Tassos asks Silvio for support

PRESIDENT Tassos Papadopoulos has asked for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s support in the difficult days that lie ahead for Cyprus, as Turkey’s EU aspirations are decided on.

Speaking after concluding meetings with Berlusconi and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Pier Ferdinando Casini, Papadopoulos said he has ascertained the need to be able to explain Cyprus’ position to all EU countries.

Commenting on his talks with the Italian president Papadopoulos said: ”It was a very interesting and useful meeting, we explained our positions and asked Mr Berlusconi for his support in the difficult hours and decisions that lie ahead in the future.”

Asked what Berlusconi’s response was, President Papadopoulos said he did not want to make his discussions with the Italian Prime Minister public.

”My job and my duty is to try to explain as persuasively and completely as I can our positions to as many governments as possible, either they are considered friendly or hostile. ”The response we had, I believe, proves that this effort is necessary,” he said.

Asked if he was satisfied with his meetings, Papadopoulos added: ”One is always satisfied when he is given the chance to explain his positions through a friendly, unofficial and understanding climate and this was the case today.”

Papadopoulos and his entourage were later received by Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.
He rounds up this visit to the Italian capital with a meeting with Senate President Marcello Pepa.
The President and his entourage depart for Cyprus, via Athens, this morning.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.