by halil » Wed Oct 03, 2007 1:22 pm
Britain’s Special Representative for Cyprus Joan Ryan who has been having a series of contacts on the island was received by President Mehmet Ali Talat this morning.
The British High Commissioner Peter Millet was also present at the meeting.
No statement was issued before or after the meeting,
The British Special Representative is set to hold a press conference this afternoon at the British High Commission in Lefkosa where she will be evaluating her contacts on both sides of the island.
As part of her contacts, yesterday, Ms Ryan met with the Greek Cypriot Leader Tasos Papadopulos, Speaker of the Greek Cypriot Parliament Dimitris Hristofyas, Foreign Minister Erato Markulli and some political party leaders.
The aim of the visit – which is the first by Ms Ryan after being appointed as Britain’s Special Representative to Cyprus – is to learn more about the Cyprus issue at first hand.
Earlier, she stated that the 8-July agreement was the only way forward towards achieving a solution in Cyprus, a position, which she said, was supported both by the UN Security Council and Britain.
Noting that she would not act as a mediator and that she would not be bringing a new plan, Ms Ryan said that her country was ready to do all it can to support the UN peace process in Cyprus.
Ms Ryan also said that a solution must be found to the problem by the end of 2008.