Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and visiting Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos held extensive talks in Athens Sunday and reached agreement on further moves which are necessary to enable a reunited Cyprus to join the European Union.   

Karamanlis reiterated that the Greek government fully supports the efforts of the people of Cyprus for a European, workable and viable solution based on the plan proposed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. 

He stressed that the two sides agreed on the moves which must be made to enable Cyprus to join the EU united and for Greek and Turkish Cypriots to enjoy the fruits of the new European reality together. 

He also reiterated that support for President Papadopoulos is a position which will not change or be questioned. 

He told reporters that the level at which the various sides will be represented in the quadripartite meeting has not yet been determined and is still being discussed. 

President Papadopoulos thanked the Greek government for its support, noting that the negotiations underway are at difficult and crucial stage. 

The same day, Papadopoulos held intensive talks with PASOK Party leader George Papandreou, Greek Communist Party Secretary General Aleka Papariga and Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party leader Nikos Constantopoulos.

Former Foreign Minister George Papandreou reaffirmed his commitment to the effort of finding a solution to the political problem of Cyprus from his new position as the main opposition party leader.

Cyprus has remained split since 1974, when Turkish troops entered the north of the island after a failed Greek Cypriot coup.

The two sides broke off peace talks nearly a year ago, but resumed negotiations on Feb. 19 under heavy international pressure to reach a deal in time for a united Cyprus to enter the European Union on May 1.

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2004)