Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis hailed on Friday a decision by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to start full-fledged negotiations on September 3 with an aim to reach a mutually accepted solution to the Cyprus problem.
"We hail the agreement between the two leaders to begin negotiations aiming at achieving the reunification of Cyprus in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal Federation, with a single personality, one citizenship and one sovereignty," Bakoyannis said in a statement issued by Greek Foreign Ministry a few hours after the announcement of the agreement in Nicosia.
"The road towards achieving this solution will be a way uphill. What is needed is strict adherence to principles and good will by all, but mainly creative work by the two sides, without impositions coming from outside, artificial timeframes and arbitrage," the statement said.
The solution to the Cyprus problem will safeguard the fundamental and legitimate rights and interests of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, Bakoyannis said and called for adherence to principles.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when the Turkish military intervened and controlled the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers.
In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot authorities declared the establishment of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which is recognized only by Ankara.
Turkey maintains some 40,000 troops in the self-proclaimed "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which remains a key issue in the revived peace process aimed at reunifying the island.
For several decades, the UN has continuously worked to persuade the two communities to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, which is also a main obstacle to Turkey's EU membership ambitions.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article