Warm Welcome for President from Australian Cypriots

President Demetris Christofias has been welcomed warmly by the community of Greek-and-Turkish Cypriots in Australia, and there was a massive turnout to see him from the 80,000-strong expatriate community there.

But the president did not have promising news on the reunification talks, saying that Turkey has not made any key changes ahead of elections in June, and that the Turkish-Cypriot negotiating team still insists on positions that would lead to a two-state solution.

This "cannot be accepted by our side in any way," said Christofias, adding that "we insist on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, as outlined in UN resolutions."

There is also no question of the UN Secretary-General asking for an international conference with Greece, Turkey, Britain and Cyprus, he said at a press conference in Sydney.

Christofias is due back in Cyprus on May 31st.