Papadopoulos says ready to talk to Talat

Restricted to humanitarian issues

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said he is willing to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to discuss humanitarian issues such as the missing persons’ issue with him.

Speaking after a memorial service at Galata village of the Nicosia district, President Papadopoulos said he hoped the meeting will take place if and when the first session on the issue of the missing persons is held with a Red Cross Representative. He said that the meeting will solely concern this matter.

Since President Papadopoulos met the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on February 28 there has been an ongoing row between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots about what was really agreed at the meeting about the content of any “technical talks” that would take place.

The Greek Cypriot side appeared to be pushing for issues of substances while the Turkish Cypriot side appeared to want to talk only about issues that affect the day-to-day lives of Cypriots.

Papadopoulos, invited to comment on a letter sent to Talat by UN Undersecretary General on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, explaining what had taken place at the Paris meeting in February between President Papadopoulos and Secretary General Annan, the President said he was satisfied with the contents of the letter.

He added however that he did not agree with the newspapers’ titles on the issue.

President Papadopoulos said the letter does not negate what was agreed in Paris, adding that the talks that will take place will deal with every day issues and issues of substance, otherwise there will be no negotiations.

He expressed the hope that Turkey will soon respond positively to starting the talks on the basis of what was agreed in the French capital.