Christofias to travel overseas on official visits

Newly elected President of the Republic Demetris Christofias has conveyed a message to the international community that a solution to the Cyprus problem should come from Cypriots themselves, if it is to be viable and functional.
Announcing that next week he will pay an official visit to Athens, Christofias, elected on Sunday night after winning the second round of the presidential elections by securing 53.36% of the valid votes, also said he will travel to Brussels for the European Council meeting from 13-14 March.
Speaking to the press at his election centre on Monday, Christofias said he received the ambassadors of Greece and Great Britain. British High Commissioner Peter Millett conveyed an official invitation to the new president to visit London.
Christofias received a warm, as he said, congratulatory message from the French President and a message from Archbishop Chrysostomos II, primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Cyprus.
He also said that a meeting to sound out their views will soon be arranged with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, with whom he already had a telephone conversation.
Replying to questions, the President designate said that “I have promised the people of Cyprus I will travel abroad and surely I will do so. I am a man who keeps his promises and commitments”, he added.
On Britain’s stance that a solution must not be imposed on Cyprus, Christofias has this to say: “I cannot say otherwise because in previous meetings with the British High Commissioner I made it clear that we want a solution to the Cyprus problem that will be viable and functional as well as fair under the circumstances and this should come from Cypriots and should not be imposed from outside and I am glad the international community is taking this into consideration”.
He recalled that many Security Council members and especially the five permanent members talk about good will on the part of Cypriots and say that a solution should come from Cyprus.
Christofias also said that he had a telephone conversation with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. “Surely the UN will be involved” in a new meeting, the new President added.
He told reporters that he is contemplating, planning and working on the composition of his Cabinet.
Christofias’ opponent, Ioannis Kasoulides, received 46.64% of the votes.