Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-09-03

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - TALKS

[02] DOWNER - CYPRUS TALKS

[03] US - TALKS - SUPPORT

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - TALKS

In his opening statement at the launch of negotiations on Cyprus, President Christofias stressed that we must also consistently adhere to the agreed common basis that we reaffirmed during our meetings: a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined by the relevant Security Council Resolutions, with a single sovereignty, citizenship and international personality.

In these full-fledged negotiations, which we officially commence today, it is of utmost importance to safeguard the basic principles which have accompanied us so far in this process: to reach an agreed solution under the good offices mission of the Secretary-General of the United Nations which will be approved by the people in separate simultaneous referenda with no arbitration or artificial timetables, to safeguard the Cypriot ownership of the process and that the outcome will be a Cypriot solution by the Cypriots and for the Cypriots, he said.

President Christofias noted that the foundations of an agreement are described in the High Level Agreements of `77 and `79 which provide for the transformation of the unitary state into a federal one.

In our efforts we must be guided by the relevant United Nations Resolutions which endorse the solution of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, as described in the relevant Security Council Resolutions, with a single sovereignty, citizenship and international personality, he stressed.

[02] DOWNER - CYPRUS TALKS

Addressing President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat at the official residence of the Special Representative of the SG and UNFICYP Chief of Mission Taye Brook Zerihoun, Downer noted that today is an historic day for Cyprus and commended the leaders for all they have done to make the meeting possible.

``This, of course, is your process, and we at the UN stand ready to support you at all junctures, according to your needs as you express them to us``, he said.

Downer remarked that ``it is worthwhile to acknowledge that significant progress has been made in a fairly short time to build confidence and create a solid foundation on which to start formal negotiations``. This, he added, has occurred because of the leaders strong and steady leadership and has been facilitated by the hundreds of meetings that have taken place at a technical level.

[03] US - TALKS - SUPPORT

US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said we fully support this new effort to reach an agreement. We ourselves are taking a look at whether or not its appropriate to have a special envoy to this -- to this effort. But the basic work and if -- the basic work is going to be done by, and if we are going to reach an agreement, it is going to be -- that hard work is going to be done by the two sides. So we fully support this meeting as well as the resumption of this effort.

Invited to comment a statement by Turkish President Abdullah Gul that ``the solution must be found on a new partnership established by the two equal political communities and founder countries``, McCormack said we are always supportive of a bi-zonal, bi-communal effort that -- agreement that is arrived at by both the parties.

We`re not going to try to dictate the specific conditions. Those are for the parties to work out. However, the international community is ready to support this effort, to nurture this effort, and when -- if required, to try to make proposals. We are, ourselves, not in that position right now. But make no mistake about it, the international community supports this effort, he added.

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