Cypriot Foreign Minister in Athens

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   In view of the ongoing negotiation process to achieve a “Cypriot” solution, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis met with her Cypriot counterpart Marcos Kyprianou yesterday (September 3) in Athens.  “We support in a substantial manner […] the efforts being made by President Christofias to achieve a solution, without mediation or interference from third parties […] or any manner of “deadlines,” within the framework of the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the principles and values of the EU,” Bakoyannis stressed, reminding that Athens considers the Cyprus issue a major foreign policy priority.  “The mutually agreed basis for the negotiations is a bicommunal, bizonal federation, with political equality – as expressly stated in the relevant UN resolutions – with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship,” said Bakoyannis, stressing also the need for Turkey to allow the Turkish Cypriots to negotiate creatively towards an agreed, viable and functional solution, underling the fact that “a unified Cyprus in the EU is the best investment in future progress and development.”  On his part, Kyprianou called Turkey to fulfil its undertaken obligations to the European Union, allowing also the Turkish Cypriots to negotiate freely towards the solution being pursued.  Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Statements of FM Bakoyannis and FM Kyprianou & The Cyprus Issue

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President of the Hellenic Republic Met Cypriot Students

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias received july, 21, at the Presidential Mansion a delegation of students from the University of Cyprus. Papoulias stressed that “there is no greater insult to human rights than the presence of an occupation army in an EU member-state” and pointed out that “hopefully a day will come when there will be no occupation army in the Republic of Cyprus.”  Meanwhile, Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros referring to relations between Greece and Turkey said that Greece follows an approach of “gradual normalisation that will lead to the complete normalisation of relations with Turkey as achieved with most of our neighbouring countries,” while stressing that Turkey, having chosen a European orientation, should display respect to European principles and values.  Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Cyprus; European Commission: Enlargement- Turkey

Cyprus: A Devided Island, 35 Years After

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  35 years have elapsed since July 20th, 1974, a day which marked a turning point in the history of Cyprus. The Turkish invasion in the north of the island, which was facilitated by the then Greek totalitarian regime’s series of disastrous meddling, led to the brutal and permanent division of the island into two ethnically cleansed areas. Nicosia is still a physically divided capital, the last one in Europe after the fall of the Berlin wall. In memory of the events of 1974, the Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis stated that a solution to the Cyprus problem is still sought, always within the framework of the UN Security Council’s resolutions and the principles of the European Union to which Cyprus adheres as a full member since 2004. “July 20 is a day of memory and honour. It stands as landmark for a definite, just, viable and functional solution to the problem.” The ongoing deliberations between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leader should be based on the grounds of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single sovereignty and legal personality, the premier concluded. Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis added that “Turkey continues to hold the key to the solution of the Cyprus problem” and encouraged the country to actively demonstrate its will to ‘turn page’ on its stance so far. Secretariat General of Information: About Greece- History of Modern Greece ; Greek News Agenda: Tearing Down the Barriers; Kathimerini Daily: Christofias and Talat exchange olive branches; Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Cyprus- The Parameters of the Problem and the Solution

Greece in the International Arena

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Addressing the Cypriot Parliament during his official visit to Cyprus (April 23-24), Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis stressed the need for a Cyprus settlement to be reached between the two communities on the island without any interventions, on the basis of the United Nations-mediated peace talks for the reunification of the divided island.”Respect for the independence and sovereignty of Cyprus has been the cornerstone of Greece’s stance in the Cyprus problem,” said Karamanlis. Greece has long supported the solution of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality, as laid down in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, with a single international personality, a single sovereignty and a single citizenship.

Greek Film Festival in Edinburgh

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  This year’s Greek Film Festival in Edinburgh – which opened on February 20 and continues until March 1 – is dedicated to Greek-Cypriot filmmaker Michael Cacoyannis with the screening of a new documentary on his life and times. Moreover, there will be screenings of his highly acclaimed Euripides trilogy “Elektra,” (see photo) “The Trojan Women” and “Iphigenia.” The programme also includes contemporary Greek films like Thanos Anastopoulos’ “Correction”, Angeliki Antoniou’s “Eduart,” and Nikos Perakis’ “Cool.” See also: Guardian.co.uk – Film preview: Greek Film Festival, Edinburgh (14.02.09); Living.scotsman.com: Best reasons to check out the Greek Film Festival (11.02.09)

Greece supports Cyprus

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Meeting her Cypriot counterpart Markos Kyprianou in Athens on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis relayed Greece’s support for Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias’ efforts to solve the Cyprus issue. The meeting was held just two days before the round of a new phase of negotiations between Christofias and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. Bakoyannis particularly emphasised Cyprus’ capacity as a member of the EU and the European dimension the solution must have, stressing that this should ensure the safety and prosperity of Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots without including “vague interventionist rights.”  Athens News Agency: Support for Christofias in Athens; Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Cyprus – The Parameters of the Problem and the Solution; Statements of FM DoraBakoyannis and her Cypriot counterpart, Markos Kyprianou, following their meeting

Greece: The National Council on Foreign Policy

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    The National Council on Foreign Policy convened yesterday with the participation of all the parliamentary parties. Recent developments in the Caucasus crisis, issues in the Balkans and mainly the negotiations’ commencement on the Cyprus issue constituted this meeting’s agenda. Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis who briefed the parties’ representatives in the Council said she was pleased with the discussion held and the views exchanged. She added that the special attention was given to the negotiations over the Cyprus issue and that it is important that all parties (with the exception of the communist party) gave their full support to Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias in light of the discussions launched the day before yesterday. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Statement following the Meeting & Statement of Dora Bakoyannis on the direct talks on the Cyprus issue;  Greek News Agenda: Cyprus Negotiations commencement