Cyprus President Discusses National Issue with Sarkozy

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias is currently in meetings with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and will meet with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi next week, said the government spokesman today.

He will discuss Turkey's EU membership progress and the Cyprus question, said spokesman Stephanos Stephanou

Mr. Christofias has launched an international campaign since the first day he assumed office with a view to end the Turkish occupation of Cyprus and solve the Cyprus problem “which is the main problem faced in our country”, he added.

Commenting on Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's visit to the north yesterday, he said:

“I note the illegal nature of Mr Davutoglu’s presence in the occupied areas. I would also like to note that if Turkey does not want to create more problems for itself than those it faces in its accession course, it will have to do what the European Union asks, through the President of the European Commission Mr Barroso, which is also our position. Namely, it has to fulfill and implement its obligations and commitments vis-a-vis the EU and its member states, including the Cyprus Republic and to cooperate for a solution that will be, first and foremost, in the best interest of the people of Cyprus”.

Face-to-face negotiations between Mr. Christofias and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat resume tomorrow.