Simitis tries to reassure Cypriots

CYPRUS: The Greek Prime Minister, Mr Costas Simitis, has completed a 24-hour visit to Cyprus, the first in a tour of European capitals in his capacity as current holder of the rotating presidency of the European Union.

His visit was designed to mark last week's formal signing of the EU Treaty of Accession, celebrate the successful candidacy of Cyprus and reassure the Turkish Cypriots that they will not be forgotten.

During his stay, Mr Simitis repeatedly stated that Greece would not rest until the island achieved reunification and both communities could enjoy the benefits of EU membership.

He said that accession "meant a great change in the position of Cyprus" and improved the possibility of ending the division of the island imposed by Turkey's 1974 occupation of the north.

During talks with the Cyprus President, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, and in his address to parliament, Mr Simitis stressed the need for Greek and Turkish Cypriots to resume negotiations on the basis of the plan for a Swiss-style federation put for- ward by the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan.

The plan was set aside last month when the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, rejected it. In his dual capacity as EU president and Greek prime minister, Mr Simitis held the first ever meeting with Turkish Cypriot politicians.

Although the meeting was boycotted by the ruling National Unity and Democratic parties, the gathering was attended by politicians representing five opposition parties and the mayor of the northern part of Nicosia.

Following the meeting, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party, told The Irish Times that talks should resume on the Annan plan "as the basis for a solution".

He said he had expressed concern that the Turkish Cypriots could be "treated as a minority" and called for recognition of Turkish as an official language of the EU since it is an official language of the republic.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had previously accepted then rejected the Annan proposal, said: "Let's discuss the Annan plan and if we want changes, let's put them on the table for discussion."