Clerides independence message marks `positive’ developments

THE 37TH anniversary of Independence Day will be marked with the customary grand military parade through the streets of Nicosia today.

In his televised message to coincide with the day, President Clerides last night expressed the hope that the “unprecedented” current international interest in the Cyprus problem would lead to a “just, viable and workable” settlement.

Clerides said that though the UN-led direct talks at Troutbeck and Glion had ended in deadlock, some “positive” elements had emerged for the Greek Cypriot side.

He said the document tabled during the talks by UN negotiator Diego Cordovez contained “improved positions for our side concerning basic aspects of the Cyprus problem.”

He said a “negative provision” in previous UN documents – giving Greece and Turkey most favoured nation status for Cyprus – had been removed.

The other positive things to come out of the talks were assurances that Cyprus’s EU accession course would not be affected by Turkish threats and the UN apportioning the blame for the collapse of talks to the Turkish side, Clerides said.

Messages marking the day were also issued by all political parties.

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.