Greek, Turkish Cypriot Leaders Meet for Reunification Talks
Published:
20 February 2004 y., Friday
Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders met for two hours Thursday at the opening of talks seen as the best chance in 30 years to reunify their divided island, with both sides staking out tough positions a signal the discussions will likely be long and difficult.
Hours before the negotiations began, a small bomb exploded in front of the home of the prime minister of the self-declared Turkish Cypriot state, slightly wounding a neighbor.
There are fears in Cyprus that extremists could try to disrupt the U.N.-sponsored talks, which aim to reunite the Mediterranean island before it enters the European Union on May 1.
The discussions are being held under a tight deadline, and both sides have agreed to allow U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to fill in the blanks of an agreement if they are not able to resolve certain issues.
That has raised hopes of a settlement, which would be put to a referendum on each side of the island on April 21.
U.N. envoy Alvaro de Soto said the two hours of talks between Turkish Cypriot Rauf Denktash and his Greek Cypriot counterpart, President Tassos Papadopoulos, were "very constructive."
But neither leader was willing to make such positive comments.
Šaltinis:
abcnews.go.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Ministry of foreign affairs of Lithuania invites foreign citizens to take the quiz “Millennium of Lithuania. Culture and history”.
more »
President Adamkus underlines that today Lithuanian and Azerbaijani nations are linked by very special strategic ties that are strengthened even further by Azerbaijan‘s continuing efforts to develop relations with the European Union.
more »
Many experts believe that the offshore pipeline project poses a serious threat to the Baltic Sea environment because hazardous chemical weapons from World War II are still dumped at the bottom of the sea.
more »
President Valdas Adamkus extended, on behalf of himself and the people of Lithuania, congratulations to President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia on the occasion of Independence Day.
more »
President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus sent congratulations on behalf of himself and the people of Lithuania to the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Horst Köhler, on his victory in the presidential election.
more »
President Valdas Adamkus congratulated President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of Argentina on the occasion of national holiday - Revolution Day - and extended best wishes for the well-being and prosperity of the Argentine people.
more »
On 22 May, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas met with the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is paying an official visit.
more »
President Valdas Adamkus received letters of credence from the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi.
more »
On 18-19 May, Lithuania’s Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry took part in the meeting of European Union’s Ministers for Development Cooperation. The meeting was a on the agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council.
more »
On 15 May at Klaipėda University, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas opened an international conference “Baltic Marine Innovation Forum”, and welcomed the united forces of the Government, business and science representatives as well as diplomats, who care for the future of the Baltic Sea region.
more »