Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis will begin a three-day visit to the Republic of Cyprus on Tuesday with the purpose of carrying out an overall assessment of the Cyprus issue and analyzing future prospects.

During her visit, Bakoyannis will be meeting President Tassos Papadopoulos, who will also be giving a dinner in her honor, as well as her counterpart George Iakovou, Parliament Speaker Demetris Christofias and party leaders.

Bakoyannis will visit the ceasefire line in the old city of Nicosia, lay a wreath at the Makedonitissa Tomb and visit Nicosia Mayor Mihalakis Zambelas and the army camp of the Greek ELDYK army force.

Asked whether the foreign minister will meet Turkish Cypriot "foreign minister" Serdar Denktash, foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos said there was no such eventuality.

Referring to recent statements by Bakoyannis on the issue of Cyprus, Koumoutsakos said "the statements by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis confirm steadfast Greek positions concerning the obligation of Turkey to meet the criteria and preconditions set by the European Union."

On the question of the Annan plan, the spokesman reiterated that "the negotiating basis for a solution to the Cyprus issue is the acquis communautaire, which can no longer be ignored, the decisions and resolutions of the UN", adding that the Annan plan "in the way it was submitted and set to the trial of referendums failed to lead to a solution."

Asked whether a new momentum exists on the Cyprus issue, Koumoutsakos referred to the joint communiqué following the meeting between President Papadopoulos and the UN secretary general in Paris, late February.

"This document provides possibilities for the preparation of a process to go ahead which could ultimately lead to a solution. Having this in mind, we have spoken about a new momentum because, indeed, it is a basis that can be utilized by all those who have stated at times that they are interested in a solution, for a resumption of the effort," he said.

Source: Athens News Agency

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