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The President, who returned to the island from New York yesterday, stressed that these resolutions all talk of a single sovereignty, a single international identity, and a single nationality.

The new resolution is a reply to the allegations by Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Denktash that the UN resolutions are not valid, he added.

As regards the talks, President Clerides said he did not have much to say in view of the continuing news blackout requested by the UN Secretary- General.

He explained, however, that they had set out their positions on all issues and the Turkish Cypriot side had set out theirs with neither side knowing what the other had said.

He said that the talks would continue towards the end of January for a further ten days and that the next phase, according the Secretary-General would be that both sides would be asked for clarifications on the issues that they had already set out.

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"It is worth noting that the talks did not end in general statements but allowed a discussion of issues to take place on the essence of a settlement to the Cyprus problem", he added.

He added that Russia was willing to make an active contribution to the search for a just solution to the Cyprus problem based on the relevant UN resolutions which envisage respect for the island's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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