[

Fancy a Is therapy squeeze? thfiU lw ancufprSU llO W U I ■ SEE PAGE 21 AMBROSIA: PAGE 13 Simitis: we will not rest until we find a solution By Jean Christou

REEK Prime Minis­ ter and current EU President Costas Simitis arrived on G the island last night, pledging that his government would not rest until a solution was found to the problem. "We will not rest because we believe that the future of the is­ land must be a future of co-oper­ ation and peace, because we believe that the step the Repub­ lic of Cyprus took, with its acces­ sion to the EU, will produce better things, will produce for all Cypriots, if we can overcome this bad inheritance of the political problem,” Simitis said on arrival. “As President of the European Council and as Prime Minister of , I would like to address the Turkish Cypriot community and reassure it that our efforts within the UN framework to find a viable and functional solution will continue.” ENLARGEMENT TOUR

Simitis’ 24-hour visit is part of an inauguration tour of 24 EU countries following Wednesday’s EU enlargement. Arriving at Larnaca Airport, Simitis and his delegation of Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and other Foreign Ministry officials were given an official state welcome by Presi­ dent . Simitis said that both his gov­ ernment and the Cyprus govern­ ment had made great efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and Simitis waves to the crowds in as he is accompanied by Mayor Michalakis Zampelas that everyone knew why it had not been solved and where the re­ sponsibility lay for the continued unacceptable situation. ‘Wednesday meant a great change in the position of He was referring to Turkish Property Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash’s Cyprus, it meant we moved even closer to a great aim, refusal to bring the UN plan to a referendum in the north last to overcome the past, and I believe we will achieve it’ and the month, which heralded the col­ lapse of 18 months of intensive home UN efforts to reunify the island "Wednesday meant a great Mayor Michalakis Zampelas, would be "a substantive one” before Cyprus’ EU accession. change, a great change in the po­ Simitis said that only the re­ and said today’s talks with new supplement “Two days ago we lived an his­ sition of Cyprus, it meant that we moval of the capital’s Green Line Papadopoulos would focus on toric moment. The Republic of moved even closer to a great aim, would facilitate Turkey’s acces­ European issues as well the Cy­ Cyprus signed the Accession to overcome the past, and I be­ sion to the EU. prus problem. starting tomorrow Treaty with the EU and is now in lieve we will achieve it.” Government Spokesman Turkish Cypriot opposition the European family and takes Later at a ceremony outside Kypros Chrysostomides said ear­ leaders are also due to meet the the place it deserves,” he said. the Hilton Hotel in Nicosia with lier in the day that Simitis’ visit TURN TO PAGE 2 ALL in your Sunday Mail Simitis: we will not rest until we find a solution

(continuedfrom front page) prus in order to undertake a new hoped efforts would continue be­ necessary political will and hinted and continue to undermine the ef­ Greek Prime Minister along with initiative for a settlement, cause he believed a peaceful solu­ that Annan should be aware of forts for the reactivation of the their Greek Cypriot counterparts Chrysostomides said that state­ tion could be found. In a that fact having been directly in­ Secretary-general’s good offices.” at the Greek Embassy in Nicosia. ment was addressed mainly to the statement to the European Con­ volved in the negotiations. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip He will also address an extraordi­ Turkish Cypriot and the Turkish ference, Annan said he shared the “He knows first hand that the Erdogan on Thursday called for nary session of the House of Rep­ side. EU’s disappointment over the col­ Greek Cypriot side demonstrated new Cyprus talks based on the resentatives. Annan said on Thursday that if he lapse of the Cyprus talks in The the necessary flexibility and politi­ failed UN plan in spite Denktash’s Chrysostomides said measures felt there was real determination Hague last month and said he be­ cal will,” Papadopoulos said. opposition. drawn up by the government for and political will for a Cyprus set­ lieved his plan was fair and bal­ “I said that we don’t turn our But Chrysostomides said that the Turkish Cypriots would also tlement he would do everything anced. “A unique opportunity was back on the efforts for a solution there was "no change whatsoever” be discussed today since they were possible to promote the effort. missed but I do not doubt that through negotiations. Of course in the Turkish side’s stance, which related to the island’s European He also said that changes on his there will eventually be a settle­ we don’t want to raise the tones "continues to be the same, with course and efforts to promote a peace plan could be made, pro­ ment. All that is lacking is the nec­ but we truly believe that vague the full backing of Denktash’s po­ Cyprus settlement. vided it was accepted as a basis for essary political will,” he said. and general appeals like the ones sitions” . Commenting on statements by negotiations. Annan was speaking Commenting on Annan’s state­ made are not very helpful.” "There are only verbal changes UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan, after meeting with Simitis in Ath­ ment, Papadopoulos, in a written Papadopoulos added that atten­ that simply aim at creating a fa­ who said he needed to determine ens. statement, denied that the Greek tion should turn to “those who un­ vourable image for the Turkish decisiveness on both sides in Cy­ The Secretary-general said he Cypriot side did not possess the dermined the Hague procedure Cypriot side” , he added.