CYPRUS REUNIFICATION "UNWAVERING, IRREPLACEABLE" AIM – PRESIDENT

Cyprus News Agency
Feb 22 2009
Cyprus

Nicosia, Feb 22 (CNA) – Cyprus President reiterated today that the aim
for the reunification of Cyprus in a bizonal, bicommunal federation
with a single sovereignty and political equality as defined in the
UN Security Council resolutions is "unwavering and irreplaceable".

In an address to the 23rd conference of the Union of Cypriot Christian
Scientists, read out by the Director of his office Vasos Georgiou
[Yeoryiou], President Christofias [Khristofias] said both he and his
government pledge "to exert with sincerity and consistency ever effort
to bring resurrection in Cyprus."

"The finding of a just, viable solution which would allow all Cypriots,
Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins,
to live in conditions of freedom, security, equality, peace and
justice in a united Cyprus, free of occupying and other troops,"
Christofias added.

He made clear that when he speaks of solution he does not mean "any
solution," adding that a solution should terminate occupation and
settlement, to restore and safeguard human rights and fundamental
freedoms of the people and should be functional and durable.

"We can reach this solution remaining consistent in the commitment
assumed by the first President of the Republic Makarios and
all the other Presidents of the Republic. "A commitment for a
bi-zonal bi-communal federation which we agreed with the Turkish
Cypriot community in 1977 and was adopted by the UN in a series of
resolutions," the President stressed.

"The aim for reunification in the framework of a bi-zonal, bi-communal
federation with political equality, as defined in the relevant UN
resolutions for the evolution of the unitary state to a federal
one with a single sovereignty and nationality and one international
personality is unwavering and irreplaceable," he concluded.

President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat
entered in UN-led direct negotiations since early September 2008 in
a bid to achieve a solution which would reunify Cyprus, divided since
1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress