Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said here Friday the leaders of Cyprus and Turkey need to "be cool and very careful" during their peace talks toward reunifying the divided island.
Christofias said at a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt that he has many new ideas about solutions and is trying to put them on the table.
Communication and honor are the necessary ways to solve Cyprus' problem, he said, adding that he is expecting "less statements and more action around the table."
Christofias, who is currently in Sweden for a two-day visit, also expressed the hope that Sweden could help Cyprus solve the problem after the country assumes the EU rotating presidency in autumn 2009.
Reinfeldt said the settlement of Cyprus' problem had been pushed forward when President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met in Nicosia Wednesday to launch a new round of peace talks.
A better situation will definitely come in the future under the framework of the United Nations and European Union, he said.
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
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