UN secretary general Kofi Annan's report on the Cyprus issue is a long text that requires study, Greek foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos said Thursday, adding that the document detailed the developments and events occurring throughout the process aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus issue that took place between the failure of the Hague effort in February 2003 and up to the referenda in April.

 The views contained in the report "do not always coincide with the views of the sides involved," Koumoutsakos said, noting that in certain points of the text "the assessments are not completely accurate".
 The Annan report "refers to conditions under which a new initiative could be undertaken for achieving a solution," he said, adding that, for the Greek side, the reunion of the island on the basis of the Annan plan remained the goal. "Only in that way will the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots be able to enjoy the benefits of the Cyprus Republic's accession into the EU," the spokesman said.

Replying to questions, Koumoutsakos reiterated the Greek position, stressing that the outcome of the referendum on the Annan plan in Cyprus manifested the volition of the Greek Cypriots for achievement of a solution, with the ultimate goal of reunification of the island. He added that this had been stated by all the sides, and of course by the Greek side. However, study of the text was continuing, he added.

Koumoutsakos further pointed out that the interpretation of the result of the referendum "is not clear in the text, as it is interpreted as a desire for non-solution, but that is not the case".
 The Greek side, he said, points out the need to support the Turkish Cypriots, but always in the framework within which the special regime of Cyprus' EU participation has been designed, and is determined by the UN resolutions. He added that those measures should function as an incentive, rather than an impediment, and therefore should be faced in that light.

Replying to other questions, Koumoutsakos said that the procedure to be followed from here on by the UN was not clear, and it was not known what the status of the report would be.

All the latest developments on the Cyprus issue will be discussed on Friday between foreign minister Petros Molyviatis and his Cypriot counterpart George Iacovou, who was due in Athens.

Source: Athens News Agency

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