Spain wants to contribute to talks’ success

SPAIN yesterday pledged its full support and encouragement to the ongoing talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities to unite the island.
“We will give our full support … and will encourage this talks procedure,” Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Zapatero said after a meeting with President Demetris Christofias.
The Spanish Premier said his country will do everything it can if requested “to try and contribute to their (talks) successful progress.”
Christofias reiterated his commitment to everything he can so that the talks will yield the result “we all desire.”
“Our aim is to rid Cyprus of the occupation and secure human rights and the welfare of all citizens without exception in a reunited Cyprus.” Christofias said.
During their meeting, the two heads of state also discussed Spain’s assumption of the European Union presidency in January.
Spain’s main aim is economic development and the economic future of the EU, Zapatero said.
“If the crisis was global; if the response to this crisis was also global, then the future before us is a future of cooperation and collective response,” the Spanish Prime Minister said.
He added that there should be common solutions in areas such as the domestic market, industry, taxation and all issues that will define the EU’s strength on a global level in the future.
Spain also aims to promote bilateral relations between the EU and the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Russia as well as transatlantic relations.
Zapatero also said his country planned to advance the widening of EU citizens’ rights with special emphasis on the equality of the genders.
The Spanish Prime Minister also pledged to push for the swift implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon.
Christofias expressed his conviction that the Spanish presidency will be successful and that Madrid’s goals will be achieved.

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.