Asked if there had been other letters sent to the other
parties involved, the UN Spokesman said he was not aware of any.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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