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Merkel Gives Full Support to President

German chancellor Angela Merkel gave her full support to President Demetris Christofias’ efforts to solve the Cyprus problem yesterday during a “historic” one-day visit to the island while saying that the Turkish side was not doing enough in this regard.
“We greatly appreciate your courage, creativity shown and initiative taken to solve the problem. We see that you are taking many steps and we also see that the Turkish side is not responding adequately to your steps,” said Merkel during a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace.
The steps taken by Christofias “show that you are ready to make a compromise”, she said.
“We will support the path you have chosen to solve the problem in every way we can. We know this path is not easy and that the solution must be achieved by the people of Cyprus,” she added.
The German chancellor, the first to visit Cyprus 49 years after Archbishop Makarios paid an official visit to Bonn in 1962, pledged to use her contacts with Turkish officials to promote Christofias’ efforts for a solution.
Merkel arrived at Larnaca airport with her entourage at midday for a five-hour official visit, much trumpeted by Christofias as being of great significance.
Within hours, the Turkish press was accusing Merkel of continuing the war of words against Turkey reportedly started by Greek premier George Papandreou last Friday.
Following the press conference, the two delegations had a working lunch, after which Merkel visited the Goethe Centre in the buffer zone and spoke to Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot teenagers studying the German language.
She also got a chance to see divided Nicosia from the rooftop of the Ledra Palace Hotel (photo), with UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer and UN Special Representative Lisa Buttenheim as her guides.
(source: cyprus-mail)

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