Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

That’s the message delivered by the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt who was in Cyprus for a series of contacts as guest of the Greek Cypriot Foreign Ministry.

Mr. Bildt touched upon the Cyprus issue at the opening of a photograph exhibition called the “Swedish Peace-keepers in Cyprus” which was opened at the Ledra Palace Hotel in the UN-controlled buffer zone yesterday.
Referring to the long-standing relationship between Sweden and Cyprus, he said Cyprus occupies a special place for Sweden in peace efforts brought by the United Nations.

UN Peace-keeping operations help keeping the peace but the real goal still remains unachieved which is the reunification of Cyprus, Bildt noted.
Stating that there has been an obvious disappointment over the failure to reach a political settlement in Cyprus in 2004, the Swedish Minister pointed to the new opportunity now existing on the island towards bringing a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, there is still one capital in Europe which is divided, and that’s in Cyprus, he said.

Swedish Foreign Minister went on to say that Cyprus is a member of the European Union which he described as a family created to overcome the divisions of the past as part of efforts aiming to establish a better future as a whole.

Underlining the importance of integration and reconciliation in today’s global world era, Carl Bildt reiterated the international community’s support towards the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Mr. Bildt finalized his speech saying, Peace-keeping helps stability but cannot create true peace.

Among those attending the opening of the photograph exhibition were Mehmet Ali Talat’s Special Representative Ozdil Nami, Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias, the UN Special Representative to Cyprus Taye-Brook Zerihoun, the Head of the EU Programme Support Office Alain Bothorell and the UNDP-ACT Programme Manager Jaco Cilliers.

During his stay on the island, the Swedish Minister held meetings with Greek Cypriot state officials in South Cyprus including the Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias where he discussed the latest developments concerning the Cyprus peace process.

He did not have a meeting with President Mehmet Ali Talat on his agenda and this was perceived as controversial by some media resources.
Mr. Bildt told the BRT correspondent that he did not arrange a meeting with President Talat as the two had already met in Stockholm at the beginning of this month.