Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-02-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT-ELECT - AMBASSADORS

[02] PAPADOPOULOS` CABINET - LAST MEETING

[03] BUSH CHRISTOFIAS COOPERATION

[01] PRESIDENT-ELECT - AMBASSADORS

Christofias outlined his views during meetings with the ambassadors of Russia, the US and China in Nicosia who communicated to him congratulations from their respective leaders and words of encouragement for progress towards a negotiated solution.

I conveyed the right message to the ambassadors and my wish to resume the dialogue with the Turkish Cypriots, but also stressed that such a dialogue must not revoke anything the Security Council has approved so far nor must discussions annul anything the leaders of the two communities have agreed, he told the press after the meetings.

He said it was necessary for him to explain again his positions and his vision with regard to future negotiations, that would reunite the country, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

Christofias will be sworn in on Thursday before the House plenary and officially, he will assume his duties on March 1. He is expected to announce the composition of his Cabinet on Friday, as consultations and meetings continue with the political parties that backed his presidential candidacy.

Questioned by the press on this, he said he would work, as he has always done, with consensus to form his government but remained tight-lipped as to his plans on the make-up of his Cabinet.

Christofias was elected President, the sixth President of the Republic, on Sunday with 53.36% of the votes against his opponent Ioannis Kasoulides who got 46.64%. This is the first time the countrys largest party, left-wing AKEL put forward its own candidate for the presidency.

[02] PAPADOPOULOS` CABINET - LAST MEETING

Palmas said that on behalf of the Ministers, Minister of Defense Christodoulos Pashiardes thanked President Papadopoulos for his trust and the close cooperation they have had over the years. He also said that the members of the Cabinet believe they have done their utmost in meeting President Papadopoulos expectations. The Spokesman said that President Papadopoulos will continue to be active in the local political scene.

�President Papadopoulos will continue to be near the people, by making his own interventions, especially in matters concerning the Cyprus issue. He will open a political bureau which will be ready in a couple of days, he added. Papadopoulos, who was seeking re-election, failed to qualify for the second round of presidential elections and was excluded from the final round of the presidential race. Newly elected President of the Republic, Demetris Christofias, will be officially installed Thursday afternoon. Demetris Christofias won last Sunday the second round of the presidential elections by securing 53.36% of the valid votes. His opponent, Ioannis Kasoulides, received 46.64% of the votes.

[03] BUSH CHRISTOFIAS COOPERATION

Speaking after a meeting with Christofias, US Ambassador to Cyprus Ronald Schlicker said that Christofias assured him that he had similar intentions as regards bilateral relations.

Today I had the pleasure of meeting with President elect Christofias and the honour of presenting to him a letter from President Bush congratulating the President elect on his election, noting the desire of the US government to keep cooperating closely with the government of the Republic of Cyprus on a wide range of bilateral issues and of course as the most important issue in the search for a settlement that will reunify the island, the US Ambassador said.

He added that Christofias assured him that that he had similar intentions toward our relationship and we agreed to keep in touch and make very real and very practical the desires expressed in the letter and then the President elect responded to the letter.

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