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President Christofias: We cannot accept tight deadlines
"We cannot accept tight deadlines for the
solution of the Cyprus problem", the President of the Republic Mr
Demetris Christofias stressed yesterday, replying to a relevant press
question during the press conference he gave for the first 120 days of
his governance.
"There is no deadline for us. We have tried deadlines in 2004 and
permit me to say that both communities had a bad experience, because we
did not manage to achieve a solution of the Cyprus problem," he said
and added: "Consequently, I made clear to Mr Talat, and I also say it
publicly, that we cannot accept tight deadlines on when the talks for
the solution of the Cyprus problem will start or end, unless the
positions of the two communities converge so much that we can say very
soon that we have found a mutually acceptable solution, which can
express and safeguard the interests of both communities and which is
balanced and viable and just under the circumstances. I do not think
that we can ascertain, in my evaluation and having in mind the
positions of the two sides, that very soon we can start and finish and
also set deadlines. I think it would be a tragic mistake for both
communities". "In my evaluation what is needed is patience, calm and
the courage to face the various pressures, either from outside or from
within, and of course consensus is also needed so that we may serve, in
the best possible way, both communities, the Cyprus people as a whole,
and their interests. Hence, I cannot in all sincerity talk about
deadlines and in particular tight deadlines and also set a time for
their beginning and their end," he concluded.
09.07.2008
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