UN envoy proposed 'new ideas' says Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said today that the UN envoy for the Cyprus issue, Jane Holl Lute, proposed a set of new ideas in order to help kickstart the negotiations.

Speaking on the state broadcaster's morning news radio program, Mr. Christodoulides said that 'Jane Holl Lute ''communicated by telephone to all those involved and has submitted new ideas that could procedurally help to re-launch the talks''. Further information will be revealed very soon, said Christodoulides.

Asked whether Mrs. Lute proposed a four-party conference the Foreign Minister strongly denied that Mrs. Lute herself made such a recommendation. Earlier this week it was reported by government sources that the proposal for such a conference was the Turkish approach as communicated by Lute and was rejected by government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou.  ''Our side remains focused on recording the terms of reference for resuming the negotiations on the Cyprus issue'', said the Foreign Minister.

As for the bill to lift the US arms embargo on Cyprus, the Foreign Minister said it is important and symbolic. Cyprus has no intention he explained to purchase weapon systems, but is an acknowledgment of the role the country plays in the region.