Papoulias: US policy not helping

GREEK President Karolos Papoulias said yesterday that the US stance on the Cyprus issue did not help to resolve the island’s problems.

During a visit to Paphos as part of his four-day official visit to the island, Papoulias commented on reports of an invitation to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat for meetings with US officials in Washington. “This does not solve problems but creates stalemates,” he said.

He said the US must contribute to the achievement of goals set by the Cyprus government, which is fully supported by Greece.

Yesterday, Papoulias was made an honorary citizen of Paphos at a special ceremony held at the Town Hall. He received a similar honour in Nicosia on Monday. He also addressed Parliament and spoke at an official banquet hosted by President Tassos Papadopulos in his honour.

Presenting Papoulias with the Gold Key to the town, Mayor Phidias Sarrikas said this was “a debt and yet another strong link in the ties of the town with the Greek metropolitan area.”

Receiving the Gold Key, Papoulias referred to the “ties of friendship and fraternal love between the Cypriots and Greeks,” and conveyed a message of unity in “the common struggles to reunite the island.”
“I would like to assure you once again that the Greek Hellenism is always beside Cypriot Hellenism in the struggle for a just solution, the reparation of the injustice, and to end the division of the island to the benefit of both communities,” he said.

Papoulias also visited the local Greek Gymnasium, the Makarios III Lyceum and the ancient mosaics during his visit to Paphos.

Last night, the Greek President met Greece’s ambassador and Greek organisations on the island, and later had dinner at the Greek ambassador’s residence, which was also attended by Papadopoulos and his wife Fotini.

Today Papoulias will visit Limassol, Paralimni, Dherynia, Cape Greco and Larnaca before leaving at around 6pm for Athens after a special ceremony at the airport.