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[Agios Ionas]

The words of Carl Bildt, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs:

Viktigt besök från Cypern

Torsdag innebär alltid regeringssammanträde och allmän beredning.

Men viktigare är att i dag inleder Cyperns president Demetris Christofias sina överläggningar i Sverige - dagen efter den historiska öppningen av förhandlingar om öns återförening.

Jag kommer självfallet att utlova honom allt det stöd vi kan ge i dessa ansträngningar.

Den turkcypriotiske ledaren Mehmet Ali Talat har tidigare varit på besök för samtal i Stockholm, och i samtal med företrädare för Turkiet har vi också ofta anledning att beröra hur betydelsefull vi tycker att denna fråga är.

Förutom överläggningar med mig kommer president Christofias under dagen att hinna med också besök på fina Medelhavsmuséet och ett anförande på Utrikespolitiska Institutet.

I morgon har han så överläggningar och lunch med Fredrik Reinfeldt och dessutom ett möte med Kungen på Slottet innan han lämnar Sverige.

Att det är ett viktigt besök säger sig självt.

Here's a rough translation:

Important visit from Cyprus

Thursday always means government meeting and general preparation.

But more important is that today the President of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias is launching his deliberations in Sweden - the day after the historic opening of negotiations for the reunification of the island.

I will, of course, promise him all the support we can provide in these efforts.

The Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat has previously visited for talks in Stockholm. And in conversations with representatives of Turkey, we have also often discussed how important we think this issue is.

In addition to discussions with me, President Christofias will also find time to visit the nice Mediterranean Museum and make a speech at the International Affairs Institute.

Tomorrow he will have talks and lunch with Fredrik Reinfeldt as well as a meeting with the King at the castle before he is leaving Sweden.

That it is an important visit goes without saying.



Source: http://carlbildt.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/viktigt-besok-fran-cypern

Note: Fredrik Reinfeldt is the Swedish Prime Minister.

[turkkan]

In what way is this visit important?

[Agios Ionas]

In what way is this visit important?

For the exact explanation you have to ask Carl Bildt. It's after all his words, not mine. I just delivered the service of translation.

From an European perspective it's easy to understand why Carl Bildt and the Swedish government think of this as an important visit. It's obvious that they want a solution. 25000 Swedes served in the UNFICYP between 1964 and 1993 at a cost of +400 million EUR. Sweden has always openly supported a reunification.

Sweden as a member of the EU wants this problem solved. Not only because Cyprus is a fellow member of the EU. But also because it's a problem that has to be solved before any serious negotiations about Turkey entering the EU can begin. I also think the Swedish government think it's about bloody time Cyprus became one sovereign country once again.

Surely you can understand the importance of this visit? If you're interested in the future of Cyprus and a future reunification you should be able to understand why the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs think it is important. If you're a supporter of permanent partition and recognition of the 'TRNC' I can understand if you don't give a damn.

[turkkan]

Sweden pays next to nothing for UNFICYP so i dont see why thats a problem, and second what sweden wants in the scheme of things is quite irrelevant.

Surely you can understand the importance of this visit? If you're interested in the future of Cyprus and a future reunification you should be able to understand why the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs think it is important. If you're a supporter of permanent partition and recognition of the 'TRNC' I can understand if you don't give a damn.

Lol, are you being serious?

‘We have our limits,’ says Christofias
By Jacqueline Theodoulou

PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias yesterday told a Swedish audience that Greek Cypriots had their limits as to which Turkish Cypriot positions they could accept.

Christofias, who is in Sweden on a two-visit, spoke at the news conference after meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

“I am ready to accept 50,000 settlers to become citizens of the United Federal Republic of Cyprus,” he said. “It’s a courageous decision and I said it publicly to send a message to Turkey and to the Turkish Cypriots and to people who worry.”

But he added, “We have our limits. It is not possible to accept the demand of Turkey, which has been repeated by Mr [Mehmet Ali] Talat several times, that all settlers are so-called citizens of the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This is not possible to accept.”

On his one-hour meeting with Reinfeldt, the President said that they had a friendly and comprehensive discussion.

“We have reviewed the Cyprus question in detail and the role of the talks that we have started and that will be of decisive importance, and also the role which Sweden can play as an EU member state, which has very friendly relations with Turkey,” Christofias noted.

His visit will also see him today meet with the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf.

According to an official press release, Christofias will hold a series of separate meetings with Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, President of the Swedish Parliament Per Westerberg and leader of the Swedish Left Party Lars Ohly.

In addition, President Christofias will deliver a speech at the Swedish Institute of Foreign Policy on ‘Cyprus Current Developments and the Way Forward’.

In statements yesterday, Bildt had said that President Christofias’ visit to Stockholm is the result of the Swedish interest in a reunited Cyprus.

Christofias also visited the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

[Agios Ionas]

Sweden pays next to nothing for UNFICYP so i dont see why thats a problem, and second what sweden wants in the scheme of things is quite irrelevant.

Sweden pays next to nothing for UNFICYP nowadays. But they spent +400 million EUR between 1964 and 1993. That's a lot for a small country to spend if they didn't care about Cyprus.

LOL as much as you want. I'm being serious. If you actually knew something about Sweden you'd know that the most staunch supporters for Turkey entering the EU is Sweden and the UK (with the good ol' US of A behind of course).

The Bilderberger Carl Bildt is obviously respected by the US and the fellow EU members. Sweden may be an insignificant country, but Carl Bildt is not an insignificant person in the EU.

The government of Sweden wants Turkey into the EU (this says nothing about the will of the people mind you!). But Sweden (as well as the EU) will demand things from Turkey. A fair solution to the Cyprus problem is one of them. Carl Bildt is not only the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, he's also a member of the Bilderberg Group (you know what that means... new world order and everything lol) and deeply entangled in the web of conspiracies and policy making in the EU. I think he and the organisation he is a member of can be able to pull strings and make use of connections enough to actually influence outcome of the talks.

We'll see...

[turkkan]

Sweden pays next to nothing for UNFICYP nowadays. But they spent +400 million EUR between 1964 and 1993. That's a lot for a small country to spend if they didn't care about Cyprus.

I didnt actually know this, i always thought turkey and the ROC paid for the UN peacekeeping troops, i will go look up on it.

I think he and the organisation he is a member of can be able to pull strings and make use of connections enough to actually influence outcome of the talks.

This visit agios ionas is not important because A) he didnt say anything out of the ordinary just the usual rhetoric and B) with the strong opposition france, holland and austria have put up concerning turkeys EU membership the EU has very very limited amount of power to influence Turkey. This was more than apparent when turkey carried out its operations in N.Iraq this winter and the EU could not say one thing about it.

[DT.]

Sweden pays next to nothing for UNFICYP nowadays. But they spent +400 million EUR between 1964 and 1993. That's a lot for a small country to spend if they didn't care about Cyprus.

I didnt actually know this, i always thought turkey and the ROC paid for the UN peacekeeping troops, i will go look up on it.

I think he and the organisation he is a member of can be able to pull strings and make use of connections enough to actually influence outcome of the talks.

This visit agios ionas is not important because A) he didnt say anything out of the ordinary just the usual rhetoric and B) with the strong opposition france, holland and austria have put up concerning turkeys EU membership the EU has very very limited amount of power to influence Turkey. This was more than apparent when turkey carried out its operations in N.Iraq this winter and the EU could not say one thing about it.

I believe the largest part of the bill is footed by the ROC and Greece makes a contribution. The rest is handled by the UN and not individual states (especially not Turkey)

[Agios Ionas]

I read that 4 billion SEK (€415 951 749.60) was spent on SwedCon UNFICYP activities between 1964 and 1993. Then the Swedish government decided to help peace keeping in Bosnia but couldn't afford this while staying in Cyprus... so they left the SwedCon bases to the Canadians afaik.

It's possible that the majority of this money came from other actors than Sweden. But the activities surely cost Sweden money, not to mention time. Sweden has always been supportive of a fair solution of the Cyprus problem. And I know the official stance is "reunification for the benefit of all Cypriots".