Solution to Cyprus Issue Should Comply With International Law: President

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 10, 2001

Solution to Cyprus Issue Should Comply With International Law: President

Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides has reiterated that the solution to the Cyprus issue should comply with international laws and related U.N. resolutions, the Cyprus News Agency reported on Sunday.

Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides has reiterated that the solution to the Cyprus issue should comply with international laws and related U.N. resolutions, the Cyprus News Agency reported on Sunday.

Clerides made the comment in his written address to the fourth Conference of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, which is taking place in Salonica, Greece.

Clerides also expressed hope that the island's European Union (EU) accession course will contribute towards a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Regarding the direct talks scheduled to start in mid-January next year between himself and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Clerides said that the Greek Cypriot side always shows good will and acts in earnest to reach a settlement that will benefit the Greek and Turkish Cypriots equally.

"We are preparing ourselves and will continue our positive stance at the talks," he noted.

Clerides and Denktash had their first face-to-face meeting in four years on December 4 in Nicosia. After the meeting, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto announced the direct talks for mid-January in Cyprus.

The Cypriot president noted that the Greek Cypriot side wants "a solution before Cyprus' accession to the EU," so that the Turkish Cypriots may benefit from the membership.

"To this end, I am determined to investigate with responsibility and utilise every opportunity for a right solution, which I hope will emerge during the talks," he said.

Cyprus has remained divided into the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the Mediterranean island after a failed coup by the Greek Cypriots seeking union with Greece.

Cyprus, which opened accession negotiations with the EU in 1998, has completed 23 out of the 29 chapters of the EU rules and regulations.

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