bill cobbett wrote:Paphitis wrote:Hallilabad wrote:In another development, President Talat met with the Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos yesterday afternoon.
After the meeting, Mr Talat told reporters that the meeting was important because Mr Moratinos is known as having close relations with Greek Cypriot Side.
Noting that he informed the Spanish Minister on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue, Mr Talat said it is important for Mr Moratinos to know these as Spain prepares to take over the next EU term presidency.
Earlier his meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister, President Talat met with Qatar Foreign Minister Ahmad Abdullah Al Mahmoud and Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen as part of his contacts in New York.
Is this the same Spamish Foreign Affairs Minister who was best of mates with Tassos Pappadopouos?A man who understood his people very well
By Miguel Angel Moratinos
To Tassos Papadopoulos
Tassos Papadopoulos, former President of the Republic of
Cyprus, died last Friday in Nicosia. I met him soon after he became
President, when I was still European Union Special Representative for the
Middle East Peace Process. My wife knew his wife and family well. He
was a Levantine personality characteristic of the generation of Cypriots
that, inspired by independence for their island, defended a legitimate
nationalism against the British presence there.
I am writing these few lines, not only out of friendship
for a great Cypriot patriot, but also seeking to eradicate
the false image of him presented in Europe and the West as somebody
who was stubborn and maximalist, who blocked a definitive solution
to the Cyprus problem. Tassos Papadopoulos was an excellent personification
of the Cypriot character; he was a staunch Hellenist, but educated in the
strictest British tradition, which led him to become one of the most
brilliant lawyers in Cyprus. His legal knowledge was always to the forefront
when analysis was needed of any proposed solution
to the dispute.
He became Head of State of Cyprus at a very hopeful time
for his country, after the excellent negotiation process carried
out by the previous governmental team, which led to Cyprus joining the
European Union. All seemed well on course for all the ambitions of
the Cypriots to be fulfilled.
Much has been written and said about the attitude of
President Papadopoulos during the negotiations and about the
referendum by which the Annan Plan was rejected, but what is inescapable is
that the vast majority of Greek Cypriots did not accept it.
Few Western leaders read all the fine details of this plan,
and as has occurred in other international negotiations, the course of
least resistance was adopted, namely that of pointing to a
scapegoat, somebody held to be responsible - in this case, the President of
Cyprus – rather than continuing negotiations, searching for a solution that
would be acceptable to all parties. This does not invalidate the
effort made by the Turkish Cypriots in the process, but all of us who have
ample experience in the international arena, and especially in
the area of the eastern Mediterranean, are well aware that any
negotiating position can be improved and that what is important is to
enjoy popular support.
I witnessed how President Papadopoulos made political
ground within the EU itself and how his position and his arguments made
themselves better understood. During this time, as the Spanish Foreign
Minister, I had many opportunities to work with him and to exchange
viewpoints, with the aim of reaching a definitive solution to the Cyprus
problem. I can corroborate that this was his real passion, and despite
diverse viewpoints, it was apparent that he was prepared to
negotiate in good faith with the other side in order to reach a final
agreement. He trusted in Spain and in our diplomacy, thanks to our good
relations with Turkey, and on several occasions we were able to help
resolve sensitive issues.
He admired modern, democratic Spain, and its Mediterranean vocation.
He believed that young Cypriots could be better acquainted with the
Spanish language and that students could study at universities in
our country, in order to vary the current tendency to attend
Greek or British universities.
He stood for re-election at the last elections, and was
convinced he would win, but his good friend and political partner
Dimitris Christofias, received greater support from the voters. The
last time we met was in Beijing, on the occasion of the inauguration of
the Olympic Games last August. Subsequently we spoke on the telephone
on several occasions. His deep, throaty voice - caused by a lifelong
tobacco habit - did not conceal his perfect command of English. He never
ceased to encourage me to assist the present Government of President
Christofias in achieving the long-desired reunification of the island.
He understood his people very well and I know he wished to resolve the
Cypriot question, to achieve a definitive reconciliation with the modern,
dynamic European Turkey, which is so close to this island-continent, as
some have termed Cyprus.
Today, Tassos, you will receive the acknowledgement of all your people,
to which I add my own and of Spain, another Mediterranean country.
Miguel Angel Moratinos is Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Co-operation of Spain
CYPRUS MAIL
16 December 2008
You silly Turks are just too funny!
Oh dear, some of our tissy friends have been pissing in the wind.
Feel like a song anyone ....
This year we're off to Sunny Spain...
... Viva Espagne! etc. etc.
We never pissing Billy Boy u are the one always getting hump ....... we will talk with everybody till they comes to their senses and sees your bloody games . It is not vthe end of the world for us ....thats why Talat has choosen him to talk .... not to run away from people who are talking about u .definetly they were not informed correctly about TC's stand and struggle . we will not stop our diplomacy with world we are far away from the past days now . More contacts ,more talks this is our target ... not to get fed up.
