Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot Leader Mehmet Ali Talat Issue Joint Statement
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE
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Leaders are encouraged by "Important Progress"

Nicosia, Cyprus – March 31, 2010 - The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat issued a joint statement following their last meeting on March 30th, 2010, before the April 18th vote for the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community. The leaders have met over 70 times during the last 19 months.

The joint statement which was read by Mr. Alexander Downer, Special Adviser of the U.N. Secretary-General for Cyprus, is the following:

“We have been engaged in a serious effort to find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem in the shortest possible time. We express our appreciation to the United Nations Secretary General for his mission of Good Offices entrusted to him by the Security Council and for his efforts aimed at finding a mutually agreed solution of the Cyprus problem.
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Human Rights Violations by Turkey in Cyprus
This brief booklet contains substantive information on the documented and continuing violations of internationally protected human rights committed by Turkey in Cyprus. These violations are the direct outcome of Turkey’s unlawful 1974 invasion of the Republic of Cyprus, of the continuing occupation of nearly 37% of its sovereign territory, and the systematic ethnic cleansing that occurred in the area of Cyprus under Turkish occupation.

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The President of the Republic presided over a meeting of the National Council - May 12, 2010
The President of the Republic Mr. Demetris Christofias presided over a meeting of the National Council. After the meeting, the Government Spokesman Mr. Stephanos Stephanou made the following statement to the press:

"The meeting of the National Council, which lasted several days, continued today in a very constructive climate. The President of the Republic expressed his positions today and replied to all the questions and positions that were raised in the previous meetings of the National Council on the various issues of the Cyprus problem. There was a dialogue, the President summarized several issues and it was agreed that, at the next meeting of the National Council on 19 May, the dialogue will continue on the specific issues and on those summarized by the President of the Republic and that until then the parties will be able to submit specific issues that can be discussed at the meeting of the National Council.”
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Foreign Minister Kyprianou: Turkey must stop hiding behind the Turkish Cypriots
Larnaca, May 9 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Kyprianou called on Turkey to undertake its responsibilities with regard to the Cyprus issue and “stop hiding behind the Turkish Cypriots.”

Invited to say whether the Cyprus talks -- set to resume on May 26th -- will pick up from where they left off before the so-called “elections” in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, Minister Kyprianou said that the answer to that will be given at the negotiating table.
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Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos urges Turkey to meet EU commitments to help open negotiating chapters
Brussels, May 11– The Spanish Presidency expressed interest in opening new chapters in EU accession negotiations with Turkey, said Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, who chaired the EU-Turkey Association Council on Monday, May 10 in Brussels, pointing out that Ankara must also make “the relevant efforts.”

“The Spanish Presidency believes that we must continue the negotiation process with determination and move towards the opening of new chapters,” Moratinos said at a press conference after the meeting in which he reiterated that Spain will continue efforts to ensure compliance with the commitment to the full integration of Turkey into the EU.
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