Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-09-03

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greek, Cyprus FMs meet

[01] Greek, Cyprus FMs meet

Kyprianou, in fact, has scheduled a series of visits to European capitals to brief and sensitise European partners over Turkey's mandatory adherence to specific commitments vis-à-vis EU member-state Cyprus (such as opening up ports and airports to Cypriot carriers), all in the run-up of December's evaluation of Ankara's progress towards EU accession.

"We solidly support the negotiation process and efforts by President (Demetris) Christofias for the achievement of a Cypriot solution without arbitration, interference by third parties, artificial deadlines and any type of milestones; we support (a solution) based on UNSC resolutions and the principles and values of the European Union," Bakoyannis stressed, reminding that Athens considers the Cyprus issue as a major foreign policy priority.

Moreover, the Greek foreign minister said Ankara must allow the Turkish Cypriots to "effectively negotiate an agreed to, viable and functional solution," emphasising at the same time that a partition of the island is not a solution.

"A unified Cyprus in the EU, all of whose citizens will be European citizens, is the best investment for a future of progress and development," she added.

Along those lines, she condemned a recent incident at the Limnitis crossing point, calling it "disappointing".

Both sides discussed in detail the prospect of Turkey's evaluation by the EU and the course of individual chapter negotiations in the overall accession process.

Kyprianou also called on the Turkish side to allow the Turkish Cypriots to negotiate freely and to send out messages that this community wants a Cyprus resolution.

"Turkey has the primary responsibility for solution of this problem, because the Cyprus issue is, fore mostly, an international problem involving an invasion and (military) occupation," Kyprianou said.

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