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Papadopoullos : Talks the talk, doesnt walk the walk!

By Fanos Droushiotis

Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos has reiterated the Greek Cypriot side`s commitment to the implementation of the July 8, 2006, agreement, stressing that he will not accept any diversion from the process provided by the agreement.
``Our aim is to promote the full implementation of the July 8 agreement so the road for substantive negotiations to achieve a proper settlement opens,`` Papadopoulos said, addressing a Social Democrats Movement`s Congress, held in South Nicosia over the weekend.
He added that ``if we accept now derogation from the process to allegedly assist the Turkish Cypriot side, we will create a precedent for other more painful and of more decisive importance derogations, which at the end will neutralize the whole process and agreement.``
According to Papadopoulos, the Greek Cypriot side will ``continue to strive for a functional and viable solution as soon as possible, on the basis determined by the United Nations and in the framework outlined by the European values and principles.``
``We have before us the well-known process, which was launched at our own initiative on July 8 last year and to that we remain consistent and committed,`` he stressed.
Referring to the decision to demolish the wall at Ledras Street, Papadopoulos noted that the contacts between Greek and Turkish Cypriots are useful, noting however that ``opening roads for contacts between the two communities is not enough.``
The primary goal, he added, is to open the road towards a solution which will reunify the people and our country and will establish security and the best future for all citizens of our country,`` he added.
Papadopoulos noted that the aim and desire for reunification cannot be exhausted with verbal declarations such as ``we desire solution soon`` and ``we support reunification``.
``Reunification has a substantive and particular content,`` he said, adding that real reunification means reunification of Cyprus` land, society, economy and institutions.``
On 8 July 2006, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met in the presence of senior UN official Imbrahim Gambari and agreed to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and those that concern substantive issues.
However, Tassos Papadopoullos at the same time does not wish to OPEN the Ledra Street passage if the Turkish troops do not withdraw from the area, revealing his negative attitude, proving that the demolition of the wall was just executed in order to impress. Most importantly however, he denies meeting President Talat in spite the pressure from the EU, Greece and the Greek Cypriot opposition that call for such a meeting as soon as possible so that the 8th July Agreement proceed.
If this is not a double faced policy then what is?