December 3, 2001 (10:40 a.m. EST) No. 159

MANLEY WELCOMES DECEMBER 4 MEETING IN NICOSIA

BETWEEN CLERIDES AND DENKTASH

John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today welcomed the meeting between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Glafcos Clerides, and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr. Rauf Denktash, scheduled to take place in Nicosia on December 4, 2001, with the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative present.

"Canada hopes that this meeting will provide a new momentum to the discussions," said Mr. Manley.

The Minister noted that Canada follows with interest the developments in Cyprus given its important peacekeeping involvement from 1964 to 1993 and that Canada supports the efforts of the UN to promote a comprehensive and mutually acceptable settlement of the Cyprus question.

Recently, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade sponsored three round tables on Cyprus, both in Canada and in Cyprus, to share the Canadian experience of living together.

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