Van der Linden (parlement Raad van Europa) in Cyprus om dialoog te bevorderen (en)

René van der Linden, i President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), will make an official visit to Cyprus from 19 to 22February 2007, during which he hopes to promote dialogue and reconciliation.

Speaking on the eve of the visit, the President said: "There will be no lasting resolution of the situation in Cyprus without serious and sustained dialogue between the two communities, at every possible level. We have already encouraged working contacts in our Assembly, where two Turkish Cypriot representatives participate in our activities. As President of the Parliamentary Assembly, a body that relies on and promotes mutual respect and open dialogue, one of the main aims of my visit will be to try and bring people together."

In Nicosia on Tuesday 20th February, he will meet Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and other government ministers, as well as the President of the House of Representatives Demetris Christofias. He will also attend a working lunch hosted by members of Cyprus's parliamentary delegation to PACE and attended by elected representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community who participate in PACE activities.

On Wednesday, following a visit to the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping force and a tour of the Green Line buffer zone, he will cross over to the northern part of Cyprus to meet Mehmet Ali Talat.

Returning to the Buffer Zone, the President will hold bicommunal meetings with political party leaders, representatives of civil society, representatives of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in Nicosia and religious leaders.

Cyprus has been a member of the Council of Europe since 1961.

Members of the Cypriot parliamentary delegation to the Assembly

A press conference will be held at 11.30 am on Thursday 22nd February in the Cyprus Hilton Hotel.

Contact: Angus Macdonald, PACE Communication Unit,

tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 34 39 (Strasbourg), +33 (0)6 30 49 68 20 (mobile).