State Department: July 8th Agreement, a lost opportunity

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

Washington, (CNA) —- The one year anniversary of the July 8th Agreement represents a lost opportunity which neither side has seized, said Friday a US State Department Spokesman.

“The one year anniversary of the July 8th Agreement represents a lost opportunity which neither side has seized. We are deeply disappointed in the lack of progress in terms of a constructive dialogue over the past year; leaders on both sides must be prepared to take risks, look ahead toward future progress”, he said.

Invited to comment on the one year anniversary of the July 8th agreement, between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, the Spokesman said that the international community needs to see political resolve and ownership of the process on the parts of both parties.

“Cypriots must demonstrate they are tackling their problems and be ready in spirit for a mutually acceptable solution, both sides must contribute to forward movement”, he indicated.

The State Department, he added, encourages both parties to put the envisaged technical committees and working groups together, “even as we move into election periods in Cyprus and Turkey”.

“Both sides need to commit again now to overcoming the impasse.
We will continue to fully support the UN and the parties to make quick progress on all agreed issues”, he concluded.

Cyprus, an EU member state since May 2004, has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of UN senior official Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.