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Nikos Anastasiades - 2002-06-14


CN-005 (Cyprus, U-S) EUR REG 06/13/02 21:14:02 CONTENT (updates CN-136, EUR-14, adds Anastasiades interview)

EUR-01 CYPRUS

A Cypriot legislator says talks on resolving the division of the island are deadlocked and Turkey has sent five-thousand additional troops to the Turkish part of Cyprus.

The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Cyprus House of Representatives, Nicos Anastasiades, says the troop movement follows Ankara's threat to annex the Turkish part of the island.

Mr. Anastasiades spoke to Voice of America Thursday after wrapping up a five day visit to Washington for talks with congressional leaders on the Cyprus issue. He says he spoke briefly with President Bush who voiced determination to help the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities reach a lasting settlement to their dispute.

Earlier, the U-N Security Council voted unanimously to extend the U-N peacekeeping mission in Cyprus for another six-months until December 15th.

The council also called on U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan to submit a report by December on the situation on the divided island.

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Cyprus has been divided since Turkish troops invaded the island in 1974 in response to a coup in Nicosia backed by Greece.

(AP, Greek Service Adv, prev) ens/jf/wjk

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