German Chancellor to pay working visit to Cyprus

Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Dr. Angela Merkel will pay a one-day working visit to Cyprus on 11 January 2011.

A spokesperson for the German Embassy in Nicosia told CNA Monday the visit has not been officially announced by the Chancellor’s office in Berlin. However he confirmed that the embassy is definitely working on a working visit by the Chancellor, and “all preparations are underway”.

The CNA has learnt that Merkel, who will be leading a delegation, will be arriving around midday at Larnaka International Airport. Her first stop will be the Presidential Palace for a tete-a-tete meeting with President of the Republic Demetris Christofias. After statements to the press there will be a working lunch with delegations from both sides.

Merkel will visit the Goethe Centre situated in the Ledra Palace area in the buffer zone and then the Ledra Street, for a guided tour by Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou.

The German Chancellor departs in the afternoon.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Turkey, an EU candidate member state, is the only state in the world which does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus.

President Christofias is engaged in peace talks with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot side Dervis Eroglu to find a negotiated settlement that would reunite the country.