CopperLine wrote:Oracle wrote:Better Greek-Turkish ties depend on Cyprus solution
A real improvement in relations between Greece and Turkey depends on a successful outcome of efforts to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said Friday.
Christofias was commenting on a historic two-day visit to Athens by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that started Friday and was aimed at resolving issues that have soured relations between Greece and Turkey.
Christofias said that despite continuous efforts to improve relations between the two Aegean neighbors, significant differences still exist.
"I wish the visit will open the road to a real improvement in relations, always on the condition set out by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou that there will be a solution of the Cyprus problem," Christofias said.
Papandreou, in an interview with the Turkish daily "Zaman" ahead of Erdogan's visit, said "Greece and Turkey will never be able to normalize their relations as long as there are ... occupation forces in Cyprus."
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers.
Christofias, echoing Papandreou's statement, said that "as long as there are Turkish troops and an occupation of Cyprus, this will be an obstacle to a full and real improvement in the relations of the two countries."
He said he wished that there will be a good outcome to Erdogan's visit, "which will have a positive effect on the Turkish Cypriot leadership as regards the Cyprus problem and on Turkey's effort to join the European Union."
Christofias, acting as Greek Cypriot leader, has been long engaged in talks with moderate ex-Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat aimed at a Cyprus solution. However, Talat was replaced by right wing nationalist Dervis Eroglu after elections last month.
A new round of United Nations-supervised negotiations is set to start between Christofias and Eroglu on May 26.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001 ... 86202.html
What a dreadfully written article. For example,Christofias, acting as Greek Cypriot leader, has been long engaged in talks with moderate ex-Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat aimed at a Cyprus solution. However, Talat was replaced by right wing nationalist Dervis Eroglu after elections last month.
Was Christofias pretending, acting or actually the Greek Cypriot leader ? I thought that Christofias was in fact the president of the Republic of Cyprus, not the leader of Greek Cypriots. And I think what was meant was 'talks with the moderate Turkish Cypriot ex-leader' since Talat is definitely not an ex-Turkish Cypriot.
Trouble with comprehension, again?
Christofias is President of the RoC ... but in his talks with Talat, he met him on an equal footing! As the leader of the GCs to Talat's only legitimate role as leader of the TCs.
Where's the problem?
