Cypriot President says UN chief has not taken position on Turkish proposal

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had not yet made a statement concerning his positions on the Turkish proposals for the Cyprus problem, adding that he had a 35-minute telephone conversation with Annan on January 27.

President Papadopoulos said that when Annan has spoken with those he deems have an interest in the Cyprus problem and the Turkish proposals, he will decide if he will undertake a role in the matter.

“I reiterated that I had written very recently about our request for him to appoint a permanent representative, who will work to prepare the talks,” the President said, adding that Annan “agrees that preparation is necessary before becoming involved in a round of talks.”

The President said he told Annan that appointing a permanent representative should not have to wait until after the May parliamentary elections in the government-controlled areas of the Republic, because these elections “do not affect the handling of the Cyprus problem, which is not done by the House of Representatives but the executive authority.” (CNA)