Rival leaders of the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus met for face-to-face talks on Wednesday in a renewed attempt to solve their communities' differences ahead of entry into the European union, said reports.
Cyprus president Clafcos clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash arrived separately at Nicosia airport for what is expected to be a long series of talks, said the official Saudi News Agency (SPA).
Meanwhile, the European Commission on Wednesday praised Cypriot leaders for stepping up efforts to find a solution to the decades-old division of the EU candidate island, said AFP.
The Commission welcomed as "a very encouraging sign" the decision by Clerides and Denktash to begin meeting three times a week in an attempt to solve the island's 28-year old division.
"One of the things that helped this unfreezing is the prospect of Cyprus' adhesion to the European Union," Commission spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori said. "It is preferable for the Cypriots as well as for the European Union that a political accord be reached on the island before adhesion negotiations end," Filori said.
The internationally recognized Greek-controlled Republic of Cyprus began negotiations with the EU in 1998, while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has blocked negotiations until a political solution for the whole island be found first. Only Turkey recognizes the breakaway TRNC. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
